She was one of thirteen humans stolen from their beds by the fey and returned a year later, each with a frightening gift. Now that Lydia can understand any language, the library is the perfect place for her to hide from the outside world, with only her raven for company.
Until she is again kidnapped by fey who want her to translate a mysterious book. But she must hide what the book reveals: that she is the one prophesied to kill the fey king.
With both the wicked king and a band of rebels after her, there is only one fey she can trust—a healer named Quinn with secrets of his own. But as her feelings for him deepen, so does her suspicion that it is not the king she is destined to kill… but Quinn himself.
Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Holly Black will love this new series full of dangerous politics, strange magic, and heart-racing romance.
Reminder: 3 stars on my rating scale as well as goodreads rating scale means I liked this one! I love love love a powerful heroine but I really wished she would have used her abilities more! We see her order a plant to die, I really wanted a scene of her walking through an army and commanding them to die and them falling at her feet. I also feel like the prophecy isn't really complete? Yes, Lydia kills the fey king. That is from the book. But we didn't even address the song in Quinns head, which says the king will kill HIS queen. Which to me sounds like the queen is in charge. At the end of book 1 we see that the rebels want Lydia as the queen. Maybe her death is still yet to come. I also felt like the reason for the mapmaker making the window and the reason for the 13th girls death was kind of a letdown. I feel like the 13th girl had the potential to be something really cool. Like maybe she wasn't dead but was really Isst. Or maybe she is trapped in the tower. Or something idk but instead we learn that she is just dead. Some more thoughts. We really only believe that Lydia's name is Lydia because she was found with a piece of paper in her pocket with that name on it. Is she really Lydia? Earlier in the book there was a quote about waves and ripples and time. Don't remember the exact quote but I wonder if we are dealing with separate timelines or parallel timelines instead of two separate worlds? Something with time? Also I really wanted more spice lol. For a book that uses the words cock and fuck, the sex scene was kind of flowery and vague I loved Isst! I really hope he is able to break out of his raven form and be free. I also wonder about all the creatures from the sorrowood, are they dead? Back to normal? Poof, disappeared?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
>a strong, smart librarian FMC that knows almost every language magical and real >a sawbones with many secrets, but dutiful in his work >dual PoV >prophecies and bonds >mad kings and secretive magical colleges >an undying forest full of old, powerful creatures lurking in the dark >rebels and usurpers >middle burn romance (not instalust but not super slow burn either)
It took me a minute to get into with the first part of this book because of the Mad King stereotype but I absolutely adored Lydia and Quinn and once they were in the Sorrowood and had more time together I was hooked. I love the authors ability to describe the creatures of the forest, it truly felt more like dark fantasy in that aspect! I’m interested in seeing what happens in the next book ❤️
Disclaimer: I received Dreaming Forest as an arc and I’m voluntarily leaving this review.
I almost DNF’d this but I had such high hopes I kept going.
What can I say…who doesn’t love a good fated mates trope? And the entire concept of Lydia’s powers, omnilinguism, was really interesting. Her powers extended past human language and I will end that part there to avoid spoilers.
However, I was disappointed with the plot as a whole. As I said, I love fated mates but the personality of the characters here were not developed well at all. I wasn’t rooting for the mc’s because I barely knew them. The love interest, Quinn…all we really know about him is that he’s a surgeon, he’s the rightful king of the Fey and he doesn’t want the throne. I could not tell you anything about his personality whatsoever, he is quite literally an unfinished canvas. We do learn a little more about the our heroine, Lydia, but not much. For example, she has this huge fear of the ocean but we never really learn why. Her time outside of the Changeling compound is referenced, but never really explored. And her “love story” with Quinn is so nonsensical I could not believe it.
