What do you think?
Rate this book
Realm of Dragons and Fae #1
The Fae King's Assassin
Kill the Fae king, or die.
Raised to cut throats, hunt Unseelie monsters, and ride dragons, Berserker-blooded Revna is the best of the best. But she has been assigned the impossible. Her king demands that she kill the ruthless Fae king.
With no other options, Revna must glamour herself and hide among the Fae king’s bevy of potential mates. But all of her training will be useless if she can’t figure out how to feign love.
Lysanael never wanted to be king of the Fae. Partially because politics disgust him but mostly because the king must beget an heir. Because of a terrifying secret, he refuses to risk mating and fights to conceal his dark past.
A feigned courtship may be the only way through for both of them, but will their ruse save them, or will the plan only tangle their hearts in unimaginable ways?
Set in a lush medieval fantasy world, The Fae King’s Assassin is a standalone spicy fantasy romance with a guaranteed Happily Ever After (HEA).
Raised to cut throats, hunt Unseelie monsters, and ride dragons, Berserker-blooded Revna is the best of the best. But she has been assigned the impossible. Her king demands that she kill the ruthless Fae king.
With no other options, Revna must glamour herself and hide among the Fae king’s bevy of potential mates. But all of her training will be useless if she can’t figure out how to feign love.
Lysanael never wanted to be king of the Fae. Partially because politics disgust him but mostly because the king must beget an heir. Because of a terrifying secret, he refuses to risk mating and fights to conceal his dark past.
A feigned courtship may be the only way through for both of them, but will their ruse save them, or will the plan only tangle their hearts in unimaginable ways?
Set in a lush medieval fantasy world, The Fae King’s Assassin is a standalone spicy fantasy romance with a guaranteed Happily Ever After (HEA).
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 10, 2023
1071 people are currently reading
6536 people want to read
About the author
Alisha Klapheke
51 books773 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Alisha Klapheke strives to write fantasy romance inspired by history and informed by her travel worldwide.
*Get a Deluxe Collector's Edition of Dragons Rising with faux leather, sprayed edges, and gold foil today https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
*Get a Deluxe Collector's Edition of Dragons Rising with faux leather, sprayed edges, and gold foil today https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
January 15, 2023
This fae court had very bad security.
January 16, 2023
I decided if I read “my Berserker blood” one more time, I’d stop reading. And guess what? Yup, it’s THAT excessive that I was done trying at 17%.
I barely understood what is going on because there’s not really an explanation on what Berserker even is. There’s actually a lot of things that are hard to grasp because there is no definition of what the heck the words actually mean. So you’re kind of scrambling, trying to understand what’s happening.
I also started to doze off two separate times while reading this 17%. So, I DNF at 17%.
I barely understood what is going on because there’s not really an explanation on what Berserker even is. There’s actually a lot of things that are hard to grasp because there is no definition of what the heck the words actually mean. So you’re kind of scrambling, trying to understand what’s happening.
I also started to doze off two separate times while reading this 17%. So, I DNF at 17%.
January 14, 2023
I felt like the flow of the book were more of a staccato rythm. It did not have an easy flow to it and it jumped quite drastically from different scenes in the book. A bit messy in that way
January 26, 2023
DNF @ 83%/329 pages. Soooo close to the end but I just couldn’t do it anymore. I even tried taking a break to read another book then going back but I couldn’t Weird ass duel POV (FMC is first person and MMC is third….just don’t.) Paper thin logic and continuity errors galore. Guess how many times the word “berserker” is used. GUESS!! 50 freaking 3. I never want to read that word again.
January 23, 2023
3.5
This was a really fun, quick read. Had all the makings of a solid story - a sexy fae king, a badass female assassin, a dragon familiar, and a beautiful map. Some great tropes as well, enemies to lovers, fated-mates, forced proximity.
My only issue was that I felt there was too much info crammed into it, yet not enough in some areas? Ie. we never find out what it even means to be a Berserker, yet it comes up quite often. Maybe this will be something that is explained more in future books. While I believe this is a standalone, I think there will be more books in this world? Regardless, this was a fun read.
This was a really fun, quick read. Had all the makings of a solid story - a sexy fae king, a badass female assassin, a dragon familiar, and a beautiful map. Some great tropes as well, enemies to lovers, fated-mates, forced proximity.
My only issue was that I felt there was too much info crammed into it, yet not enough in some areas? Ie. we never find out what it even means to be a Berserker, yet it comes up quite often. Maybe this will be something that is explained more in future books. While I believe this is a standalone, I think there will be more books in this world? Regardless, this was a fun read.
February 3, 2023
2.2 Stars rounded up because this book isn’t bad, it just needs a final draft that will tie things up into a nice pretty and presentable bow.
I really wanted to like this one, which is honestly something that I say for every book I read. But the premise of this book was something I knew wholeheartedly was something I’d enjoy.
But unfortunately the execution left something to be desired. And this is saying something because I usually don’t judge books on how they are written. I just feel that the storytelling of this novel was very much influenced by how it was written.
