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The Molten Key
Prepare for war, the Molten are coming.
Only one thing matters to Adelia Larson and that’s family. So when her father goes missing and the only clue left behind is a mysterious iron key, she must delve into his past and uncover his secrets in order to find him. Except she’s not the only one searching for him. The Faerie Guard's goal is to stop a war that’s brewing in Faerie and to do that, they need her dad. Apparently, he’s a wanted fugitive with a stolen artifact needed to save Faerie from a war.
When Adelia and the Guards meet, Adelia makes the decision to keep the key hidden and force the Faerie Guard to help her find her dad. Her choice is made increasingly hard when one of the guards has an irritating smirk that she finds more endearing than she should. As Adelia gets closer to the truth, her conviction wavers. She can surrender the key and save Faerie or she can save the one person she loves most in this world.
It’s the life of one she loves versus a thousand strangers.
Only one thing matters to Adelia Larson and that’s family. So when her father goes missing and the only clue left behind is a mysterious iron key, she must delve into his past and uncover his secrets in order to find him. Except she’s not the only one searching for him. The Faerie Guard's goal is to stop a war that’s brewing in Faerie and to do that, they need her dad. Apparently, he’s a wanted fugitive with a stolen artifact needed to save Faerie from a war.
When Adelia and the Guards meet, Adelia makes the decision to keep the key hidden and force the Faerie Guard to help her find her dad. Her choice is made increasingly hard when one of the guards has an irritating smirk that she finds more endearing than she should. As Adelia gets closer to the truth, her conviction wavers. She can surrender the key and save Faerie or she can save the one person she loves most in this world.
It’s the life of one she loves versus a thousand strangers.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2022
10 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
T.L. Wilson
1 book80 followersTaylor Wilson was born and raised in Ontario Canada where she now lives with her Fiancé and cat Alucard – yes, that’s Dracula backwards, and yes he’s a biter. She is an avid birdwatcher and spends her spare time scouring the province for rare species to check off her list. If she’s not birdwatching you can find her watching anime or curling up with a hot cup of tea and a good book. The Molten Key is Taylor’s first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
August 25, 2022
Hi friends 👋🏻 Thankyou so much for reading and supporting. The Molten Key was originally a fun COVID project that morphed into something amazing. Adelia is a character that means so much to me and I’m so glad you all have chosen to join her and Ash on their adventure to save Faerie! Happy Reading 🥰
October 3, 2022
WHAT A PHENOMENAL DEBUT NOVEL FROM T.L. WILSON!!! I enjoyed this book so much I restarted it again from chapter 1! Oh Adelia! I loved her so much! Her bird watching and just her growth through out the book I thoroughly enjoyed. T.L. is so descriptive in world building I had no problem following along. The Molten was a refreshing spin for me in reference to Fae worlds. I'm excited to do my re-read and see if anything new pops out at me. I can not wait for book 2 (Taylor there better be a book 2 with that cliffhanger ;)) Make sure you grab this and give it a read. It is fun, fresh, and I think you will love it!!
September 21, 2022
Thank you to TL Wilson for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!
Oh my goodness do I have so many feelings after finishing this book! I was sucked in from chapter 1 and I did not want to put the book down until I finished. I am always hesitant about Fae books, but this world is very unique and fresh, and I loved learning about its history and magic system. The Molten fae are so different from anything I've ever read before and I really enjoyed that new take.
I loved Adelia and how real she is! I often find myself wondering how a character can be so unaffected by the newfound presence of magic in their world, but Adelia felt real and genuine from the very beginning. She is so strong and stubborn, and she will stop at nothing to protect those she loves and to fight for what she belives in. Her disability is the last thing that is going to stop her, and I even loved watching her emotions over needing to tell a new group of people about her disability and her story. This hit home for me as someone who rarely thinks about my own scar from heart surgery, but then shies away from having to repeatedly explain for fear of being looked at in a different light.
The major plot twist of the book was one that I predicted pretty early on, which is not something I can usually do. But I will say that the more minor plot twists were very well done and I really enjoyed them! There was a lot of set-up for the rest of the story that I really loved reading and made me want more content right this second. The romance was so adorable and I loved watching Adelia and Ash build trust and grow together.
The ending hit me right in the feels, and I can't wait to see where Adelia and Ash go from here! If you're a fantasy/fae lover, be sure to check this book out because you won't want to miss it!
Oh my goodness do I have so many feelings after finishing this book! I was sucked in from chapter 1 and I did not want to put the book down until I finished. I am always hesitant about Fae books, but this world is very unique and fresh, and I loved learning about its history and magic system. The Molten fae are so different from anything I've ever read before and I really enjoyed that new take.
I loved Adelia and how real she is! I often find myself wondering how a character can be so unaffected by the newfound presence of magic in their world, but Adelia felt real and genuine from the very beginning. She is so strong and stubborn, and she will stop at nothing to protect those she loves and to fight for what she belives in. Her disability is the last thing that is going to stop her, and I even loved watching her emotions over needing to tell a new group of people about her disability and her story. This hit home for me as someone who rarely thinks about my own scar from heart surgery, but then shies away from having to repeatedly explain for fear of being looked at in a different light.
The major plot twist of the book was one that I predicted pretty early on, which is not something I can usually do. But I will say that the more minor plot twists were very well done and I really enjoyed them! There was a lot of set-up for the rest of the story that I really loved reading and made me want more content right this second. The romance was so adorable and I loved watching Adelia and Ash build trust and grow together.
The ending hit me right in the feels, and I can't wait to see where Adelia and Ash go from here! If you're a fantasy/fae lover, be sure to check this book out because you won't want to miss it!
March 11, 2023
4 ⭐ CW: Violence, blood, torture, cursing, sexual situations, medical trauma, death
The Molten Key by T.L. Wilson is book one in the series. This was a fast paced NA Fantasy Romance perfect for birders and lovers of Fae. We also have a fantastic found family group with elemental powers in a secondary world.
We follow Adelia, an avid birdwatcher who never lets her prosthetic leg slow her down, as she returns home to find her father missing, blood on the floor, and four strange Fae in her house. Adelia gets a crash course in Faerie when she learns she's one of them, and a Wind Fae at that. She joins our amazing gang of small and soft Maewyn, Big and gentle Rory, blue haired and fierce Novak, and the mysterious and handsome Ash. Our group goes on a mission to protect Faerie and rescue Adelia's dad. The only problem is that Adelia is lying to them about the whereabouts of an object they desperately want.
We get great characters! I love them all so much for their own reasons. There was some good character development with the relationships and subtle foreshadowing of more to come. I love the way elemental magic is used here and the concept of "forbidden magic". Animal familiars! I think my only complaint is that I wanted a bit more world-building around Faerie. We spend the majority of the book there, but we don't learn a ton about the world. I'm hoping book two dives more into this.
It was great having a disabled MC and a range of characters. I'm really looking forward to the next books!
The Molten Key by T.L. Wilson is book one in the series. This was a fast paced NA Fantasy Romance perfect for birders and lovers of Fae. We also have a fantastic found family group with elemental powers in a secondary world.
We follow Adelia, an avid birdwatcher who never lets her prosthetic leg slow her down, as she returns home to find her father missing, blood on the floor, and four strange Fae in her house. Adelia gets a crash course in Faerie when she learns she's one of them, and a Wind Fae at that. She joins our amazing gang of small and soft Maewyn, Big and gentle Rory, blue haired and fierce Novak, and the mysterious and handsome Ash. Our group goes on a mission to protect Faerie and rescue Adelia's dad. The only problem is that Adelia is lying to them about the whereabouts of an object they desperately want.
We get great characters! I love them all so much for their own reasons. There was some good character development with the relationships and subtle foreshadowing of more to come. I love the way elemental magic is used here and the concept of "forbidden magic". Animal familiars! I think my only complaint is that I wanted a bit more world-building around Faerie. We spend the majority of the book there, but we don't learn a ton about the world. I'm hoping book two dives more into this.
It was great having a disabled MC and a range of characters. I'm really looking forward to the next books!
September 8, 2022
"Their journey may be filled with darkness, but they would emerge radiant."
If you like:
✨ Forced proximity
✨ angsty romantic interest with a tragic backstory and hidden secrets
✨ Found Family
✨ Dislike to lovers
✨ Faerie Courts
✨ Family is the most important thing
✨ Amputee rep
Then you'll love this book!
I absolutely loved all of the characters! They were written so well! And the found family!!!!! I love found family and this one was done SO well! I loved the groups whole dynamic and all their backstories although we still need to figure out Rory's!
The Romance! I loved the romance because it was definitely a subplot but also really contributed to the story and I just loved them! AND THAT ENDING HAD ME SCREAMING. Everything happened in the last few pages!
There was also a lot of good representation in this books which I loved! It was the 'not like other girls trope' but instead of emphasizing how different she is and how that makes her so much better than everyone else it talks about how being different and in this case loving bird-watching resulted in bullying and the need to hide yourself. Adelia also was an amputee which I thought was just an amazing addition to the story and it didn't prevent her from doing anything with the other but rather just referenced throughout the story as her prosthetic became uncomfortable.