I mean that literally; as in, I could not believe she had fallen in love with him. It was the worst case of insta-love I have ever read in my life. The time jumps at the end of the book were messy - all of a sudden Lydia can teleport and we never figure out how??? Just the entire ending as a whole made no sense and I found myself sitting there, flipping back and forth trying to see if I had missed something. I did not, in fact, miss something. There truly was just no explanation. I was very detached from these characters, and the plot, due to the poor development.
The two stars are for the almost interesting world building and the sassy talking sidekick raven. All in all, you can probably go ahead and just DNF this one.
This was a joy to read! I can't believe it's just been sitting on my bedside table for as long as it has, but paperbacks have a way of being neglected. I've read a lot of fae fantasy romance, but what made this one really stand out for me was the worldbuilding. And the lore! An intriguing back story and fascinating creatures (not just your standard swoony fae princes) make this story shine. The fated mates romance was delightful, with the addition of their being fated to kill one another, and it played out in a very satisfying way that has be eager for book 2. Highly recommend!
There are quite a few things in blurbs capable of catching my attention. Libraries, Fey Kings and Magical Forests are among those. So when I found this book on BookSirens I was intrigued, even though the cover is not the kind of cover I usually would pick up. I had wanted to read this book sooner, but last week I finally had the time to dive into this book. I was not expecting to be captured by the book quite so soon though.
From the very first moment this book grabbed me and refused to let me go. That's firstly because of the writing style. Something about the writing spoke to me. It was the right amount of lyrical and the right amount of easy to read. The dialogues flew nicely and even though there is a lot of world building the author found a great way to explain us everything we need to know without it becoming a collection of endless info-dumps.
I also loved the characters in this book. Both characters were different and had a different way to look at life and yet it's easy to see why they'd connect so easily. I loved how our heroine was a true scholar. Don't get me wrong. There totally have to be girls knowing how to fight, but sometimes it's nice to encounter a heroine fighting with intelligence without knowing anything about fighting with swords or other weapons. Especially because this heroine showed time after time how smart she truly was.
I have to admit that the romance developed a little quickly at times, but I can imagine that being in danger does that to people, gives that extra push. And the forest threatening to swallow the world was quite dangerous. I loved how that danger was there throughout the entire book. I loved it even more that the forest became more and more a sentient being with its own personality, wants and needs. And after the last revelation I'm quite excited to read the second book in the series!
3.85/5 stars ✨Pleasantly delighted by this cozy and captivating story. Absolutely adore the concept of a librarian with the power to read any language, modern or ancient.
The world building in the first 50% of the book took me a little bit to longer to work through, but the second half was jam packed with action. Lydia and Quinn are an easy pair to love along the way.
- Cozy but adventurous fairytale like fantasy
- Set in a magical wood with mystical creatures, curses/ prophecy storyline
-Fated Mates, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn 🌶️
-65/35 plot to romance ratio
- Third person dual point of view
This was unique and recommendable to fantasy readers. I would consider it middle level fantasy in terms of intense world building & storyline. I did feel that there were a lot of characters introduced in the beginning, and the final 2-3 chapters felt rushed. Also some chapters were really long, which doesn’t deter me but it was daunting seeing 52 minutes left in the chapter sometimes 😅. Overall there’s some great character development for the FMC, and I look forward to seeing where it goes.
I received an ARC copy of this book for free for a voluntary honest review. Thank you for sending this beautiful story my way.
I had been looking for a book to get back into reading. As an adolescent I was such a book worm, reading under my desk during class and staying up all night with a good book from the YA section. Now, as an adult in my late twenties, this book brought back that feeling for me. Once I got to Part 2 I couldn’t put it down. If you spent your youth poring over fairy books like I did, this story might capture your attention. An added bonus that I didn’t realize until I started reading is that it’s set in the Pacific Northwest, which was fun to discover as an Oregonian.
I loved the world building and the descriptions of the Green Country and all of the magical creatures and settings described by the author. Isst was probably the best character.