First off, the pacing was really awkward, with time jumps, scene jumps, and sudden action scenes that didn’t seem to fit the situation. I felt that the fight scenes were usually used as a placeholder for plot holes. Which sadly this book had a good amount of.
Secondly, the way the whole relationship between the MC’s was very forced in my opinion. I couldn’t find justification for their claims of love. And not only that, they we’re constantly hurting each other and her almost killing him, which he completely looked over.
Thirdly, the repetitive comments on the FMC and her berserker blood. Very annoying and completely unnecessary.
All in all, if you are looking for a fairly easy to follow fantasy book to read I don’t think this one is a bad option. Just be prepared for something fairly mediocre.
PS. The spice in this is nearly nonexistent. Fair warning. Lots of build up to what could have been a good scene just for it to completely disappoint.
I really wanted to like this one, which is honestly something that I say for every book I read. But the premise of this book was something I knew wholeheartedly was something I’d enjoy.
But unfortunately the execution left something to be desired. And this is saying something because I usually don’t judge books on how they are written. I just feel that the storytelling of this novel was very much influenced by how it was written.
First off, the pacing was really awkward, with time jumps, scene jumps, and sudden action scenes that didn’t seem to fit the situation. I felt that the fight scenes were usually used as a placeholder for plot holes. Which sadly this book had a good amount of.
Secondly, the way the whole relationship between the MC’s was very forced in my opinion. I couldn’t find justification for their claims of love. And not only that, they we’re constantly hurting each other and her almost killing him, which he completely looked over.
Thirdly, the repetitive comments on the FMC and her berserker blood. Very annoying and completely unnecessary.
All in all, if you are looking for a fairly easy to follow fantasy book to read I don’t think this one is a bad option. Just be prepared for something fairly mediocre.
PS. The spice in this is nearly nonexistent. Fair warning. Lots of build up to what could have been a good scene just for it to completely disappoint.
April 14, 2025
this was oh so very meh, I don't think there was a single exceptional, new, original thing about it. I feel a little mean here, but let's not act like this book gave me anything at all.
March 3, 2023
Here is a video I made for the book!
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRWFWCmy/
This is an upper YA/NA fantasy romance filled with all the tropes I love.
Similar books:
The Cruel Prince
Kingdom of the Wicked
Synopsis:
Revna is a trained assassin sent to kill the Fae King. To do so, she must feign a love interest with him which is impossible for her. Meanwhile, the Fae King Lysanael has a dark past and refuses to take a mate because he has secrets of his own. They enter a fake courtship for their own reasons and hope their plans can save them.
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! Enemies to lovers and fake marriages are some of my favorite tropes. The beginning had a lot of Cruel Prince vibes and pulled me right in. It is a closed door romance which was refreshing to me after I had just read a lot of dark romances. There is a lot of action and I thought it was paced well. Revna also has a dragon familiar which I loved 🐉.
I will definitely be reading more from this author! Thank you to Alisha for the gifted copy of her book! 🖤🗡️
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRWFWCmy/
This is an upper YA/NA fantasy romance filled with all the tropes I love.
Similar books:
The Cruel Prince
Kingdom of the Wicked
Synopsis:
Revna is a trained assassin sent to kill the Fae King. To do so, she must feign a love interest with him which is impossible for her. Meanwhile, the Fae King Lysanael has a dark past and refuses to take a mate because he has secrets of his own. They enter a fake courtship for their own reasons and hope their plans can save them.
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! Enemies to lovers and fake marriages are some of my favorite tropes. The beginning had a lot of Cruel Prince vibes and pulled me right in. It is a closed door romance which was refreshing to me after I had just read a lot of dark romances. There is a lot of action and I thought it was paced well. Revna also has a dragon familiar which I loved 🐉.
I will definitely be reading more from this author! Thank you to Alisha for the gifted copy of her book! 🖤🗡️
August 12, 2023
Cringe fest.
July 7, 2023
I decided to go back to my roots and read a good old fantasy ya romance by an author a friend of mine recommended. By the gods, was that a bad idea.
It started off with the writing style being a wild ride. There was no flow, sentences were choppy and paragraphs were held together by the blood, sweat and tears of the word and or the characters' names.
After getting used to the style there was still the issue of the repetitions. There were a lot,my Berserker blood being the star of the show. And I'm still not completely sure what that even means.
Worldbuilding was nowhere to be found, consistency is a thing of myths and plotholes are your new best friend. After around 66% it seemed like Klapheke lost all interest and just wanted to get it done. Things kept on happening, problems popped up and got resolved in the same breath, and suddenly the MC's are in love instead of just horny for one another? It was so terribly rushed and messy. I am still livid.
This book could have been decent. Not good but entertaining and fun. Instead we got lackluster writing, plotholes from here to the moon and no closure. Plot threads and hints were tossed around and left lying on the ground to fucking rot. What was the point of anything?!
