Young, beautiful, and without an ounce of magic…
Lyra Lewis, a courageous eighteen-year-old princess, has lived a life of oppression under the rule of her abusive Sorcerer stepbrother and neglectful mother. She meets a mysterious man at a palace banquet—a Faery unlike any she’s ever seen before—but before she can say anything she’s taken away by a dominating Lycan king with dark intentions.
As her stepbrother stages a violent coup, the faery comes to her rescue, setting off an epic journey of self-discovery and adventure. As they navigate through fantastical realms, Lyra learns of the dark secrets of her family’s past, and the powers she may inherit on her nineteenth birthday. With the faery by her side, Lyra must confront her fears and embrace her destiny, no matter how dangerous it may be.
More treachery follows, involving a dark ritual and regicide. Traumatized Lyra takes refuge in the Faery Realm of Night Hold, with handsome King Onyx, or Nyx, who treats her with tenderness. But can she trust him, after so much betrayal—and as she faces a prophecy involving the land of the dead? O’Donovan takes seriously the wrenching horror of Lyra’s experiences, while convincingly depicting her growing trust, tinged with doubts, for Nyx, and her consuming rage at Aidan and Samael. The tension is strong, with standout scenes including Nyx’s refusing to bed Lyra after she’s imbibed inhibition-shredding Stardust, and a tense, enticing game of Truth-or-Drink.
The novel’s long, chatty, and sometimes repetitive—Lyra loses consciousness alarmingly often. But the prose, at times wordy, comes to tantalizing life as Lyra is roused. The plot builds to truly surprising revelations and a cliffhanger ending. Occasional fantasy action (involving great birds, horned skeletons, and weird magic) is lively, but the novel’s heart is its relationships and vivid couplings. Lovers of Fae-touched fantasy with twists and slow-burn romance will find much to savor.
Takeaway: Dark romantic fantasy of a princess facing betrayal and her own desires.
Comparable Titles: Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