The dual perspectives of Quinn and Lydia and their fated connection were convincing to me. The slow (but not too slow) burn kept me turning the pages. I would have loved the book to be longer and delve more into their personalities, but maybe there will be more of that in Book 2.
To be honest, I wish that the blurb hadn’t given away the fact that the prophecy of Lydia killing the fey king might have been referring to Quinn. I don’t know if I would have seen that coming and it could have been a cool plot twist if it hadn’t been written in the description of the book.
There were a few anticlimactic storylines that left me wanting more from the author. Like the 13th changeling just being dead instead of locked in the tower or something. Or the powers of the other changelings. There was a bit of a lack of description of how the Sorrowood actually changed into the Dreaming Forest. I would have liked to know more about the transformation of the forest after Quinn’s sacrifice. I would have also liked to find out what exactly was done to Lydia and the other changelings in the tower to create the cursed forest. Also I thought them finding the ocean (when they found the tower) was going to be a bigger deal. It seemed like Quinn’s powers from his mother’s side were going to be key to finding the ocean that they weren’t sure still existed. But then Lydia led them there and it was all about the tower kind of? And is that why she was afraid of the ocean? I have questions.
Overall, I loved the story. I give it 4/5 stars because it made me feel like a bookworm again but in some ways it left me wanting more. Looking forward to Book 2!
The Dreaming Forest, by L.B.Black, is the first part of the in-progress duology, Secrets of the Sorrowood. It is in this world of faeries, spirits and magic that Lydia Reyes, is kidnapped and taken to. It is also the world where we meet the handsome male lead, Quinn, an army doctor in the Hunter King, Belimar's camp.
The author sets up the story by revealing that Lydia herself, is no stranger to the Fae world. This is not the first time she has been abducted and taken into this world. She is a ‘changeling’, who was taken from the human world when she was all but a child, and returned a year later, apparently unharmed. Except that now, she could understand and speak every language that has ever existed. Determined to make the best of her abilities , we see 21 year old Lydia, comfortable working among books as a librarian. And she has a personal raven, to boot.
Supremely uncomfortable in this world that had once taken her for itself, Lydia has no desire to stay here any longer than she has to. But the price for her escape, is translating a book written in a strange language. A book that is wanted by both, the ruthless king Belimar, as well as a group of rebels working to overthrow the former. A group which the attractive doctor may or may not be a part of. It is up to Lydia to make the choice. As the author takes us along on this journey where Lydia and Quinn end up traveling together, at some point having made common cause, we see them overcoming numerous struggles in an effort to save the world from, you guessed it, the Sorrowood.
The story is quite engaging from the beginning and keeps the reader engrossed. Though the reader might feel that the story gets predictable at a few places, it is still interesting enough to keep one going. This is perhaps mainly due to the characters, who with their individual and unique personalities make the reader persevere. The chemistry between the protagonists is also one of the selling points of the story. It is neither rushed nor does it drag on unnecessarily. The relationship has been beautifully explored and handled quite well.
I would have enjoyed the story a lot more than I did, if the faerie world in which this story has been set, had been explored to a greater depth. There were so many places in the story, which left me wishing for more description, a set of rules this mysterious world is governed by, or maybe even the origins of the character we’re reading about.
At the end of the day, I would give this book a 3.7 out of 5. Definitely interesting enough to keep me waiting for the second installment.
You had me at "Lydia Reyes will kill the fey king" 🤣 Unfortunately this quote gave me expectations of an elaborate revenge plot and enemies to lovers trope, but maybe I should have continued reading the blurb and my expectations would have been different. Apart from that, I somehow didnt click with the characters and the world and it left me wanting MORE while reading. More atmosphere, more lore, more explanations, more personality, more everything. MORE! The story has great potential that would definitely benefit from some more worldbuilding and atmosphere.
At first it was boring but it became interesting at 60% of the book. I didn't like how she would say she's powerful but then she would switch an say “I’m just a changeling'' To quote my new fav character:
“That is the woman who not only stopped the Sorrowood, but also bent it to her will. She slaughtered the king’s high general, then the king himself. She lifted the curse that has kept Astoria isolated for decades.”
