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Fae Crown #1
A Thorn Among Fae
This fae crown demands blood.
Anova has been burnt before. As a thief, it's best that no one knows your real name. Better to be alive and a cheater than an honest corpse. But when her debts catch up to her, a dangerous fae bargain is the only way to repay them before she loses her freedom.
Despite her hatred of his folk, she agrees to become the assassin of the young and mysterious fae lord, Leander. The catch? She must pose as his human lover.
Because every moment between them must be a farce to save their lives, Anova can’t trust her heart. When they discover a bloody fae curse, her hand is forced.
Allow Leander to sacrifice himself to end a reign of fae tyranny, or die in his place.
Will it be her life? Or her heart?
Anova has been burnt before. As a thief, it's best that no one knows your real name. Better to be alive and a cheater than an honest corpse. But when her debts catch up to her, a dangerous fae bargain is the only way to repay them before she loses her freedom.
Despite her hatred of his folk, she agrees to become the assassin of the young and mysterious fae lord, Leander. The catch? She must pose as his human lover.
Because every moment between them must be a farce to save their lives, Anova can’t trust her heart. When they discover a bloody fae curse, her hand is forced.
Allow Leander to sacrifice himself to end a reign of fae tyranny, or die in his place.
Will it be her life? Or her heart?
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2023
282 people are currently reading
1696 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 23, 2023
3.75⭐️ wow, this one caught me by surprise! I went in with low expectations because the cover and title aren’t great but I ended up reading this in basically one sitting which is shocking because I’ve been in the worst reading slump for the past 2 weeks. I loved the FMC in this, she actually knew what she was doing and wasn’t some Mary sue who relied on the love interest to save her. This one is pretty YA, but book 2 is upper YA/NA.
I’m really interested to see how this series plays out! I
would recommend💫
I’m really interested to see how this series plays out! I
would recommend💫
October 9, 2023
3.5! A decent read that is definitely YA but does keep your attention. Juras and Anova’s paths from owing money and just trying to survive. Don’t judge the book by its cover!
I received this ARC for an honest review.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
July 15, 2023
this was not written well. had potential but the writing was confusing and stilted. i liked anova enough to complete it
April 27, 2023
Thank you to Joy for the free ARC in exchange for a review ☺️!
What can I say I loved this book! Super fast paced right from the start and it continues all the way through. Avonas story is so interesting and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book, especially after that ending!
What can I say I loved this book! Super fast paced right from the start and it continues all the way through. Avonas story is so interesting and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book, especially after that ending!
April 23, 2023
First off, I was NOT expecting that! And in the first chapter no less! What a way to grab me! Some things might seem random or even a bit confusing in the beginning but Joy has a unique way of building up the world, like a paint by numbers painting, giving you bit by bit until you suddenly see the painting emerge and gasp at it's beauty. It's one of the things I enjoy immensely, the not knowing exactly where the story is heading until it literally hits me in the face!
Avova is very good at what she does, she's a con artist, a thief and a liar. Not by choice, rather by circumstance. Together with her friend and partner in crime, Juras, they do what they must to survive and that's duping men. Until she's duped, by a Fae. And she loathes the Fae. Why? Besides the fact that they're taxing the humans to near starvation proportions, her mother was killed by a Fae. But it's more complicated than just that, Avova and Juras apparently owe a huge debt to the madam of a brothel, and the city constables are after them...see? Complicated but as it unfurls, it's all explained well, opening up a piece at a time.
Enter the "enemy" Fae, Leander. Only, again, he's not what is presented at face value. Avona accepts his proposal, one that has her firmly in Fae lands and one where the adventure is only just beginning! Trying to navigate the dangerous Fae, whilst trying to stay alive, is harder than she realised. That Fae King, my goodness, can anyone be more paranoid? Avona quickly learns that there are more layers than what is presented, all whilst trying to deny the attraction she has to Leander. It all comes to a head in the final chapters, the emotions, the planning, the battle and the result couldn't have shocked me more! What an incredible cliffhanger!
It was a pleasure read, a read with lots of unexpected surprises, surprising characters who I thought were beyond redemption, were not. Characters that are defined so well, a world that is described so vividly, the differences between the Fae and humans explicit and the need to survive paramount, in both worlds, for human and Fae alike.
Avova is very good at what she does, she's a con artist, a thief and a liar. Not by choice, rather by circumstance. Together with her friend and partner in crime, Juras, they do what they must to survive and that's duping men. Until she's duped, by a Fae. And she loathes the Fae. Why? Besides the fact that they're taxing the humans to near starvation proportions, her mother was killed by a Fae. But it's more complicated than just that, Avova and Juras apparently owe a huge debt to the madam of a brothel, and the city constables are after them...see? Complicated but as it unfurls, it's all explained well, opening up a piece at a time.
Enter the "enemy" Fae, Leander. Only, again, he's not what is presented at face value. Avona accepts his proposal, one that has her firmly in Fae lands and one where the adventure is only just beginning! Trying to navigate the dangerous Fae, whilst trying to stay alive, is harder than she realised. That Fae King, my goodness, can anyone be more paranoid? Avona quickly learns that there are more layers than what is presented, all whilst trying to deny the attraction she has to Leander. It all comes to a head in the final chapters, the emotions, the planning, the battle and the result couldn't have shocked me more! What an incredible cliffhanger!
It was a pleasure read, a read with lots of unexpected surprises, surprising characters who I thought were beyond redemption, were not. Characters that are defined so well, a world that is described so vividly, the differences between the Fae and humans explicit and the need to survive paramount, in both worlds, for human and Fae alike.
May 2, 2023
Thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this novel!!
Overall, I’d give this book 3.5 ⭐️’s
This novel is fast paced and immediately dives into the plot. I also love that the magic system is based on the power the Fae draw from the moon. Aesthetic ✅ I thought the slow burn was great but didn’t feel that Anova’s feelings for Leander ever tied back to her feelings towards Fae as a species. In the beginning of the book, she’s set on murdering all of them. As the book goes on and her and Leanders interactions change, you never really see if it’s just Leander getting through to her as a singular being or if she’s realizing her hate for all Fae is rooted in her heartbreak. The whole, not all people are bad just some people do bad things kinda deal.
My only drawback from this book was Juras. He feels like he’s just the faithful sidekick who serves as a helpful plot device when Anova can’t save herself. I’m intrigued to see, and hope to see, more of him as the series continues and his character continues to develop. I will also say, it’s nice to see a male character be only a friend. I was nervous that it would turn into some love triangle of awkwardness. Have no fear, there isn’t one.
Overall, I’d give this book 3.5 ⭐️’s
This novel is fast paced and immediately dives into the plot. I also love that the magic system is based on the power the Fae draw from the moon. Aesthetic ✅ I thought the slow burn was great but didn’t feel that Anova’s feelings for Leander ever tied back to her feelings towards Fae as a species. In the beginning of the book, she’s set on murdering all of them. As the book goes on and her and Leanders interactions change, you never really see if it’s just Leander getting through to her as a singular being or if she’s realizing her hate for all Fae is rooted in her heartbreak. The whole, not all people are bad just some people do bad things kinda deal.
My only drawback from this book was Juras. He feels like he’s just the faithful sidekick who serves as a helpful plot device when Anova can’t save herself. I’m intrigued to see, and hope to see, more of him as the series continues and his character continues to develop. I will also say, it’s nice to see a male character be only a friend. I was nervous that it would turn into some love triangle of awkwardness. Have no fear, there isn’t one.
May 10, 2023
A Thorn Among Fae is the start of a brand new series by Joy Lewis. In this book Anova, the main character is taken to the Fae realm by a Fae bargain with Leander. Even though she hates the Fae, she has agreed to pretend to be lord Leanders lover. But when they discover a curse and feelings get involved the whole situation turns around. Either he must die, or she will die in his place. Will Anova choose for her heart or her life?
Find out in my review on my blog Boekensteeg
Find out in my review on my blog Boekensteeg
dnf
May 26, 2023DNF @ 21%
This seemed pretty cheesy, and I couldn't bring myself to be invested in the characters.
The FMC was a very cliche wannabe-badass-heroine-girl. Stress on the wannabe. She didn't read as badass at all. She seemed dumb and was very emotionally driven in situations that she shouldn't be, especially considering that she was working as a paid assassin. I felt as if I'd met her character a hundred times over in other stories.
Similar situation with the MMC. He felt super one-dimensional, and I had a difficult time empathizing with him or caring about his storyline. The way his character was introduced and described seemed flat.
I feel like I can already tell where this is headed, and I'm not intrigued enough to continue.
This seemed pretty cheesy, and I couldn't bring myself to be invested in the characters.
The FMC was a very cliche wannabe-badass-heroine-girl. Stress on the wannabe. She didn't read as badass at all. She seemed dumb and was very emotionally driven in situations that she shouldn't be, especially considering that she was working as a paid assassin. I felt as if I'd met her character a hundred times over in other stories.
Similar situation with the MMC. He felt super one-dimensional, and I had a difficult time empathizing with him or caring about his storyline. The way his character was introduced and described seemed flat.
I feel like I can already tell where this is headed, and I'm not intrigued enough to continue.
October 19, 2023
Overall, this book was a good book that I did enjoy. It took me a while to get into, mostly because of the beginning and the main female character, I didn’t like her at first. But once she gets into the fae lands, it put her out of her element and allowed me to get into her character a bit more. The storyline also picked up and gained my interest. I REALLY enjoyed Leander’s character and the twists in his backstory and character. The ending had some twists thrown in it that made me wanna keep reading, although one part of the ending was slightly predicable and gave me that “Court of Thorns and Roses” feeling to it.
I mostly had trouble reading this because it could have been edited more. I'm an editor so I spot these things easily; several mistakes in the story and the author writes very passively instead of actively with strong verbs so the author uses "was" a lot.
The characters made a few questionable choices. Like at one point the main girl who was bound and determined to kill the fae who killed her mother and steal enough to settle a debt decides to leave the fae lands without anything to settle the debt and without killing the fae. So, it's like she forgot her purpose. But it doesn't take much to convince her to come back and follow through with the assassination she originally promised but without the money she needs to pay off her debt and without finding her mother’s killer officially. There are a few other instances like that throughout the book where a character seems to do something odd out of character without explanation.
While this review may sound negative, I did enjoy it especially the middle and end of the story. I'm a huge fan of Leander’s character and I love a good "boss fight" as I call it so the ending was certainly dramatic enough that it hooked me. The actual final scene came suddenly with no true explanation but I assume that'll be in book 2. I also thought the magic system was creative and enjoyed that the author made it unique so it wasn't just a copy of other fae books out there. Seriously, the fae magic in this with the moon is SUPER cool!
Overall, this was a good book that would have been amazing with a good editor. I was going to give it 3 stars originally but the plotline and middle to end of the book honestly did intrigue me enough that it’s more than a 3 star book but with good editing would have been 4 star. So, it’s a 3.5 from me (but I think platforms will force me to choose either 3 or 4 and not the middle, so sorry).
I mostly had trouble reading this because it could have been edited more. I'm an editor so I spot these things easily; several mistakes in the story and the author writes very passively instead of actively with strong verbs so the author uses "was" a lot.
The characters made a few questionable choices. Like at one point the main girl who was bound and determined to kill the fae who killed her mother and steal enough to settle a debt decides to leave the fae lands without anything to settle the debt and without killing the fae. So, it's like she forgot her purpose. But it doesn't take much to convince her to come back and follow through with the assassination she originally promised but without the money she needs to pay off her debt and without finding her mother’s killer officially. There are a few other instances like that throughout the book where a character seems to do something odd out of character without explanation.
While this review may sound negative, I did enjoy it especially the middle and end of the story. I'm a huge fan of Leander’s character and I love a good "boss fight" as I call it so the ending was certainly dramatic enough that it hooked me. The actual final scene came suddenly with no true explanation but I assume that'll be in book 2. I also thought the magic system was creative and enjoyed that the author made it unique so it wasn't just a copy of other fae books out there. Seriously, the fae magic in this with the moon is SUPER cool!
Overall, this was a good book that would have been amazing with a good editor. I was going to give it 3 stars originally but the plotline and middle to end of the book honestly did intrigue me enough that it’s more than a 3 star book but with good editing would have been 4 star. So, it’s a 3.5 from me (but I think platforms will force me to choose either 3 or 4 and not the middle, so sorry).
January 10, 2025
Overall, I think this book is good and probably it'll be liked by lots of people. I did have some issues with it. The writing style was a bit passive. The main character was kind of annoying. I feel like she was made out to be some awesome chick who knew how to play the game, but at every turn she made the wrong decisions and it just didn't make a lot of sense. Some of the decisions didn't make any sense. The scene transitions were confusing at times from going to actually what was happening to what was in her head.
The world building was kind of iffy to me. I couldn't tell if we were in olden times or this was halfway modern. Now for the Fae building and Powers was kind of cool. I still don't understand a lot about their world.
There were secrets in the dialogue that I think were meant to be secrets to even us readers however I found myself going back a few times trying to figure out if I missed something. And then there would be a big reveal but it wasn't actually a big reveal. It was just a random piece of information.
Spoilers!!!⬇️⬇️
She had a lot of her own plans that were secretive to us the readers and then they never actually worked out. Like none of her plans ever worked the entire time and I found myself asking why she was so dumb when they made her out to be some awesome actress thief.
The ending there was a lot going on and it got quite confusing. Plans revealed and twists that I did not see coming, however it was very anticlimactic. Also I'm not sure if this makes me a dumb reader but without being reminded of what she was doing in the scenes and the connections she was making. However, I do like that we got a chapter from Leander at the end. However, that was also not very revealing and I get that this book is a series but the cliffhanger made no sense. She was making assumptions with no actual grounds of information behind it. I started the second one just to understand what happened at the end of the first one and it's almost like nothing happened except her and Leander are on different sides now which still doesn't make sense to me. And I'm about 15 chapters into the second book.
The world building was kind of iffy to me. I couldn't tell if we were in olden times or this was halfway modern. Now for the Fae building and Powers was kind of cool. I still don't understand a lot about their world.
There were secrets in the dialogue that I think were meant to be secrets to even us readers however I found myself going back a few times trying to figure out if I missed something. And then there would be a big reveal but it wasn't actually a big reveal. It was just a random piece of information.
Spoilers!!!⬇️⬇️
She had a lot of her own plans that were secretive to us the readers and then they never actually worked out. Like none of her plans ever worked the entire time and I found myself asking why she was so dumb when they made her out to be some awesome actress thief.
The ending there was a lot going on and it got quite confusing. Plans revealed and twists that I did not see coming, however it was very anticlimactic. Also I'm not sure if this makes me a dumb reader but without being reminded of what she was doing in the scenes and the connections she was making. However, I do like that we got a chapter from Leander at the end. However, that was also not very revealing and I get that this book is a series but the cliffhanger made no sense. She was making assumptions with no actual grounds of information behind it. I started the second one just to understand what happened at the end of the first one and it's almost like nothing happened except her and Leander are on different sides now which still doesn't make sense to me. And I'm about 15 chapters into the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2023
From the first chapter, I was enthralled and unprepared for all the surprises! Initially, things seem random, unplanned, and even confusing, but the author has this incredible ability to create a captivating world that you can clearly envision. I love the unpredictability, the thrill of not knowing where the story is headed until it hits me square in the face!
Anova, a thief that's skilled in the art of deception, finds herself entangled in a world of cons and survival alongside her friend, Juras. Yet, fate takes an unexpected turn when she's ensnared by a Fae, despite her deep-seated animosity toward them. As the tale unfolds, complexities emerge, clarifying the intricate web of debts, city pursuit, and Anova's deep-rooted vendetta against the Fae that tore her whole world apart.
Leander, a Fae finds Anova and offers her a bounty that she cannot turn away. As the story unfolds, he's not the adversary he appears to be. Anova reluctantly accepts his proposal, plunging into the perilous realm of the Fae, where the real adventure begins. Navigating this dangerous world proves more challenging than she imagined, especially with a paranoid Fae King in the mix. As she discovers hidden layers and battles to survive, all while denying her growing attraction to Leander, the tension builds. The final chapters are a whirlwind of emotions, strategic planning, intense battles, and an ending that left me in absolute shock—an incredible cliffhanger that left me craving more!
This was an absolute pleasure to read, filled with unexpected surprises and characters I didn't think I could ever love. The character development is superb, painting a vivid picture of a world where survival is paramount for both humans and Fae. Joy has crafted a world that's as enthralling as it is unpredictable, and I will be quickly diving into book 2 soon!!
Anova, a thief that's skilled in the art of deception, finds herself entangled in a world of cons and survival alongside her friend, Juras. Yet, fate takes an unexpected turn when she's ensnared by a Fae, despite her deep-seated animosity toward them. As the tale unfolds, complexities emerge, clarifying the intricate web of debts, city pursuit, and Anova's deep-rooted vendetta against the Fae that tore her whole world apart.
Leander, a Fae finds Anova and offers her a bounty that she cannot turn away. As the story unfolds, he's not the adversary he appears to be. Anova reluctantly accepts his proposal, plunging into the perilous realm of the Fae, where the real adventure begins. Navigating this dangerous world proves more challenging than she imagined, especially with a paranoid Fae King in the mix. As she discovers hidden layers and battles to survive, all while denying her growing attraction to Leander, the tension builds. The final chapters are a whirlwind of emotions, strategic planning, intense battles, and an ending that left me in absolute shock—an incredible cliffhanger that left me craving more!
This was an absolute pleasure to read, filled with unexpected surprises and characters I didn't think I could ever love. The character development is superb, painting a vivid picture of a world where survival is paramount for both humans and Fae. Joy has crafted a world that's as enthralling as it is unpredictable, and I will be quickly diving into book 2 soon!!
October 10, 2023
I'm going to give this a solid 3.8 rounded up to a 4 because I loved the characters and how they progressed!
The author has a distinct writing style that took me some time to become acquainted with, but once I did, I found this a really enjoyable read! A Thorn Among Fae starts off strong with Anova and Juras, and it continues to develop in unexpected ways as Anova is introduced to the world of Fae (and Leander, who is my favorite character). I really enjoyed the progression of Anova's character and motivations from outright hatred of the fae to the point of the story in which she comes to care for Leander. I feel that the author portrays the push and pull of Anova's warring emotions very well in this story, and Anova feels like an incredibly realistic character with the natural uncertainties that she feels as her arc progresses. She's an emotionally-driven lead, and not all of her plans ultimately pan out, but that's part of what makes her feel so real.
This novel is fast-paced, which I enjoyed because it dives straight in to the meat of the action. There were a few points where it felt a little jumpy to me, but overall, I enjoyed the story's progression. The author includes some incredible twists that absolutely caught me off guard (and I normally pride myself on seeing plot twists in advance). The ending left me excited for more, and I was thrilled to proceed to the second installment of this series (which made me experience a full range of emotions for any who are reading this and wondering). I've already recommended this series to other readers I feel might connect with the characters as I did, and I look forward to continuing to read more of this author's work.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author has a distinct writing style that took me some time to become acquainted with, but once I did, I found this a really enjoyable read! A Thorn Among Fae starts off strong with Anova and Juras, and it continues to develop in unexpected ways as Anova is introduced to the world of Fae (and Leander, who is my favorite character). I really enjoyed the progression of Anova's character and motivations from outright hatred of the fae to the point of the story in which she comes to care for Leander. I feel that the author portrays the push and pull of Anova's warring emotions very well in this story, and Anova feels like an incredibly realistic character with the natural uncertainties that she feels as her arc progresses. She's an emotionally-driven lead, and not all of her plans ultimately pan out, but that's part of what makes her feel so real.
This novel is fast-paced, which I enjoyed because it dives straight in to the meat of the action. There were a few points where it felt a little jumpy to me, but overall, I enjoyed the story's progression. The author includes some incredible twists that absolutely caught me off guard (and I normally pride myself on seeing plot twists in advance). The ending left me excited for more, and I was thrilled to proceed to the second installment of this series (which made me experience a full range of emotions for any who are reading this and wondering). I've already recommended this series to other readers I feel might connect with the characters as I did, and I look forward to continuing to read more of this author's work.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2023
Straight away at the beginning this book made me believe it was heavily inspired by ACOTAR and TOG based on the storyline and characters. So originally, not for long, i thought that i was going to be bored, basically rereading the same plots as those. No, it was similar in a good way, and honestly for a while i haven’t been into reading. I’ve struggled so much lately to pick up a book and continue it, but this wasn’t the case. I genuinely found this book really interesting even with similar plot/ideas. I loved the characters, i loved the romance and the tension and i love the world building. There were a few things to do with fae that i haven’t seen written in any other books and i like that. I don’t know if anyone will understand me when i say this, but you know when you’re attached to a character and something terrible happens or something upsetting? and you start to feel like a heavy burning uncomfortable sensation in your chest? this book gave me that. Now it might sound bad, but i love it when books torture me and my feelings so much that even my body experiences it. However, i have one suggestion as the ending was a bit disappointing, i personally would’ve loved if it ended during **spoilers** Anova’s ‘death’ / when she receives the blood crown **no spoilers** as during that scene there was a lot of build up and tension, and it would’ve pained me to leave it there so i would’ve been even more drawn into picking up the next book.
April 18, 2024
Where to begin?
I had high hopes for this book but was very disappointed. It took a lot for me to finish this. This was so bad I don’t know where to begin.
First, rows of sharp teeth are not sexy in any shape or form. Not sure how anyone doesn’t see this. The attraction between the main characters is totally non-existent. But at the end they are in love? Nope. Did anyone review for errors before publication? There are sentences that just abruptly end without explanation. Scenes go from one to another that’s supposed to happen hours or days in between without explanation. Which left the previous scene unfinished and no explanation how the characters got to the new scenario. That was frustrating- guess that’s when the characters supposedly fell in love. I haven’t a clue what the physical characteristics of Anova are. Not even her hair color. Is she beautiful? Don’t know. What color are her eyes, shape of face, body type? This gives a mental image of the person and I just don’t have one for her except she was previously starved until she ate better food and her body filled out somewhat giving her a few muscles. What about her physical characteristics did Leander (not his real name) find attractive to begin with? Dang if I know because that’s never ever mentioned. The jump from 3rd person writing about Anova to Leander speaking for himself was also odd. This book needs a total rewrite.
I had high hopes for this book but was very disappointed. It took a lot for me to finish this. This was so bad I don’t know where to begin.
First, rows of sharp teeth are not sexy in any shape or form. Not sure how anyone doesn’t see this. The attraction between the main characters is totally non-existent. But at the end they are in love? Nope. Did anyone review for errors before publication? There are sentences that just abruptly end without explanation. Scenes go from one to another that’s supposed to happen hours or days in between without explanation. Which left the previous scene unfinished and no explanation how the characters got to the new scenario. That was frustrating- guess that’s when the characters supposedly fell in love. I haven’t a clue what the physical characteristics of Anova are. Not even her hair color. Is she beautiful? Don’t know. What color are her eyes, shape of face, body type? This gives a mental image of the person and I just don’t have one for her except she was previously starved until she ate better food and her body filled out somewhat giving her a few muscles. What about her physical characteristics did Leander (not his real name) find attractive to begin with? Dang if I know because that’s never ever mentioned. The jump from 3rd person writing about Anova to Leander speaking for himself was also odd. This book needs a total rewrite.
January 24, 2024
Keywords:
[] Fake Date
[] Thief Assassin
[] YA Clean Romance (no kiss? Come on!)
[] Twin body swap (wrong sibling)
[] Luna Moth “horse”
[] To Be Continued, darn it. No HEA yet.
“I was about to be the least powerful being in a room full of moon-drunk fae.” I love a good underdog novel, and this one did not disappoint. Normally I avoid assassin novels; I want to pretend to be a hero. But Anova was a thief by necessity, rather than earning her keep as a woman of the night.
Leander tracked her down because he needed a human, someone not beholden to the king, to assassinate him. Anova was not a killer, but her options were limited: incarceration and indenturement, or run to the fae lands to (gulp) kill a king.
I liked the whole story. The romance is central, but the plot is better than I expected when reading the tropes. And a luna moth (“butterfly” at night...has to be a luna moth) as a pet? How cool is that?
“the truth was that her appetite for tragedies was low these days. There was too much of it in the real world at the moment.”
This phrase really spoke to me. This is why I read fantasy. There is too much fear and tragedy nowadays.
Anova’s transformation from thief to consort to criminal to court is a pleasure to read.
[] Fake Date
[] Thief Assassin
[] YA Clean Romance (no kiss? Come on!)
[] Twin body swap (wrong sibling)
[] Luna Moth “horse”
[] To Be Continued, darn it. No HEA yet.
“I was about to be the least powerful being in a room full of moon-drunk fae.” I love a good underdog novel, and this one did not disappoint. Normally I avoid assassin novels; I want to pretend to be a hero. But Anova was a thief by necessity, rather than earning her keep as a woman of the night.
Leander tracked her down because he needed a human, someone not beholden to the king, to assassinate him. Anova was not a killer, but her options were limited: incarceration and indenturement, or run to the fae lands to (gulp) kill a king.
I liked the whole story. The romance is central, but the plot is better than I expected when reading the tropes. And a luna moth (“butterfly” at night...has to be a luna moth) as a pet? How cool is that?
“the truth was that her appetite for tragedies was low these days. There was too much of it in the real world at the moment.”
This phrase really spoke to me. This is why I read fantasy. There is too much fear and tragedy nowadays.
Anova’s transformation from thief to consort to criminal to court is a pleasure to read.
May 27, 2023
A Thorn Among Fae for me is a solid 3 stars. Was it bad? No. Did I throughly enjoy every second reading it? Also no. But was it still a decent read? Yeah, of course.
Overall, for me this book misses the mark with its pacing and sometimes becomes a little confusing. I REALLY enjoyed *the twist* and I’m sure plenty saw it coming but I wholeheartedly did not.
Anova was not the main character for me. I live for stabby thief women but I felt her character to be a bit confused as to what her goals actually are, how she actually feels about the politics and world she’s in and she’s incredibly prejudice which I sometimes found didn’t make sense and it was hard to stomach.
Leander thought, I adored. Well thought out, flawed, clever, sneaky little fae fan girl was in heaven with him.
I’m not sure if I’d read the second or not… but never take someone else’s review too much to heart. Not everyone likes coffee, some people prefer tea and others prefer water or energy drinks. What wasn’t for me, may be exactly for you.
Overall, for me this book misses the mark with its pacing and sometimes becomes a little confusing. I REALLY enjoyed *the twist* and I’m sure plenty saw it coming but I wholeheartedly did not.
Anova was not the main character for me. I live for stabby thief women but I felt her character to be a bit confused as to what her goals actually are, how she actually feels about the politics and world she’s in and she’s incredibly prejudice which I sometimes found didn’t make sense and it was hard to stomach.
Leander thought, I adored. Well thought out, flawed, clever, sneaky little fae fan girl was in heaven with him.
I’m not sure if I’d read the second or not… but never take someone else’s review too much to heart. Not everyone likes coffee, some people prefer tea and others prefer water or energy drinks. What wasn’t for me, may be exactly for you.
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July 21, 2023meh
Anova as a character was interesting at first then all she did was grind her teeth, claim that she will do some tough shit and then the next chapter continues with her not attempting anything.
leander is just someone, not fleshed out enough, matter of fact no one and nothing is, the world building is lacking, the scene description is also lacking, for example, there d be a scene in which Anova is doing something while the initial description makes it seem as if she is the center of attention for the attendees but then the scene continues with the other fae just dancing around. it's this lack of perspective when it come to the background and surroundings that halts the immersion many time along the story.
while the book was easy enough to read, the flow just wasn't there, each chapter finishes with barely any impact.
some minor editing mistakes.
not a completely bad book, if it's a first effort then not bad.
it had a lot of potential but then it wasn't even a quarter way of reaching them, mostly due to the lackluster way the story unfolded.
Anova as a character was interesting at first then all she did was grind her teeth, claim that she will do some tough shit and then the next chapter continues with her not attempting anything.
leander is just someone, not fleshed out enough, matter of fact no one and nothing is, the world building is lacking, the scene description is also lacking, for example, there d be a scene in which Anova is doing something while the initial description makes it seem as if she is the center of attention for the attendees but then the scene continues with the other fae just dancing around. it's this lack of perspective when it come to the background and surroundings that halts the immersion many time along the story.
while the book was easy enough to read, the flow just wasn't there, each chapter finishes with barely any impact.
some minor editing mistakes.
not a completely bad book, if it's a first effort then not bad.
it had a lot of potential but then it wasn't even a quarter way of reaching them, mostly due to the lackluster way the story unfolded.
August 7, 2024
She would sooner steal his riches than open her heart to him. But when he hires her for a high-risk job, they must pretend to be what they’re not before they’re killed.
Anova’s no saint. Better to be a living thief than an honest corpse. But when her debts catch up to her, a dangerous fae bargain is the only way to keep her freedom.
Despite her hatred of his folk for killing her mother, she agrees to work as the assassin for the young and mysterious fae lord, Leander. The catch? She must pose as his human lover.
I found this book very slow with hardly any attraction between the two leads. Yet by nearly the end they are in love. What did I miss? There is also no physical description of Anova, nothing is said about how Leander finds her attractive to him. Very under-developed characters in this book. Couldn't get invested in the story at all. The premise of this story could have been great but needs a total re-write.
Anova’s no saint. Better to be a living thief than an honest corpse. But when her debts catch up to her, a dangerous fae bargain is the only way to keep her freedom.
Despite her hatred of his folk for killing her mother, she agrees to work as the assassin for the young and mysterious fae lord, Leander. The catch? She must pose as his human lover.
I found this book very slow with hardly any attraction between the two leads. Yet by nearly the end they are in love. What did I miss? There is also no physical description of Anova, nothing is said about how Leander finds her attractive to him. Very under-developed characters in this book. Couldn't get invested in the story at all. The premise of this story could have been great but needs a total re-write.
January 1, 2024
I went into this book completely blind and was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the premise. However, the writing style wasn't my favourite being from a third person's perspective. It felt like some things were glossed over, and other parts were too descriptive despite the events.
The concept of fae families being limited in size, due to laws rather than difficulty with conception, was somewhat confusing and contradicting at times, however it it was a fun, fresh, new take.
I do feel like some aspects and events were underdeveloped, such as the dress scene and Lycasters jealousy, and sometimes rushed. The tension between the MCs was fun. However, it was fleeting and could have been better developed. Several scenes, mainly the training, were perfect opportunities for added tension and verbal sparring.
The concept of fae families being limited in size, due to laws rather than difficulty with conception, was somewhat confusing and contradicting at times, however it it was a fun, fresh, new take.
I do feel like some aspects and events were underdeveloped, such as the dress scene and Lycasters jealousy, and sometimes rushed. The tension between the MCs was fun. However, it was fleeting and could have been better developed. Several scenes, mainly the training, were perfect opportunities for added tension and verbal sparring.
October 7, 2023
A Thorn Among Fae, had me hooked from the very beginning. The story flowed and surprisingly it wasn’t slow when it came to world building between the humans and fae lands.
Character development was great for the main character Anova, she kind of reminded me of a character in Throne of Glass who was also a skilled warrior but has the grit to get through tough situations no matter what.
It’s definitely inspired by A Court of Thorns and Roses, as well as The Cruel Prince. Both of which are top reads for me and the reason I was attracted to this book! Hopefully the next book in the sequel will be more adult romance like A Court of Mist and Fury 🙈
A MUST READ, if you want a book you don’t want to put down.
Character development was great for the main character Anova, she kind of reminded me of a character in Throne of Glass who was also a skilled warrior but has the grit to get through tough situations no matter what.
It’s definitely inspired by A Court of Thorns and Roses, as well as The Cruel Prince. Both of which are top reads for me and the reason I was attracted to this book! Hopefully the next book in the sequel will be more adult romance like A Court of Mist and Fury 🙈
A MUST READ, if you want a book you don’t want to put down.
October 14, 2023
This book is very much like A Court of Thorns and Roses in the premise of a human being stolen away to the fae lands across the border, and the enemies to lovers trope, so in many ways the story was very predictable. On the other hand, there were a few unique concepts that I enjoyed, and generally the writing was decent quality. It sometimes felt a little rushed, especially in action/fighting scenes, so I think the author could do with expanding the descriptions of fights rather than just cutting to what happens at the end, but other than that it was a pretty good read and I'd like to read the next book in the series to see where the story goes now.
*I was given a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review*
*I was given a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review*
July 12, 2024
Captivating Plot and surprising twists
I genuinely enjoyed this book, the story captivated me very early and it was a delight to follow the twists and reveals along the way. Initially, for probably the first 10%, it was a little difficult to really get invested in the main characters and their relations to one another. They would flicker from interested to disinterested, without much having happened to explain where the development happened, along with Anova seeming to make decisions or choices that were very out of character with little reason behind it, but other than those moments the story was extremely enticing. Especially as it reached later on, the twists that were revealed have left me so eager to keep reading the next book, that ending is to die for!!
I genuinely enjoyed this book, the story captivated me very early and it was a delight to follow the twists and reveals along the way. Initially, for probably the first 10%, it was a little difficult to really get invested in the main characters and their relations to one another. They would flicker from interested to disinterested, without much having happened to explain where the development happened, along with Anova seeming to make decisions or choices that were very out of character with little reason behind it, but other than those moments the story was extremely enticing. Especially as it reached later on, the twists that were revealed have left me so eager to keep reading the next book, that ending is to die for!!
November 2, 2023
I would rate this book 3.5-4/5. I really enjoyed the book, I found myself thinking about it when I had to step away from reading. The author did a good job or world building and development of the characters without sacrificing action in the book, right from the beginning of the book. There were a couple of surprises throughout the book that added to the plot. I would have liked to see more relationship development between the two main characters but this may come in the sequel which I look forward to reading; I would say this was enemies to friends to love but not lovers yet. The book did end with a bit of a cliffhanger so luckily book 2 is already available!
May 27, 2024
2.5 stars.
Everything just felt so incomplete. Little to no background stories of the characters & lacked character descriptions, which made it very hard to imagine & connect with all of them. There was some “foreshadowing” but it was never really explained or brought up again. Which made a lot of things confusing because it seemed like they were a big part of the story. Scenes or events would time jump which leads to the plot feeling incomplete/underdeveloped.
The plot & overall goal felt all over the place. There were way too many plot twists & tropes. It just felt so forced.
It had good potential but I don’t think I’ll be reading the second book anytime soon.
Everything just felt so incomplete. Little to no background stories of the characters & lacked character descriptions, which made it very hard to imagine & connect with all of them. There was some “foreshadowing” but it was never really explained or brought up again. Which made a lot of things confusing because it seemed like they were a big part of the story. Scenes or events would time jump which leads to the plot feeling incomplete/underdeveloped.
The plot & overall goal felt all over the place. There were way too many plot twists & tropes. It just felt so forced.
It had good potential but I don’t think I’ll be reading the second book anytime soon.
May 8, 2023
Thank you Joy Lewis for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this novel!
3.5⭐️
This was a fast paced story line with a bad a** FMC, a strong but reserved MMC, and the always there for you platonic male friend which I was glad to see! We don’t often get chances to explore female/male friendships without there being some time of romantic overtone.
This is like the love child of Throne of Glass and Six of Crows had a baby.
3.5⭐️
”It was time for her to do what she was born to do.
Be someone else.”
This was a fast paced story line with a bad a** FMC, a strong but reserved MMC, and the always there for you platonic male friend which I was glad to see! We don’t often get chances to explore female/male friendships without there being some time of romantic overtone.
This is like the love child of Throne of Glass and Six of Crows had a baby.
May 28, 2023
I've read so many similar fae stories lately that I didn't have high expectations here. Unlike others though, this one keeps the intrigue going. I think the characters were well developed even though I wanted more back story on Anova and Leander's childhoods. The author is trickling that info. I think the twist with Hell will make for an emotional conflict but again, it would have been better to get more background of Hell and Leander's relationship first. Still a worthwhile read and looking forward to the next installment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2023
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for my review, and I do mean fortunate because this book was fantastic!
It hooks you right from the beginning and will make you want to keep reading and reading.
It's the story of Anova, orphan and thief, who makes a deal with Fae Leander in order to pay off some debts and save her and her best friend. Anova must cross into Fae lands and become an assassin, all whilst pretending to be Leander's human consort.
I loved the slow burn romance between the main characters, it was genuine and exciting.
This book was full of twists and turns and the ending will leave you searching for when book 2 is out!
It hooks you right from the beginning and will make you want to keep reading and reading.
It's the story of Anova, orphan and thief, who makes a deal with Fae Leander in order to pay off some debts and save her and her best friend. Anova must cross into Fae lands and become an assassin, all whilst pretending to be Leander's human consort.
I loved the slow burn romance between the main characters, it was genuine and exciting.
This book was full of twists and turns and the ending will leave you searching for when book 2 is out!
May 6, 2023
Wow! I will admit I picked the book up and put it down after a few chapters for probably the first 1/4th of the book because it felt really slow, but after that the book had me by the neck! There’s losts of twists and turns throughout the books that really keep attention held. And I love a strong and smart woman protagonist. I am so upset I finished the book because it ends on a wild cliffhanger that has me impatiently awaiting the next book
![Profile Image for Yves V.H. [Slow reading].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1768806067i%2F170151541._UY200_CR6%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 15, 2023
4.50 ⭐ I honestly enjoyed this book so much. The romance is not forced (it's definitely slow-burn) and I love the interactions between Anova and Leander a lot although some parts could be a bit confusing; it's like some bits were removed during the final editing. This is so far one of the good Fae fantasy book that I really enjoyed. The plot twist and the whole story itself really pulled me in to continue reading ♥️
🌸 Recieved a copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own
🌸 Recieved a copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own
October 23, 2023
Prepare to embark on a magical journey with protagonist Anova as she takes on a dangerous job in order to pay her debts. Anova doesn’t plan to stay in Fae long enough to carry out this job, only long enough to rob the fae she bargained with but the longer she stays, the more confusing her feelings toward him grow. I loved the story and was swept away, desperate to learn how it would unfold. I loved the moonlight magic, especially Viridia and hope we see her again in book two.
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