Where was the build up, the pining for each other, the yearning, where was my drama?! Give me something for fighting through this hot mess. Klapheke didn't lift one tired finger to create a vibrant world or at least tie the threads together. Nothing even made sense? Lys is THE Fae King and has no guards? She attempts to kill him twice and he drinks from a goblet she hands him? He fell for her because of how she interacted with the Fae on the vinyard? Where? Effing where? Hell, the main conflict between the Fae and humans was discussed off the pages and resolved in two or so. There was zero satisfaction, no action, no flair, nothing. Such a disappointment.
And the spice, if it can even call itself that, so lacking. Just no. I was confused by the anatomy and clothing involved and unlocked a new pet peeve. Overly detailed descriptions of how one part involved undresses and then thrusts into the partner while they are still fully clothed. Should we just assume that in the millisecond during which the pants drop the partner rips away their own trousers while pinned to a wall? Three sentence sex scenes with flowery wording are not my thing.
1/5, would never recommend.
It started off with the writing style being a wild ride. There was no flow, sentences were choppy and paragraphs were held together by the blood, sweat and tears of the word and or the characters' names.
After getting used to the style there was still the issue of the repetitions. There were a lot,my Berserker blood being the star of the show. And I'm still not completely sure what that even means.
Worldbuilding was nowhere to be found, consistency is a thing of myths and plotholes are your new best friend. After around 66% it seemed like Klapheke lost all interest and just wanted to get it done. Things kept on happening, problems popped up and got resolved in the same breath, and suddenly the MC's are in love instead of just horny for one another? It was so terribly rushed and messy. I am still livid.
This book could have been decent. Not good but entertaining and fun. Instead we got lackluster writing, plotholes from here to the moon and no closure. Plot threads and hints were tossed around and left lying on the ground to fucking rot. What was the point of anything?!
Where was the build up, the pining for each other, the yearning, where was my drama?! Give me something for fighting through this hot mess. Klapheke didn't lift one tired finger to create a vibrant world or at least tie the threads together. Nothing even made sense? Lys is THE Fae King and has no guards? She attempts to kill him twice and he drinks from a goblet she hands him? He fell for her because of how she interacted with the Fae on the vinyard? Where? Effing where? Hell, the main conflict between the Fae and humans was discussed off the pages and resolved in two or so. There was zero satisfaction, no action, no flair, nothing. Such a disappointment.
And the spice, if it can even call itself that, so lacking. Just no. I was confused by the anatomy and clothing involved and unlocked a new pet peeve. Overly detailed descriptions of how one part involved undresses and then thrusts into the partner while they are still fully clothed. Should we just assume that in the millisecond during which the pants drop the partner rips away their own trousers while pinned to a wall? Three sentence sex scenes with flowery wording are not my thing.
1/5, would never recommend.
January 9, 2023
The Fae King's Assassin was an epic fantasy filled with royals and assassins, Seelie and Unseelie, and a dangerous romance. I devoured this book in one setting, Alisha did an outstanding job bringing the fae to life.
I love the characters. Revna was taken as a child and turned into an assassin. She had to close down most of her feelings to survive but her kind heart still shine through. Her respect for others, her love for her dragon familiar, Arkyn, and the connection she has with her best friend Raulian. She was stuck in a crappy life but still thought about her people and wanted to fulfill her mother's last wish. Not to mention she's pretty badass, Revna is a very capable and skilled assassin and has the smarts/cunning to back it up. I love Revna with her feisty attitude and all.
Lysanael "Lys" is fairly dramatic for a fae king to be fair I can understand why. The fae court is filled with deceitful people and Lys has a dangerous secret so his guard has to always be up. Plus he has his own insecurities that cause their own issues. However, he obviously loves his brother, niece, and sister-in-law, but his demeanor changes with them, and with Revna, the mask starts to crack and you can see the good man below. Lys is a caring king who befriends even those most courtiers won't look at. Even at his worse, it's because he cares about someone other than himself.
This was one wicked pairing. Seriously, Revna and Lysanael were a mess, true enemies to lovers with wicked sharp tongues, a few assassination attempts, lies, betrayal, and more. After a few epically bad decisions there may have been some groveling but things work themselves out. However, the passion between them was just as equally intense, the flirtation, the touches, and the kisses, they couldn't deny. Somehow, the wicked fae king and the deadly huntress managed to make a stunning pair once they got out of their own way.
Apparently, I got a little too comfortable with Alisha's Kingdom of Lore series and got used to a certain level of angst. That level was much higher in this book, my anxiety was on high for a good chunk of this book. To say the tension was high is an understatement. Half the time I was waiting for Revna to get caught while the other half I was wondering how Lys was gonna react and what his secret was. Then there are the issues of the humans plotting, Unseelie, attacking, and the Seelie court putting pressure on Lys to do what they want. I thought that was a lot then I got near the end and wow. Just when I thought things were smoothing out they racked back up. The last bit was filled with action and a few surprises.
Revna and Lysanael have one epic love story and best of all they have a happy ending, one they deserve after everything they’ve been through. Their story may be over but Alisha has just begun the adventures in The Realm of Dragons and Fae. I can't fathom how the next story will go but I bet it's gonna be epic.