SO STOP it's kinda annoying. I hope the second book is better
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Okay I could not tell what was going on for the first like, 30 pages. The human world was not distinct enough for me but the fae realm was super concise. Didn’t fear the antagonist enough, by the time he was ixnayed I just expected it. Romance was a nice slow burn until all of a sudden they couldn’t exist without each other? I might read the second book but idrk
This was really mystical. I liked the whole narrative around the prophecy and the FMC understanding every possible language and a blood thirsty forest that devours oceans in order to avenge its mothers. Very unique ideas. I wish the Mapmaker plot line was more flushed out. I also wish we got more connection between the love interests.
I liked it; it was well written, had a nice plot, and decent characters. There were parts that had me a bit confused, like we were given information out of nowhere and it didn't make sense to be given in that way but otherwise it was enjoyable. 3.75/5.
not too bad but at the same time not too good. I didn't dislike anything in particular, to be honest I was happy with the third person narrator and the two pov and I liked the forest. in my opinion the problem is that overall the book is quite plain. the world building, the characters, the interactions and dialogues: everything felt flat, no feelings.
I fell in love with Issa the Raven!!! Lydia has such a cool power- the power of language! She can understand all languages. Very very cool concept! I loved the FMC and her companion. Very good fantasy!
the writing was the perfect balance of simple and lyrical. the romance was beautifully done. unlikely allies to lovers is a favorite trope of mine. i greatly enjoyed the aspects of language and how that played into lydia’s life. there were a few things that i wish were fleshed out a bit more, but overall this was a really enjoyable read!
“we were born from the same mote of stardust.” are u KIDDING?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I tried really hard to give this book a fair shot but I could not force myself to keep reading. I think the concept of the book is intriguing but I just could not get into it, unsure if it was because of how slow it is or what.
Oh my goodness, this was by far my favourite read of the year so far. The world building in it was absolutely perfect with fey lore that made total sense. Especially the Sorrowood affecting the fey the way it did, seeing as the fey are so closely connected to their natural world, more than even humans.
My only complaint and what made me give this book four stars instead of five is that I felt that Lydia's skill was completely under utilized. Power doesn't need to be loud or violent to be used in a way that could have elevated Lydia even further. She had so much at her fingertips and while she was being cautious, I understand, she still could have used it so much more.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this, and I will definitely be seeking out future books by this author. This was excellent.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book started off slow but did have some good qualities. I almost put the book down several times thinking I would not finish it, but I am glad I did. I felt a little lost at the beginning, almost like the story started in the middle. It took awhile to understand the setting of the book and I would have appreciated if the author found a way to set the scene a bit earlier (who,what,when). For example, in the beginning I was confused about what a changeling is, what the guild is etc. I felt like the reader was expected to know these things as they were not explained in the first chapter.
Because of these mentioned points it took me awhile to get into the story. I also did not feel overly invested in the main characters because I didn’t feel like I knew them all that well. Basically, I felt very detached from the characters.
On a positive note, I enjoyed the mythical creatures and the Sorrowood. I also loved Isst, the raven who was like a sidekick character for Lydia. Last, I thought Lydia being a linguist and understanding all forms of language would be the coolest magic to have and was excited to read how her magic progresses through the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
LB Black’s The Dreaming Forest: Secrets of the Sorrowood is an absolute masterpiece of fantasy storytelling. From the very first page, Black’s prose-like writing sweeps you into a richly detailed world that feels almost tangible. Her descriptions are lush yet never overbearing, painting the eerie beauty of the Sorrowood with an effortless grace that makes every shadow and whisper feel alive.