I also ADORED the plot it was very fast paced and I was kept intrigued the WHOLE time! The magic system was great, if only a little unoriginal. I loved the whole mission and the key situation. There were big hints dropped about the big twist but it still wasn't confirmed and just made the story even more interesting. The writing was also AMAZING for the authors first book, I really loved all the descriptions, the only thing that I thought let it down a little was the dialogue. At the start I thought it was a bit weird and awkward, but it did get better throughout the book.
Overall I CANNOT wait for the next book because that ending!! It wasn't a terrible cliffhanger but it definitely leaves room for another book and I am really excited to journey into this world again!
Thanks to Book of Matches Media and the author for an Earc, this in no way impacted my review and all my thoughts are my own.
If you like:
✨ Forced proximity
✨ angsty romantic interest with a tragic backstory and hidden secrets
✨ Found Family
✨ Dislike to lovers
✨ Faerie Courts
✨ Family is the most important thing
✨ Amputee rep
Then you'll love this book!
"The Prince, the birdwatcher, the leader, the muscle, the optimist and the flirt."
I absolutely loved all of the characters! They were written so well! And the found family!!!!! I love found family and this one was done SO well! I loved the groups whole dynamic and all their backstories although we still need to figure out Rory's!
The Romance! I loved the romance because it was definitely a subplot but also really contributed to the story and I just loved them! AND THAT ENDING HAD ME SCREAMING. Everything happened in the last few pages!
"She was the light to his dark, and he'd tear the world apart to be with her again."
There was also a lot of good representation in this books which I loved! It was the 'not like other girls trope' but instead of emphasizing how different she is and how that makes her so much better than everyone else it talks about how being different and in this case loving bird-watching resulted in bullying and the need to hide yourself. Adelia also was an amputee which I thought was just an amazing addition to the story and it didn't prevent her from doing anything with the other but rather just referenced throughout the story as her prosthetic became uncomfortable.
"She looked down at her leg shamefully. Her leg was a part of who she was and she'd forgotten that. And she didn't need to be shamed. She was a usurious, a fighter and her prosthetic leg was only proof of that."
I also ADORED the plot it was very fast paced and I was kept intrigued the WHOLE time! The magic system was great, if only a little unoriginal. I loved the whole mission and the key situation. There were big hints dropped about the big twist but it still wasn't confirmed and just made the story even more interesting. The writing was also AMAZING for the authors first book, I really loved all the descriptions, the only thing that I thought let it down a little was the dialogue. At the start I thought it was a bit weird and awkward, but it did get better throughout the book.
Overall I CANNOT wait for the next book because that ending!! It wasn't a terrible cliffhanger but it definitely leaves room for another book and I am really excited to journey into this world again!
Thanks to Book of Matches Media and the author for an Earc, this in no way impacted my review and all my thoughts are my own.
September 19, 2022
Actual Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 (3.5 stars)
Huge thank you to Book of Matches Media and T.L. Wilson for sharing this awesome e-arc with me! The following review reflects my honest reading experience.
The Molten Key is a brilliant debut novel from author T.L. Wilson! I was immediately captivated by the lead character, Adelia, and her love for all things birdwatching! Adelia’s life is turned upside down when her father goes missing and she discovers the magical world of Faerie. Adelia teams up with a group of Fae warriors to find her father and save Faerie.
T.L. Wilson did a fantastic job with world-building. Faerie is divided into courts, each centering around a specific element. The Fae in each court have the powers of that element. I got major Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes and I absolutely loved it! (Maewyn actually reminded me of Toph, but with ice powers instead of earth-bending.) In The Molten Key we get to explore the Wind Court and the Molten Court. I am actually obsessed with the Wind Court. It sounds beautiful! I definitely want to visit!
The plot of The Molten Key is super intriguing! It was fast-paced, exciting, and full of action. There’s magic, epic battles, exciting twists, and a bit of romance. I will say that the big twist is fairly predictable. However, I didn’t really mind it. The author definitely laid the breadcrumbs throughout the story, so it was fun to pick up the clues and guess what the reveal would be.
I loved all the different characters in The Molten Key. They make such a great team. Found family is one of my favorite tropes . . .
“The six of them formed a tight circle. The Prince, the birdwatcher, the leader, the muscle, the optimist, and the flirt. Six Fae from completely different upbringings, different courts, different worlds even. But together, they were one. They were halves of a whole.”
Maewyn and Rory are definitely two of my favorites. The story is mainly told from Adelia’s perspective, but there are a few other points of view mixed in. I actually wish that there was more of these chapters. The other POVs didn’t get introduced until the second half of the story. It would have added so much more to the story and its development if these had been included earlier. I think this is especially true for the romance between Adelia and Ash. I liked the chemistry between the two, but the actual romance felt a little too insta-lovey for me. They didn’t really have many big moments and suddenly they’re totally falling for each other. I’d have just liked some more development between the two.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Molten Key. It was exciting and magical! Plus it ends with a big cliffhanger that has me super excited for book two!
“The storm wasn’t over. she was the storm and she was just getting started.”
THE MOLTEN KEY IS SET TO BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2022.
Huge thank you to Book of Matches Media and T.L. Wilson for sharing this awesome e-arc with me! The following review reflects my honest reading experience.
The Molten Key is a brilliant debut novel from author T.L. Wilson! I was immediately captivated by the lead character, Adelia, and her love for all things birdwatching! Adelia’s life is turned upside down when her father goes missing and she discovers the magical world of Faerie. Adelia teams up with a group of Fae warriors to find her father and save Faerie.
T.L. Wilson did a fantastic job with world-building. Faerie is divided into courts, each centering around a specific element. The Fae in each court have the powers of that element. I got major Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes and I absolutely loved it! (Maewyn actually reminded me of Toph, but with ice powers instead of earth-bending.) In The Molten Key we get to explore the Wind Court and the Molten Court. I am actually obsessed with the Wind Court. It sounds beautiful! I definitely want to visit!
The plot of The Molten Key is super intriguing! It was fast-paced, exciting, and full of action. There’s magic, epic battles, exciting twists, and a bit of romance. I will say that the big twist is fairly predictable. However, I didn’t really mind it. The author definitely laid the breadcrumbs throughout the story, so it was fun to pick up the clues and guess what the reveal would be.
I loved all the different characters in The Molten Key. They make such a great team. Found family is one of my favorite tropes . . .
“The six of them formed a tight circle. The Prince, the birdwatcher, the leader, the muscle, the optimist, and the flirt. Six Fae from completely different upbringings, different courts, different worlds even. But together, they were one. They were halves of a whole.”
Maewyn and Rory are definitely two of my favorites. The story is mainly told from Adelia’s perspective, but there are a few other points of view mixed in. I actually wish that there was more of these chapters. The other POVs didn’t get introduced until the second half of the story. It would have added so much more to the story and its development if these had been included earlier. I think this is especially true for the romance between Adelia and Ash. I liked the chemistry between the two, but the actual romance felt a little too insta-lovey for me. They didn’t really have many big moments and suddenly they’re totally falling for each other. I’d have just liked some more development between the two.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Molten Key. It was exciting and magical! Plus it ends with a big cliffhanger that has me super excited for book two!
“The storm wasn’t over. she was the storm and she was just getting started.”
THE MOLTEN KEY IS SET TO BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2022.
October 4, 2022
I received a copy of the book from the author and BOMM in exchange for an honest review.
The Molten Key is a fantastical debut with a detailed plot and heart warming characters!
Adelia was an amazing character whose POV was an intriguing way of watching the plot unravel. She lives her life as a human until a mysterious fae ends up in her room after her father gone missing. She learns about the existence of fae and this magical world of theirs. She has to travel to their world to rescue her father with this group of fae.
Characters:
Adelia was an amazing character and I fell in love with her easily. She is thrust into a world unknown to her but she takes it in stride and move forward with strength and determination. She is fearless and determined to protect the people she loves. She had to make tough choices but she was compassionate and protective. She did not let her disability stop her from loving her life and she was proud of her life. She did not let peer pressure stop her from living her life the way she wanted.
Ash was an enigma from the beginning. He came off as aloof and demanding. But as the story progressed, he is shown to be a fierce protector of his friends and someone who wants to save his world. He has secrets of his own which were a shock when revealed. He was a fun and entertaining character throughout the book.
The members of the Faerie Guard were an intriguing and fun bunch. They treated each other like a family and protected each other at every turn. I loved the way they carried each other and the way they treated Adelia.
Plot:
I loved the plot so much. The fact that human world was separated from the fae world and how they travel through them was fascinating. The plot was detailed and the writing was effortless and captivating. The magic system was intriguing. It was different from the other stories with fae that added to the charm.
The relationships between the characters were heart warming. I loved watching them interact with each other. Adelia and Ash were adorable together. The constant bickering and flirting was such a fun element throughout the book.
The ending was heart wrenching and I’m in dire need of the sequel!
The Molten Key is a fantastical debut with a detailed plot and heart warming characters!
Adelia was an amazing character whose POV was an intriguing way of watching the plot unravel. She lives her life as a human until a mysterious fae ends up in her room after her father gone missing. She learns about the existence of fae and this magical world of theirs. She has to travel to their world to rescue her father with this group of fae.
Characters:
Adelia was an amazing character and I fell in love with her easily. She is thrust into a world unknown to her but she takes it in stride and move forward with strength and determination. She is fearless and determined to protect the people she loves. She had to make tough choices but she was compassionate and protective. She did not let her disability stop her from loving her life and she was proud of her life. She did not let peer pressure stop her from living her life the way she wanted.
Ash was an enigma from the beginning. He came off as aloof and demanding. But as the story progressed, he is shown to be a fierce protector of his friends and someone who wants to save his world. He has secrets of his own which were a shock when revealed. He was a fun and entertaining character throughout the book.
The members of the Faerie Guard were an intriguing and fun bunch. They treated each other like a family and protected each other at every turn. I loved the way they carried each other and the way they treated Adelia.
Plot:
I loved the plot so much. The fact that human world was separated from the fae world and how they travel through them was fascinating. The plot was detailed and the writing was effortless and captivating. The magic system was intriguing. It was different from the other stories with fae that added to the charm.
The relationships between the characters were heart warming. I loved watching them interact with each other. Adelia and Ash were adorable together. The constant bickering and flirting was such a fun element throughout the book.
The ending was heart wrenching and I’m in dire need of the sequel!
September 15, 2022
I received an e-arc of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review:
I have been looking for a good fae book for a while now and when I stumbled upon the author's Tik Tok, I couldn't resist the urge to request an arc copy of this book. With that being said, I really loved the idea of this book. I liked how each court was its own element. I really like the familiars in this book. I do wish they were explored a bit more as well as their bonds. I thought the magic abilities were interesting. However, poor Adelia pretty much only got one training session and even that wasn't very long. She needed more time with her magic.
I really did like Adelia. There were times I did feel a bit annoyed by her. If she had maybe received more training or made more of an effort to be proactive I think I would have liked her more. Ash was a bit disappointing. Not only as a love interest but as one of the main characters as well. He had so much potential but he was just so predictable. I could easily see what he was and what his decisions were going to be. Don't get me started on their romance. It was not fun. All they did was pick on each other and yet they couldn't stop thinking about each other. They literally only have two bonding moments and with one of them, she got drunk off of magic lake water. I am never a fan of drunk scenes when they are used to further a romance. Ash didn't take advantage but it wasn't a good look for either character. My absolute favorite character was Maewyn. She should have been the main character in my opinion. I couldn't get enough of her character.
Overall, as much as I critiqued it, I did enjoy the book. It is a bit predictable, but as long as that wouldn't bother you, this is a fun read. I am really hoping the author expands more on the fae world and its powers in the next book.
I have been looking for a good fae book for a while now and when I stumbled upon the author's Tik Tok, I couldn't resist the urge to request an arc copy of this book. With that being said, I really loved the idea of this book. I liked how each court was its own element. I really like the familiars in this book. I do wish they were explored a bit more as well as their bonds. I thought the magic abilities were interesting. However, poor Adelia pretty much only got one training session and even that wasn't very long. She needed more time with her magic.
I really did like Adelia. There were times I did feel a bit annoyed by her. If she had maybe received more training or made more of an effort to be proactive I think I would have liked her more. Ash was a bit disappointing. Not only as a love interest but as one of the main characters as well. He had so much potential but he was just so predictable. I could easily see what he was and what his decisions were going to be. Don't get me started on their romance. It was not fun. All they did was pick on each other and yet they couldn't stop thinking about each other. They literally only have two bonding moments and with one of them, she got drunk off of magic lake water. I am never a fan of drunk scenes when they are used to further a romance. Ash didn't take advantage but it wasn't a good look for either character. My absolute favorite character was Maewyn. She should have been the main character in my opinion. I couldn't get enough of her character.
Overall, as much as I critiqued it, I did enjoy the book. It is a bit predictable, but as long as that wouldn't bother you, this is a fun read. I am really hoping the author expands more on the fae world and its powers in the next book.
August 24, 2025
E-ARC REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @drbookworm_ for sending me an early copy of The Molten Key, the first book in The Molten Fae series🫶
In this story we follow Adelia who comes home one day to find her world turned upside down. Her dad is missing with only a key left behind. On a quest to find out what happened to him she teams up with a group of fae warriors who are looking for said key to prevent a war brewing in the world of faerie. Adelia decides to hide the key, knowing they wouldn’t let her come with them otherwise, leaving her father to suffer in the hands of the Molten fae. As the group prepares to take on a dangerous rescue mission, we uncover truths about her father’s past and discover that Adelia’s not the only one keeping secrets.
Let me start by saying this was such a fun and fast paced read. I really found myself immersed in the world T.L Wilson created and the elemental magic somehow felt refreshing/new despite being done so many times. I found Adelia’s character super endearing, I totally understood her motivations and was invested in her journey. You really felt the love she has for her dad and how she learned to love and trust her fellow comrades on their adventures together. And ASH🫠 I loved all the scenes between him and Adelia. He was the perfect mix of cocky arrogance whilst also being a total simp for her and of course he’s got a tortured past - what’s not to love!
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star for me is because I feel this would have benefitted from being slightly longer as I would have loved to see more scenes with Ash and Adelia to make their relationship feel a little more believable, also more tension/angst build up because those cave scenes🥵 I also would have loved more scenes with the rest of the faerie guard although I have a feeling we will get that in book 2 (The Wind Scepter) which I’m planning to dive right into after that ending💔
Favourite quote: “you’re the reason I smile everyday. The reason I keep fighting. You set my soul on fire Adelia”
If you love fae, elemental magic, forced proximity, strong fmcs and found family then you will love this one and I’d definitely recommend adding it to your tbr🥰
Thank you @drbookworm_ for sending me an early copy of The Molten Key, the first book in The Molten Fae series🫶
In this story we follow Adelia who comes home one day to find her world turned upside down. Her dad is missing with only a key left behind. On a quest to find out what happened to him she teams up with a group of fae warriors who are looking for said key to prevent a war brewing in the world of faerie. Adelia decides to hide the key, knowing they wouldn’t let her come with them otherwise, leaving her father to suffer in the hands of the Molten fae. As the group prepares to take on a dangerous rescue mission, we uncover truths about her father’s past and discover that Adelia’s not the only one keeping secrets.
Let me start by saying this was such a fun and fast paced read. I really found myself immersed in the world T.L Wilson created and the elemental magic somehow felt refreshing/new despite being done so many times. I found Adelia’s character super endearing, I totally understood her motivations and was invested in her journey. You really felt the love she has for her dad and how she learned to love and trust her fellow comrades on their adventures together. And ASH🫠 I loved all the scenes between him and Adelia. He was the perfect mix of cocky arrogance whilst also being a total simp for her and of course he’s got a tortured past - what’s not to love!
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star for me is because I feel this would have benefitted from being slightly longer as I would have loved to see more scenes with Ash and Adelia to make their relationship feel a little more believable, also more tension/angst build up because those cave scenes🥵 I also would have loved more scenes with the rest of the faerie guard although I have a feeling we will get that in book 2 (The Wind Scepter) which I’m planning to dive right into after that ending💔
Favourite quote: “you’re the reason I smile everyday. The reason I keep fighting. You set my soul on fire Adelia”
If you love fae, elemental magic, forced proximity, strong fmcs and found family then you will love this one and I’d definitely recommend adding it to your tbr🥰
October 4, 2022
"Fear was a cage, and she felt compelled to break free "
The Molten Key had my attention from the very first page.
I loved the range of characters, their different personality brought something vital to the team, I would love to see the back stories of the other guards.
The magic system was easy to follow, I felt the Molten are a fresh take on the elemental magic system, which I really enjoyed.
I loved everything about the bird watching and the familiars.
If you enjoy
🗝 Forced proximity
🗝 Found Family
🗝 Faerie Courts
🗝 Amputee rep
🗝 Dislike to lovers
🗝 Mythical creatures
I had so many theories while reading it and most of them were wrong, the rest unanswered.
I do wish Adelia and her love interested had more of a connection but I'm still here for them!
Thankyou Taylor for an arc of The Molten Key, In exchange for an honest review.
I look forward to the next instalment
The Molten Key had my attention from the very first page.
I loved the range of characters, their different personality brought something vital to the team, I would love to see the back stories of the other guards.
The magic system was easy to follow, I felt the Molten are a fresh take on the elemental magic system, which I really enjoyed.
I loved everything about the bird watching and the familiars.
