#Review - Bound by Magic by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Shadow War # 1
Format: Kindle, 273 pages
Release Date: April 19, 2024
Publisher: Supernal Publishing 
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

They called it the Shadow War, and it had raged for centuries.

It was a time when magical families fought to tear artifacts and powerful spells from each other's corpses, leaving nothing but death and destruction in their wake. It was brutal, a war waged away from human eyes.

Thirty years ago, the remaining four families came together to sign the Codex Magica Treaty, giving up their most dangerous spells and artifacts as part of the agreement. An uneasy peace was forged.

Though the other families have been quiet for years, my parents remained vigilant, constantly on guard for potential attacks. My younger brother and I have been overprotected all our lives, never allowed to leave our home for fear of what may happen to us, but I long to experience the outside world.

On the eve of my brother's twenty-first birthday, I sneak us both out of the mansion to give him a real taste of freedom. What he doesn't know is that I've already been sneaking out for months to see someone I shouldn't be seeing under any circumstances.

I should've listened to my parents.

Bound by Magic is the first installment in author Katerina Martinez's The Shadow War series. Key Characters: Beatrice Ethera, and Lucien Diaboli. Setting: Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They called it the Shadow War, and it had raged for centuries. It was a time when magical families fought to tear artifacts and powerful spells from each other's corpses, leaving nothing but death and destruction in their wake. It was brutal, a war waged away from human eyes.

Thirty years ago, the remaining four families (Ethera, Diverjents, Recondites, and Diaboli) came together to sign the Codex Magica Treaty, giving up their most dangerous spells and artifacts as part of the agreement. An uneasy peace was forged. Though the other families have been quiet for years, Beatrice's parents remained vigilant, constantly on guard for potential attacks. In fact, Beatrice and her brother Max have been prevented from going into Boston proper.

So, what does Beatrice do? She steals her aunt's powerful amulet and sneaks them both out of the family mansion to give Max a real taste of freedom. What Max doesn't know is that Beatrice isn't all that smart or secretive. She's done this time and time again and put the family in harm's way. The reason she has been sneaking out is to have sex with a boy. But in this case, she selfishly loses her aunt's pendant giving an open door to their enemies. 

You see, Lucien belongs to the hated Diaboli family led by Mason and Carla Diaboli. And, guess who ends up getting their hands on the amulet? Anyway....thanks to Beatrice, their home is invaded, her parents are murdered, and she quickly sends her brother off with the amulet before Mason can get into the family vault to retrieve something he wants badly. The Infernal Engine. So, Beatrice becomes a prisoner until she can help the Diaboli retrieve yet another artifact, this time from the Recondites.

*Thoughts* Let's get down to the reason for my rating. First, Beatrice is a selfish, inconsiderate girl who only thinks with her sex organs, not her brain. She craves sex with Lucien like other people crave caffeine or chocolate. Only, now with her idiocy, Beatrice and Lucien may be the reason why another Shadow War isn't that far off. Especially after they pissed off the Recondites. We haven't met the Diverjents yet, so let's hold off on what they may or may not do. This series is literally called a paranormal mafia romance by the author which means that readers will not only get a large amount of chapters filled with sex, but X-Rated sex. I find it funny that people have said there are likable characters in this book. The only innocent character is Max. 

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#Review - Reborn: The Daughter of Ice and Moonlight by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Daughter of Ice and Moonlight # 3
Format: Kindle, 195 pages
Release Date: October 26, 2023
Publisher: Katerina Martinez
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

I have come back to Arcadia, but all is not as it should be.

An impostor sits on Windhelm's throne, and calling herself Queen. I don't know where my parents are or what's become of them. I don't know where my brother is, or if he's even still alive. And in less than two weeks, Fate itself will hunt me down and end my existence as if I wasn't meant to exist in the first place.

This is it.

If I don't figure out how to fix the mistake I made, Arcadia itself could fall and become something entirely monstrous. I just wish I knew where to start.

Reborn, by Katerina Martinez, is the third and final installment in the authors The Daughter of Ice and Moonlight series. After being stuck on Earth for what appears to be a year trying to discover a way to fix her errors, Amara Wolfsbane is given 13 days by Fate's hunter to fix her mistakes, or she will die. Mistakes she made by not wanting anything to do with the Royal Selection, and trusting an old crone who took memories of her away from everyone in Arcadia.

Upon arrival back in Arcadia, Amara and her fate bond mate Valerian discover that something has gone terribly wrong. Someone by the name of Malys Wolfsbane sits on the throne of Windhelm. Amara's parents have been exiled to where, we don't know, after discovering the truth. The forest of the moon children has been destroyed, and her brother Radulf, Alpha of the Moon children is missing, likely with the Frost Giants, and his pack has disappeared to parts unknown. 