At the heart of this mesmerizing tale is Lydia Reyes, a changeling navigating the space between two worlds—both magical and deeply human. She is one of the most relatable protagonists I’ve encountered in fantasy; her struggles, doubts, and determination are so achingly real that it’s impossible not to connect with her. Despite her otherworldly nature, Lydia’s emotions and growth are profoundly human, making her journey all the more captivating. Honestly, Lydia is goals. I want to be one with the forest, the fae, and have ravens as my friends.
And then there’s Quinn—affable yet enigmatic, charming in a way that feels effortless, yet leaves you certain there’s far more beneath the surface. He carries an air of aloofness that makes him all the more fascinating, his easygoing nature hinting at much deeper waters waiting to be explored. His presence is magnetic, drawing Lydia—and the reader—into his orbit without ever demanding attention, making his unfolding character arc one of the most compelling aspects of the book. I'm very intrigued to see where his development goes in the next title.
I first discovered LB Black on Threads and was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book. She never asked for a review in return, but there were so many moments when I had to stop reading, highlight, annotate, and just sit with the sheer beauty of her words. More than once, I wanted to reach out to her just to tell her how amazing this was. Of course I was going to write a review! I’m so grateful for this book in so many ways, and I sincerely hope more people find it.
What truly sets Black’s storytelling apart is her ability to balance intricate world-building with a seamless, natural flow. The magic of the Sorrowood is unveiled gradually, never overwhelming the reader, yet always pulling you deeper into its secrets. Every element of this book—from its characters to its lore—feels immersive and alive, a testament to Black’s extraordinary talent.
The Dreaming Forest isn’t just a book—it’s an experience. Haunting, evocative, and utterly transportive, it lingers in your thoughts long after you turn the last page. If you love fantasy that is as beautifully written as it is compelling, you need to read this. If you're tired of fantasy that still builds worlds 1/3 of the way in, this book is for you. COUGH COUGH SJM.
Lydia & Quinn I keep reading details that make me stop and have to read again. I realize it's giving me info about the world, but the way it's presented initially keeps jarring me because it's out of place, and i I have no context for why that word is there. Hmm, there is some run-on dialogue that needs to be broken up by some kind of description of their expression. Instead, the sentence just continues. I guess I like how I'm getting little snippets about the forest because the forest is interesting. I hope the slow revealing continues to be interesting. I guess I'm glad that it hasn't just been a world dump. Quinn might be a softie. Might be weak. Decided not to join the rebellion because he's seen what the king can do, and it seems he's afraid of that. Right, when we met him, he was getting ready to run away on his own. And I remember feeling a tinge of weakness reading that.. She chose to send her note to Rai instead of Quinn? She's upset that Quinn let the king take her? What? Who is he to you, girl? You just met. It sounds like they have the same blood/heritage, maybe? But hopefully, they're not related, right? Now he's suggesting his aes-caill blood is something different than the fey, 'the blood of a beast, petty and jealous and fierce...he had the feeling even the fey would be frightened by the hungry, ancient thing living inside of him.' Is he suggesting that he's different from his cousin, Rai? So one of his parents is from this other bloodline, and one was related to Rai's parent. His mother is different. They suddenly have this rapport that doesn't make sense - he called her insatiable as though she was known for asking too many questions, even though I'd only heard a couple..now while they traveling in the river they're suddenly snippy with each other, in a familiar way. Im sorry. Where did this come from? You spent one night sleeping side by side after holding hands for two minutes, and their dynamic has changed. It's throwing me.
