I received this book via the author, M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Fae's Deception by M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven Series: Queens of the Fae #1
Published by Twin Rivers Press on 2020-04-22
Length: 274 pages
Reviewing eARC Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2020 New Release Challenge, COYER All Year 2020
Brea Robinson is a murderer.
That’s what everyone tells her when she’s accused of killing her best friend.Her mother always claimed she belonged in a straitjacket. Turns out, she was right.
When the man with flashing violet eyes whisks her through a portal into a world beyond her imagination, a world vicious in its beauty and wicked in its lies, Brea begins to wonder if she was ever crazy at all.
Every hallucination she’s ever had is real, but this new world has its own set of lies and questions.
Why are three royals prepared to battle over her?
Who is Griffin O’Shea, and why did he abduct her?
And does falling in love with a man trapping her in this deadly land mean she really has lost her mind after all?
There is only one thing Brea knows: She can’t trust anything.
Not her mind.
Not her heart.
And certainly not the Fae who claims he’s trying to keep her safe.
Book one in Queens of the Fae series, click now to be transported into a world where lies abound, family can't always be trusted, and falling in love is the most dangerous deed of all.
With all the Fae stories coming out this year, I was a little concerned before picking this one up how it would stand out. Y’all those concerns were for nothing! Fae’s Deception by the writing duo M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven is a fantastic, unputdownable read! Full of the beauty and deception you’ve come to expect from the Fae, this book stands out in the sea of others with an intricate plot, Fae brothers, and a fantastic lead.
“Brea Robinson is a murderer.” Pretty ominous start to a blurb, but one that holds true to the story. Brea is not your average human girl. Her entire life she’s seen things others can’t. She gets glimpses of jewel-toned, glowing eyes and pointed ears, a power thrums in her veins, and it’s this power that lands her in a mental institution for her “anger outbursts.” After one of these outbursts leaves her friend grievously injured, Brea finds herself in prison only to abducted by Fae. Everything she saw, her powers, all of it is now explained as she finds herself in the Fae’s world. But looks can be deceiving, and with her heart avoiding the possibility that she killed her best friend, Brea finds herself torn, not sure who to believe as two Fae brothers raised in separate kingdoms, warn her of danger.
Griffin is the first of the brothers we encounter and by far the most charming. He takes Brea to the Fargelsi realm, a realm of eternal Spring. Everything here is beautiful, but beauty hides the things that are deadly: a calm lake with a deadly current, sweet berries that deaden your magic, but those are nothing compared to the Fae that Brea now lives among. Griff however is different, at least that’s what Brea believes. He’s kind and charming, the complete opposite of his brother. He empathizes with her and offers her comfort when she has none.
Then there’s Lochlan. He’s my favorite of the two. A broody Fae prince, raised in the desert realm of Eldur, Lochlan is the opposite of his brother in more than just looks. He speaks the truth, even when that truth hurts, and his one mission is to protect Brea, if she’ll let him. He’s intriguing, and I hope to learn more about him in the books to come.
The plot of this story revolves around Brea and her role in the Fae realms. Why have they taken her? What is this power that lives under her skin? Why can’t she control it? All of those questions are addressed and play out through the plot. While I’ll admit, this story starts off a little slow, by the midway point I couldn’t sit it down. The beginning serves as a way to build the world slowly as Brea encounters it (which I love, very immersive!) and let’s not forget she’s grieving. Despite this, I felt it was true to Brea and what she experiences. I love how the authors bring you into her story through her eyes.
Overall I really enjoyed Fae’s Deception. It’s a fantastic start to a new series. Brea is amazing and the O’Shea brothers intriguing. I cannot wait to dive into the next one. Thank God this is a rapid release series so the wait isn’t long! If you are a fan of Holly Black or Fae stories in general, you will love this one!
About M. Lynn
Michelle Lynn fell in love with reading when she was a kid. Every kind of book gripped her imagination. As she got a little older, she got into series like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Currently, her favorite is the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.
Michelle is an escapist. She believes that a book can take you anywhere and get you away from what's going on in your own life. You can disappear inside the pages and become a different person. Growing up, this became more and more important for her as her life changed dramatically due to an illness. It started when she was young and got worse over the years. Reading is what helped her get through it. She's still getting through it but it isn't as hard, mentally, as it once was. Like reading, writing provided her a needed escape. Her dream is for her books to be able to do that for someone else. Life is hard but this just makes it a little bit easier.
Reading and writing aren't Michelle's only vices as she deals with the illness that has now become disabling. She's also an avid hockey fan. She lives in Florida but never misses a Columbus Blue Jackets game on TV.
Michelle also spends a lot of time with her family - parents, two sisters, 2 brother in-laws, and niece. She's also constantly surrounded by animals - 2 cats and a bird- that provide much needed comfort and inspiration.
She has a college degree in business, economics, and accounting but has to decide how to tie that to writing because that's where her passion lies now.
About Melissa A. Craven
Melissa A. Craven writes Young Adult Urban Fantasy with crossover appeal to other genres and audiences of all ages. She believes in stories that make you think and she loves playing with foreshadowing, leaving clues and hints for the careful reader.
She draws inspiration from her background in architecture and interior design to help her with the small details in world building and scene settings. (Her degree in fine art also comes in handy.)
Melissa is also the indie manager and a staff reviewer at YABooksCentral.com. You can follow her reviews and her contributions to the YABC blog at the YABC site.
Melissa LOVES to hear from her readers. You can connect with her at her website MelissaACraven.com to find out more about upcoming Emerge releases, enter giveaways and download your free copy of Emerge: The Scholar.
i love that cover and immediately thought, fantasy. i love the fae world and i’m glad this was a winner.
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Just binged the whole series this week. It’s fantastic! This is the first book and available now. Highly recommend ☺️