Monstrous beings called Souldirge appear to be hunting Amara and Valerian, and if that weren't enough, Amara's three aunts from London, Earth (Pepper, Evie, and Helen) have decided to travel to Valerian to help Amara find a way to defeat Malys and get her parents back from exile. Malys should be very familiar to anyone who read the authors Coldest Fae series featuring Dahlia and Cillian. Once upon a time, a witch snubbed Amara's family after Dahlia made her a gorgeous dress by her own hands. 

After she refused to pay for the dress, Malys's reputation was destroyed by a certain Dark Prince from Windhelm. In retribution for her loss of reputation, Malys tries to create her own form of reality in which she is Queen and everyone else is beneath her feat. Even though Malys seems to be 2 steps ahead at all times, it appears Amara may have an opening. Malys spell is slowly unraveling, and the more people recognize Amara, the less power the evil witch has.

*Thoughts* Disappointing. That is my world for this final book in the series. Disappointing that nobody knows what happened to Dahlia and Cillian. Disappointing in that the author tries to explain away her ending and misses the mark completely. We do learn more about Valerian in this book which is a good thing. Valerian is a Hunter, thus he knows how to take down monsters like the Souldirge which gives him a fair chance of winning the Royal Selection. And, since the author doesn't exactly wrap up all story lines, we will never know the truth about what happens after Amara wakes up in a new reality.

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#Review - Hunted by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Daughter of Ice and Moonlight # 2
Format: Kindle, 196 pages
Release Date: July 30, 2023
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy, Romance

To escape my fate, I fled to Earth... now I'm stuck here.

Earth isn't a safe place for the Fae, but it had to have been safer than staying in Arcadia where some horrible monster was about to end my life... right? So, I made a snap decision, opened a portal, and threw myself, Valerian, and Tallin through it.

Totally thought that through. There's no way that decision wasn't going to come back to bite me in the butt. Only it did, because now we're stuck here, in London, where my mother used to live.

I'm lucky my grandmothers didn't forget who I was after the mess I got into with that crone. If not for them, we would have nowhere to go, no way of recharging our magic, and no way of getting home. As it is, things are looking dicey at best... and Valerian still doesn't know I'm the reason he's stuck here, too.

Who would have thought the two of us would have a Fate Bond?

All the signs were there, but maybe I didn't want to know.

Hunted, by author Katerina Martinez, is the second installment in the authors Daughter of Ice and Moonlight series. This series is a direct spin-off of the authors The Coldest Fae series. In the previous installment, Princess Amara made a bad choice when she was approached by a crone after running away from the Royal Selection because she did not want to end up with someone who she had no feelings for. Because of that choice, Amara, as well as Royal Selection participant Valerian have been chased all over Arcadia by a spooky monster likely sent by fate to erase their existence.

In a while move that may have temporarily saved their lives, Amara opened a one way portal to the Earth realm and found sanctuary with her three grandmothers Evie, Helen, and Pepper who run a magic shop in London. Now Amara, Valerian, and Tallin, her trusty sprite, have to figure out how they can rewind time and correct the mistake that Amara has made where nobody knows who she is, and it appears that someone else may have been put in her place. With the help of her quirky grandmothers, who we only briefly met in the first series, who now play important parts in trying to protect their granddaughter before something bad happens to her.

Thoughts: I normally would say at this point that you should have some knowledge of The Coldest Fae series, but in this book, none of the characters from the first book may an appearance. I appreciate that the author uses the grandmothers in order to teach Amara some humility as well as the understanding that while Amara lives in Arcadia, she is still part human on her mother's side. They are also allowed to tell Amara that she literally screwed up; BADLY. Ergo, she may have some useful tools to partake in defeating the crone who basically destroyed her life. I like that the author has slowly brought Valerian and Amara together, and not rushed it as love as first lust. This book ends on yet another cliffhanger ending, but in this case, I think you will find it one of the best parts of this entire story. End.

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#Review - Lost by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Daughter of Ice and Moonlight # 1
Format: Kindle, 204 pages
Release Date: December 21, 2022
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

In Arcadia, they say, no one can escape the hand of Fate.

In the frozen city of Windhelm, the crown of Arcadia’s Winter Kingdom, the Royal Selection reigns supreme. This competition pits the best of Winter’s young Fae against each other, forcing them to take part in a series of trials, each deadlier than the one that came before it.

The prize?

A soul-bond with the heir to Winter’s throne, and the right to marry them.