If you enjoy
🗝 Forced proximity
🗝 Found Family
🗝 Faerie Courts
🗝 Amputee rep
🗝 Dislike to lovers
🗝 Mythical creatures
I had so many theories while reading it and most of them were wrong, the rest unanswered.
I do wish Adelia and her love interested had more of a connection but I'm still here for them!
Thankyou Taylor for an arc of The Molten Key, In exchange for an honest review.
I look forward to the next instalment
October 4, 2022
4 stars for me!
-
I absolutely adored the writing style of this book. I think Taylor truly mastered her own fantasy world and characters. I felt like the world-building was pretty quick and easy to understand, and there’s a map! There is a hint of romance, but it is not the focal point of the book, which I actually loved. It was great to see a protagonist who loves her family above anything else!
-
The main character, Adelia, is super witty and I found myself laughing several times throughout the book. Here is a quote with 0 context:
“Who do you think I am? Crocodile Dundee, animal wrangler extraordinaire?”
There are also a few subtle Tangled references, so as a diehard Disney fan, I was ecstatic!
-
Overall, I really liked this book! It did end on a bit of cliff-hanger, leaving the story open for a second book! I am super grateful to have had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in fantasy and strong, witty female protagonists. Also, Canadian readers will appreciate the Canada Goose comparison!
-
I absolutely adored the writing style of this book. I think Taylor truly mastered her own fantasy world and characters. I felt like the world-building was pretty quick and easy to understand, and there’s a map! There is a hint of romance, but it is not the focal point of the book, which I actually loved. It was great to see a protagonist who loves her family above anything else!
-
The main character, Adelia, is super witty and I found myself laughing several times throughout the book. Here is a quote with 0 context:
“Who do you think I am? Crocodile Dundee, animal wrangler extraordinaire?”
There are also a few subtle Tangled references, so as a diehard Disney fan, I was ecstatic!
-
Overall, I really liked this book! It did end on a bit of cliff-hanger, leaving the story open for a second book! I am super grateful to have had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in fantasy and strong, witty female protagonists. Also, Canadian readers will appreciate the Canada Goose comparison!
September 27, 2022
You can find this review of The Molten Key on my blog, Heart's Content!
A big shout out and thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author, T. L. Wilson for including me in the ARC tour for The Molten Key and providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
There is also a pre-order incentive for readers! All you have to do to claim your pre-order art is submit your proof of purchase here!!
The Molten Key by T. L. Wilson packs a lot in a book that’s less than 400 pages. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure on what I was stepping into, but the book transitions smoothly, helping the reader ease into the new world created by the author. The world building was definitely one of the most well-done aspects of the book and despite being novel in its own way, the world was fairly simply to understand.
The pace of the book felt different for me in the first half than it did in the second half. The first half was good, well-paced and balanced; but the second half (about sixty percent forward) was a sprint. The book really picks up pace and doesn’t let up until the very end.
The writing is fairly gripping and by the end of the book the author’s writing feels like it’s grown. However for most of the first half I found the writing to feel young, which made the characters in the book seem younger. So despite being a new-adult seeming genre (from the dialogues and description) the voice of the characters seemed to fall into the YA bracket. So when the dialogues or situations were NA, it was a little surprising while reading them because it felt out of place at times. However, the POV shifts were well done! Which is a big feat for any writer. Usually I’m not a fan of multiple POVs, but somehow with more POVs I only seemed to enjoy the book more! Also, LOVED the Tangled reference!
I personally loved the representation in the book very much. There are many ways I’ve seen rep being written and this was another way that I truly respected; where the protagonist has already developed a healthy relationship about themselves and the situations slowly but surely help the protagonist build on that confidence and self-love.
I loved how different many aspects of this book are, and I wish I could talk about them, but they’re spoiler-y. The plot was evident from the beginning and the plot threads were neatly strung throughout the story and the editing was tight. The twists in the book were really well done; even if you see some part of it coming, you won’t see the whole picture until it’s revealed. In my eyes that’s a big plus for a debut author.
The love story was fairly insta-lust like. Insta-anything is really hard to write and it is even harder when it’s the base for the development of a romantic arc in a book. I wasn’t particularly rooting for or invested in their story, but the love story is just a small part of the whole book and because of how strong the plot and how tight the book was it wasn’t too difficult to look past it.
The last forty percent of the book definitely increased my rating. Three stars! This book is available for free for all the KU subscribers. Happy reading!
A big shout out and thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author, T. L. Wilson for including me in the ARC tour for The Molten Key and providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
There is also a pre-order incentive for readers! All you have to do to claim your pre-order art is submit your proof of purchase here!!
The Molten Key by T. L. Wilson packs a lot in a book that’s less than 400 pages. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure on what I was stepping into, but the book transitions smoothly, helping the reader ease into the new world created by the author. The world building was definitely one of the most well-done aspects of the book and despite being novel in its own way, the world was fairly simply to understand.
The pace of the book felt different for me in the first half than it did in the second half. The first half was good, well-paced and balanced; but the second half (about sixty percent forward) was a sprint. The book really picks up pace and doesn’t let up until the very end.
The writing is fairly gripping and by the end of the book the author’s writing feels like it’s grown. However for most of the first half I found the writing to feel young, which made the characters in the book seem younger. So despite being a new-adult seeming genre (from the dialogues and description) the voice of the characters seemed to fall into the YA bracket. So when the dialogues or situations were NA, it was a little surprising while reading them because it felt out of place at times. However, the POV shifts were well done! Which is a big feat for any writer. Usually I’m not a fan of multiple POVs, but somehow with more POVs I only seemed to enjoy the book more! Also, LOVED the Tangled reference!
I personally loved the representation in the book very much. There are many ways I’ve seen rep being written and this was another way that I truly respected; where the protagonist has already developed a healthy relationship about themselves and the situations slowly but surely help the protagonist build on that confidence and self-love.
I loved how different many aspects of this book are, and I wish I could talk about them, but they’re spoiler-y. The plot was evident from the beginning and the plot threads were neatly strung throughout the story and the editing was tight. The twists in the book were really well done; even if you see some part of it coming, you won’t see the whole picture until it’s revealed. In my eyes that’s a big plus for a debut author.
The love story was fairly insta-lust like. Insta-anything is really hard to write and it is even harder when it’s the base for the development of a romantic arc in a book. I wasn’t particularly rooting for or invested in their story, but the love story is just a small part of the whole book and because of how strong the plot and how tight the book was it wasn’t too difficult to look past it.
The last forty percent of the book definitely increased my rating. Three stars! This book is available for free for all the KU subscribers. Happy reading!
July 29, 2025
"I'll spend forever trying to prove to you I'm worthy of you. You're worth it, Adelia. You came in like a blazing sun to brighten up my life. I'm not giving you up that easily."
⭐️ 3.75
T.L. Wilson did a decent job with world-building. Faerie is divided into courts, each centering around a specific element. The Fae in each court have the powers of that element. It definitely gives major Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes , but in a good way.
While the storyline and major plot twist were extremely predictable (no way you could miss it coming), the balance between action storyline, character development and romance kept me entertained.
The romance left somethings to be desired in my opinion. I love good banter and tension but these two mostly just gave each other a hard time with no real good reason, while harboring all consuming thoughts of each other, again with no real basis as to why. It was each keeping secrets and butting heads but still falling for each other instantly without many interactions that would make it believable as to WHY they were falling for each other.
I was more interested in Maewyn and Rory dynamic. They were adorable. I’m excited to see more of them going forward. I think now that Adelia and Ash have admitted their feelings, I’ll enjoy the romance and trials to get back to one another.
MMC: Ash is self sacrificing, self loathing and just a character your heart bleeds for.
FMC: Adelia is a survivor , she doesn’t let her disability hinder her and she fights for her loved ones.
I also enjoyed the camaraderie between the guard members up until the end of the book. I feel like it did a 180? I was super disappointed in what happened with Teilio… the team abandoned them and then the scene immediately after went straight into how the six of them “were one”, all together. Like ….. they left her, her father died, then they come back and are like um yep one big happy family???? None apologized for leaving her or not being there to save her father??? Like I get they were mad and strategizing but come on. That whole scene just was very very off for me.
I think as a debut novel it definitely deserves a read and i’m excited to see what happens with the next book. I’m hoping some of these things will be resolved in the follow up storyline.
Thank you to the author for the ARC read!
Tropes:
- reluctant allies
- Elemental fae magic
- Secrets and prophecy
- Found family
________________________________
ARC Read, ARC Review, Thread of Bones, Enemies to lovers
#arcreader #arcreview
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2022
I just finished this book and wish I could read it again for the first time.
It was magical in every sense of the word!
The first chapter is a delight as we are introduced to the main character/ birdwatcher extraordinaire Adelia Larson. I have a newfound appreciation for how magical birds can be. The first chapter starts out on a calm day with a storm brewing in the distance. It only takes a few chapters for Adelia’s whole world to turn upside down. Her dad, and only family, goes missing and she must team up with 4 strangers to find him. They just happen to be Fae and part of the Faerie Guard. Warriors with different elemental powers tasked with protecting Faerie and the elemental courts. Without giving away too much of the story, we follow Adelia alongside Ash, Novak, Rory, and Maewyn as they transverse through Faerie on a quest to find the Molten key, save Adelia’s dad, and prevent war and destruction by the Molten Fae.