I love the characters. Revna was taken as a child and turned into an assassin. She had to close down most of her feelings to survive but her kind heart still shine through. Her respect for others, her love for her dragon familiar, Arkyn, and the connection she has with her best friend Raulian. She was stuck in a crappy life but still thought about her people and wanted to fulfill her mother's last wish. Not to mention she's pretty badass, Revna is a very capable and skilled assassin and has the smarts/cunning to back it up. I love Revna with her feisty attitude and all.
Lysanael "Lys" is fairly dramatic for a fae king to be fair I can understand why. The fae court is filled with deceitful people and Lys has a dangerous secret so his guard has to always be up. Plus he has his own insecurities that cause their own issues. However, he obviously loves his brother, niece, and sister-in-law, but his demeanor changes with them, and with Revna, the mask starts to crack and you can see the good man below. Lys is a caring king who befriends even those most courtiers won't look at. Even at his worse, it's because he cares about someone other than himself.
This was one wicked pairing. Seriously, Revna and Lysanael were a mess, true enemies to lovers with wicked sharp tongues, a few assassination attempts, lies, betrayal, and more. After a few epically bad decisions there may have been some groveling but things work themselves out. However, the passion between them was just as equally intense, the flirtation, the touches, and the kisses, they couldn't deny. Somehow, the wicked fae king and the deadly huntress managed to make a stunning pair once they got out of their own way.
Apparently, I got a little too comfortable with Alisha's Kingdom of Lore series and got used to a certain level of angst. That level was much higher in this book, my anxiety was on high for a good chunk of this book. To say the tension was high is an understatement. Half the time I was waiting for Revna to get caught while the other half I was wondering how Lys was gonna react and what his secret was. Then there are the issues of the humans plotting, Unseelie, attacking, and the Seelie court putting pressure on Lys to do what they want. I thought that was a lot then I got near the end and wow. Just when I thought things were smoothing out they racked back up. The last bit was filled with action and a few surprises.
Revna and Lysanael have one epic love story and best of all they have a happy ending, one they deserve after everything they’ve been through. Their story may be over but Alisha has just begun the adventures in The Realm of Dragons and Fae. I can't fathom how the next story will go but I bet it's gonna be epic.
November 24, 2023
On the surface this book looks near perfect - fae king, human with special powers, dragons, female assassin, enemies to lovers, and magic.
But then you look deeper. You notice the weirdly childish writing (which makes the weird sexual tension even weirder), the messy jumping around, the lack of explanation of anything in the world, the repetitive nature of the writing (WE GET THAT SHE HAS BERSERKER BLOOD BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS IN THIS WORLD!), and the lack of any real character building, plot building and world building.
But then you look deeper. You notice the weirdly childish writing (which makes the weird sexual tension even weirder), the messy jumping around, the lack of explanation of anything in the world, the repetitive nature of the writing (WE GET THAT SHE HAS BERSERKER BLOOD BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS IN THIS WORLD!), and the lack of any real character building, plot building and world building.
March 12, 2023
3.5/5 ⭐️
What a fun read! This had everything I wanted. It was certainly a quick and easy read with amazing tropes and dual POV which is my absolutely favorite! The FMC is a total bada** assassin and the MMC a dangerous and hot fae. What’s not to love? I will say that there are some minor plot holes in this book and ALOT of word repetition which starts to get old after awhile. But overall I truly enjoyed this read.
What a fun read! This had everything I wanted. It was certainly a quick and easy read with amazing tropes and dual POV which is my absolutely favorite! The FMC is a total bada** assassin and the MMC a dangerous and hot fae. What’s not to love? I will say that there are some minor plot holes in this book and ALOT of word repetition which starts to get old after awhile. But overall I truly enjoyed this read.
June 23, 2024
This is a super fun cat-and-mouse romance between an assassin and a broody fae king.
Revna and Lysanael are both great characters. Their interactions are charged with tension, and their chemistry is palpable, making their evolving relationship captivating as they try to outwit one another. The blend of danger, deception, and growing attraction makes for an engaging story. I love the banter and the moments of humor in this story.
While it excels in delivering a gripping romance and action-packed sequences, it falls slightly short on more complex world-building. Which I honestly think is a strength given that it is a standalone. The backdrop of the Fae and Unseelie realms, as well as the politics and history of this world, could have been more fleshed out to provide a deeper understanding of the stakes and motivations. This doesn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment, as the focus remains on the character-driven plot and the developing relationship between Revna and Lysanael.
The story utilizes several of my most beloved tropes effectively, including enemies to lovers, hidden identities, and forbidden romance. These elements are executed well and they are satisfying. It’s a refreshing standalone that wraps up neatly, providing a sense of closure.
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced story. I loved the audiobook especially!
Revna and Lysanael are both great characters. Their interactions are charged with tension, and their chemistry is palpable, making their evolving relationship captivating as they try to outwit one another. The blend of danger, deception, and growing attraction makes for an engaging story. I love the banter and the moments of humor in this story.