It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Each of the Selection’s competitors has spent years training, honing their abilities to become the best that Winter has to offer. Whoever wins would be the perfect match for any Royal.

Only I’m Windhelm’s Princess, heir to the throne, and I'm not marrying anyone just because they tell me to.

Lost is the first installment in author Katerina Martinez's The Daughter of Ice and Moonlight. This is a spin-off from the authors The Coldest Fae series, but set 20 years after the ending. This series once again focuses on the Winter Court in Arcadia. (20-year old) Princess Amara Wolfsbane is the daughter of Queen Dahlia Wolfsbane of Windhelm, aka the White Wolf, and King Cillian Wolfsbane of Windhelm. Amara is half human, half fae, and can shift to a 4 legged wolf just like her mother, and brother Radulf. Amara doesn't like the fact that she has no say in what happens to her future.

She is supposed to sit silently and cheer on the competition called The Royal Selection that pits the best of Winter’s young Fae males against each other, forcing them to take part in a series of trials, each deadlier than the one that came before it. The winner will be married to Amara regardless if she likes the person or not. Funny since her own mother had to deal with the same Selection process in the original series, and made a connection to Cillian during the process, yet there is something secretive about not allowing Amara to make up her own mind.

After a disastrous round where almost every fails, including the front runner and odds on favorite to win, it is the mysterious Valerian who survives by doing the impossible; defeating a dark monster that seems nearly indestructible. Soon thereafter, frustrated by her parents refusal to explain to her why she has to go through with the Selection, Amara leaves to find her brother Radulf who is Alpha of the Moon Children. Along for the ride is her friend Tallin who is a winter sprite. 

Later, after a reunion and a challenge from her brothers pack, she meets Gullie, who was once Dahlia's friend and confidant. Without spoiling anything further, Amara makes lots of mistakes in this book, and it comes with a heavy cost. She really spits in the face of Fate, and dares Fate to do something about it. She comes across as a spoiled child at times, not understanding things that happen have nothing to do with her parents love for her. To make matters worse, Valerian is caught up in the nightmare created by Amara which ends on a cliffhanger ending bring the series right back to where Dahlia's journey began in the Coldest Fae series.

I am not normally one to start and stop a series. But I dare hope the sequel to this book is better and less grating one my nerves.    

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#Review - Cursed Siren by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Enchanting Fae # 3
Format: EBook, 224 pages
Release Date: August 31, 2022
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy, Romance

In Arcadia, Summer has fallen to a terrible curse.

Escaping from the sunken city of Caeris didn't solve my problems, surprise, surprise. All it did was land me in another impossibly crappy situation. What it also did, though, was help me strike a deal with an unlikely ally.

Captain Mordred.

When I find him, I get him to agree to take me to the one person I should probably avoid like the plague - the Pirate Queen of Arcadia. There, I hope to find answers; answers about my past, my present, and my future.

What I get is way more than I bargained for, and soon I'm fighting for my life and the lives of my friends. The Queen is every bit the lunatic I thought she was, but she's also so much more... and I can't say I'm not convinced by what she has to say.

With the fate of Arcadia in my hands, it seems all I do is keep failing. This time, I have to get it right, because if I don't, Arcadia will be changed forever.

Cursed Siren is the third installment in author Katerina Martinez's The Enchanting Fae trilogy. We once again travel back to the world of Arcadia where our heroine, Kara Shaw, has escaped the underground city of Caeris, home of the Summer Fae, along with Bubbles, Delora, and Captain Damon Blackstone in a jellyfish submarine. Unfortunately, Kara and crew crash and end up in the hands of Captain Mordred who has been wanting Kara's Leviathan Trident since she arrived in Arcadia.

 

The problem is a prophecy regarding Kara is still to play out. A prophecy where the trident is cursed and crafted by a terrible creature known as the Leviathan. The trident is stained with the blood of Summer Fae, and has pierced the veil between Fae and the realm of the Gods and Demons. Blackstone has an enlightened view that the Trident is a weapon and a God Killer and yes, Gods, and Demons are real here in Arcadia. What's worse, depending on who is holding the Trident, it could be the savior of Arcadia or its destruction.

 

Mordred himself is cursed as well as his entire crew, and the curse is getting worse as long as Kara is not brought before the Queen Captain of the Pirate fleet herself. Between Kara being onboard the Gray Ghost and her meeting face to face with the Queen Captain, Kara learns history of her own beginnings as well as the truth of her family bonds. One could say that you could see these revelations coming, but I will not actually spoil the revelations and let readers decide for themselves what's what. 

 

In this finale, there is action, adventure, twists, and yes, romance. I would have love to have a firmer finale than what the author leaves us with. The book is only 224 pages long, I think if the book were 20-30 pages longer, it would make for a much enjoyable read. So far, the author has explored the Winter Court, the Summer Court, and Spring which leaves the Autumn Court. I am glad that the romance angle works out for Kara. I am glad that the truth about Kara's real parents is revealed. I had a feeling after the first book, but didn't want to get my hopes up. 

 

 

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Siren Trials (The Enchanting Fae) by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy

Series: The Enchanting Fae # 2
Format: Kindle, 216 pages
Release Date: July 11th 2022
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy

In Arcadia, summer's light can reach the deepest, coldest depths.

When a lethally beautiful Fae brings me to his city and shows me the truth about who I am, it feels like a dream. I'm a mermaid, a real, flesh-and blood-mermaid. Not only that, I'm something of a celebrity, too.

The Summer Fae live in an underwater city called Caeris, and its people have been waiting for me, the Lost Siren, to return. Why? Because they need me in order for a sacred ritual called the Siren Trials to take place. I don't know much about it, but I'm being treated like royalty - like a champion.

The only problem is, the pirate that kidnapped me is being put to death, and for some reason, I can't help but feel like that's my fault. I don't want him to die, but I also don't know how I can help him. Worse, I can't help but feel like I haven't shaken Captain Mordred off, and that I'm not quite safe with the Summer Fae.

Something is wrong, here, and I need to figure it out. Otherwise this dream is going to become a nightmare.

Siren Trials is the second installment in author Katerina Martinez's The Enchanting Fae series. Siren Trials starts off right where Lost Siren ended. After being taken from the cruise ship where she worked, and chased by pirate Captain Mordred who nearly killed her to force her into cooperating with him, she was later rescued by Captain Damon Blackstone who promised that he would find a way to get her back to her home. 

Unfortunately, Summer Fae Prince Aenon and Princess Aerin interfered and brought Kara to Caeris, the sunken city of the Summer Fae. Everything around Kara is new and confusing and her only friend is Bubbles the pixie. She’s not given any chance to get acclimated to the Summer Court before she must face the Siren Trials. Kara, who is the alleged Lost Siren and Fate's Chosen, but raised human, is given a caretaker (DeLora) who is supposed to guide her throughout the trials. 

Sirens in this world are warriors, spellcasters, and agents of the Summer Kingdom. They also lead the Kingdom's armies  Kara is also given the choice of her own champions as well. She has to choose between Captain Blackstone and Prince Aerion. What's worse is that the King of the Summer Fae, Aevon Aqilus, also wants something from Kara. Something she refuses to hand over. 

She's also facing the possibility of a face off with the Queen-Captain, who we have not met, as well as a return match with Captain Mordred who is a vampire fae who nearly killed Kara in the first installment in order to push her into handing over the legendary Leviathan Trident. The Trident which appears out of nowhere whenever Kara needs help. 

The story also features several different chapters from the perspective of Damon Blackstone who found himself in a cell facing execution. When all is said and done, I can't see anyone but Damon being Kara's love interest. There's a whole lot to talk about, but I won't go any further for fear of posting spoilers. I will say that this story pretty much follows the same blue print from the authors previous Arcadia series. 

You have a 20-something woman who grew up on Earth, spirited away to Arcadia where humans tend not to survive long before turning monstrous. You have a main character who finds out that almost everything that she's been told about her human life, is a lie and she's the Chosen one, and someone has been lying to her for a very long time. 

In this story, the winner of the Siren Trials is supposed to claim the title of Queen, but who would want to be Queen as long as King Aevon is around? There is a fair amount of action in this book which should keep most readers satisfied. There's little romance, but I think that ship is about to come in between Kara and maybe Damon? There will be two more books in this series, and yes, I plan on finishing the series instead of walking away.

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#Review - Day Breaker: The Devil of Harrowgate by Katerina Martinez

Series: The Devil of Harrowgate # 4
Format: Kindle, 153 pages
Release Date: April 17th 2022
Publisher:  ‎Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy Romance

I'm going back to Harrowgate, one last time.

I left him there. To rot. Alone. He hadn't given me a choice, but I should've stayed with him, with the Horseman. There's no telling what condition he's in, or if he's even still alive.

We need to find a cure for his condition, but I'm out of my depth. When Izzy comes back with a lead, even a weak one, I can't help but to throw myself at it. The solution to the Horseman's problem demands that we go back to Harrowgate and face whatever he's become.

I have to go back there. I have to find him. And I have to hurry, because for all I know, Kaimos is already dead.

Day Breaker is the final installment in author Katerina Martinez's The Devil of Harrowgate series. Six escaped from Harrowgate prison but she left her lover Kaimos behind to face his demons. Kaimos created a small packet out of space and Harrowgate for himself and Six, but she escaped to return to the Obsidian Order which had no clue what had happened to Six or why she ended in Harrowgate.

Kaimos issue is that he once went berserker and tried to rip out his Guardian which ended up with him becoming the Devil of Harrowgate. Kaimos without his memories is only an echo so he needs to go back to certain times in his life where events happened that lead to his current state of being. Memory of his parents; memory of the day he killed his professor, etc. Thankfully for Kaimos, he has Azlu and Mother pushing him every chance they get. 

With a little help from Selene, an Angel with white hair who belongs to the Obsidian Order, Isabella, a Wardbreaker, Sanchez, the new Warden of Harrowgate, Cassidy Danvers, a Wardmaker, as well as Azlu, an Arachnon who is pushing Kaimos to save himself and gain back his memories of who he was before his corrupt Guardian took over, Six doesn't have a whole lot of time before Kaimos is lost to her. 

Harrowgate must closed, but without it, powerful crime families would rule the world. There are wards that keep nosy people away, while keeping inmates locked inside. Sanchez left the worst of the worst behind when she fled Harrowgate, including an inmate that killed over a dozen people. But what happened to those who were left behind? Six and her friends quickly find out as well as coming face to face with the Devil who doesn't want Kaimos to be free.

I think it's nice to see the author finally come back to this series and wrap it up in a way that makes sense. I would have liked this story to be a lot longer, but such is life these days. 

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#Review - Lost Siren: The Enchanting Fae by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy

Series: The Enchanting Fae # 1
Format: Kindle, 214 pages
Release Date: June 14th 2022
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy

In Arcadia, summer has no chill.

I'm a mermaid, at least I am in my spare time. I actually spend most of my days giving water aerobics classes on the cruise ship I work on. It's not glamorous, or exciting, and I'm not really a mermaid, but it's safe - until the Fae show up.

It's my birthday. I'm supposed to be eating lemon cakes and watching crappy TV. Instead, I'm running for my life from the Fae who want me to go with them, but won't tell me why. All I can do is try to escape, but somehow, I end up in Arcadia; a land of perpetual summer and monsters.

But it gets better.

It isn't long before I'm found by the Fae, only not the ones that crashed my birthday party. Captain Mordred and his band of Fae pirates scoop me up from the island I'd marooned myself on, and before long, I'm a prisoner on his ship. He wants something from me; something I don't have and can't give him.

My survival hinges on whether this pirate captain can get what he wants from me. He's dangerous, and powerful, and charming, and he makes me question everything about myself, but I need to keep my wits about me and escape.

If only it was that easy.

Lost Siren, by author Katerina Martinez, is the first installment in the authors The Enchanting Fae series which will be four books according to the author. This is actually the third series that takes place in Arcadia. You don't need to have read the first two in order to read this series. 24-year-old Kara Shaw works for a cruise ship called Pearl of the Sea. She wears a mermaid outfit, and teaches people how to swim. But on the day of her birthday, pirates board her ship in search of Kara for some reason, and seems as though they are here for Kara.

Kara, who has a water pixie named Bubbles as her best friend, also seems to be hearing voices. Voices that tell her that she's the one they've been waiting for whether she knows it or not. Kara also seems to be running from bad memories surrounding a hospital. The truth always catches up with you sooner than later, and suddenly Kara finds her self in Arcadia, where the Spring Fae are devious, the Winter Fae are Cold as Ice, and the Summer Fae are enchanting. 

Fae Pirate Captain Mordred, likely a vampire, is searching for something called Leviathan's Trident which he believes Kara can retrieve for him. Kara agrees to an accord with Blackstone and finds that the Trident responds to the person it wants to wield it and that person is Kara. After Mordred tries to drown Kara to try to push her into finding the Trident, she finds out a truth about herself. If you've read the first two series, you know that humans living in Arcadia have a tendency to be twisted into monstrous creatures. 

So, if you've read the title of the book, it's not a shocker or surprise to find out that Kara is not who she thought she was. A truth that will definitely be explored over the next 3 books. There is also the Fae Pirate Captain Daman Blackstone who plays a part in this book when Kara first meets Fae pirates, to the ending when Kara meets Summer Fae Royalty Prince Aenon and Princess Aerin. Where he goes next is unknown since Kara is set to play an new role going forward.

There's little romance in this book, unlike the previous series, which really didn't take away the enjoyment of the story itself. There likely will be in future installments. There's a whole lot of banter, and sarcasm, and Bubbles is a laugh a minute. Of course I'll check out the rest of the series!

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#Review - Liars by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Devious Fae # #
Format: Kindle, 188 pages
Release Date: March 7th 2022
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

The Viscount is safe; now it's time to face the music.

I thought I would've been on my way home by now, but the Viscount didn't send me home after Rell sacrificed himself so we could both live. Instead, he wants to go back to Emerald Hall and figure out who's trying to kill him.

Where does that leave me? Right back to square one. The Favoring didn't wait for me, and Invidia's House is shrinking... because I'm losing.

She's furious. All my hopes of her sending me home are gone. Instead, my prize for winning the Favoring is a life not spent in some hole underground.

Winning won't send me home. The Viscount won't send me home. I'm running out of options, running out of time, and Rell is still dead.

I don't know what to do, but whatever it is, I have to do it quick.

Katerina Martinez's Liars is the third and final installment in the authors The Devious Fae trilogy. This story begins right where Roses left off. After being saved by her friend Rell (part sprite & part drake), Avery isn't out of danger just yet. Her relationship with Silvan, the Viscount of Emerald Hall, Fae noble of the Kingdom of Spring, has grown stronger, but she's still in danger. She's still in danger because she wrote her real name in the Book of Fae and now she must finish the challenge known as The Favoring as Kadeera Nightbloom. 

Moving forward, Avery must face several dangerous challenges without any preparations or expectation as to what comes next. She's helped along by her Au Pair Elaith, but she then starts to question if Elaith is actually helping her, or a hindrance. What is know is that someone is trying to sabotage Avery and make sure she doesn't win the contest. If Avery wins, she's supposed to be sent home by Duchess Invidia, but after an assassin comes after her for her necklace, Avery now knows that going home may be the last thing on her agenda.

With Invidia spiraling out of control, Avery gets a very welcomed surprise who helps her survive a brutal series of events. This book is filled with action, deceit, humor and sarcasm galore, intrigue, suspense, one feisty female main character, and a romance on the cusp of hotness. I am going to say this in closing, I think this story is very similar to the authors The Coldest Fae series. In both series, you have a woman who is taken from her home, sent to Fae where they both fall in love with a dangerous Fae, and end up having to face challenges in order to win and survive.

 

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#Review - Roses (The Devious Fae) by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Devious Fae # 2
Format: Kindle, 182 pages
Release Date: December 6, 2021
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

I'm surrounded by beautiful monsters, and they think I'm one of them.

Sometime ago, I was captured by the Fae and stolen from my home to a place of eternal spring. It's beautiful here, or at least it would be, if everything wasn't trying to kill me.

Arcadia isn't good to humans. The one thing I've got in my favor is, I don't look human anymore; not since my ex-roommate Kady stole my appearance, forced me to look like her, and then made tracks back to Earth, leaving me trapped here, pretending to be someone I'm not.

Kady was supposed to take part in some Fae competition called the Favoring, but she's gone, and now I'm the one holding the ball. I'm outclassed, outmatched, but even worse than all that, I find myself constantly thinking about the tall, dark, and distant man that kidnapped me.

The Viscount. He could've killed me by now, but he hasn't, and as the days go by, I feel like I'm drawing closer to him. He's a distraction I can't afford, not if I want to find a way back home.  

 

Roses is the second installment in author Katerina Martinez's The Devious Fae series. This story takes place in the same world (Arcadia) as the authors previous series The Coldest Fae. There are similarities in that both main characters were kidnapped from their homes in the human realm, and stolen away into Fae where they are now at the mercy of those who are much more dangerous than she is. This series takes place in the Fae court of Spring. Avery Rose is the main character in this story.

 

Thanks to the betrayal of her former best friend Lady Kadeera Nightbloom of Emerald Hall who ran away back to the human world, Avery Rose is now expected to be Kadeera. Avery's only real friend seems to be Rell, who is a part drake, part sprite, and all attitude like Mushu from Mulan. But even he has secrets. Trained by Duchess Invidia, Kady's mother, as well as an Au Pair named Elaith, it will be up to Avery, as Kady, to face the Favoring Ceremony and challenge without letting anyone know that she's human.

 

Stuck in Arcadia with no way home, except for some vague promises by the Duchess herself, the Favoring begins with the arrival of the other Houses of Spring. Pretending to be Kady, Avery can't do anything to stop it, especially one she writes her name in the Favoring book. For all the training that Avery has gone through, nothing could prepare her for the dangers of the Favoring and the possibility that someone may die. 

 

As with the previous series, Avery, in her own words, is surround by sharks on all sides, and she has chum all over her body which seems to draw the most dangerous of Fae to her. Then there's the mysterious Viscount Silvan who not only saved Avery's life, but is now suffering the consequences of his actions. Actions that require him to travel to one of the most dangerous place in Arcadia to find ingredients necessary to prevent him to falling to the butterfly who tried to take Avery.

 

These stories are relatively short at 182 pages. One could call them novella's. This story is filled with snark that happens between Avery and Rell, as well as a hopeful friendship with Thea, a Summer Fae Mermaid that she helped save in the previous installment. But expect the unexpected. Expect twists, and turns, and surprises, and make sure you read these book in order! 

 

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#Review - Thorns (The Devious Fae #1) by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Devious Fae # 1
Format: Kindle, 202 pages
Release Date:  September 24th 2021
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

In Arcadia, spring can't be trusted.

From the moment I saw him, I knew he was trouble... but I kissed him anyway, and now I'm here. My fault.

Oh, where's here? It's definitely not the Blind Raccoon, one of Seattle's grungiest, dirtiest, most prestigious dive bars. No, that beautiful stranger at the bar is the reason I'm plucked out of the human world, where most things make sense, and brought to a place called Arcadia - the world of the Fae.

A world of monsters.

He brings me to a mansion called Emerald Hall, and while it's breathtakingly pretty, I'm a prisoner here, stuffed into a cell and warned not to be seen by the other Fae. I have to try to get out of here, using every trick I learned growing up, but I can't help wanting to know more about the man who stole me from my home and brought me all the way to his.

You know, after he tried to kill me.

There's something about him, about this place, and about me. Secrets just waiting to be unraveled, if only I cared to pull the threads. But who has time for that when there's escaping to do?

Thorns, by author Katerina Martinez, is the first installment in the authors The Devious Fae series. This story is set in the same world as the authors previous series called The Coldest Fae, except, instead of Winter, the author takes us to the Fae court of Spring where readers are introduced to an entirely new cast of characters. Avery Rose is just finishing up a set with her band, when she not only kisses a strange man, but finds something alive in a dumpster. Rell is a part drake, part sprite, and all attitude like Mushu from Mulan.

It seems as though Rell escaped from Arcadia, home of the Fae and for some reason or the other, Avery is able to hear what he says. To make matters even more twisted, the man that Avery kissed is in town because he's searching for Avery's roommate Kady who ran away and decided to live a life of squalor, instead of riches beyond imagination. The Viscount, as he is called, claims that Kady escaped to Avery's world, and her mother demands that she return in time to participate in some big deal pageantry. 

As Avery is the only human in this realm, she gets an Au Pair named Elaith who is responsible for teaching her how to shut her mouth so that she doesn't continue to offend powerful fae like the Viscount. Easy rules: Don't be seen. Don't be heard. Don't look Fae in the eyes. Do Exactly as you are told, and don't speak unless spoken to. Although she is protected by the Rites of Protection and Hospitality that lasts one year and one day, doesn't mean that Avery has any desire to remain in Arcadia. And, the first chance she gets she tries to escape with expected consequences.

The story does end on a wild cliffhanger, thanks to a surprising betrayal, which is to be expected as this author tends to leave readers hanging to find out what happens next. Kady like the authors previous main protagonists tends to have a snarky attitude which gets her in deep trouble. The only one who has any power to shut her up, seems to be the Viscount of Emerald Hall as well as Kady's mother the Duchess Invidia. I think in order to either like or hate a character, you have to follow why the character is who she is. What kind of background did Avery have? Not very pleasant. Avery's tough girl interior helps her keep people away from her, but for how long can she keep the Viscount away?

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#Review - Fated by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Coldest Fae # 4
Format: E-Book, 175 pages
Release Date: April 26, 2021
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

To save Arcadia, I must fly into the heart of the storm

There's a prophecy that the white wolf will save Arcadia from the clutches of a terrible storm.

I am the white wolf, but even I'm having trouble believing the prophecy.

The former Prince Radulf is meant to be dead, but he's not. His spirit has taken possession of Prince Cillian's body, and if that wasn't bad enough, whatever soul bond the Prince and I had is gone.

The only way to re-forge my bond with the Prince is to win the Royal Selection, but the city of Windhelm thinks I'm a murderer, and may outright kill me as soon as I walk through their gates.

It's a chance I'm going to have to take, because if I fail, then it won't just be Arcadia that falls, but so will Earth once the armies of winter come crashing through portals like avalanches.

Fated, by author Katerina Martinez, is the fourth and final installment in the authors The Coldest Fae series. Dahlia decides to return to Windhelm in order to save Prince Cillian who has been possessed by his brother Rudolf. In order to save Cillian, however, she must do her best to win the Royal Selection competition. A competition which will test her new skills as the White Wolf, and whether or not she's the one who can stop the Veridian from bringing along the dreaded Wenlow with it. The issue? She's still wanted for murder.

As Dahlia arrives, she learns that there are 6 girls remaining for the Selection including her nemesis Mareen who is odds on favorite to win thanks to the Royals and Council being on her side. Because the Council believes she's guilty of murder, she's restricted to her room, and watched over by a being called a Ulhan which is supposed to keep her in line. Dahlia quickly learns that there is something really, really wrong at Windhelm, and that the Veridian is using its dark influence to hold Dahlia back from actually winning. 

What's more, Rudolf actually doesn't seem like a villain, but a man who was thrust into a bad situation not of his doing. What's lost in the shuffle, is the new allies that Dahlia made in the previous book are missing. You could say that all but two of them vanish and are not seen until the end of the story. Another bad thing is that the three women who helped raise Dahlia, are also all but forgotten except when they want to blackmail Dahlia into behaving or else.

While there is enough action, betrayal, suspense, and romance to satisfy, the ending seems forced, quick and lacking. It would have been a great series if the last book of the series was written with more details.  

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#Review - Marked by Katerina Martinez #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Coldest Fae # 3
Format: E-Book, 316 pages
Release Date: March 8, 2021
Publisher: Supernal Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

In the frigid woods at the edge of a storm, I’m going to find myself or die trying.

I’m a fugitive of the fae city of Windhelm, framed for a murder I didn’t commit. I only made it out of their dungeons by luck, and now I’m on the run—but so is the Prince.

Nobody knows where he is, but my instincts pull me toward the Veridian; a roaring tempest of dark magic that roams the land of the winter fae.

Our trip through the forest is cut short, though, by a group of fae that seize our carriage and bring us to their village as their prisoners. The mark on my hand, the mark of the white wolf, is the only thing that keeps them from killing us outright, but if I can’t prove my mark is real, I’m only prolonging the inevitable.

I don’t have time for these people. I need to find Cillian before he does something stupid, but I don’t have a lot of options.

 

“And from that darkness, turned to light, shall the moon children rise once more to take that which was stolen from them, and with their teeth lay low both castle and fortress, and restore the seat of winter.”

 

Marked, by author Katerina Martinez, is the third installment in the author's The Coldest Fae series. This story picks up right where Stolen left off. Dahlia is now a fugitive from the Crown having escaped with the help of Mira, Melina, and Gullie. Her goal is to find the moon children hoping they are able to give her answers about the unique tattoo that appeared in the last installment. The moon children are the only fae who haven't pledged loyalty to the crown believing that their lands were stolen from them. 

But there's always a catch. The moon children don't trust easily, especially outsiders like Dahlia and her friends. They've been led down the wrong path before, and have had other alleged white wolves show up only to fail their tests to prove they are worthy. Thus, we get a whole new cast of characters including but not limited to Toross, who just happens to be her uncle, and Ashera, who is the first alpha. They call themselves Guardians of the Valley, and Protectors of the Moon Children. They are angry at Cillian and his parents for taking what wasn't theirs and they want it back.  

The mark that Dahlia wears hasn't been seen in thousands of years. It supposedly marks her as the White Wolf aka "Tath isia". Allegedly, she's been marked by an ancient Goddess or something. This book answers some really important questions as to who Dahlia's parents were, and what happened to them, and why she was sent away to live in the Human world where she was protected by mages. The reasons for my rating is pretty simple. It seems as though everything is happening without giving full explanations as to why Dahlia is able to do things others can not do. 

Example: she began this series believing she was human. Then she gets kidnapped to Arcadia where her true self has started to come to the surface. Then, to make matters even more interesting, she's suddenly able to speak while she's shape shifting into, you guessed, it, a White Wolf. Maybe it's because I write things down, but you totally have to have been clued in that something was wrong with Cillian. If you've read Stolen, you know exactly what I am speaking of. This particular twist leads to a cliffhanger ending and what seems to be Dahlia putting herself back into harms way just to prove that she's something prophecy claimed would one day happen. 

The sex scenes didn't impress me much, but that's just me. I think that Dahlia is too obsessed with Cillian and has let her guard down too many times. I think the author decided to make this an R-Rated book with Dahlia using curse words as though she was a trucker. Curse words don't upset me if they are used in the correct context of what's happening in the story or to the characters. I have no clue as to how many more installments are in this series, but I do hope the next installment is better than this one.

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