Disenchanted

Fey Creations #1

by A.R. Miller

Things are going good for Keely Fey. Thanks to a rave review in the Iowa Star, bookings are at an all time high at Fey Creations. Until a Talent stealing psycho uses her salon as a personal shopping ground. When all the clues point to her business it’s nearly impossible to convince the authorities she’s not The Collector. Top this off with the reemergence of a childhood friend—an imaginary childhood friend—and some pretty scary changes in her Talents and things go from downhill slide to avalanche.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy

286 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

A.R. Miller writes contemporary fantasy for grown-ass women (and men) who are still too young to care.
She lives in Central Iowa with an accommodating husband and their four footed companions. When not testing the patience of readers with cliffhanger endings, you might find her wielding a makeup brush or curling iron as a freelance stylist.

Reviews

[Dennis Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's see, we've had fantasy stories set in pie shops, in nightclubs, now one set in... a hair salon. A.R. Miller starts with a unique concept and fleshes it out well. The reluctant heroine, under suspicion of being involved in serial killing of "Ens," (people with supernatural power), will need the help of all her friends, who include a vampire and a werefox, to solve the mystery. Miller's sparse and active prose really helps move the story along. Spoiler alert: it ends in a cliffhanger, so you might want to buy all three Fey Creations books at the same time so you can binge!

[Terri M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been having a lot of fun lately with my In the Spotlight feature. I've had the opportunity to connect with lots of local authors, many of them are from Iowa and as a result, I've read a few books set in the lovely state in which I reside. Disenchanted by A.R. Miller is a delightful fantasy novel set in The Meadows near Des Moines where many fantastical beings gather. It reminded me a bit of Bon Temps, but not as gritty.

I was immediately drawn into the world of Disenchanted. Miller takes elements of the familiar world—hair salons, coffee shops and the Iowa countryside and twists them bit with cast of characters you can't help but wish you were best friends with. I identified with Keely, the search for her identity and her love of coffee and chocolate.


The only thing I struggled with while reading Disenchanted was the fey words and world the Keely and her friends are derived from. While this is the first book in the series, there wasn't much exposition on Hel (I thought that was a spelling error for a long time!), döckâlfars, liosâlfars and âlfars. This is mythology that I have not encountered before and would have loved a little bit more explanation so that I could understand the relationship to the story and Keely's search.

I've been looking for a book or series to fill the void since Sookie left the scene with the true love of her life. Upon completing Disenchanted, I definitely felt that the Fey Creations series might fill that void. A lighter urban fantasy novel set in the Midwest provided me with elements I was at once familiar with and new exciting elements I wanted to explore further.<


This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews

[B. MacGregor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, A.R. Miller's writing is passionate, descriptive and easy to read. She has a strong fantasy edge about her style. The story-line in her novel "Disenchanted" does not top my list, but her character development ranks right up there.
If I were to use a single word to describe the work, it would be compelling.
Compelling, for the most part, due to the strength of the characters. The author does a good job of introducing the beings through vivid descriptions, enabling readers to get to know each one as the story progresses.
The plot revolves around Keely Fey, an Enchant who owns the highly acclaimed salon, Fey Creations. She employs Dara, Rey, Nyssa and a puzzling, young Jenny. Actions of The Collector and accusations from Ens and Uns in her Iowa community threaten not only the bustling business, but Keely's reputation and Talent. I found myself caring about the characters.
The least compelling part was the story. I constantly found myself wondering what was going on and why. More importantly, I never found an answer. The abrupt ending left me questioning. It is obviously a series, but I prefer a more complete picture as I close the cover on a read.
I would recommend "Disenchanted" to readers looking to get hooked on a series with mystery, enchantment, and well defined characters.

[Rachel Aukes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disenchanted is a chaotic murder-mystery that takes place in a modern times where the paranormal has "come out of the closet." Miller's story would resonate with Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry series, but their voices are starkly different. Where Hamilton is dark and erotic, Miller has a fresh, lighter voice with a dollop of snark. Something I feel like Miller does even better than Hamilton is characterization. I could absolutely envision every single character, no matter how minor, in my mind. And, her characters are awesomely unique (and the men sexy!)... each one easily deserves a story of his/her own. I kept reading late into the night to finish the book, and when I did, I immediately made a note to buy the next in the series (I saw that there is one out now!) as the ending leaves everything (and I mean everything) unresolved. Since I always want a happy-for-now in my books, I had to a dock a star for having to wait to see how things work out for Keely Fey.

[Rachel Eliason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keely Fey is a half-elf hair dresser with a magic talent for growing hair. Or at least that's what she thinks she is. When a psychotic serial killer shows up in town, killing enchants to steal their magic talents, she discovers that much of what she thinks she knows about her history and talent is wrong.
Well written and fast paced, Disenchanted is a great contemporary, urban fantasy. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys that genre. I can't wait to pick up the second in the series and find out what happens to Keely next.

[Melissa Christopherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the beginning until the end, Disenchanted certainly had me enchanted! Never before have I so enjoyed a book set in the modern world -- albeit a slightly alternate modern world! If you love paranormal books, Disenchanted is a must read.

A.R. Miller's Disenchanted will sweep you away, and leave you begging to know what happens next.

It's a good thing the next two books are out, because I can't put these books down!

[Cassie Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. I enjoyed the snappy dialogue and the intricate world building. Looking forward to the next book!