'Ever since she was brought here, she'd been imprisoned and abused by men who wanted to use her. Was he any different?'. Excuse me, explain, please... from what I know, no, he hasn't done any of that. The way they got together was cheap and unexpected. And the fact that they weren't looking at each other in the morning really showed that. Then, it tried to turn it into something sweet with the hand holding and soft kisses. Then his comment about power dynamics - eye roll. I do like this story despite my complaining, but now I see what's coming with the spice, and it's making me not want to continue. Why did I think this would be clean? Sometimes, the visual descriptions are extremely lacking. I can not imagine what Isst's new form looks like. No longer a raven has but arms with wing and hands? That's all I get? Underwhelming by the end, I guess. One reviewer asked where her sudden ability to transport between worlds came from.. yeah, really. I saw a lot of reviews say they needed more, and I get it. I did like this story, and the writing had a maturity to it that I like, but yes, it was lacking just enough detail to be really good. I imagine it could have been a choice so that I can make up my own details, but I need more setup for that to work. 3, I guess. Could have been a 4 if it wasn't for how their relationship progressed. I don't plan to continue.
I finished this book all in one go and it was very enjoyable! Any lovers of fantasy who want a solid read would really enjoy this book.
This book is multi-POV, following our female lead, Lydia, and male lead, Quinn. We get to see Lydia's personality more and more throughout the book and she was an FMC who didn't sit back and let others do the work. She actively contributed to plans and held her own. Quinn was a solid male lead, pushing Lydia on to be better while bringing his own flare. If anyone knows of Yona of the Dawn, I see him as similar to Hak. He is 100% a green flag and actively tried to protect Lydia.
Also, I loved the fact that our main characters were not too far from age, as I think that is a huge thing in the fantasy community where we have a really young FMC and a really old MMC. Here, we do not have that, instead, Lydia is 22, a solid age for our main character, and Quinn isn't far off!
Side characters, especially Isst, were amazing in their own right! He is a character that leaves you wanting more, not just of his background or motives, but just in general with his interactions with others! I already see him as a fan favorite.
There are a couple of reasons why I left it as a four-star. I think that the beginning of the book was very fast, with some information that most likely should have been pushed off to knowing later on, as the characters' relationships had progressed more.
I think that the magic present in the fae should be more explored as sometimes characters could have used it in more situations like in battle, where we did not get to see much other than from one character.
I can see how some things revealed in the first book can transfer over for the series as a whole; however, I do not know if that will be enough for a whole series. I would love to see how far it can go and if the author can surprise us! Lydia and Quinn's relationship is one that I would like to see grow as they have only been together for a short time. I think having them learn how to be together while not in dire circumstances would tighten their bond to both themselves and ours to them.
Overall, this is a solid read for anyone who loves a fantasy romance!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a really fun fantasy romance read! I really loved how the author used traditional fae lore (with changelings, magic tied to the land, etc.) and put her own spin on it. The book was engaging but also really easy to read, which I really appreciated.
Lydia, the FMC, is such an amazing protagonist. She is a uniquely magical changeling, but she's also a nerdy librarian with an affinity for books and languages, and she is not afraid to own it. I loved how in a world full of magic, Lydia wields her knowledge as her greatest weapon. I also loved Lydia's courage to fight for what's right in a world that has done nothing but hurt her.
Quinn, the MMC, is also a really interesting character. His motivations and emotions are complex, but he is ultimately a caring, selfless man who is willing to go above and beyond for his loved ones and his country. His inner conflict is very relatable, but I appreciate how he never strayed too far from his moral compass.
My favorite aspect of the story by far was the romance. The tension was through the roof throughout the book, and when Quinn and Lydia finally began succumbing to their mutual desire, sparks flew off the page. There were a couple of really well-written spicy scenes, but the overarching chemistry between the two characters was definitely the icing on the cake.
I also loved the side characters (especially Isst the raven) and would have loved to have learned more about them. I do wish the author had delved more into the magic system, with the different kinds of magic and how the fae and mages actually learned to wield it. The magic often felt like it came up when it was convenient but was hardly used in any conflicts or battles. It was difficult to grasp the extent of everyone's magical capabilities, which definitely made me question the validity of a lot of the potentially "dangerous" situations.