This book has some great world building as it introduces the land, cities, and creatures of Faerie. Setting up a magical world with fantastical things, but danger looming in the distance. While the story is fun and whimsical at times, it is also dark and menacing. The battle/fighting scenes have real consequences. They are also written immensely well, as I was able to play them out like a movie scene in my head.
The author, T.L Wilson, has a consistent voice throughout the story. I love how she leaves you delicious breadcrumbs to piece together some of the big twists. If you’re paying attention to the details, you’ll probably guess at least one of the big twists. That being said, it doesn’t take away from those moments.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was easy and fun to read. Moving at a fast, but steady pace you could easily finish it in a day or two.
The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger leaving you wanting more. Luckily for us this is only book 1, in hopefully a long series. Can’t wait to read the next one and find out more about the world of “The Molten Key”
It was magical in every sense of the word!
The first chapter is a delight as we are introduced to the main character/ birdwatcher extraordinaire Adelia Larson. I have a newfound appreciation for how magical birds can be. The first chapter starts out on a calm day with a storm brewing in the distance. It only takes a few chapters for Adelia’s whole world to turn upside down. Her dad, and only family, goes missing and she must team up with 4 strangers to find him. They just happen to be Fae and part of the Faerie Guard. Warriors with different elemental powers tasked with protecting Faerie and the elemental courts. Without giving away too much of the story, we follow Adelia alongside Ash, Novak, Rory, and Maewyn as they transverse through Faerie on a quest to find the Molten key, save Adelia’s dad, and prevent war and destruction by the Molten Fae.
This book has some great world building as it introduces the land, cities, and creatures of Faerie. Setting up a magical world with fantastical things, but danger looming in the distance. While the story is fun and whimsical at times, it is also dark and menacing. The battle/fighting scenes have real consequences. They are also written immensely well, as I was able to play them out like a movie scene in my head.
The author, T.L Wilson, has a consistent voice throughout the story. I love how she leaves you delicious breadcrumbs to piece together some of the big twists. If you’re paying attention to the details, you’ll probably guess at least one of the big twists. That being said, it doesn’t take away from those moments.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was easy and fun to read. Moving at a fast, but steady pace you could easily finish it in a day or two.
The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger leaving you wanting more. Luckily for us this is only book 1, in hopefully a long series. Can’t wait to read the next one and find out more about the world of “The Molten Key”
July 30, 2025
I blasted through this book in two days. It's such a fun read!
I'd describe this story as Baldur's Gate meets Avatar the Last Airbender, but in the modern day. Like if you had a crush on Astarion, you're going to really like the love interest in this. White hair, leather pants, stabby, uses flirty banter to mask his hidden pain (I can fix him, but I might love him more as a sassy brat with amazing abs).
Plus the FMC is a nerd. And I don't mean 'oh she likes books a little too much,' kind of fake-nerdy girl used in most fiction. I mean she's an avid bird-watcher. There's something so delightful about how the author blends the magical with the mundane.
The disablity representation in this was actually some of the best I've ever read. I was a bit surprised to see that this is set in modern-day. The main character, Adelia, has a prosthetic limb and it's very much a part of her every day experience. So often I read fiction that's supposed to be representative, but that aspect of the plot is just totally forgotten most of the time and has no real bearing on the story. (I'm looking at you, Fourth Wing!) Addy's disability isn't treated like a quirk or or an afterthought, but a important part of her every day experience.
I've read a few reviews saying that they saw the 'twist' coming, but I totally didn't. I mean, I knew *something* was up, but I was mostly blindsided. Honestly, there are so many little mysteries and misdirections in the story that I was shocked by the big reveal. Who's who? Who's really pulling the strings? What's the real reason behind the war?
This is a great debut novel! There's plenty of action, magic, intrigue, and romance. There were a few points where I felt that the interpersonal conflict may have been resolved too easily, but that is a really minor gripe. I stayed up late to finish the book and immediately wanted to read the next.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
I'd describe this story as Baldur's Gate meets Avatar the Last Airbender, but in the modern day. Like if you had a crush on Astarion, you're going to really like the love interest in this. White hair, leather pants, stabby, uses flirty banter to mask his hidden pain (I can fix him, but I might love him more as a sassy brat with amazing abs).
Plus the FMC is a nerd. And I don't mean 'oh she likes books a little too much,' kind of fake-nerdy girl used in most fiction. I mean she's an avid bird-watcher. There's something so delightful about how the author blends the magical with the mundane.
The disablity representation in this was actually some of the best I've ever read. I was a bit surprised to see that this is set in modern-day. The main character, Adelia, has a prosthetic limb and it's very much a part of her every day experience. So often I read fiction that's supposed to be representative, but that aspect of the plot is just totally forgotten most of the time and has no real bearing on the story. (I'm looking at you, Fourth Wing!) Addy's disability isn't treated like a quirk or or an afterthought, but a important part of her every day experience.
I've read a few reviews saying that they saw the 'twist' coming, but I totally didn't. I mean, I knew *something* was up, but I was mostly blindsided. Honestly, there are so many little mysteries and misdirections in the story that I was shocked by the big reveal. Who's who? Who's really pulling the strings? What's the real reason behind the war?
This is a great debut novel! There's plenty of action, magic, intrigue, and romance. There were a few points where I felt that the interpersonal conflict may have been resolved too easily, but that is a really minor gripe. I stayed up late to finish the book and immediately wanted to read the next.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
August 27, 2025
Začítať sa do tejto knihy mi spočiatku robilo problém, keďže nie som fanúšik fantasy (a to som v detstve nečítala nič iné 😆). Ale keďže som si dala predsavzatie, že tento rok si rozšírim svoje čitateľské obzory, siahla som po tejto knihe. A urobila som dobre! The Molten Key je prvý diel série a zároveň autorkin debut. A je skvelý! Ak ste fanúšikom fantasy a nemáte radi obsiahle a príliš komplexné svety alebo sa do tohto žánru ešte len ponárate, potom je táto kniha presne pre vás.
Hlavnou hrdinkou je mladá Adelia Larson, zarytá pozorovateľka vtákov, žijúca svoj život naplno aj napriek svojmu postihnutiu - chýbajúcej končatine. Keď sa jedného dňa vráti domov z práce, nájde v kuchyni krv a vo svojej izbe cudzieho muža, ktorý sa prehrabáva jej bielizňou. Vysvitne, že cudzinec je Fae (osobne preferujem slovo vílák 🤣) a porozpráva Adelii o svete víl Faerie, z ktorého pochádza aj jej otec. Adeliin otec je nezvestný a je len na nej a skupine Faerie strážcov, aby ho zachránili a vyhli sa tak ďalšej vojne medzi Molten Court a Wind Court, keďže práve Teilio Larsen je výrobca Molten kľúča, ktorý udrží zákerný Molten ľud za barikádou.
Táto kniha (aka môj návrat k fantasy) je fakt super. Má mapu, víly, sexy víláka a dokonca aj playlist! Prídete si na svoje, ak ste fanúšikom trópov ako found family, slow-burn romance, či badass FMC. Dej je prirodzený, žiadne skoky či nevysvetlené pasáže (ak sa nejaké aj vyskytli, verím, že odpovede budú ďalej v sérii). Veľké plus má autorka za to, že aj napriek tomu, že sa z Adelie stala Fae, jej postihnutie jej zostalo - nazoaj sa mi páči, že sa z nej hneď nestala super neporaziteľná a dokonalá bojovníčka. Vedľajšie postavy boli tiež super napísané, hneď si ich zamilujete.
Jediné, čo by som tej knihe vytkla je, že sa tam striedali POVs, aj keď bola kniha písaná v er-forme. To mi došlo trošku zvláštne a myslím, že by sa to dalo urobiť aj inak. Okrem toho však tej knihe nemám čo vytknúť. Idem hneď na druhý diel. 🙌🏻
Hlavnou hrdinkou je mladá Adelia Larson, zarytá pozorovateľka vtákov, žijúca svoj život naplno aj napriek svojmu postihnutiu - chýbajúcej končatine. Keď sa jedného dňa vráti domov z práce, nájde v kuchyni krv a vo svojej izbe cudzieho muža, ktorý sa prehrabáva jej bielizňou. Vysvitne, že cudzinec je Fae (osobne preferujem slovo vílák 🤣) a porozpráva Adelii o svete víl Faerie, z ktorého pochádza aj jej otec. Adeliin otec je nezvestný a je len na nej a skupine Faerie strážcov, aby ho zachránili a vyhli sa tak ďalšej vojne medzi Molten Court a Wind Court, keďže práve Teilio Larsen je výrobca Molten kľúča, ktorý udrží zákerný Molten ľud za barikádou.
Táto kniha (aka môj návrat k fantasy) je fakt super. Má mapu, víly, sexy víláka a dokonca aj playlist! Prídete si na svoje, ak ste fanúšikom trópov ako found family, slow-burn romance, či badass FMC. Dej je prirodzený, žiadne skoky či nevysvetlené pasáže (ak sa nejaké aj vyskytli, verím, že odpovede budú ďalej v sérii). Veľké plus má autorka za to, že aj napriek tomu, že sa z Adelie stala Fae, jej postihnutie jej zostalo - nazoaj sa mi páči, že sa z nej hneď nestala super neporaziteľná a dokonalá bojovníčka. Vedľajšie postavy boli tiež super napísané, hneď si ich zamilujete.
Jediné, čo by som tej knihe vytkla je, že sa tam striedali POVs, aj keď bola kniha písaná v er-forme. To mi došlo trošku zvláštne a myslím, že by sa to dalo urobiť aj inak. Okrem toho však tej knihe nemám čo vytknúť. Idem hneď na druhý diel. 🙌🏻
October 3, 2022
A big thank you to @drbookworm_ and @bookofmatchesmedia for my eArc!
This book was easily one of my favorites this year. My friends can attest that I spoke about nothing other than this book while I was reading it and for a while after. I cannot wait for the next book!
The Molten Key was an awesome adventure full of joy, hope, despair and full on gasp! moments. I swear, I cried at least four times. I was blown away by Adelia’s character. She’s tenacious, determined, kind, unique and delightfully funny. I absolutely loved following her story adventuring through Faerie to find her father and save the realm. Adelia and the Faerie Guard were so individual and captivating, I couldn’t help but fall in love with them and root for their success even when I wasn’t sure that success lined up with my girl Adelia (or caused me severe pain). And talk about a fun slow burn romance! This book truly had me on the edge of my seat and wanting to step into the beautifully depicted world of Faerie!
T.L. Wilson truly has a talent for weaving a tale that keeps your attention, draws you in and pop from perspective to perspective with ease. I was so happy to see the representation of people with disabilities which is something that I’ve definitely been missing in my reads. I also learned so much about birds that I never thought I’d know! 🦜
The Molten Key is perfect for you if you love:
🗝 Beautiful Fae males with mysterious pasts
🗝 Big, gasp-worthy reveals
🗝 Found family and father-daughter relationships
🗝 Adventures in fantasy worlds
🗝 Birds!
The Molten Key
T.L. Wilson
This book was easily one of my favorites this year. My friends can attest that I spoke about nothing other than this book while I was reading it and for a while after. I cannot wait for the next book!
The Molten Key was an awesome adventure full of joy, hope, despair and full on gasp! moments. I swear, I cried at least four times. I was blown away by Adelia’s character. She’s tenacious, determined, kind, unique and delightfully funny. I absolutely loved following her story adventuring through Faerie to find her father and save the realm. Adelia and the Faerie Guard were so individual and captivating, I couldn’t help but fall in love with them and root for their success even when I wasn’t sure that success lined up with my girl Adelia (or caused me severe pain). And talk about a fun slow burn romance! This book truly had me on the edge of my seat and wanting to step into the beautifully depicted world of Faerie!
T.L. Wilson truly has a talent for weaving a tale that keeps your attention, draws you in and pop from perspective to perspective with ease. I was so happy to see the representation of people with disabilities which is something that I’ve definitely been missing in my reads. I also learned so much about birds that I never thought I’d know! 🦜
The Molten Key is perfect for you if you love:
🗝 Beautiful Fae males with mysterious pasts
🗝 Big, gasp-worthy reveals
🗝 Found family and father-daughter relationships
🗝 Adventures in fantasy worlds
🗝 Birds!
The Molten Key
T.L. Wilson
October 3, 2022
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 🌶/5
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: October 3rd, 2022
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥.”
💙 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲:
🔥 Slow burn
🔥 Unique stories about Fae
🔥 Found family
📝 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Only one thing matters to Adelia Larson and that’s family. So when her father goes missing and the only clue left behind is her ransacked home and a mysterious iron key, Adelia must delve into his past and uncover his secrets. Except he is not who she thought he was: He’s a wanted fugitive with a stolen artifact needed to save Faerie from a war and Adelia is not the only one searching for him. When four Fae Guards, sworn protectors of the factions in Faerie, appear, they are searching for the key. Adelia makes the decision to keep the key hidden and force Novak, Rory, Maewyn, and Ash to help her find and rescue her father. Her choice is made increasingly hard when she begins to befriend them, especially the one with an irritating smirk that she finds more endearing than she should.
💭 𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I was so impressed with Taylor’s debut novel. Her writing is spectacular and she weaves incredible world building into a story that is so different from what I’ve read in other Fae-based fantasy novels. You immediately invest and connect with the characters, which I personally love in my books. And that ending! Way to leave us hanging! I for one cannot wait until the next book is released, if only so that I can binge it in one sitting because I NEED to know what happens next. Highly recommend this one!
Thank you to the author for an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! Happy pub day!!
👉🏻 Follow me on Instagram for more reviews & recs!
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 🌶/5
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: October 3rd, 2022
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥.”
💙 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲:
🔥 Slow burn
🔥 Unique stories about Fae
🔥 Found family
📝 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Only one thing matters to Adelia Larson and that’s family. So when her father goes missing and the only clue left behind is her ransacked home and a mysterious iron key, Adelia must delve into his past and uncover his secrets. Except he is not who she thought he was: He’s a wanted fugitive with a stolen artifact needed to save Faerie from a war and Adelia is not the only one searching for him. When four Fae Guards, sworn protectors of the factions in Faerie, appear, they are searching for the key. Adelia makes the decision to keep the key hidden and force Novak, Rory, Maewyn, and Ash to help her find and rescue her father. Her choice is made increasingly hard when she begins to befriend them, especially the one with an irritating smirk that she finds more endearing than she should.
💭 𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I was so impressed with Taylor’s debut novel. Her writing is spectacular and she weaves incredible world building into a story that is so different from what I’ve read in other Fae-based fantasy novels. You immediately invest and connect with the characters, which I personally love in my books. And that ending! Way to leave us hanging! I for one cannot wait until the next book is released, if only so that I can binge it in one sitting because I NEED to know what happens next. Highly recommend this one!
Thank you to the author for an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! Happy pub day!!
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August 31, 2025
A Stunning Debut Full of Magic, Danger, and Heart
T.L. Wilson's debut novel, "The Molten Key," is a fantastic entry into the fantasy genre, delivering everything fans could want: a compelling heroine, exquisite worldbuilding, and a plot that refuses to let you go.
We follow Adelia, a wonderfully relatable protagonist who discovers her Fae heritage after a human upbringing. Her perspective allows us to experience the breathtaking, and often dangerous, Fae world with a sense of awe and discovery. When her father vanishes and her home is destroyed by the terrifying Molten, Adelia is forced to join the Faerie Guard to find him, all while guarding a dangerous secret.
Wilson's worldbuilding is exceptional. She masterfully crafts both the beautiful, magical realms and the dark, perilous environments her characters must navigate. The plot rockets forward, introducing us to fantastic creatures like Fire Sprites, Harpies, the formidable Molten Fae, and a dangerous and negatively charged underground lake.
The characters are a highlight. The members of the Faerie Guard are a diverse and endearing group, but the core of the story revolves around the simmering attraction between Amelia and the enigmatic Ash. Their dynamic is perfectly paced and utterly captivating.
The ending is a masterstroke, a devastating cliffhanger that left me absolutely desperate for a sequel.
“The Molten Key" is a must-read for fantasy lovers, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
T.L. Wilson's debut novel, "The Molten Key," is a fantastic entry into the fantasy genre, delivering everything fans could want: a compelling heroine, exquisite worldbuilding, and a plot that refuses to let you go.
We follow Adelia, a wonderfully relatable protagonist who discovers her Fae heritage after a human upbringing. Her perspective allows us to experience the breathtaking, and often dangerous, Fae world with a sense of awe and discovery. When her father vanishes and her home is destroyed by the terrifying Molten, Adelia is forced to join the Faerie Guard to find him, all while guarding a dangerous secret.
Wilson's worldbuilding is exceptional. She masterfully crafts both the beautiful, magical realms and the dark, perilous environments her characters must navigate. The plot rockets forward, introducing us to fantastic creatures like Fire Sprites, Harpies, the formidable Molten Fae, and a dangerous and negatively charged underground lake.
The characters are a highlight. The members of the Faerie Guard are a diverse and endearing group, but the core of the story revolves around the simmering attraction between Amelia and the enigmatic Ash. Their dynamic is perfectly paced and utterly captivating.
The ending is a masterstroke, a devastating cliffhanger that left me absolutely desperate for a sequel.
“The Molten Key" is a must-read for fantasy lovers, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
October 8, 2022
What a unique Fae story!
Adelia is a bird-lover who’s only loyalty is to her father. But he goes missing and all she is left with is a key. When a Faerie Gaurd and strange Molten Fae show up in the human world looking for him, she goes on a wild journey into Faerie (a place she didn’t think was real) to find him. Will she fall for the mysterious Ash who is more cruel to her than kind? Will she discover a secret about herself she could have never imagined? You’ve definitely got to check it out!
I went in with no expectations and I really enjoyed this book! Adelia is a strong-willed, bird-loving FMC who has a positive outlook on life. She doesn’t let her hope fade and she perseveres through the tough things that get in her way. She is an amputee from an illness she had as a child and she is generally proud of who she is and not ashamed of her prosthetic leg. The author describes her life with her prosthetic and how she takes care of herself. It was really cool to learn more about this while reading a fantasy book!
Ash is such an interesting character. I thought I had him figured out, but was only partially wrong. I have a theory on another character too, but won’t give away any spoilers. There was a couple great reveals through the story too!
Thanks to the author, T. L. Wilson, for the ARC! I need book two to see what Adelia does next!
Adelia is a bird-lover who’s only loyalty is to her father. But he goes missing and all she is left with is a key. When a Faerie Gaurd and strange Molten Fae show up in the human world looking for him, she goes on a wild journey into Faerie (a place she didn’t think was real) to find him. Will she fall for the mysterious Ash who is more cruel to her than kind? Will she discover a secret about herself she could have never imagined? You’ve definitely got to check it out!
I went in with no expectations and I really enjoyed this book! Adelia is a strong-willed, bird-loving FMC who has a positive outlook on life. She doesn’t let her hope fade and she perseveres through the tough things that get in her way. She is an amputee from an illness she had as a child and she is generally proud of who she is and not ashamed of her prosthetic leg. The author describes her life with her prosthetic and how she takes care of herself. It was really cool to learn more about this while reading a fantasy book!
Ash is such an interesting character. I thought I had him figured out, but was only partially wrong. I have a theory on another character too, but won’t give away any spoilers. There was a couple great reveals through the story too!
Thanks to the author, T. L. Wilson, for the ARC! I need book two to see what Adelia does next!
November 16, 2022
The molten key by TL Wilson is a solid book one of a highly anticipated series by me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for disability representation. Our main female lead is an amputee and there's several instances throughout the book where she deals with her disability. Her amputation was brought up frequently and looked at as a strength and a testament to her bravery and ingenuity numerous times. I feel like it would make someone who is struggling with being an amputee so very proud of the situation they're in and how strong they truly are.
I do feel the second book will be made or broken on how much more the characters in the world get developed. I did find it a little light on the world building and character development of the side characters, but book two will be an excellent place to expand upon those things. Overall I feel what we did receive as far as the world building and character development was OK for a book one. I really did enjoy the slow burn romance between the main female lead and her male counterpart. It was a little too slow for me at times however. I wish we had gotten more development of that in book one, but again book 2 is being set up to be extremely action packed.
The story in this book is very original. I really like how the magic system is set up with natural elements and I can't wait to see more of that developed in book two as well. I definitely would like to get more into the political intrigue surrounding the storyline. Book one did an excellent job of setting that up and getting you drawn in.
If you were looking for a great book one fantasy with natural element magic and disability representation I highly recommend this book. The friendships developing and the storyline are absolutely unique to this book. Overall I give this book a solid 5/5 and I am looking very forward to the release of the second book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for disability representation. Our main female lead is an amputee and there's several instances throughout the book where she deals with her disability. Her amputation was brought up frequently and looked at as a strength and a testament to her bravery and ingenuity numerous times. I feel like it would make someone who is struggling with being an amputee so very proud of the situation they're in and how strong they truly are.
I do feel the second book will be made or broken on how much more the characters in the world get developed. I did find it a little light on the world building and character development of the side characters, but book two will be an excellent place to expand upon those things. Overall I feel what we did receive as far as the world building and character development was OK for a book one. I really did enjoy the slow burn romance between the main female lead and her male counterpart. It was a little too slow for me at times however. I wish we had gotten more development of that in book one, but again book 2 is being set up to be extremely action packed.
The story in this book is very original. I really like how the magic system is set up with natural elements and I can't wait to see more of that developed in book two as well. I definitely would like to get more into the political intrigue surrounding the storyline. Book one did an excellent job of setting that up and getting you drawn in.
If you were looking for a great book one fantasy with natural element magic and disability representation I highly recommend this book. The friendships developing and the storyline are absolutely unique to this book. Overall I give this book a solid 5/5 and I am looking very forward to the release of the second book.
August 20, 2022
Oh wow.
To be honest, I forgot what the book was about and completely went in blind.
I was entranced from the first chapter as we start to learn about Adelia and her uncanny knack for bird watching (i happen to think this was incredibly unique) which then turns into this magnificent plot I’ve never heard of before.
Taylor really knocked this out of the park, although I did guess some aspects pretty early on it’s not uncommon to guess plot points. (Sorry no spoilers.)
This does not have a HEA and there is a cliffhanger for book 2 but it’s incredibly interesting and kept my interest throughout the entire book.
Now I did receive this as an arc and am incredibly humbled to have had a chance to read this before release.
If you’re looking for a fantasy with minimum romance and no spice this is for you. It’s a definite re read for me.
I cannot wait to read book 2 to see how it ends.
(Also enjoy this quote I roared at, goes to show she’s really Canadian LOL)
“You’re like a Canada Goose. They think they’re tough. They scare people by flapping their wings and snapping their beaks, but at the end of the day… a goose is still a goose.”
*
The book follows Adelia as she is shoved into a magical land she never would have thought to be real, in search of her missing dad.
To be honest, I forgot what the book was about and completely went in blind.
I was entranced from the first chapter as we start to learn about Adelia and her uncanny knack for bird watching (i happen to think this was incredibly unique) which then turns into this magnificent plot I’ve never heard of before.
Taylor really knocked this out of the park, although I did guess some aspects pretty early on it’s not uncommon to guess plot points. (Sorry no spoilers.)
This does not have a HEA and there is a cliffhanger for book 2 but it’s incredibly interesting and kept my interest throughout the entire book.
Now I did receive this as an arc and am incredibly humbled to have had a chance to read this before release.
If you’re looking for a fantasy with minimum romance and no spice this is for you. It’s a definite re read for me.
I cannot wait to read book 2 to see how it ends.
(Also enjoy this quote I roared at, goes to show she’s really Canadian LOL)
“You’re like a Canada Goose. They think they’re tough. They scare people by flapping their wings and snapping their beaks, but at the end of the day… a goose is still a goose.”
*
The book follows Adelia as she is shoved into a magical land she never would have thought to be real, in search of her missing dad.
September 9, 2022
🗝The Molten Key🗝
Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Thank you T.W. Wilson for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. Adelia is the main character and she is also disabled. You don’t really see a disabled main character so I love that Wilson did this. I also love that Adelia isn’t ashamed of her disability she embraces it. Adelia is your not so normal girl because she would rather be staring up at the sky looking for birds than anything else.
When her dad goes missing she teams up with a group and in the process learns where she comes from. I loved the side characters in this book and we also get to have some of their POV which was really interesting. There is a slow burn romance in the book but it isn’t the focus of this book. There are also Tangled references in it and I love that! I loved the world that Wilson created, the building was pretty quick and easy to understand. This book does end on a cliffhanger that has me wanting to read the second book now because I need my heart to heal after what the end of this book did to it. Overall this was such a good book and I definitely recommend it!
Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Thank you T.W. Wilson for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. Adelia is the main character and she is also disabled. You don’t really see a disabled main character so I love that Wilson did this. I also love that Adelia isn’t ashamed of her disability she embraces it. Adelia is your not so normal girl because she would rather be staring up at the sky looking for birds than anything else.
When her dad goes missing she teams up with a group and in the process learns where she comes from. I loved the side characters in this book and we also get to have some of their POV which was really interesting. There is a slow burn romance in the book but it isn’t the focus of this book. There are also Tangled references in it and I love that! I loved the world that Wilson created, the building was pretty quick and easy to understand. This book does end on a cliffhanger that has me wanting to read the second book now because I need my heart to heal after what the end of this book did to it. Overall this was such a good book and I definitely recommend it!
August 17, 2025
I am in love with this book! It surprised me just how attached I became with Adelia and her journey to rescue her father! She’s such a unique character and I loved seeing her grow and develop in this book! And Ash… the man you are!! Had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time🤭🤭🤭
Key quotes (haha see what I did there;) )
- “She could pretend. She could lie. She would use them and do whatever she needed to save her father.”
- He couldn’t help but laugh. “If you wanted my clothes off so badly, you could have just asked, but now you’re drunk.”
- Right from the moment she met him, something about him had drawn her in. His eyes were filled with mystery that she could spend a lifetime solving.
- “I’ll spend forever trying to prove to you I’m worthy of you. You’re worth it, Adelia. You came in like a blazing sun to brighten up my life. I’m not giving you up that easily.”
-“She was the light to his dark, and he’d tear the world apart to be with her again.”
-“I wish we had more time too.” She watched him smile sadly again. “I always knew I’d fall in love with you.”
STARTING BOOK 2 NOW.!
Key quotes (haha see what I did there;) )
- “She could pretend. She could lie. She would use them and do whatever she needed to save her father.”
- He couldn’t help but laugh. “If you wanted my clothes off so badly, you could have just asked, but now you’re drunk.”
- Right from the moment she met him, something about him had drawn her in. His eyes were filled with mystery that she could spend a lifetime solving.
- “I’ll spend forever trying to prove to you I’m worthy of you. You’re worth it, Adelia. You came in like a blazing sun to brighten up my life. I’m not giving you up that easily.”
-“She was the light to his dark, and he’d tear the world apart to be with her again.”
-“I wish we had more time too.” She watched him smile sadly again. “I always knew I’d fall in love with you.”
STARTING BOOK 2 NOW.!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2022
The Molten Key is T.L Wilson’s debut novel. It has magic, it has adventure, it has meaning and faeries what more could you ask for?!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📝 First, the main character Adelia is perhaps my favourite part of this story. She’s smart, quirky, determined, and strong. Second, there was growth and mystery woven throughout the plot which was kept it interesting. Thirdly the world building and magic system was very fun and unique. I’ll admit I’m a sucker for detailed world building and history whereas this is more blunt but still entertaining. Overall, it’s an excellent debut novel and if you’re look for a new fantasy read with a strong FMC, interesting magic system, and adventure please check it out!
📚I received an ARC of this fantasy debut and I’m so glad I did!
🎧Reminder: The text to speech technology, found on your smartphone setting, is an excellent way to listen to arcs and ebooks that don’t have audio versions. It’s great if you’re busy, have trouble reading, or are suffering from an injury like myself. Reading is reading!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📝 First, the main character Adelia is perhaps my favourite part of this story. She’s smart, quirky, determined, and strong. Second, there was growth and mystery woven throughout the plot which was kept it interesting. Thirdly the world building and magic system was very fun and unique. I’ll admit I’m a sucker for detailed world building and history whereas this is more blunt but still entertaining. Overall, it’s an excellent debut novel and if you’re look for a new fantasy read with a strong FMC, interesting magic system, and adventure please check it out!
📚I received an ARC of this fantasy debut and I’m so glad I did!
🎧Reminder: The text to speech technology, found on your smartphone setting, is an excellent way to listen to arcs and ebooks that don’t have audio versions. It’s great if you’re busy, have trouble reading, or are suffering from an injury like myself. Reading is reading!
October 2, 2022
This was an exciting start to a new fantasy series! (And I definitely need book two after that ending)
Adelia was a great main character. I liked how she is interested in bird watching and is an amputee. When her father goes missing, she joins forces with a group of The Faerie Guards in order to find him. Along the way, the become family (I love the found family trope!).
The group of Faerie Guards are great! I really loved them. Novak, Rory, and Maewyn became easy favorite characters. (Ash slowly became a favorite) I'm also here for the budding romance between Rory and Maewyn! (or at least what I hope is a budding romance) I also really like how Novak's character grows as we learn more about her. The fourth member of the trio, Ash, is interesting. I liked the sweet moments between him and Adelia.
All in all, I can't wait to see what happens next in this series! Special thanks to the author for the e-ARC!
Adelia was a great main character. I liked how she is interested in bird watching and is an amputee. When her father goes missing, she joins forces with a group of The Faerie Guards in order to find him. Along the way, the become family (I love the found family trope!).
The group of Faerie Guards are great! I really loved them. Novak, Rory, and Maewyn became easy favorite characters. (Ash slowly became a favorite) I'm also here for the budding romance between Rory and Maewyn! (or at least what I hope is a budding romance) I also really like how Novak's character grows as we learn more about her. The fourth member of the trio, Ash, is interesting. I liked the sweet moments between him and Adelia.
All in all, I can't wait to see what happens next in this series! Special thanks to the author for the e-ARC!
January 11, 2023
My initial rating was 4 buuuuuuuuuut after reading another book I quickly realised that the hype was more about getting over a reading slump than about the book. Oops. why the 2star bump down? well.. I realised that although I can imagine liking it that much as a teen- as an adult I..didnt? so it was an imaginary 4-star rating with a realistic a bit lower than 3-star rating (aka 2)
It was a good book, enjoyable, with likable characters. It did feel a bit...rushed? Although I wouldn't have liked it to drag on either - but maybe a little bit more in terms of relationship-building between the characters?
I am also a bit scared for the next book- it seems that things will become more complex and I am not sure how the author will be able to tie it up nicely. (so many have disappointed me so far that I do not have it in me to hope anymore;p)
I would also say that this book..so far, seems more like a read for 14-17year olds too. Maybe that's why to me it felt like "not enough".
Well, that's all.
It was a good book, enjoyable, with likable characters. It did feel a bit...rushed? Although I wouldn't have liked it to drag on either - but maybe a little bit more in terms of relationship-building between the characters?
I am also a bit scared for the next book- it seems that things will become more complex and I am not sure how the author will be able to tie it up nicely. (so many have disappointed me so far that I do not have it in me to hope anymore;p)
I would also say that this book..so far, seems more like a read for 14-17year olds too. Maybe that's why to me it felt like "not enough".
Well, that's all.
August 27, 2022
Wow. This was a great book. The writing was so easy to read, but so magical at the same time. I honestly loved every second I was reading this book. Although it was a book about Fae, it felt unique and was very engaging.
The main character, Adelia, was a wonderful character. Having a prosthetic leg definitely made her an interesting character as she never let it affect the things that she did. She is such a strong character who also still has her flaws and I loved her. I also really enjoyed the other characters in this book and how diverse they were.
The storyline itself was very intriguing and always kept me wanting more. The twists were amazing and shocking for me to read.
I loved this book and I am so excited to read the next book and see what happens next! I highly recommend this book.
The main character, Adelia, was a wonderful character. Having a prosthetic leg definitely made her an interesting character as she never let it affect the things that she did. She is such a strong character who also still has her flaws and I loved her. I also really enjoyed the other characters in this book and how diverse they were.
The storyline itself was very intriguing and always kept me wanting more. The twists were amazing and shocking for me to read.
I loved this book and I am so excited to read the next book and see what happens next! I highly recommend this book.
August 28, 2022
I received an arc copy of The Molten Key in exchange for an honest review.
I could see this being the sort of fae book that interests a lot of people. It has fae, a female protagonist who is more than she thought she was, forced proximity, an angsty romantic interest with a tragic backstory, liar reveal, tragedy, and betrayal.
The problem was that while I know and often have fun with tropes, especially in YA stories, this one just sort of drove me insane. I’m going to keep this review brief because, besides the bird watching, there wasn’t much that I liked after I figured out what I liked. The magical system interesting bits started and ended there. It isn’t that I need a story to surprise me, but I would rather not be able to predict every step that is going to happen along the way.
This is a series, and if you enjoy a lot of those tropes, you’ll enjoy this story.
I could see this being the sort of fae book that interests a lot of people. It has fae, a female protagonist who is more than she thought she was, forced proximity, an angsty romantic interest with a tragic backstory, liar reveal, tragedy, and betrayal.
The problem was that while I know and often have fun with tropes, especially in YA stories, this one just sort of drove me insane. I’m going to keep this review brief because, besides the bird watching, there wasn’t much that I liked after I figured out what I liked. The magical system interesting bits started and ended there. It isn’t that I need a story to surprise me, but I would rather not be able to predict every step that is going to happen along the way.
This is a series, and if you enjoy a lot of those tropes, you’ll enjoy this story.
September 19, 2022
《Thoughts》
4 stars. NA Fantasy
T.L. Wilson delivers a solid debut novel that she should be really proud of and that everyone should check out because it's going to be really exciting to see where this story goes.
Full of fae, found family, dislike to lovers, elemental magic, and some creepy looking bad guys,The Molten Key fits right in with other popular books that fantasy readers will love!
I liked that Adelia had a prosthetic leg and was into birdwatching - these were unique aspects to her character that aren't seen much. And I'm also very interested to find out more about the other Fae Guard. I loved the camaraderie that Adelia found with them.
Again, a very solid first novel and I'm very curious to see where the story will go from here.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars. NA Fantasy
T.L. Wilson delivers a solid debut novel that she should be really proud of and that everyone should check out because it's going to be really exciting to see where this story goes.
Full of fae, found family, dislike to lovers, elemental magic, and some creepy looking bad guys,The Molten Key fits right in with other popular books that fantasy readers will love!
I liked that Adelia had a prosthetic leg and was into birdwatching - these were unique aspects to her character that aren't seen much. And I'm also very interested to find out more about the other Fae Guard. I loved the camaraderie that Adelia found with them.
Again, a very solid first novel and I'm very curious to see where the story will go from here.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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