The Reviled (The Dark Fey Trilogy #1) in The Source Book Club

Jun 26, 2014 Cynthia Morgan added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

As the Author of this book I can tell you a great deal about it, but I should prefer that you dive into the story and formulate your own opinions. What I CAN say is that Dark Fey, The Reviled is currently receiving 5-star reviews on Amazon/Kindle. You can access these reveiws for free through my author page at: http://www.independentauthornetwork.c... as well as a free preview and interviews I've done about the book and my writing.

This story is the first book in a planned trilogy and I have been ...more

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Apr 03, 2015 Morana Blue rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Dark Fey: The Reviled by Cynthia Morgan

I don't recall having ever read a Mystical Fantasy story before and, for sure, I've never read a Mystical Faerie Fantasy - so I had only a vague idea of what I'd find there and no idea, really, of how I'd react to it.

What I discovered was a tender love story - through and around which raged a fearsome and wholly relentless battle between, literally, Light and Dark.

Ayla, a faerie of the Light, is a gifted empath whose compassion is so deep-seated and endurin ...more

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Aug 22, 2016 E.M. Bosso rated it it was amazing

As a lifetime reader of the fantasy genre I'm always on the lookout for a new author to follow. After reading the posted reviews and luckily having the opportunity to actually speak with the author thanks to a shared connection in an online book club, I took the plunge into The Reviled.

I would like to preface my review by stating that I'm going to review it as a Young Adult Fantasy Romance novel which is slightly different than my genre of choice. I understand the sequels are more adult oriente ...more

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Sep 16, 2016 K.J. Simmill rated it it was amazing

Ayla knows all the stories of The Reviled, the Dark Ones. She was raised in the temples due to her own unique capabilities and spent years learning all there was to know about these Dark Fey. They are terrifying creatures, the darkness to their light. Hiding in the shadows, stealing childfey and forcing them through the transformation into one of their own kind. Then one fateful day she feels a presence, a figure cloaked in the shadows watching her through the darkness. She believes him to be on ...more

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Nov 02, 2021 M.J. Mallon rated it it was amazing

This is so me! I loved it from word go... I loved its take on dark and light winged creatures. I listened to The Reviled on audible. It's an enthralling dark fantasy tale which would appeal to young adults and some older readers too. Friendship and a blossoming love interest at the beginning between Ayla and her suitor Marden capture the readers attention.

Ayla is a fae of the light, she is empathic, clairvoyant and can perceive truth from lies. The whisperings of a mysterious dark fey visitor be ...more

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Sep 07, 2018 Mari rated it it was amazing

The tale starts with a young fairy named Ayla who possesses special talents. Her younger years were lonely as the Elders trained her in the Temple. She is now in her late teen years and has a friend while watching the young fey, the name for the young fairies. There will be the handsome, charming love interest, but some force from the Darkness keeps pulling at her. Her world in the world of light and goodness, but all know of the Dark Fey who steal the young and convert them. The darkness is fea ...more

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Jun 28, 2014 Lisa Ojanpera rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This story is elegantly captured from beginning to end with an enchantment that will have you turning each page longing to know the story's end, yet enjoying every moment in between. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for book two. ...more

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Nov 30, 2016 Cherime MacFarlane rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-and

Lyrical, this story reminded me of the Celtic myths. I loved the progression of the characters. Great story, I had a hard putting it down. I'm looking forward to the next installment. ...more

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Feb 28, 2020 Michele Northwood rated it it was amazing

The Reviled: by Cynthia Morgan.

“The night deepened, then faded as lavender predawn sparked the horizon with fair and then brilliant shades of roses, and when the splendour of the sun stepped beyond the sill of the world, its grace was magnified by choruses of birds.”

This book enthralled me from the first page – and I should say that this is not my usual genre of reading. However, Morgan drew me in with her beautiful writing style. She has a way of encapsulating an entire descriptive scene in a ...more

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May 26, 2022 Ezekiel Eversand rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A Surreal Breathtaking World & Story!

Morgan’s descriptive narrative is simply beyond what you can expect to find within the norms of most fantasy novels, even those of the renowned greats! She takes you into her world of the fey, a surreal breathtaking setting that injects sheer magic into every corner of your imagination. I found myself awed by her level of detail throughout the journey of the story.

Her characters are relatable, in a world that clearly depicts good vs evil, light vs dark force ...more

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Sep 23, 2017 Berk Rourke rated it it was amazing

I am not normally the reader of fantasy books. But this one had been hanging out in my library for a while so I took it on. I should say why I offer it a five star rating. The characters (I didn't always like any of them--overall liked them all) were well constructed within the fantasy world created by the author. I am not going to tell you about the story but for saying it is a love triangle with a major twist, that being the"dark" versus the "light." When you read you will understand my commen ...more

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Oct 26, 2020 J.R. Vaineo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: angels-and-demons-fantasy

Cynthia A. Morgan’s Dark Fey Trilogy has found a permanent home on my bookshelves. That says a lot about my feelings toward this first book, The Reviled. Because stories have so many elements to them, I feel it’s only fair to break down my review into four categories: Plot, Prose, Character Development, and Originality. Overall, The Reviled has earned a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

• Plot 4/5
First off, this plot is fast moving. It starts out very mysteriously, with Ayla having the sense that someone Cynthia A. Morgan’s Dark Fey Trilogy has found a permanent home on my bookshelves. That says a lot about my feelings toward this first book, The Reviled. Because stories have so many elements to them, I feel it’s only fair to break down my review into four categories: Plot, Prose, Character Development, and Originality. Overall, The Reviled has earned a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

• Plot 4/5
First off, this plot is fast moving. It starts out very mysteriously, with Ayla having the sense that someone is watching her. He is an unfamiliar, dark presence. Almost like a shadow, for she can never make out his shape in the treeline of the forest. She’s guardian to the childfey. It’s her job to protect them, but she often finds herself distracted by this recently detected “dark presence.”

As Ayla discovers the awkwardness and joys of “first love,” with Mardan, the dark presence continues to press in, getting braver and braver. He eventually reveals himself to Ayla. And he’s nothing like what she had imagined. Just when he discloses what he wants from Ayla, the Reviled find their way to Ayla’s home. They mean to frighten her into giving over what they came for.

I was on the edge of my seat, for the last half of this book. Truly, it was a joy to both listen to and read. Yes! I listened to the audiobook and read the paperback. It was that good. :)

• Prose/Style & Grammar 4/5
Morgan did such a great job with the names she used, such as the character names, cities, and clips of their spoken language. There is a distinct difference between Celebrae and Dlalth. It really helped me feel immersed in the world of the Fey.

Her style reminds me of classical writing. Very reminiscent to Jane Austen, but in the genre of Fantasy. She wonderfully describes characters’ emotions in the classical way, where it gets to the point, but is written with the intent to stream together effortlessly like music.

Though there are typos in the paperback (that were hardly distracting), these typos do not exist in the audiobook version. Yay! Oh, and to warn you, it might take some time for the narrator’s voice to grow on you, but it should after a few chapters or so. I began to love how crisp and controlled the narrator’s voice is. I was able to take in more of the book than I had anticipated, because her voice isn’t as fast as others I’ve heard.

• Character Development 4/5
The main character, Ayla, is perhaps a favorite of mine, out of the many books I’ve read over the years. She comes off as shy, at first, but then guarded. Once her abilities are shown later on in the story, it becomes clearer why she behaves the way she does. Though the character cast is short, in this first book of the trilogy, I didn’t mind. Morgan did very well, fleshing her characters out. Each one acted in a realistic way. I never got the feeling that the characters were rushing ahead of the story, acting in ways that were stinted or forced. Their progression was satisfactory.

• Originality 5/5
I love the originality of The Reviled. There are enough familiar themes to be reminded of mainstream stories, but it is certainly different enough to stand on its own merit. It’s apparent that Cynthia A. Morgan has worked hard to build the world Ayla lives in. And what a beautiful, mysterious, and, at times, dark world it is. I’m left with a craving to hear the continuation on audiobook.

Thanks for reading my review all the way to the end. I urge you, if you don’t have the time to read these days, try out the audiobook version of The Reviled. ...more

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Nov 13, 2022 Alison Williams rated it really liked it

If ever there was a book I've read recently that needs to be accompanied by illustrations by the like of Arthur Rackham or Maxfield Parrish I think The Reviled by Cynthia A. Morgan may be it. The author's love of lyricism and poetry shine through every page. In presenting the conflict between Light Fey and Dark Fey, Cynthia Morgan has written a true fairytale. The main character Ayla, a highly-gifted fey of Light finds herself caught between a fellow Light Fey, Mardan and a Dark Fey named Gairyn If ever there was a book I've read recently that needs to be accompanied by illustrations by the like of Arthur Rackham or Maxfield Parrish I think The Reviled by Cynthia A. Morgan may be it. The author's love of lyricism and poetry shine through every page. In presenting the conflict between Light Fey and Dark Fey, Cynthia Morgan has written a true fairytale. The main character Ayla, a highly-gifted fey of Light finds herself caught between a fellow Light Fey, Mardan and a Dark Fey named Gairynzvl. Though swept up by Mardan initially, Ayla is irresistibly drawn to Gairynzvl when the Dark Fey reaches out to her for help escaping the clutches and corruption of The Reviled. To separate himself entirely from his horrendous past, Gairynzvl must undergo a painful cleansing ritual that could potentially destroy him if he is not strong enough. The setting of the magical land created by Cynthia A. Morgan is replete with an emphasis on it beauty and brightness. There are hints of the violent and darkness of the realm of the Reviled but for this first book the focus remains within the home of the Light Fey. I quite enjoyed this novel for its lyricism and love of fantasy. If I have a quibble it's only that I had wished Ayla and Gairynzvl had been brought together sooner than Chapter Six and more of a description of the Reviled's home for a contrast had been revealed. The poetic language in this fairytale can sometimes get in the way of moving the story along but not over much as, like I've stated, it very beautiful. Morgan's description of her main male hero did bring to mind David Bowie as the Goblin King in The Labyrinth but that might just be me projecting. Ayla, the female lead, is my favourite when she's standing up to the males surrounding her and I wished she did that more often. She does spend a lot of the story incredibly terrified. Not without reason though, so I'm not hung up on that, I just like it best when she's standing up for herself. In all, the first book of The Dark Fey Trilogy is an excellent foundation for the further adventures of the main characters as they struggle to rescue and redeem the innocents who have been captured by the horror represented by The Reviled. ...more

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Oct 27, 2020 A.J. Griffiths-Jones rated it it was amazing

I rarely read fantasy novels but after finding myself absorbed with the life of Ayla & the characters of the Light & Dark Fey, I’ve definitely got a taste for it. Beautifully descriptive & enchanting, the reader is gently introduced to the plot, which gently flows back & forth as evil forces attempt to sway Ayla towards the dark side. I felt that it was easy to imagine the scenery, so wonderful was the author’s telling of the story & the cliffhanger ending has ensured that I’ll be downloading bo ...more

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