Overall, this was an excellent fantasy romance book with a unique take on fae lore. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted read with interesting main characters and a cute but spicy romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Where do I even begin with this??? It sucks, not the story, but that it came to an end is why it sucks. I have really liked everything about this, the characters, the world building and even the bloodshed. Yeah, there was bloodshed, and a lot of it, but most were rightfully earned. This is about a human changeling named Lydia and a fey named Quinn. They are on a mission to stop the Sorrowood and keep both the Green Country and the human realm safe. Secrets are revealed as time goes on, but one thing we cal all agree on is the fact that our love for Quinn and Lydia grows by each page. Now, if you have read The Cruel Prince, you hate to love, yet love to hate Cardan. But with Quinn, there is nothing to hate. This book gives The Cruel Prince vibes, but for the adults that wanted a little more. As for Lydia, who doesn't love a strong female lead? She's a lot like Jude, but a little more on the sweet side. But I still love Jude, Lydia is just right up there with her on that throne for me. Now we need to mention Isst... I really do wish I had my own Isst. A chatty Raven (who is not really a raven) that has a bit of an attitude and opinions about everything. He is at the top of my list as a sidekick/familiar/companion/friend. I can't wait for book two and would probably theorize about what could happen and where the story might lead us to until I lose my mind. I think the author did an amazing job with this book and now I need to read all of her books because it has been a long time since I enjoyed anything as much as I did reading her story. I won her book in a competition and I am so happy to have found her. So do yourself a favour and start reading The Dreaming Forest and fall in love with the world that L.B. Black has created!
Ugh idk if I should give this 2 or 3 stars. It was a great concept. I loved the gift that was given to our MC Lydia and how she interacted with the world and I appreciated how the plot came together with her realizing who she actually was. I also liked our male MC and his personality and that he wasn’t this big king but he was just this medical doctor. It was different! I appreciated that. But here’s the thing… it just wasn’t done very cohesively?? Maybe that’s the word? Someone else said this that I agree with but it felt like the book started in the middle of the book. I get not info dumping at the beginning but I was confused throughout most, if not the whole book, at what was going on. The plot? The reasoning behind everything??? I don’t really understand the relationship between human and fey. I feel like facts were added for no reason?? Like we kept being told about Lydia’s past love affair and it just actually didn’t matter if we knew that or not but I kept guessing at when it was going to come up again. I also didn’t mind the romance between the two characters but it was still insta love even if it was done in a better way than most.
So idk whether to give it two stars or three because the basic parts of a book: background, world building and plot were just confusing and I don’t think i could retell you what happened in this book very confidently but I still had a good time reading it! It was fun! And the character development was decent and I enjoyed our 2 MC. But also someone dies in this book and I was like??? Why did no one care about that? Like also Lydia has these two best friends but they actually don’t matter that much?? Stuff like that I’m like… okay so to continue the story we just have to not care about certain details of the story which??? Idk is good lol but the book was fun. And I’m gonna read the second one so 🤷🏻♀️
When I first started this one, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. It took me a few chapters before I was really involved in the story. It was just slow moving and I felt like I was missing something. Isst the raven is the one who kept me reading at first. I thought he was cute and funny. After getting into it a bit more, I am glad that I kept with it. I absolutely love that Lydia is librarian and a linguist (I'd love to be able to read and understand other languages with such ease!). I'm sad that it took Lydia being abducted through the window to start finding out who she really is and what she could be capable of, but I'm really glad that it seems to bring her out and she starts embracing the adventure and opening her awareness up to accept possibilities.
By the time Quinn, who is a fey medic for the fey king, was introduced and I realized the slow play of romance that was building between them, I was thoroughly hooked and couldn't stop reading by this point. I don't always like when the hero and heroine of the story just immediately jump into a relationship together, sometimes I enjoy the slow build as is going on in this story. I'm looking forward to reading the second installment to see how things progress.
Even though the story seems to drag and move slow at a few points, it is well written and descriptive, and the author really brought the characters and forest alive in my mind. In the end, I overall enjoyed the story and recommend it to my fellow fantasy lovers.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily**