Stolen Mayfly Bride by Sarah K.L. Wilson Series: Stolen Brides of the Fae #8
Published by Self Publish on 2021-06-25
Length: 105 pages
Reviewing Kindle from Kindle Unlimited
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2022 Beat the Backlist
Sometimes stealing a life is the only way to save it.
Elkhana is the Mayfly Seer. Ripped from her family, drowned, and set into a magical cage, she lives only one day a year to tell fortunes for her former people.
When Vidar meets her, he sees a resource he can use to save himself from his enemies and the torturous demands of his own liege and court.But the bond between Elkhana and Vidar is growing. She’s slipping into his dreams and changing how he sees the world and he doesn’t know if he can keep on using her now that he sees her as a person.
Without her visions, he’s powerless against his enemies, but if he has the chance to steal her away from her cage, shouldn’t he take it?To succeed, he’ll need a plan, a lot of nerve, and all the bargains he can strike. Will it be enough?
STOLEN MAYFLY BRIDE is the eighth and final book in Stolen Brides of the Fae, a collection of stand-alone short novels by eight of your favorite fantasy romance authors. Start reading in any order for swoon-worthy romance, heart-stopping adventure, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters!
Satisfying, fully fleshed out fantasy romance in one small package! Stolen Mayfly Bride by Sarah K.L. Wilson is the eighth book in a standalone series called Stolen Brides of the Fae. These books can be read and enjoyed in any order so I decided to start with an author I know and enjoy. Each book has its own world, features a new set of characters, and different types of Fae. With her unique voice and unforgettable world-building, Wilson swept me away for a few hours. I hope that she will revisit the world she created here!
The story follows Vadir, a Fae of Iceheim, an outcast and often mistreated Fae of the king’s court. Vadir is young when we meet him. It’s only been a few years since his own mother was banished from the Fae’s court to live in the human realm as a mortal, stripped of her magic. He is living his life on a tightrope. He must walk a fine line of showing his allegiance to the Fae who embarrass and ridicule him while also keeping himself out of their sights to avoid whatever “punishments” they have for him. On a trip with the king’s favored, he comes across a group of humans off to see their fabled Mayfly seer. Vadir travels with them to meet this human seer who is ensorcelled and entrapped in a cage of obsidian and appears but one day a year to read the futures of the men brave enough to face her.
Elkhana was young when she was coerced into becoming the seer for her kingdom. She’s lived lifetimes in her cage, watched as her family and friends aged and died, yet for her it’s only been a month. She is awake but not during her time in the cage, drifting on dreams though she cannot sleep. I instantly ached for her. Elkhana is living an empty life, one that would make anyone go mad as an entire year passes for each day she lives. Not to mention the Mayflies *shudder* They are her only companions, covering her and coming from her mouth should she try to speak. It’s truly a cursed life she lives…until she meets Vadir.
I enjoyed the bond that forms between these two. She is as much fascinated by this fae prince as he is her even if he won’t admit it. Decades pass in between their meetings, and yet Vadir thinks of her constantly and in his own way falls for her. While he is the king’s spy, Vadir is constantly looking for his way out, preparing a home and looking for a way to free the Mayfly seer. He cannot explain the connection he feels to her, but knows that he cannot leave her as she is.
Overall, I read this one in almost one sitting (hazard of starting the book late in the night is falling asleep while reading). Stolen Mayfly Bride is full of the unexpected, full of dangers that come with any Fae, and full of a sweet romance that builds from an understanding of one another. I really didn’t want it to end and would’ve happily read another 100 pages of their story. If you are a fan of fantasy romance and are looking for a quick read before your next one, I highly recommend it!
About Sarah K.L. Wilson
USA Today bestselling author, Sarah K. L. Wilson loves spinning a yarn and if it paints a magical new world, twists something old into something reborn, or makes your heart pound with excitement ... all the better! Sarah hails from the rocky Canadian Shield in Northern Ontario -
learning patience and tenacity from the long months of icy cold - where she lives with her husband and two small boys. You might find her building fires in her woodstove and wishing she had a dragon handy to light them for her.
This month’s theme is “Quickie.” Instead of going for an obvious choice of romance, I decided to chose a short story that’s been on my TBR since it was announced. Sarah K.L. Wilson has quickly become a favorite of mine. She has a distinct writing style and her worlds are immersive. I was able to read this book in about 2 hours and did not want it to end! Highly recommend.
Leave a Reply