While it excels in delivering a gripping romance and action-packed sequences, it falls slightly short on more complex world-building. Which I honestly think is a strength given that it is a standalone. The backdrop of the Fae and Unseelie realms, as well as the politics and history of this world, could have been more fleshed out to provide a deeper understanding of the stakes and motivations. This doesn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment, as the focus remains on the character-driven plot and the developing relationship between Revna and Lysanael.
The story utilizes several of my most beloved tropes effectively, including enemies to lovers, hidden identities, and forbidden romance. These elements are executed well and they are satisfying. It’s a refreshing standalone that wraps up neatly, providing a sense of closure.
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced story. I loved the audiobook especially!
November 30, 2023
◼ＡＵＴＨＯＲ
*First time*
◼ＧＥＮＲＥ
Romantasy, Ya fantasy
Dragons, Fae, Magic, Assassin
◼ＲＡＴＩＮＧ
2 ⭐
◼ＲＥＡＤＩＮＧ ＳＴＡＴＵＳ
*read*
◼ＴＨＯＵＧＨＴＳ
The book could have been better but the book was rushed, the writing was rushed and whatever the characters were feeling was rushed. I was never able to connect with them and I kinda didn't like anyone other than the dragon 'ARKYN', he is a darling!
*First time*
◼ＧＥＮＲＥ
Romantasy, Ya fantasy
Dragons, Fae, Magic, Assassin
◼ＲＡＴＩＮＧ
2 ⭐
◼ＲＥＡＤＩＮＧ ＳＴＡＴＵＳ
*read*
◼ＴＨＯＵＧＨＴＳ
The book could have been better but the book was rushed, the writing was rushed and whatever the characters were feeling was rushed. I was never able to connect with them and I kinda didn't like anyone other than the dragon 'ARKYN', he is a darling!
Want to read
June 26, 2024I haven't even read the synopsis but the cover art for this series has convinced me
May 3, 2023
DNF at 95%
There were so many inconsistencies, but what made me quit reading was the way HUGE secrets were revealed at the end of the book that were glossed over with plot armor instead of played out.
There were so many inconsistencies, but what made me quit reading was the way HUGE secrets were revealed at the end of the book that were glossed over with plot armor instead of played out.
January 18, 2025
Wasn't planning on finishing this right before a dreadful exam but oh well🤷♀ (spoiler free review)
The story is quite simple:
We have our FMC Revna, the strongest of hunters at Fjordbok, who was ordered by her master and her king to seek out and kill the fae king, Lysanael, after he allegedly killed the human princess, daughter of the king. If she were to fail this mission, it'll cost her her life.
She hunts down the fae king and comes up with multiple strategies to end his life but he's intriguing to her, as he has secrets of his own.
REVNA🗡🐉
Berserker blooded Revna definitely falls under the strong FMCs categories. I liked her Berserker self alright. She's smart (although made some dumb mistakes during her assassination attempt but regardless), she's got a berserker level of humor so that's good. Oh and did I mention she's Berserker?
LYSANAEL👑🧛♂
I put a vampire emoji cuz every time his Fangs were mentioned that's all I thought of lol. I liked his character ngl. Does he have some serious trust issues? Perhaps but he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty when it was needed sooo yeah.
ARKYN🐲
Big boy Arkyn deserves a portion of the review about just him cause he's such a darling🤗 the author mentioned she was inspired by how to train your dragon when building Arkyn's character, and I was definitely able to see it, it's all I kept thinking of. Ngl sometimes it felt like Arkyn had more personality than most characters in the story haha.
Overall,
We've heard of this story plotline so many times but I never get tired of it. The book tho....
It was fun and it had potential but unfortunately it disappointed me a little bit.
1. I kept getting reminded of the fact that Revna is of "berserker nature" so many times. 52 times to be specific 😬
2. It's never really explained what that berserker nature really means. Just that it causes Revna to have some sort of magic and strength?
3. It was all just very VERY rushed at times. The last chapter in particular where things back at Fjordbok are to get settled once and for all, it definitely could've used a few more chapters cause no way it was all just that easy to settle?😭
4. Even the enemies to lovers aspect itself felt rushed so I didn't really feel their connection growing.
Overall overall,
It wasn't terrible, but it definitely could've been better.
2.5⭐
The story is quite simple:
We have our FMC Revna, the strongest of hunters at Fjordbok, who was ordered by her master and her king to seek out and kill the fae king, Lysanael, after he allegedly killed the human princess, daughter of the king. If she were to fail this mission, it'll cost her her life.
She hunts down the fae king and comes up with multiple strategies to end his life but he's intriguing to her, as he has secrets of his own.
REVNA🗡🐉
Berserker blooded Revna definitely falls under the strong FMCs categories. I liked her Berserker self alright. She's smart (although made some dumb mistakes during her assassination attempt but regardless), she's got a berserker level of humor so that's good. Oh and did I mention she's Berserker?
LYSANAEL👑🧛♂
I put a vampire emoji cuz every time his Fangs were mentioned that's all I thought of lol. I liked his character ngl. Does he have some serious trust issues? Perhaps but he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty when it was needed sooo yeah.
ARKYN🐲
Big boy Arkyn deserves a portion of the review about just him cause he's such a darling🤗 the author mentioned she was inspired by how to train your dragon when building Arkyn's character, and I was definitely able to see it, it's all I kept thinking of. Ngl sometimes it felt like Arkyn had more personality than most characters in the story haha.
Overall,
We've heard of this story plotline so many times but I never get tired of it. The book tho....
It was fun and it had potential but unfortunately it disappointed me a little bit.
1. I kept getting reminded of the fact that Revna is of "berserker nature" so many times. 52 times to be specific 😬
2. It's never really explained what that berserker nature really means. Just that it causes Revna to have some sort of magic and strength?
3. It was all just very VERY rushed at times. The last chapter in particular where things back at Fjordbok are to get settled once and for all, it definitely could've used a few more chapters cause no way it was all just that easy to settle?😭
4. Even the enemies to lovers aspect itself felt rushed so I didn't really feel their connection growing.
Overall overall,
It wasn't terrible, but it definitely could've been better.
2.5⭐
March 14, 2025
"Who holds your life in his hand beside me?"
🔊📗 Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Revna & Lysanael love story is a quick and simple read. I wish the author had explained to us what a berserker was.... we never get a back story about Revna's supernatural abilities. I was hoping for a standalone that there would be more spice and longing. Ultimately I found this book really rushed, but I am a series girlie.
Spice:🌶
🔊📗 Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Revna & Lysanael love story is a quick and simple read. I wish the author had explained to us what a berserker was.... we never get a back story about Revna's supernatural abilities. I was hoping for a standalone that there would be more spice and longing. Ultimately I found this book really rushed, but I am a series girlie.
Spice:🌶
![Profile Image for andi [updating reviews].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1764593776i%2F109188892._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
April 3, 2024
Kann mich nicht mehr wirklich erinnern also kanns nicht so gut gewesen sein.
July 6, 2023
Fun romance-fantasy (rather than fantasy-romance). I went into this with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Listen, this isn’t a masterpiece and yes, there were two glaringly huge plot holes, but I still enjoyed it regardless, which surprised me actually. Usually I can’t stand foolish plot holes-still don’t-but it somehow didn’t hamper my overall enjoyment.
I liked the main characters well enough, and our FMC’s familiar is a cute-ass dragon. None were particularly well developed but they were developed enough, you know? I guess I was just looking for a simple and fun time, and this book gave it to me. The spice is virtually non-existent but that didn’t matter to me because I liked the tension between the two main characters.
One weird thing though is that the chapters from the FMC’s point of view (which were way more prevalent than the MMC chapters) were in 1st person whereas the MMC’s were in 3rd. This was confusing and distracting and also unnecessary. I don’t understand why the author made this decision. Also, the word beserker… damn that one showed up on every page. Some editing would be nice.
Another issue was how certain storylines were set up and then dealt with. I really thought some issues would be a next book kind of thing, or would maybe even have to be handled in a third book. They were interesting enough to warrant a sequel. But somehow these issues were left for the last two chapters to deal with and resolve completely. I would’ve loved to read about the process and adventure of it, but instead we cut right past the heart of things and found ourselves at the end of its resolution. Such a shame.
Overall an enjoyable read and would recommend if you love enemies to lovers, fae, cute beasties, and stabbing.
I liked the main characters well enough, and our FMC’s familiar is a cute-ass dragon. None were particularly well developed but they were developed enough, you know? I guess I was just looking for a simple and fun time, and this book gave it to me. The spice is virtually non-existent but that didn’t matter to me because I liked the tension between the two main characters.
One weird thing though is that the chapters from the FMC’s point of view (which were way more prevalent than the MMC chapters) were in 1st person whereas the MMC’s were in 3rd. This was confusing and distracting and also unnecessary. I don’t understand why the author made this decision. Also, the word beserker… damn that one showed up on every page. Some editing would be nice.
Another issue was how certain storylines were set up and then dealt with. I really thought some issues would be a next book kind of thing, or would maybe even have to be handled in a third book. They were interesting enough to warrant a sequel. But somehow these issues were left for the last two chapters to deal with and resolve completely. I would’ve loved to read about the process and adventure of it, but instead we cut right past the heart of things and found ourselves at the end of its resolution. Such a shame.
Overall an enjoyable read and would recommend if you love enemies to lovers, fae, cute beasties, and stabbing.
June 7, 2023
Fish tacos are actually fantastic idk what y'all mean
It just got worse and worse.
Initially, I was pretty certain this was going to be a four star read. The world was interesting, the characters were set up to have a great story, and the plot really grabbed hold of my interest. I especially liked the dragon familiar, he was pretty cool.
And then it just... wasn't good anymore.
The romance rushed on waaaayyyy too quickly with zero set-up at all starting at like 65%. Spoilers ahead, skip the dashes if you don't want SPOILERS\\\\\
Revka basically only fell in love with Lys because he's hot and he saved her life once (1). Not to mention, it was semi his fault in the first place that her life was in danger. There was no development at all, it was just hate to love, instantly. It really, really sucked.
///////
On that same vein of the romance not really working, the characters didn't work at all either. It literally felt like PDA at the end and they were inexplicably in love, like watching two strangers get all gooey over each other. Deep shudder, hard pass.
I disliked this book. Tbh, i probably would have given it a higher rating if the ending was not so mind numbingly bad, as it is I'm being incredibly generous with two stars. If I was able, I would give it a 1.5/5.
It just got worse and worse.
Initially, I was pretty certain this was going to be a four star read. The world was interesting, the characters were set up to have a great story, and the plot really grabbed hold of my interest. I especially liked the dragon familiar, he was pretty cool.
And then it just... wasn't good anymore.
The romance rushed on waaaayyyy too quickly with zero set-up at all starting at like 65%. Spoilers ahead, skip the dashes if you don't want SPOILERS\\\\\
Revka basically only fell in love with Lys because he's hot and he saved her life once (1). Not to mention, it was semi his fault in the first place that her life was in danger. There was no development at all, it was just hate to love, instantly. It really, really sucked.
///////
On that same vein of the romance not really working, the characters didn't work at all either. It literally felt like PDA at the end and they were inexplicably in love, like watching two strangers get all gooey over each other. Deep shudder, hard pass.
I disliked this book. Tbh, i probably would have given it a higher rating if the ending was not so mind numbingly bad, as it is I'm being incredibly generous with two stars. If I was able, I would give it a 1.5/5.
May 2, 2024
This book was so good I was blown away! I almost didn’t stick with it but after a few chapters i was hooked. Revna and Lysanael have such amazing chemistry and have easily become one of my favorite book couples. If you love dragon riders, fated mates, and enemies to lovers (where one protagonist has to try to kill the other) then this book is for you 🫵 This book deserves more hype!!! The only thing i would nitpick is that the end was a bit fast. This book could have easily been longer and I would loved that in order to read more about Revna and Lysanael.
June 10, 2023
I was really enjoying this until he used her true name to control her. After being enslaved her whole life, he still did that to her? And then straight up said he would do it again if it was necessary? I know Revna forgave him but I don't. The grovel wasn't satisfying for me.
Other that this, fun world building, I don't usually like assassination plotlines but they were actually kind of funny.
Other that this, fun world building, I don't usually like assassination plotlines but they were actually kind of funny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Good world building not too complicated.
Cute chemistry.
But, the pacing was kinda weird compared to the length of the book, it could’ve easily been 150 pages more, it kinda felt rushed in some parts tho not too much at all
Also loved the names of the main couple, not overly fantasy where I couldn’t pronounce them.
The story line overall was good and the idea.
All in all good book hihi
Good world building not too complicated.
Cute chemistry.
But, the pacing was kinda weird compared to the length of the book, it could’ve easily been 150 pages more, it kinda felt rushed in some parts tho not too much at all
Also loved the names of the main couple, not overly fantasy where I couldn’t pronounce them.
The story line overall was good and the idea.
All in all good book hihi
February 12, 2025
This was a VERY predictable YA book that constantly told vs showed & had huge plot holes. I only finished it bc I thought maybe, just maybe, I’d get some sort of explanation re: Berserker blood at some point. No dice.
March 31, 2023
A bit sexy, a lot scattered. This book has a plotline that it somehow lost about 80% of the way through and then it just turned into a hot mess.
July 17, 2024
2 stars
I really wanted to love this, it has a gorgeous cover of course and a very cliché but likable potentially solid premise but i sadly found it lackluster and in terms of the writing, a little mediocre. The writing style itself is not bad by any means, it has a lot of potential but the way the story was weaved, i wasn't a fan of, it wasn't for me, i had a couple of problems with the pacing. It was indeed past paced, but too fast paced for me as it jumped for an event to another in an incoherent way sometimes that i found it hard to immerse myself completely in it.
It has a lot of good tropes, especially in terms of the romance. Now the characters did have a backstory, but it was grazed upon, not fully exploited, felt a little 2-dimensional at times. They had a potentially exploitable chemistry but since the pacing was unstable, it fell flat for me. It felt a little insta lovey in the end though, which i can appreciate at times but it was mildly slow burn in the beginning, it gave me whiplash. We had the first encounter when she was poisoning him, there was a sparkle but you could tell they were kind of taken/ intrigued by each other but then in the end, the development of all that "slow burn" went into the bin because of the last development of the romance in the last 50 pages or so.
Now, i am not an expert in writing nor am a writer really but i was a little confused by the change in the narrative because the fmc's pov was in 1st person when the mmc's was done in the 3rd person. I didn't mind it that much, but it felt constrictive at times and i do wonder about the choice.
Now let's see about the logic and the core of the story. Imo, felt a little too paper thin, there were some inconsistencies that i honestly pushed past because there was a careless fun side to the story. Just a little fun un-serious romantasy standalone between a fae king and a human berserker assassin which brings us to my other point.
I could tell since i started reading this that it was inspired by the cruel prince and Throne of glass, there was the mmc's fae nature, his court, etc, fmc's badass assassin, she has a master who had her chained in a death curse and has to serve him, etc so it felt like there was a mix between these two of my favourite books of all times which instantly made it a recipe i would love but sadly didn't really love but could enjoy some aspects of.
I really wanted to love this, it has a gorgeous cover of course and a very cliché but likable potentially solid premise but i sadly found it lackluster and in terms of the writing, a little mediocre. The writing style itself is not bad by any means, it has a lot of potential but the way the story was weaved, i wasn't a fan of, it wasn't for me, i had a couple of problems with the pacing. It was indeed past paced, but too fast paced for me as it jumped for an event to another in an incoherent way sometimes that i found it hard to immerse myself completely in it.
It has a lot of good tropes, especially in terms of the romance. Now the characters did have a backstory, but it was grazed upon, not fully exploited, felt a little 2-dimensional at times. They had a potentially exploitable chemistry but since the pacing was unstable, it fell flat for me. It felt a little insta lovey in the end though, which i can appreciate at times but it was mildly slow burn in the beginning, it gave me whiplash. We had the first encounter when she was poisoning him, there was a sparkle but you could tell they were kind of taken/ intrigued by each other but then in the end, the development of all that "slow burn" went into the bin because of the last development of the romance in the last 50 pages or so.
Now, i am not an expert in writing nor am a writer really but i was a little confused by the change in the narrative because the fmc's pov was in 1st person when the mmc's was done in the 3rd person. I didn't mind it that much, but it felt constrictive at times and i do wonder about the choice.
Now let's see about the logic and the core of the story. Imo, felt a little too paper thin, there were some inconsistencies that i honestly pushed past because there was a careless fun side to the story. Just a little fun un-serious romantasy standalone between a fae king and a human berserker assassin which brings us to my other point.
I could tell since i started reading this that it was inspired by the cruel prince and Throne of glass, there was the mmc's fae nature, his court, etc, fmc's badass assassin, she has a master who had her chained in a death curse and has to serve him, etc so it felt like there was a mix between these two of my favourite books of all times which instantly made it a recipe i would love but sadly didn't really love but could enjoy some aspects of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
There's something so compelling about an Alisha Klapheke book that once I start reading, I find it incredibly difficult to put down. It captures my imagination, my very soul and transports me right alongside the characters, a willing participant in the story.
Revna is a character that had me equally feeling so desperately sorry for her, for the way she had been forced into becoming an assassin and loving her strength and determination, despite it. And she has a dragon familiar! How awesome is that??? Arkyn is just a dream! I loved how Revna's conscience pulls her apart, how all she wants is to escape from her Master, yet thanks to a Witch, that's not an option, unless she's prepared to die. Loved her character, as Lys so eloquently put it " she was kind and determined, brave, bold, and utterly unique." And who might Lys be, I hear you asking, well, he's the Fae King of course! A very reluctant Fae King with a huge secret....so anyway, what happens when an assassin is ordered to inflitrate the Fae Court to carry out an assassination of said Fae King? Oooo, so very much! Court politics, monsters from the Unseelie Court, great battle scenes, where I have to admit, I was very impressed with Revna's warrior skills! It does help that she's a berserker... and Lys is...no, not telling, I'm gonna say, Lys is not what one would expect! When Lys and Revna come to an arrangement about which front to present to Court, I thought, yes, right! Their attraction to each other is so tangible, I was waiting for their arrangement to fall by the way side, although it took a few twists and turns to actually get to that point, which was awesome, kept the intrigue up.
All written with such finesse, never losing sight of the plot, the pace, the intrigue and it all culminates into a sigh worthy HEA and a promise to unravel more!
Revna is a character that had me equally feeling so desperately sorry for her, for the way she had been forced into becoming an assassin and loving her strength and determination, despite it. And she has a dragon familiar! How awesome is that??? Arkyn is just a dream! I loved how Revna's conscience pulls her apart, how all she wants is to escape from her Master, yet thanks to a Witch, that's not an option, unless she's prepared to die. Loved her character, as Lys so eloquently put it " she was kind and determined, brave, bold, and utterly unique." And who might Lys be, I hear you asking, well, he's the Fae King of course! A very reluctant Fae King with a huge secret....so anyway, what happens when an assassin is ordered to inflitrate the Fae Court to carry out an assassination of said Fae King? Oooo, so very much! Court politics, monsters from the Unseelie Court, great battle scenes, where I have to admit, I was very impressed with Revna's warrior skills! It does help that she's a berserker... and Lys is...no, not telling, I'm gonna say, Lys is not what one would expect! When Lys and Revna come to an arrangement about which front to present to Court, I thought, yes, right! Their attraction to each other is so tangible, I was waiting for their arrangement to fall by the way side, although it took a few twists and turns to actually get to that point, which was awesome, kept the intrigue up.
All written with such finesse, never losing sight of the plot, the pace, the intrigue and it all culminates into a sigh worthy HEA and a promise to unravel more!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews