Ensorcelled

Prince of the Doomed City #3

by Sylvia Mercedes

IS HE HER MASTER, HER CAPTOR . . . OR HER PROTECTOR?

Life has only become more complicated for Clara following the Prince’s sickbed revelations. Confused by her own budding feelings, she resolves to concentrate on the job at hand: serve in the Doomed City library, survive her sentence, and get home.

Then a face from Clara’s past shows up in the library: Danny, her childhood sweetheart. He seeks to break her Obligation once and for all, but in attempting to do so, puts himself in deadly peril.

To rescue her one-time love, Clara must face dangers beyond imagining. The Prince is determined to keep her safe, even against her wishes. Now that the balance of power between them has shifted, however, he cannot prevent her from becoming the savior she was born to be.

But can she save herself from darkness of her own creation?

Return to the Doomed City with Clara and her Prince! Nightmares, treachery, and simmering romantic tension will keep you guessing as the pages fly.

NOW WITH BONUS SCENES FROM HIS POV!

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Enemies To Lovers, Slow Burn

438 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 29, 2022

About the author

Hi, there. I'm Sylvia: cat-lover, tea-drinker, book-addict, and avid fan of the Kickbutt Heroine Fantasy Genre! If you like reading about tough heroines with extraordinary powers facing their demons and saving their loved ones . . . then we ought to be friends!

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. You get my novel, Song of Shadows, for FREE when you sign up!

Reviews

[Jericho McKraven]

Ensorcelled was intense. It's the most intense of the three books, but it's also the most messy. The first two books almost had nothing going on, and then Ensorcelled happened and it was too much everything! So much was happening in fact, that we have tons of loose ends and a last page that made me want to forget Clara was ever written. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Clara's character is frustrating, I think by design? The Prince is reasonable, kind, benevolent even, and she's a snotty little tantrum thrower who fancies herself a bleeding heart (she's not). 😒 Then there's that guy, what's his name? Ivor? Why is he even in these books? And her ex-fae owner... she keeps popping up too, but more as a plot device than an actual person. There's those troll kids she keeps forgetting to care about - and her maid who she pretends is her friend one second and orders around the next (moodswings much?). Then we have a random guard who pops up only when it's convenient - and a list of librarians we're told about but hardly see.

Actually, I think that's what I find so off-putting about this entire series. The characters are so flat, even Clara lacks dimension. It's so weird! Why do people keep falling in love with her?! No one ever talks to her! They say five words and are obsessed?! Or glance her way and hate her?! We're told they like her but never see why. There's so much going on that no one gets truly fleshed out. This isn't typical for Mercedes, I recently read a book by her that went right on my favorites list:

Bride of the Shadow King:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And ohmygosh! Her characters breathed! Her world was alive! I was riveted! It wasn't all-tell-don't-show, it was flawless!

I guess I was expecting to love Prince of the Doomed City just as much, but I just... I'm not in love with any of the characters, I hardly remember them when they're off screen because CLARA hardly remembers them. 😒

There are parts of Ensorcelled that are riveting, but the books in their entirety are sadly underwhelming (to me). 😮‍💨 I really, REALLY wanted to be obsessed with this series. I'll likely read the next installment, but I'm nowhere near as excited about the next book in this series as I am about Vow of the Shadow King! 🤩😍🤤

P.S. This is romance? But three books in and there's still no actual romance... It's more like, "Who Did Clara Forget She Loves Today?!" I reserve the right to judge on this matter until the series has ended. 😏

[Jude: The Epic Reader]

Yeah, I'm done here. No pretty cover can save series at this point.
Clara is so fucking dumb...I really don't want to read this series anymore.

The only thing this series really had was writing that was very easy to read and an intriguing first book. I had expectations that Clara would get better throughout but she just gets worse and worse. The Prince is an idiot for liking her, let alone loving her, every time they argue he is in the right. But he still likes her and I don't understand it. She is so selfish.

'I'm so selfless because I adopt random troll children" -Puts everyone in danger, rarely sees the children and forces her maid to care for them.
'I'm so selfless because I take such good care of my brother" -The 20 year old druggie who doesn't do anything else and doesn't want her to care for him.
"I'm so powerful and independent. No one tells me what to do"
-Disrespects your fiance after he spends half his life babysitting your 20 year old druggie brother and trying to help you. (I admit he is an idiot but he deserves better).
-Gets nearly everyone killed like 10 times through out the series. Some which you pay for and some that you should've payed for.

This book just made me so mad.

[Bryn Shutt]

This third installment of Prince of the Doomed City was so intense and twisty! The heart-breaking revelations, the subtle hints of things to come, and the slow burn finally catching a spark only to get doused. Gah, I need to know what happens next.

Also, #iwillgotowarfordanny #savedoctorgale

[Maria Lebron]

To say that I’m upset I have to wait almost five months to read this book would be a vast understatement. This series is phenomenal and is only getting better with each installment.

[A_Paige]

Finally got some questions answered that I’ve had since the beginning. I’m a little unsure what the next two books can be about that’ll keep me entertained, but I have high hopes. A lot of action happened in this book, made it relatively easy to flip through it quickly. Onward to the fourth book!

[Mandy]

Mild spoilers ahead:

I just can’t with this woman! She takes TSTL to an entirely new level. I have never wanted so much to reach into a book and slap the taste out the mouth of a character. I was intrigued by the first book even though annoyed that it was labeled a “romance”. If by romance she means the “heroine” thinks herself sorta in love with one guy and attracted to two others, then yeah I guess it’s a romance. We are in book 3 in this never-ending dive into the mind of the most ridiculous woman to ever be written into the pages of a book. Are we really supposed to believe that she is so amazing and wonderful that all these folks are in love with her and all these beautiful fae are jealous of her??? She makes decisions that put herself and others she allegedly cares about in grave danger. She thinks she knows better about how a whole-ass society/culture should operate. Even after she’s been warned about how bad it could go for EVERYBODY if this stupid idiot keeps interfering, she just goes full steam ahead and endangers nearly everybody she knows. Her “love” for her no-account brother is super annoying and seems insincere. He’s not a little boy anymore that still needs her weird mothering. Even after we find out the source of her nightmare story, how her mother died, and her weird motherly obsession with her brother, I am still no closer to understanding her motives. Her human love interest is also ridiculous and his inclusion in any scene makes zero sense except to have a human doctor on hand to help the prince. The prince! Why won’t he just tell her she’s his soulmate???? It would make communication between them more clear. There is too much unspoken for this to be much of a romance. I have read things by this author before so I was unprepared for how much I would loathe and despise Clara. Even her name is stupid. Castien deserves better. The doctor deserves better. Her fellow librarians deserve better. I just about threw my kindle across the room because she had just locked her fellow librarians out of a Noswraith vault to save that idiot doctor that she REPEATEDLY told to leave her obligation alone. She is really going to risk herself and possibly a whole population of people to save this one guy who made his own decisions. I have ended each book in this series more annoyed than excited to read the next book. The only reason I would finish this book is if I found out Clara gets killed because she’s an idiot.

[Tara Grayce]

Prince of the Doomed City is such a decadent blend of fae fantasy, deadly and magical library, and slowburn romance! This latest installment reveals a few answers about Clara's past and how she ended up as an Obligate. BUT it just added more twists and turns as Daniel gets added into the mix! I can't wait to see where this series goes from here!

[Pearl]

I dislike fooliish characters who try to be selfless to assuage their selfish sense of guilt. The only true addition to the plot from this book is that those webs are better binders than the books. I was bored and left with more questions than answers and I’ll not be continuing this series..

[Believe The Read]

It's good but....

I really wish there were half ratings to give. I waited for this book for what felt like forever and it was good....well written and moderately entertaining. But, overall it felt like the main character just was spinning her wheels the whole time. She's pigheaded to the point of ridiculousness. She has a good heart which I love but she makes kinda hasty choices based solely on her own needs and desires and it makes the character not all together lovable. I don't love her treatment of Danny and her brother....in her love for them she also doesn't do things that they need so she's really very selfish. Of course that is a point brought up but she justifies it by telling herself it's for their own good. I really feel sorry for her brother....she strings him along worst of all and by the end of this book you wonder if he can even be saved at all from his own miserable life. She is determined but the whole book just seems like her determination is born of pigheadedness instead of learning as she goes....she doesn't want to give the prince a chance even though she realizes shes starting to consider him home...but she still harbors some kind of feelings for the fae Lord who seems to be messing with her on some level. She also can not have a real conversation with Danny so she leads him on....these things are somewhat brought into the open but still it makes you wish the character development for Darling is a little better. I'm excited to finish this series....I really hope the book releases before the date listed.

[Kay]

This was an up and down, round and about, in and out, heart and soul crushing rollercoaster ride of a story.

Clara Darlington, his 'Darling' to the Prince of the Doomed City, the half-human hybrid. Clara and her librarian colleagues certainly have their work cut out for them, as the reduction in people able to keep the Noswraiths in their book 'jails' has reduced. Long shifts, no sleep. Worrying times, indeed, when no replacements can be found to help. At one particular part in the library, I sobbed my wee heart out... Ugly, ugly cries. It was so sad.

Clara is still mother to her little trolls. I adore the way they 'bomb' her. They love her so much and vice versa, of course. Clare's brother is in a constant stupor, and her doctor friend, Danny - thinking he is helping Clare - has ventured into the unknown; his unknown. Clara knows only too well what to expect and she'll put herself in mortal danger to save him. Will she succeed? *draws zip across mouth*

The dynamics and emotions between Clara and her suitors are palpable, she's such a sensitive soul. The world building is just as you left it in book two - wonderful - the characterisations are strong and completely believable, and the storyline and writing are excellent. Typical high standard and quality from Sylvia Mercedes.

I chose this ARC from a selection which I voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.

[E.V. Everest]

Great series! Perfect for fans of magical libraries, super slowburn romance, and fae.

I appreciate how the author created a physical embodiment of trauma in the form of the noswraiths and the reveal of Clara's nightmare in this book was heartbreaking and worth the wait. I also appreciated Sis's tangles and the possible greater purpose there.

[Bess]

This is not my typical choice of genre. The series is a quasi-horror, thriller with heavy fantasy overlays. I tend to stay away from horror because books come alive in my mind and I'm in the stories. With that out of the way, onto the review...

Picking up right where the last book left off, in the human world. The adventure continues! Clara is growing in power however, she's also growing in carelessness. Danny ends up getting himself ensnared into a nightmare in the vaults and instead of leaving him there, she enters to try to reunite his spirit with his body. It's successful. How? I don't know. It's so interesting how she continues to find herself caught in the most precarious positions only to emerge successful by mere fractions. I know, it's a book. And the author is creating this. But still. It almost seems like Clara is defying the author's story to live on.
Castein seems just along for the ride at this point. Although, some of Clara's foolishness has birthed hope into the Doomed City. Can't wait to see if it actually works! They still banter and while it feels like Clara is slipping, Castein is proving more and more her lifeline.

Onto book 4. Hoping against hope that Clara will use the brain she has in her head and realize that it's not all her responsibility. But like so many of us, we take on the responsibility of others when we shouldn't.

Disclaimer: magic, trolls, adult language, mild gore, horror themes, reoccurring nightmares, graphic imaginary, recklessness, fae glamors, more gorgeous clothing, drug dens, and more adorable troll children!

[Jes Drew]

I cannot describe to you the level of excitement I had getting this book, which released just after I finished reading the first three for the second time (I started reading them again almost immediately after the first time).

Due to that excitement, I read this book late at night. That was a very amateur move, and I would warn you to at least try to fight that temptation. There is a higher volume of norswraiths running around in this book and the very nightmare realm itself.

The dynamic between Clara and the Prince has changed, and I am here for it. Clara's trauma is also here for it, and not in a good way.

Also, the scene that is illustrated on the new cover is one of my favorites in the entire series. All this tension and banter distracts me from the pain this series also inflicts.

I read this book too fast and found myself sadly waiting for the next installment with many questions. Is my theory correct? Is there another way to stop the norswraiths? Who's going to combust from the tension first- Clara, the Prince, or me (probably me)? Had to reread the series again after finishing this, as you do.

My one sadness: There was a tragic funeral that I'm not okay with.

Note to more sensitive readers: I think there may be some bad language, but I don't recall completely. There are also horror elements.

The perfect series for all lovers of romantic fantasy.

First reviewed on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...

[Beth Green]

Clara is ready to return with the Prince of the Doomed City to her work in the library, writing binding spells. But when Danny attempts to break her Obligation, Clara must save her one-time love…

This story was intense and emotional as Clara faced the past that caused her to create a Noswraith and risked everything to save Danny from a terrible fate.

This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance kicked up a notch as Castien stopped fighting the bond between them. But will he win her? On to book no4 to see how things progress!

[Hailey Miller]

DNF

[Sammie]

I am completely entranced, entangled and ensorcelled by this series- I just finished a binge read of all three within three days and am very sad that we won’t see the next installment until next year, but it will no doubt be worth the wait.

This series is a beautiful story that just keeps unraveling and the reveals of Ensorcelled had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. Learning more about Clara’s Noswraith, watching her relationship with the Prince develop, and seeing her finally starting to question her beliefs a little bit is extremely rewarding.

I understand that many readers may find themselves frustrated with Clara, myself included, but I think it is important to remember that she is fully traumatized and going through it. It is going to take time for her to face her demons (and Noswraiths) and learn to heal from a lifetime of abuse and codependent relationships.

It’s been three books, but the first book took place in the span of what? A week? And now at the end of the third I don’t think more than two months has passed since Clara became a librarian in Vespre. The kind of change we may want to see isn’t realistically going to happen in that short amount of time, and I LOVE how realistic Clara is.

She is flawed, yes. But who isn’t? The very human struggle she faces is beautiful and heart wrenching and will make the payoff even more satisfying once she has gotten through it.

I’m anxious and more than a little afraid for our dear protagonist and her beautiful fae Prince (I will sink with this ship), but I can’t wait to read more of their story and see what happens next.

[Emily]

This one was by far my least favorite installment in the series. I HATE Clara now after this book. She is manipulative, extremely selfish, and her actions absolutely disgust me. She takes advantage and power over the poor Prince who has absolutely refused to enforce the Obligation over her the entire series AND THEN she manipulates him into using that power to help her save a different man who does not deserve it. She has an extremely important duty and is one of only three librarians who stand between the world and Nightmares but she would rather save a manipulative man who doesn't take no for an answer over doing her job. On top of that she made this whole big stink about adopting troll children that she has now neglected! It's not like the book ignores these issues as the Prince actively calls Clara out on her bs the entire book but so help me if she does not get a cold hard slap of reality in the next book I'm going to lose it. The plot is really interesting and I love all the other characters except Clara so that alone is worth continuing the series but let me tell you I have never been so DISGUSTED by a heroine in my life. She is actually a toxic red flag and I feel bad for the Prince.

[Renee Allison]

Entranced? Check. Entangled. Check. Ensorcelled. Check check check! Why are there only 5 stars? I want to give this more than 5 stars!!

I LOVE Sylvia Mercedes' stories. ALL.OF.THEM. Each one I read is better than the last, and when I finish a story I can't wait for the next in the series. Clara is not the only one who is Ensorcelled!

I devoured book 3 of the Prince of the Doomed City series as fast as the Eyeless Woman sets upon her victims. And now I'm looking around, hungrily searching for the next book! Sylvia weaves you into her tales, drawing you in slowly and thoroughly, until you have no more hope of escaping than does a Noswraith from a gubdagog! Not that you'll want to escape, mind!

I can't say enough good things about Sylvia's talents. The worlds she creates, the characters she builds, layer by layer. So many threads of possibility, all woven together in an impossible tapestry. Just when you think you may have unraveled a mystery, you crash into a knot and are forced to start your journey over.

I can't wait to see what is in store for Clara and the Prince. There's a story there - I just know it!

[Kay]

Ugh 😑 how disappointing

I keep hoping the character matures or at least develops into some kind of practicality or common sense but no, she just kept hoping for the best and continued to make wrong choices.

The first few books I kept thinking she’s new, she’s allowed to be stupid. Well, we are on the third book people! Being stupid until the third book is no longer an excuse.

She is a walking contradiction and I’m sorry if there’s spoiler but if you’ve gone this far, you will probably be disappointed too. She kept fighting them over the “troll children “ and what does she do after? Not spend time with them and pretty much dedicated the care to Lir.

What does she do when she found a possible solution to their problem? Not pursue them of course because she is that kind of girl. The only consistent characters are the bad guys which honestly I’m already rooting for.

It’s disappointing really, it’s like the author was not confident with her character and her world building that one disaster after another kept happening which only highlights the flaw in the heroine. I would highly recommend develop her with her current environment and stop with the mind chatter.

[Nettie]

I'm reviewing all 3 books up to this point. Well. 2.5. Since I dnf nr 3.

The world building is intriguing and interesting. Its unique with lots of little details about trolls for example. We get to understand their society and faith.

Clara had a heartbreaking past and is currently being enslaved by malicious people. So the reader immediately emphathise with her. We're interested to see how she handled her past and how she will escape her current predicament.

Unfortunately, she was probably one of the most idiotic heroines I read (almost) 3 books about. She repeatedly disregards other peoples advice and pleading. They clearly meant little to her. She storms into danger, usually dragging others along with her, then expect them to save her. Which they do without complaint.

She adopted 4 cute little children, with complete disregard for their culture and ways, then basically abandoned them to someone who loathed them in the beginning. Forcing this person to become their adoptive mom without being given the choice.

She drags along a love interest for the benefit they brought to her brother. She lied to him repeatedly, never explaining things properly to him, thereby giving him false hope and false impressions. Then played the heroine when he made a stupid mistake.

The prince, the MMC, was cruel, manipulative, selfish, mean, and played games with 2 women at the same time. He humiliated the FMC repeatedly by forcing her to endure him being with the other woman, while knowing the FMC is his soulmate.

He constantly demeans her, berates her, puts her down and hinted at what an awful darkness she has in her and how her whole personality and acts are false and pretensious. Then he's surprised when she sees him as typical fae - mean, selfish and manipulative!! *facepalm*

The slow burn was also more slow than burn. The enemies to lovers was more hatred to forced tolerance to fated mates while still hating each other.

Too much time was spent bringing out the ugliness in each other. And very little time at all describing why you would start to love this person.

He saw her as powerful and she saw him as beautiful. That was it. The only positives mentioned. No events where they got to know each other, laughed together, noticed attractive features in each other, etc. No gratefulmess for saving and helping and supporting each other. No admiration for what they did or how they treated each other and other people.

The whole slavery system was also really badly handled. Nowhere, NOWHERE, by NO ONE except maybe the doctor, was this CONDEMNED. As WRONG.

People write stories - arrest them!
People publish stories - execute them!
People pen their heartaches - imprison them!!
People try to save others by going on a quest - enslave them!!

WTF???!!!
How is this allowed?

Did people honestly just say... oh well. They probably did something evil. Shrug and forget about their brothers, mothers, daughters, sisters???? No uprising? No demanding of help from police, authorities, neighbours, towns, etc.? No writing to newspapers? Demanding awareness and help about disappearing humans?!?!?!

Why didn't the Fae go to the human authorities when Noswraiths appeared? Explain to them about human magic? Show them the monsters created? And worked out a system to stop the unintended consequences of stories? And if that is what "the Pledge" was (its never explained to us)... why not openly talk about this to every subsequent human authority or society?

Oh... why would they. When its just so much easier and more enjoyable to enslave the humans... and HUMANS are the bad guys for creating Noswraiths unknowlingly without ever even being told?

And why is it only monsters that were created? What about the most-loved books that were about friendship, love, humor, etc.?

Anyway. I basically stopped when the doctor was imprisoned and enslaved and the MCM, the prince, thought he DESERVED it.

So it was acceptable for Fae to enslave humans. Even to him.

What an awful people they are.
What awful people the whole series was about.

Trolls who enslaved orphans.
Fae who enslaved humans.
A prince who has zero empathy and sympathy for someone who saved his LIFE.
Selfish maidens who jumped into danger uncaring about those around her.
Side characters who all basically despised the FMC while having zero empathy or understanding for her being enslaved.

I had high hopes that somewhere along the line, we'd see an uprising against the slavery. A condemnation of it. A fight against the unfairness of it all. A resolution of it. An apology from fae to human for it.

By the 3rd book I realised nope. It's seen as just punishment by ALL. Human, fae and troll all alike.

No one truly loved or cared about anyone.
Except maybe the doctor.
The brother hated the sister and blamed her for being imprisoned and leaving him.
The sister is strangely enslaved to the brothers' whims. Being his doormat.
The parents hated the children.
The children hated the parents.
The prince hated Clara.
Clara hated the prince.
The trolls hated the fae.
The fae hated the humans.
The humans couldn't care less about anyone.
The fae hated each other (basically not even one truly loving relationship).
The King hated his own son.
The son hated his father.
The cousins hated each other.
The trolls hated trolls outside troll culture.
Nowhere except for Clara's dad, do we get proper reasoning or explanations for all this hatred.

The series was thus all about hatred. The whole moral basis of the books were skewed towards slavery and unjust punishment. Selfishness abound and no one seemed to have many redeaming qualities. Every character was described as "oh so beautiful" but their hearts were all monstrous.

I loved the writing. It kept me interested and intrigued. It flowed quickly. But the grammar was atrocious. Things like "the fool child" is used repeatedly. Tenses chop and changed on a whim (like I do as a non-English speaker). And there's several inconsistencies. Like running with slippers then next moment being barefoot. Or working throughout the night then next moment leave to tuck the children in for the night. Etc.

[Deborah]

"I’ve watched her face down monsters far beyond anything you could possibly imagine. If you knew her at all, you’d know she’s perfectly capable of saving herself."


Did I detect Mindflayer and Weeping Angel references? Bravo. I did enjoy the continual use of Darling, as well as this new power struggle between our two leads. But for someone who's been dodging fae and working in a library for five years, this girl is DUMB.

We seem to get to the crux of the matter at the very end of the book, but for someone who claims to live for those she loves, she ignores or leaves those people incredibly often. Idiotic choices seemed to be made by all except the prince this time, shocker. And I'm just wondering, who the heck is taking care of the library? Please let the next one be better. I'll be reading it against my better judgement.


“But I’ve already told you I won’t force my will on you. Go ahead. Command me. See what I will do for you.”

[Elle]

Obsesseddddd

I'm so thoroughly into this world now y'all

THE ROMANCE

it's become so sweet! I love how obviously he cares for her and how he really isn't being subtle about it. It feels so genuine. I feel like....the next book...we may finally get to see them together? At least for a moment?

ALSO I love this twist with Sis's tangles! I really didn't think that hard about them before, and it really got me thinking about the fate of Vespre.

Again like always gorgeous world building.

Oh! Yes! Finally got to find out about Clara's noswraith and her connection to it.

And that scene with her being open and the Prince forgiving her? I low key almost cried.

Side note: Emma is kind of terrifying when you're overtired

[Stacey Beneze]

I am really enjoying this series and the third book does not disappoint! I’m glad that we are starting to see answers to some of the questions we had from the first and second books. As is typical of any Sylvia Mercedes book, the world building is amazing and the characters are incredibly relatable! The only thing I’m still not sure how I feel about, is the Danny arc of this book. I know he is part of Clara’s story but it almost feels like a distraction from the main part of the story. That being said, I am excited to see where the final book of this series takes us!

[Alisha]

Slow delicious burn!! Clara and the Prince keep readers busy in this book. Between the suspense and deep attraction, they both take you on a wild ride! Clara often finds herself in impossible situations and begins to trust herself and show more courage. The Prince has a knack for making any situation light and often speaks between the lines. I often found myself rooting for them and screaming at the same time. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to find out what happens next!

[Tammy Villiers]

Oh God!! I thought I loved book 2! But Sylvia way to prove someone wrong in an almost cruel way!!!
Gosh…the chemistry…the push and pull…the tension! Literally in every possible scene between them I was like they are going to do it any second now but push and pull was absolutely delicious and steamy!!
The roller coaster ride was superb and here is me waiting for Clara and the prince to show us yet another steamy book!!
I can’t wait Sylvia, keep entertaining us!!

[Natalie]

Clara’s character is very frustrating in this book but FYI the author made a YouTube video explaining some of the thought process that went into behaviors the Clara shows. Although I still find Clara frustrating, at least now I understand her better and I’m hopeful that in the fourth book she will be able to develop into a healthier character.

[Becca Bilbo Dorris]

Too short (i want more!), slooow burn

If you like libraries, fae, slow burns, no spice, but lots of tension, fairly wholesome fantasy then this is a fantastic series. My main complaint is I want more! I do feel like I should have waited till all the books came out before starting this series.

[Lya]

The main character weakens in this one

I loved the other two books. They were fantastic. But the main character in this one becomes stubborn to the point of stupidity. I really, really hope this is because something else is affecting her (there seem to be hints about it), because otherwise, the character's personality has taken a drastic change.

[Andrea]

Amazon says release date: May 29, 2022.

[Rainy Day Reads]

My review will be the same for each book but it is because I cannot put into words the journey I've been taken through.

When we meet Claire Darling in the first book, there are so many different threads to pull to understand why she is under mandatory servitude with no memory of wrong doing, why powerful fae toy with her, and why she works so desperately to save those she loves.

Love.

What is love? This story, albeit at times slow, carefully unwraps the question. At times, we are drawn to the notion that love conquers all. It's romantic and triumphant. It says to all who see, "Look, I am willing to give everything I am. It will most certainly be enough"

But when the sacrifice for love is placed on that alter ...

When is it selfish?
When is that love self-serving?
When is "Love" manipulation exerting control over another free will?

In books 2 and 3, I originally felt thr pacing was slow, and even lost interest.

However, as I continued with book 4, I realized the author was weaving a tapestry of relationships with different types of love at its core.

Friendships of desperation
Friendships of necessity
Friendships of obligation
Friendships of desire
Friendships of obsession
Friendships of selfishness
Friendships of mercy

Friendships of unrequited love. The most cruel of all is the friendship given with no expectations, and it is rejected and abused.

Have you ever given to someone, and they just take?

Ponder on the friendship because of familial obligation, the one trumpeted as "Love for you, for your well-being"
and yet....
it all feels like being controlled;
So that you once more fit in their comfortable box.

I have yet to read a book where the heroine is the broken evil who can't be trusted with love. Who has no understanding of it, not like this.

She is the most manipulative, selfish character I've met; betraying all trust and treasuring nothing else. So willfully choosing a broken path against all other friendships and love offered to her. She is so blind and broken.

In a moment of reflection, I found myself asking what expectations I thrust upon those I proclaim to love. Whose love do I ignore? What friendships do I keep but only for my own comfort?

In the 4th book, a lot happens quickly. A crusade beings and ends as just as fast. I wondered at its rapid pacing; But with each bargain she made, I discovered how deeply entrenched she was in her own self righteous obsession. Calling it love.

There were pieces of my heart fracturing for the one who acutally loved her and kept giving... And she just kept taking. She was not even blind to what she was doing to them. She made bargain after bargain, and it was so painful to come to the same conclusion at the end of this book. ---

You cannot save people who do not want to be saved. Love cannot conquer all because it is a choice! For love to be complete, it must be reciprocated or else it is only a sacrifice.

My heart is in pieces. The agony promised in the next book is aching in my heart even now.

I would give anything to read an arc of the 5th book. This series has brought me on an unexpected journey of self reflection examining the quality of Love