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Deadly Divine Duet #1
Nectar of the Wicked: Deadly Divine Duology
Deadly twists and delicious romance —enter an all-new dark and highly addictive fantasy world from USA Today bestselling author, Ella Fields.
There is no escaping the middle lands, the gloomy buffer between the human kingdom and the faerie realms. When my guardian is killed by the Wild Hunt after waiting twenty years to trade me for her human daughter, I’m left with no choice but to try.
To find those who discarded me at birth, I must sneak into Faerie.
But my deceased guardian left more than scars upon my heart. Debts are owed to the madam at the Lair of Lust, and I’m forced to repay them.
My first client is a faerie king who offers to give me everything I’ve always wanted. The king will take me to Faerie if I make a blood vow to marry him. A collection of sweltering meetings fool me into believing his reasons for choosing me to be his queen—a changeling without so much as a name.
For upon my arrival in his kingdom, I receive the answers I’ve craved and the truth behind his motives.
My wonder and infatuation for the king and his wintry realm are snuffed by hatred and fear. Though loathing him is futile when venomous words and spiteful games only prove to excite him. Once again, I’m trapped. This time, with an enemy I cannot hide from. One with enough heat in his eyes to melt my resolve, and enough power at his frosted fingertips to accomplish his sinister goals.
To survive all I’ve discovered, not only will I need to unearth King Florian’s dead heart—I will need to guard my own before he tricks it, too.
This brand new enemies to lovers fantasy romance is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Raven Kennedy. Contains mature and dark themes.
There is no escaping the middle lands, the gloomy buffer between the human kingdom and the faerie realms. When my guardian is killed by the Wild Hunt after waiting twenty years to trade me for her human daughter, I’m left with no choice but to try.
To find those who discarded me at birth, I must sneak into Faerie.
But my deceased guardian left more than scars upon my heart. Debts are owed to the madam at the Lair of Lust, and I’m forced to repay them.
My first client is a faerie king who offers to give me everything I’ve always wanted. The king will take me to Faerie if I make a blood vow to marry him. A collection of sweltering meetings fool me into believing his reasons for choosing me to be his queen—a changeling without so much as a name.
For upon my arrival in his kingdom, I receive the answers I’ve craved and the truth behind his motives.
My wonder and infatuation for the king and his wintry realm are snuffed by hatred and fear. Though loathing him is futile when venomous words and spiteful games only prove to excite him. Once again, I’m trapped. This time, with an enemy I cannot hide from. One with enough heat in his eyes to melt my resolve, and enough power at his frosted fingertips to accomplish his sinister goals.
To survive all I’ve discovered, not only will I need to unearth King Florian’s dead heart—I will need to guard my own before he tricks it, too.
This brand new enemies to lovers fantasy romance is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Raven Kennedy. Contains mature and dark themes.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2023
3304 people are currently reading
36282 people want to read
About the author
Ella Fields
29 books5,912 followersUSA Today and international bestselling author, Ella Fields, resides in Australia with her husband, two children, and furry critters.
A lover of chocolate, magic, and words—she enjoys exploring the sharper sides of love in varying genres of romance.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellafieldsa...
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/authorellafields/
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2Amt3FL
A lover of chocolate, magic, and words—she enjoys exploring the sharper sides of love in varying genres of romance.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellafieldsa...
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/authorellafields/
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2Amt3FL
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,181 reviews
May 9, 2024
I'm calling it. DNF @52%
I was SO optimistic going in to this one and I held on to the hope with all of my might but alas - this book sucks.
I was really intrigued by the world because in a way it's kinda similar to ACOTAR except in this book there's the fae lands, obv separate from the middle lands where humans and fae as well as other creatures live. And then I believe just a human land? I can't remember.
╰┈➤ The FMC - Flea (I know 🙄) is a changeling and has been raised by a very cruel woman who has abused and treated her terribly. The guardian only wants to get her real and biological daughter back but ends up getting killed for getting slick with a member of The Hunt (a group of 'wild' fae that come to trade in the middle lands once a year)
Anyhow, alone and with no way to pay the bills etc - Flea is forced to work for her land lord who owns a pleasure house.
This is where she happens to meet a king of one of the kingdoms in the fae lands because he owns the place and was intrigued by her - because of course he was.
So they make a deal, because of course they do and basically winnow off to the fae lands. Now, I was really trying to hang in there to see what was going to happen but both MC's are INSUFFERABLE.
╰┈➤ The MMC does nothing but order her around, eat her out and tell her to sit on his lap. Oh and alternate between calling her creature or butterfly 24/7.
╰┈➤ She does nothing but act like a dumb and spineless idiot.
👏🏻 THERE 👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 NO 👏🏻SUBSTANCE 👏🏻
The plot never seemed to move along, if it did, it's slower than a snail's pace and the pages were just filled with insignificant shit so I'm giving up.
“You will wish for nothing, butterfly. You will have every comfort you need, including the protection of my court in your precious search for this home you desire. Just be mindful that should you find whatever that might be...” Flurries emerged, his words a cold and overt warning. “You will belong only to me.”
"Sweetest creature..." His lips curved and he closed the spaced between us to whisper against my mouth. "No one's intentions for you are more wicked than my own."
I was SO optimistic going in to this one and I held on to the hope with all of my might but alas - this book sucks.
I was really intrigued by the world because in a way it's kinda similar to ACOTAR except in this book there's the fae lands, obv separate from the middle lands where humans and fae as well as other creatures live. And then I believe just a human land? I can't remember.
╰┈➤ The FMC - Flea (I know 🙄) is a changeling and has been raised by a very cruel woman who has abused and treated her terribly. The guardian only wants to get her real and biological daughter back but ends up getting killed for getting slick with a member of The Hunt (a group of 'wild' fae that come to trade in the middle lands once a year)
Anyhow, alone and with no way to pay the bills etc - Flea is forced to work for her land lord who owns a pleasure house.
This is where she happens to meet a king of one of the kingdoms in the fae lands because he owns the place and was intrigued by her - because of course he was.
So they make a deal, because of course they do and basically winnow off to the fae lands. Now, I was really trying to hang in there to see what was going to happen but both MC's are INSUFFERABLE.
╰┈➤ The MMC does nothing but order her around, eat her out and tell her to sit on his lap. Oh and alternate between calling her creature or butterfly 24/7.
╰┈➤ She does nothing but act like a dumb and spineless idiot.
👏🏻 THERE 👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 NO 👏🏻SUBSTANCE 👏🏻
The plot never seemed to move along, if it did, it's slower than a snail's pace and the pages were just filled with insignificant shit so I'm giving up.
“You will wish for nothing, butterfly. You will have every comfort you need, including the protection of my court in your precious search for this home you desire. Just be mindful that should you find whatever that might be...” Flurries emerged, his words a cold and overt warning. “You will belong only to me.”
"Sweetest creature..." His lips curved and he closed the spaced between us to whisper against my mouth. "No one's intentions for you are more wicked than my own."
December 10, 2024
4.5⭐️ i will say this is quite similar to a lot of romantasy books ive read but it was exactly what i needed at the moment🙂↕️
July 17, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 - Icy Licking Stars. Gory. Dramatic. Age-Gap. Gruesome. Possessive Alpha-hole. He falls first(ish?).
I don't even know what to say. Ella Fields is fast approaching as one of my favorite fantasy auto-buy fantasy authors. There's not a single fantasy book she's written that I didn't love!
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
THOUGHTS:
- Love that our heroine loves to read.
- The story took so many turns that I was NOT expecting! This is one of the reasons I love Ella Fields writing so much. It's dark and tragic, but I feel like the stories go exactly where they need to go!!!
- The enemies-to-lovers trope develops almost in a spiral in Nektar, and I loved it! The way they go from attraction to distrust to lust to touch-her-and-die? I may not recover!!
Ella Fields Fantasy Novels/ Series Ranked:
#1 Royals (A King So Cold and The Stray Prince) - This series... gosh, it's deliciously good.
#2 The Savage and The Swan - Also, really, really good.
#3 Nectar of The Wicked (Deadly Divine)
#4 The Wolf & The Wildflower
#5 Kingdom of Villains
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"I understood little regarding politics, nor had it ever interested me, but I did know that those in positions such as he did not keep them by being anything other than unapologetically ruthless." - I mean... she's not wrong about her world or ours.
NOTES:
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 - Lots of smut right from the very beginning in a monogamous, possessive way.
- There are some pretty gruesome scenes that are hard to read. I wasn't expecting them, and I was SHOOK.
- Tall girl romance! Our heroine is 6 feet tall!
- ON KINDLE UNLIMITED
- A fun world build in the ice - but I would say that my only detracting comment on this series so far is that I don't feel like it was as well described as some of her others.
- CWs: I'm not even sure how to describe the last 20% of the book, but it's gruesome my gals. Slicing into people's flesh, and a very Cersei Lanaster nude walking moment.. I almost couldn't breathe through the last bit there.
I don't even know what to say. Ella Fields is fast approaching as one of my favorite fantasy auto-buy fantasy authors. There's not a single fantasy book she's written that I didn't love!
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
THOUGHTS:
- Love that our heroine loves to read.
- The story took so many turns that I was NOT expecting! This is one of the reasons I love Ella Fields writing so much. It's dark and tragic, but I feel like the stories go exactly where they need to go!!!
- The enemies-to-lovers trope develops almost in a spiral in Nektar, and I loved it! The way they go from attraction to distrust to lust to touch-her-and-die? I may not recover!!
Ella Fields Fantasy Novels/ Series Ranked:
#1 Royals (A King So Cold and The Stray Prince) - This series... gosh, it's deliciously good.
#2 The Savage and The Swan - Also, really, really good.
#3 Nectar of The Wicked (Deadly Divine)
#4 The Wolf & The Wildflower
#5 Kingdom of Villains
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"I understood little regarding politics, nor had it ever interested me, but I did know that those in positions such as he did not keep them by being anything other than unapologetically ruthless." - I mean... she's not wrong about her world or ours.
NOTES:
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 - Lots of smut right from the very beginning in a monogamous, possessive way.
- There are some pretty gruesome scenes that are hard to read. I wasn't expecting them, and I was SHOOK.
- Tall girl romance! Our heroine is 6 feet tall!
- ON KINDLE UNLIMITED
- A fun world build in the ice - but I would say that my only detracting comment on this series so far is that I don't feel like it was as well described as some of her others.
- CWs: I'm not even sure how to describe the last 20% of the book, but it's gruesome my gals. Slicing into people's flesh, and a very Cersei Lanaster nude walking moment.. I almost couldn't breathe through the last bit there.
September 5, 2025
Spicy, dark and such an easy read. If you enjoyed Amid Clouds and Bones I think you’ll love this book. The ending of the book was RIDE and I’m jumping into book 2. Please check your triggers!
October 15, 2025
5 ✧ — one of my favorite books
Nectar of the Wicked by Ella Fields is a dark, spellbinding romantasy filled with faeries, magic, and devastating yearning — the first in a hauntingly beautiful duology. It follows a nameless girl from the Midlands, a forgotten land caught between the human kingdom and the faerie realms. But she doesn’t belong there — she’s a faerie, one who’s always dreamed of finding her place across the veil. When her guardian dies, leaving her buried in debt, she’s forced to sell herself at the Liar of Lust — and her first client turns out to be none other than a Faerie king. King Florian slips into her life with dangerous tenderness, offering her everything she’s ever longed for — love, belonging, freedom — if she agrees to become his wife. Desperate and naive, she accepts his proposal. Yet once she crosses into Hellebore, the shimmering mirage of her hopes begins to decay. Each answer she finds only births new heartbreak, each truth another thorn. Her love wilts, her trust fractures, and anger begins to bloom where innocence once lived. 🖤🌸🦋
Note: This book ends on a heart-wrenching cliffhanger.
───♡─────────────
♡ What I loved most:
• I adored the diversity of magical beings — faeries, goblins, changelings, halflings, wildlings — it made the world feel enchantingly alive and wondrous ✨
• The way Florian treated her in the beginning absolutely melted me. He was so gentle, patient, and tender — a rare softness that reminded me how heartwarming pure love can be amidst so many enemies-to-lovers tales 💗
• I loved that the FMC drew out the darkest sides of him — watching his descent from composed king to possessive, maddened lover was intoxicating.
• The spice was devastatingly good 😮💨 — passionate, raw, and perfectly balanced with the emotional storyline
• The lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers progression was perfection — dramatic and deeply emotional
• The mystery surrounding the FMC’s identity kept me captivated; each reveal added another layer of intrigue 🕯️
• I adored how she reacted to seeing Faerie and Hellebore Manor for the first time — shy, grateful, and full of awe. It was so refreshing to see wonder instead of arrogance 🌷
• The mid-book reveal hit hard — painful, thrilling, and transformative
• The FMC’s emotional journey was visceral: hope, shyness, betrayal, fury, helplessness, rage — I felt everything with her
• Both main characters were beautifully conflicted: his hunger for revenge versus his growing love; her longing for home versus her tether to him 💔
• The secondary characters were distinct and memorable — each one weaving into the emotional tapestry of the story
• The overarching conflict had a tragic, deeply emotional origin story that enriched the entire world
• The small detail that the FMC’s mother shared my mother’s name made my connection to the book even more personal and tender 🥹
• The final chapters destroyed me. I stayed up reading until my eyes blurred, falling asleep with her heartbreak echoing inside me
❀ Overall:
Nectar of the Wicked took me on a deeply emotional journey through magic, heartbreak, and self-discovery. I felt everything — her hope, her fear, her love, her devastation. It’s the first half of a gorgeously tragic tale about a girl searching for her place in a world that might never have been made for her. 🌹
If you crave lush magical settings, slow unraveling mysteries, burning romance with intoxicating spice, and stories that make you feel every ache and spark — this one’s for you.
I’m starting the second one immediately. 🦋🖤
「Deadly Divine duet」
#1 Nectar of the Wicked — 5 ✧
#2 Wrath of the Damned — 5 ✧
Nectar of the Wicked by Ella Fields is a dark, spellbinding romantasy filled with faeries, magic, and devastating yearning — the first in a hauntingly beautiful duology. It follows a nameless girl from the Midlands, a forgotten land caught between the human kingdom and the faerie realms. But she doesn’t belong there — she’s a faerie, one who’s always dreamed of finding her place across the veil. When her guardian dies, leaving her buried in debt, she’s forced to sell herself at the Liar of Lust — and her first client turns out to be none other than a Faerie king. King Florian slips into her life with dangerous tenderness, offering her everything she’s ever longed for — love, belonging, freedom — if she agrees to become his wife. Desperate and naive, she accepts his proposal. Yet once she crosses into Hellebore, the shimmering mirage of her hopes begins to decay. Each answer she finds only births new heartbreak, each truth another thorn. Her love wilts, her trust fractures, and anger begins to bloom where innocence once lived. 🖤🌸🦋
Note: This book ends on a heart-wrenching cliffhanger.
───♡─────────────
♡ What I loved most:
• I adored the diversity of magical beings — faeries, goblins, changelings, halflings, wildlings — it made the world feel enchantingly alive and wondrous ✨
• The way Florian treated her in the beginning absolutely melted me. He was so gentle, patient, and tender — a rare softness that reminded me how heartwarming pure love can be amidst so many enemies-to-lovers tales 💗
• I loved that the FMC drew out the darkest sides of him — watching his descent from composed king to possessive, maddened lover was intoxicating.
“His fingers stilled, his words a caustic rumble. ‘If I believed you wanted someone else…’ His stroking resumed, moving to my lower back when I curled onto my side. ‘Then I would make you watch as I took my time ending their existence.’”
• The spice was devastatingly good 😮💨 — passionate, raw, and perfectly balanced with the emotional storyline
• The lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers progression was perfection — dramatic and deeply emotional
• The mystery surrounding the FMC’s identity kept me captivated; each reveal added another layer of intrigue 🕯️
• I adored how she reacted to seeing Faerie and Hellebore Manor for the first time — shy, grateful, and full of awe. It was so refreshing to see wonder instead of arrogance 🌷
“He leaned close to rumble against my mouth, ‘Never thought I’d envy a town.’ The whisper of his lips expelled a fractured breath from me. ‘Nor the fucking snow.’
‘And why would you?’ I asked, lost to his harsh grip and the gentleness of his kiss.
‘The wonder in your eyes.’”
• The mid-book reveal hit hard — painful, thrilling, and transformative
• The FMC’s emotional journey was visceral: hope, shyness, betrayal, fury, helplessness, rage — I felt everything with her
• Both main characters were beautifully conflicted: his hunger for revenge versus his growing love; her longing for home versus her tether to him 💔
• The secondary characters were distinct and memorable — each one weaving into the emotional tapestry of the story
• The overarching conflict had a tragic, deeply emotional origin story that enriched the entire world
• The small detail that the FMC’s mother shared my mother’s name made my connection to the book even more personal and tender 🥹
• The final chapters destroyed me. I stayed up reading until my eyes blurred, falling asleep with her heartbreak echoing inside me
❀ Overall:
Nectar of the Wicked took me on a deeply emotional journey through magic, heartbreak, and self-discovery. I felt everything — her hope, her fear, her love, her devastation. It’s the first half of a gorgeously tragic tale about a girl searching for her place in a world that might never have been made for her. 🌹
If you crave lush magical settings, slow unraveling mysteries, burning romance with intoxicating spice, and stories that make you feel every ache and spark — this one’s for you.
I’m starting the second one immediately. 🦋🖤
「Deadly Divine duet」
#1 Nectar of the Wicked — 5 ✧
#2 Wrath of the Damned — 5 ✧
July 19, 2023
Nectar of the Wicked is book 1 in the Deadly Divine duet set in a brand new fantasy world by Ella Fields. This book completely captivated me from the beginning and never let go. My heart started breaking for the heroine almost immediately, but it was shattered and crushed to dust by the end. There is no way you can come out of this book not feeling something, unless of course, you have a hole in your chest where a beating organ should reside.
Flea is a changeling raised by a human woman that resents and abuses her in the middle lands, a land between the human kingdom and faerie realms. When her guardian is unexpectedly killed, Flea is forced to work in a pleasure house to pay off her parental figure's debts. Her life is changed forever when her first client offers her everything she's ever wanted in exchange for marriage.
Fuck me! I need more of these characters asap! I got utterly swept up in Florian and Flea's story. It's complicated, intriguing, and full of secrets, lies, violence, and betrayal. Florian is a morally gray hero that I couldn't help but fall in love with. I adored every second of the interactions between him and his butterfly, and I can't wait to see what's in store for them in the next installment!
Fantasy romance fans, this one's for you!
Flea is a changeling raised by a human woman that resents and abuses her in the middle lands, a land between the human kingdom and faerie realms. When her guardian is unexpectedly killed, Flea is forced to work in a pleasure house to pay off her parental figure's debts. Her life is changed forever when her first client offers her everything she's ever wanted in exchange for marriage.
Fuck me! I need more of these characters asap! I got utterly swept up in Florian and Flea's story. It's complicated, intriguing, and full of secrets, lies, violence, and betrayal. Florian is a morally gray hero that I couldn't help but fall in love with. I adored every second of the interactions between him and his butterfly, and I can't wait to see what's in store for them in the next installment!
Fantasy romance fans, this one's for you!
July 13, 2023
This was an intense book.
Man Tullia goes from abuse to abuse to abuse.
There is definitely 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ but the overall story left a bitter sad taste in my mouth. Abuse. Betrayal. Groped. Used. I didn’t like the ending either - a cliffhanger.
If I read the next book it’s because I hope she becomes stronger. I know these experience perhaps her innocence and curiosity will be crushed but I hope she becomes a badass. Because I’m upset and super sad for her.. I want all those who wronged her to suffer!
What her father and land did to her is no words. I wished she escaped from these two warring lands..
Like she said in the end.. everyone warned her… nothing good comes out seeking the faerie land.
Usually Ella fields books have angst but I still feel the love. This book all I felt was unease. Secrets, politics, and games men play. The only bright thing in this book was Snow the Wolf. I’m not too happy it ended in a cliffhanger. Slightly traumatized..
I would not recommend this to people. This has so many triggers and zero happy feels
Man Tullia goes from abuse to abuse to abuse.
There is definitely 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ but the overall story left a bitter sad taste in my mouth. Abuse. Betrayal. Groped. Used. I didn’t like the ending either - a cliffhanger.
If I read the next book it’s because I hope she becomes stronger. I know these experience perhaps her innocence and curiosity will be crushed but I hope she becomes a badass. Because I’m upset and super sad for her.. I want all those who wronged her to suffer!
What her father and land did to her is no words. I wished she escaped from these two warring lands..
Like she said in the end.. everyone warned her… nothing good comes out seeking the faerie land.
Usually Ella fields books have angst but I still feel the love. This book all I felt was unease. Secrets, politics, and games men play. The only bright thing in this book was Snow the Wolf. I’m not too happy it ended in a cliffhanger. Slightly traumatized..
I would not recommend this to people. This has so many triggers and zero happy feels
June 14, 2024
This is my second time reading, and both times I read in one sitting like a feral goblin in a cave. This dark romantasy is the very definition of torment, with a strong love/hate dynamic where the villain gets the girl. It’s twisty, messy relationships galore, and so addictive I just can’t get over it. Not the sort of romantasy to have you swooning with heart eyes, but definitely the sort to have you unable to look away with no clue where we’ll end up.
Now brb while I go and read everything else Ella Fields has written
Now brb while I go and read everything else Ella Fields has written
September 10, 2023
•✿•➳2✫
I was just soooo bored the story has potential but there's so many info dump and the pace was weird like let's say something interesting happened to nothing at all and it's so repetitive.
also please be aware this book is a dark fantasy please check the trigger warning before starting this because it's so depressing and so detailed with certain scenes.
the mmc my god💀 dude has no personality other than he's a selfish arrogant asshole.
the fmc she. deserves. better. the misfortune after misfortune that she's been through is beyond me. she just couldn't catch a break.
I don't think i would read the next book unless the fmc becomes a villain and kills everyone.
I was just soooo bored the story has potential but there's so many info dump and the pace was weird like let's say something interesting happened to nothing at all and it's so repetitive.
also please be aware this book is a dark fantasy please check the trigger warning before starting this because it's so depressing and so detailed with certain scenes.
the mmc my god💀 dude has no personality other than he's a selfish arrogant asshole.
the fmc she. deserves. better. the misfortune after misfortune that she's been through is beyond me. she just couldn't catch a break.
I don't think i would read the next book unless the fmc becomes a villain and kills everyone.
July 13, 2023
I was so excited for this. I liked the premise. I loved her other fantasy romances: kingdom of the wicked, savage and swan, king so cold. I even liked the wolf and the wildflower even if half of the conflict in it would be avoided if only they are more decisive.
But the heroine in this book got to be the most unfortunate person in there. Nobody should be this unlucky. It was like a series of unfortunate events for her. I want her to be paired with anyone aside from Florian. She deserves it. She should just take herself away from the clusterfuck that Lilitha left behind. Nobody, not her father, not Florian, not the people in the 2 kingdoms, deserves her anyway. I mean, who would like to live anywhere? I hope some other king take her.
The scene with her father in the end is overkill btw. The author overcompensated for the very slow pacing in the first half of the book.
I dont see the need with most of what happened to her. Why give her away? Isnt she more vulnerable? What's with Florian's *revenge*? Is he too blind to see his sister's hand in this? I just feel bad for Flea.
Anyway, i did not sleep for this. I waited for the characters to redeem themselves to her. But suprise! It ended in a cliffhanger. Seems like the suffering of our heroine is prolonged.
I just want her to be happy :((((
But the heroine in this book got to be the most unfortunate person in there. Nobody should be this unlucky. It was like a series of unfortunate events for her. I want her to be paired with anyone aside from Florian. She deserves it. She should just take herself away from the clusterfuck that Lilitha left behind. Nobody, not her father, not Florian, not the people in the 2 kingdoms, deserves her anyway. I mean, who would like to live anywhere? I hope some other king take her.
The scene with her father in the end is overkill btw. The author overcompensated for the very slow pacing in the first half of the book.
I dont see the need with most of what happened to her. Why give her away? Isnt she more vulnerable? What's with Florian's *revenge*? Is he too blind to see his sister's hand in this? I just feel bad for Flea.
Anyway, i did not sleep for this. I waited for the characters to redeem themselves to her. But suprise! It ended in a cliffhanger. Seems like the suffering of our heroine is prolonged.
I just want her to be happy :((((
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2023
This is my third Ella Fields novel and I am pleased to say that once again, I am obsessed. I went into this completely blind, all I know is that Ella announced it on Instagram and immediately I knew that I would be devouring it, and indeed I did.
Our FMC to her knowledge has no true name, so she is referred to as Flea (unfortunate but that’s kind of the point). She’s a naive changeling desperate to find her family, which is how she finds herself inside of a brothel making a sketchy deal out of desperation with a stranger. This stranger just so happens to be a cold yet super sexy fae king. Florian is arrogant, overly serious, more than a hundred years older than her, and with long dark hair and blue eyes. So basically everything that I am personally looking for in a hot Winter Realm king. The spicy scenes were great, and there were multiple consecutive chapters that were D E T A I L E D. 👀
Since I went into this blind I wasn’t completely aware that this is a series and not a standalone…which if I would have read the cover I would have seen that. It ends on a cliff-hanger that left me with intense feelings of anger, confusion, betrayal…the usual. Obviously I recommend. I’m very excited for the next book because I need answers.
Our FMC to her knowledge has no true name, so she is referred to as Flea (unfortunate but that’s kind of the point). She’s a naive changeling desperate to find her family, which is how she finds herself inside of a brothel making a sketchy deal out of desperation with a stranger. This stranger just so happens to be a cold yet super sexy fae king. Florian is arrogant, overly serious, more than a hundred years older than her, and with long dark hair and blue eyes. So basically everything that I am personally looking for in a hot Winter Realm king. The spicy scenes were great, and there were multiple consecutive chapters that were D E T A I L E D. 👀
Since I went into this blind I wasn’t completely aware that this is a series and not a standalone…which if I would have read the cover I would have seen that. It ends on a cliff-hanger that left me with intense feelings of anger, confusion, betrayal…the usual. Obviously I recommend. I’m very excited for the next book because I need answers.
April 26, 2025
3 stars . ⊹ ･ﾟ𖥔 ₊ ˑ
⤷ Read this as a quick pallet cleanser. Expect a loooot of spice literally from the start of the book. It annoyed me that their entire relationship was just sex and no romance. The overall narrative wasn't very memorable but it did keep me interested enough. Girl getting taken into the faerie realm (we love to see it), an upcoming war, and many, many secrets. Tullia was naive but also likeable and Florian's character needs loooots of development and so does their relationship.
I enjoyed it but probably won't pick up book 2
⤷ Read this as a quick pallet cleanser. Expect a loooot of spice literally from the start of the book. It annoyed me that their entire relationship was just sex and no romance. The overall narrative wasn't very memorable but it did keep me interested enough. Girl getting taken into the faerie realm (we love to see it), an upcoming war, and many, many secrets. Tullia was naive but also likeable and Florian's character needs loooots of development and so does their relationship.
I enjoyed it but probably won't pick up book 2
February 2, 2025
J’ai tellement aimé le début !! Je croyais trouver ma nouvelle Romantasy polaire fav mais alors là….. au secours !!! C’est ma pire lecture de l’année pour le moment ! Juste : envie de zigouiller tous les persos masculins de cette histoire et qu’on laisse cette pauvre jeune femme et ses animaux tranquilles !!
September 15, 2025
Nectar of the Wicked is a salacious and at times indecent, but it's also highly compelling as well as very emotional. I admit I teared up at the end. I read this book, and within the first few chapters, I expected a tawdry, trashy novel, and at times it is, but it's so much more than that.
Flea enters in a marriage contract with the enigmatic Florian. He's dark, brooding, violent, and somehow very sexy. Florian whisks her away to a majestic estate with nothing but ulterior motives. Amidst high sexual tension flea searches for her family and her place in the world of the fae.
The Spice level is off the charts. This is not for the prudish. It's hot but I am on antidepressants which kills your sex drive so the very long two-chapter marathon sex scene doesn't do much for me but if spice is your jam you will be very happy.
Flea is beautiful, kind, naive, and endearing. I really felt for her throughout her journey and I straight up was on the brink of crying towards the end of the book. She goes through some truly harrowing things that will really make you emotional.
It's at times downright improper but the book is also very well written with plenty of intrigue, politics, and mystery to keep you there for more than just the sexual content. Again, that stuff doesn't do anything for me on my cocktail of antidepressants but I still enjoyed it.
Flea enters in a marriage contract with the enigmatic Florian. He's dark, brooding, violent, and somehow very sexy. Florian whisks her away to a majestic estate with nothing but ulterior motives. Amidst high sexual tension flea searches for her family and her place in the world of the fae.
The Spice level is off the charts. This is not for the prudish. It's hot but I am on antidepressants which kills your sex drive so the very long two-chapter marathon sex scene doesn't do much for me but if spice is your jam you will be very happy.
Flea is beautiful, kind, naive, and endearing. I really felt for her throughout her journey and I straight up was on the brink of crying towards the end of the book. She goes through some truly harrowing things that will really make you emotional.
It's at times downright improper but the book is also very well written with plenty of intrigue, politics, and mystery to keep you there for more than just the sexual content. Again, that stuff doesn't do anything for me on my cocktail of antidepressants but I still enjoyed it.
December 5, 2023
FUCK ME. This ending is SO BRUTAL. I’m so glad I decided to reread this before Wrath of the Damned. I’m counting down the minutes until it’s in my hands!
————————-
LITERALLY SPEECHLESS!!!!
This book was so, SO good. Ella Fields deserves all the praise for this, and I hope this blows up massively.
I need the sequel NOW.
————————-
LITERALLY SPEECHLESS!!!!
This book was so, SO good. Ella Fields deserves all the praise for this, and I hope this blows up massively.
I need the sequel NOW.
July 10, 2023
ella fields coming in HOT, once again, with a release that solidifies her as my queen of filthy, smutty, plot-heavy romantasies.
i finished this a mere hour ago, and had to take an adrenaline-fueled, stress-relieving HIKE around the neighborhood to work off the sheer manic frenzy this book put me in.
in sum: i DEVOURED this.
before i get into the concept, i want it known that THIS BOOK WILL NOT BE FOR EVERYBODY. this is far, far darker than her other romantasy books, in my opinion, and comes packed with a slew of trigger warnings that need to be adequately expressed before i recommend this book.
TWs: childhood abuse from a parental figure (recounted), possessive, controlling, morally DARK grey MMC, gratuitous physical violence against various characters, and gratuitous physical violence, torture, and sexual assault against the FMC (not by the MMC).
okay. WHEW. now that we have that covered, let’s get into it.
this book centers on flea (yes, flea. my poor baby.), a faerie changeling who grew up in the mortal world, forced to seek employment at a brothel in order to maintain a roof over her head. on her very first night, she meets a client who changes the course of her life by striking a bargain with her: marry him, and he’ll help her find the answers she so desperately craves around her faerie ancestry.
thus commences the most WILD RIDE. i truly can’t even describe to you guys the sheer amounts of turns this took. like a particularly strenuous hike with all of the cutthroat switchbacks that leave you out of breath and crying for relief and reaching out with trembling hands for water. it changes tone and direction so often that it’s impossible to be anything but enthralled, and has so much smut that you’ll want to charge all recreational buzzy devices in your vicinity before you start.
this is TOXIC, it’s dark, and it’s more violent than i expected or typically like in my romantasy books, but i thoroughly enjoyed it. the only reason it’s not 5 stars is because the trauma the FMC experiences borders on too painful and excessive for my tastes — i need my butterfly to catch a MF BREAK — almost reminiscent of the plated prisoner series. but if you're into darker romantasies, possessive, morally grey men who rip the arms off of other men for touching the FMC, and are also into can’t-put-it-down adrenaline fests with cute wolf pets, blood drinking, and lots of eavesdropping, this one will blow your mind.
i loved it. i need an emergency session with my therapist this week, but i loved it.
please slide in my DMs as soon as you finish this one because i am frothing at the mouth to DISCUSS.
i finished this a mere hour ago, and had to take an adrenaline-fueled, stress-relieving HIKE around the neighborhood to work off the sheer manic frenzy this book put me in.
in sum: i DEVOURED this.
before i get into the concept, i want it known that THIS BOOK WILL NOT BE FOR EVERYBODY. this is far, far darker than her other romantasy books, in my opinion, and comes packed with a slew of trigger warnings that need to be adequately expressed before i recommend this book.
TWs: childhood abuse from a parental figure (recounted), possessive, controlling, morally DARK grey MMC, gratuitous physical violence against various characters, and gratuitous physical violence, torture, and sexual assault against the FMC (not by the MMC).
okay. WHEW. now that we have that covered, let’s get into it.
this book centers on flea (yes, flea. my poor baby.), a faerie changeling who grew up in the mortal world, forced to seek employment at a brothel in order to maintain a roof over her head. on her very first night, she meets a client who changes the course of her life by striking a bargain with her: marry him, and he’ll help her find the answers she so desperately craves around her faerie ancestry.
thus commences the most WILD RIDE. i truly can’t even describe to you guys the sheer amounts of turns this took. like a particularly strenuous hike with all of the cutthroat switchbacks that leave you out of breath and crying for relief and reaching out with trembling hands for water. it changes tone and direction so often that it’s impossible to be anything but enthralled, and has so much smut that you’ll want to charge all recreational buzzy devices in your vicinity before you start.
this is TOXIC, it’s dark, and it’s more violent than i expected or typically like in my romantasy books, but i thoroughly enjoyed it. the only reason it’s not 5 stars is because the trauma the FMC experiences borders on too painful and excessive for my tastes — i need my butterfly to catch a MF BREAK — almost reminiscent of the plated prisoner series. but if you're into darker romantasies, possessive, morally grey men who rip the arms off of other men for touching the FMC, and are also into can’t-put-it-down adrenaline fests with cute wolf pets, blood drinking, and lots of eavesdropping, this one will blow your mind.
i loved it. i need an emergency session with my therapist this week, but i loved it.
please slide in my DMs as soon as you finish this one because i am frothing at the mouth to DISCUSS.
January 17, 2024
This was delicious
Full rtc
Full rtc
May 29, 2024
Feminism what? Next book when?
July 7, 2024
• brutally violent
• power dynamic in the relationship is crazy
• corruption trope
• truly villainous characters all around
• addictive I need the second book immediately
• power dynamic in the relationship is crazy
• corruption trope
• truly villainous characters all around
• addictive I need the second book immediately
May 14, 2024
this book had me questioning all life choices that led me to reading it but also no regrets because WITH THIS I SAVE MONEY SO THATS A WIN (this is a pick for a book box that I was going to get but thank god I decided to read this before getting the SE💀)
I was considering DNF-ing abt 34% in but then I thought maybe itd get better (spoiler it didnt until I reached 75% literally) and if not, I suffered enough already so might as well include it in my GR goal!!
anyways I dont want to waste any more of my time than I have already so here's a brief list of what did not click for me:
➢ the love interest? trash, and not the good kind but the 'I want to gouge my eyes out' kind. no, I will not expand on this because if I spend any longer on this guy I really will do it this time.
➢ the FMC???? oh the amount of times I cringed, rolled my eyes, and died from the second hand embarrassment, truly I dont remember a FMC made me feel this way sos I was SO embarrassed and i kept thinking to myself maybe thered be character development but no!!! only in the last 25% was there a little development but eh i still dont care about her except for feeling bad for her.
➢ also, why was there was smut every 5 pages??? theres only so much I can take before I lose my mind, I need the emotional factor in their relationship not the physical aspect 24/7??? the only benefit to this was that I could get through this book faster because I skipped that repetitive waste of paper.
➢ you could point a gun at my head and I'd still you that those two were not in love at all, when the FMC said to the MMC "I hate that I think I'm falling in love with you." I LAUGHED BECAUSE WHERE??? WHERE IS THERE ANYTHING ATTRACTIVE ABOUT THIS GUY OTHER THAN HIS SUPPOSED LOOKS??? please.
➢ the MMC, again, I despised him. if I could wish death upon a character it would 100% be on him.
yeah well I think I could go on with some more specific dislikes of this book, but I dont feel like it soooo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
but also crazy that the last 25% was soooo much better than the precious 75% like I was actually invested in the story?? (and what a coincidence it was because a certain someone wasnt there and something was finally happening!) It was also really brutal and I felt soooo bad for the FMC, she cant catch a break truly nobody deserves her. and I'm ngl a part of me is actually curious to read book 2 because of that cliffhanger but I genuinely cant stand the MMC so uh no (if it were only the FMC's development then hell yes!!). truly though that last quarter of the book is the only reason it's not getting a 1 star, otherwise... yeah this really just wasn't for me as i hoped😭
but i forever thank this book for the money it saved me <3
I was considering DNF-ing abt 34% in but then I thought maybe itd get better (spoiler it didnt until I reached 75% literally) and if not, I suffered enough already so might as well include it in my GR goal!!
anyways I dont want to waste any more of my time than I have already so here's a brief list of what did not click for me:
➢ the love interest? trash, and not the good kind but the 'I want to gouge my eyes out' kind. no, I will not expand on this because if I spend any longer on this guy I really will do it this time.
➢ the FMC???? oh the amount of times I cringed, rolled my eyes, and died from the second hand embarrassment, truly I dont remember a FMC made me feel this way sos I was SO embarrassed and i kept thinking to myself maybe thered be character development but no!!! only in the last 25% was there a little development but eh i still dont care about her except for feeling bad for her.
➢ also, why was there was smut every 5 pages??? theres only so much I can take before I lose my mind, I need the emotional factor in their relationship not the physical aspect 24/7??? the only benefit to this was that I could get through this book faster because I skipped that repetitive waste of paper.
➢ you could point a gun at my head and I'd still you that those two were not in love at all, when the FMC said to the MMC "I hate that I think I'm falling in love with you." I LAUGHED BECAUSE WHERE??? WHERE IS THERE ANYTHING ATTRACTIVE ABOUT THIS GUY OTHER THAN HIS SUPPOSED LOOKS??? please.
➢ the MMC, again, I despised him. if I could wish death upon a character it would 100% be on him.
yeah well I think I could go on with some more specific dislikes of this book, but I dont feel like it soooo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
but also crazy that the last 25% was soooo much better than the precious 75% like I was actually invested in the story?? (and what a coincidence it was because a certain someone wasnt there and something was finally happening!) It was also really brutal and I felt soooo bad for the FMC, she cant catch a break truly nobody deserves her. and I'm ngl a part of me is actually curious to read book 2 because of that cliffhanger but I genuinely cant stand the MMC so uh no (if it were only the FMC's development then hell yes!!). truly though that last quarter of the book is the only reason it's not getting a 1 star, otherwise... yeah this really just wasn't for me as i hoped😭
but i forever thank this book for the money it saved me <3
August 28, 2023
DNF about 100 pages in-
This may be a “it’s not you, it’s me” kinda deal, but this made me uncomfortable while reading. In my opinion, anytime I see the word “fear” during a sexual encounter is VERY triggering and concerning to me. There is this weird fear dynamic between the MMC and FMC during their encounters and it was extremely off-putting to me. Fantasy world or not, if encounters are not consensual and safe, I’m not reading it. Period.
This may be a “it’s not you, it’s me” kinda deal, but this made me uncomfortable while reading. In my opinion, anytime I see the word “fear” during a sexual encounter is VERY triggering and concerning to me. There is this weird fear dynamic between the MMC and FMC during their encounters and it was extremely off-putting to me. Fantasy world or not, if encounters are not consensual and safe, I’m not reading it. Period.
September 16, 2025
10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why is this book not getting more hype? It’s by far the best time I have had in a long time! Go in blind, read nothing. The first half is good, the second half is fire! The plot twists and the feels! Tullia is ⭐️
Why is this book not getting more hype? It’s by far the best time I have had in a long time! Go in blind, read nothing. The first half is good, the second half is fire! The plot twists and the feels! Tullia is ⭐️
November 27, 2024
it’s always an absolute delight reading an ella fields fantasy romance. you can expect burning hatred between the characters, an intense connection fuelled with sexual tension and the slowest burning romance that unfurls in the most appealing ways, all tied into and weaved within an interesting narrative full of clutching twists and gripping moments. there’s a heated exchange of emotions and sharp-witted banter, with a hint of darkness that is intensified by traumatic events and acts of revenge. her romances have a pattern and there’s something nice about that. it’s comforting.
nectar of the wicked focuses on flea (more on that name later) and her journey to the fae realms known as folkyn to find her family, learn of her origins and understand the reasons for her being in the middle lands—the area between the fae realms and human kingdom. when the wild hunt, a group of fae not connected to one specific kingdom, arrives in the middle lands to trade, the events following this moment change flea’s entire life. once within the unfamiliar, dark land of folkyn, flea encounters a number of fae-folk, like her, some with malicious intentions and others with disinterest or kind wariness on their faces. as she’s entered into a contracted marriage with florian, the king of the cold hellebore kingdom, flea learns that most fae are devious creatures who find hurting others an enjoyable experience and that to survive the wild land of folkyn, she needs to mould herself to her surroundings, otherwise risk becoming another casualty in someone’s vengeful schemes.
ella fields’ method of writing is well suited to fantasy romance as the prose is poetic and works to frame the fantastical and detailed world-building. the fae lands and kingdoms are described in some of the most magically captivating ways that you feel this longing to escape to them, as they come across as beautifully haunting and wonderfully enthralling worlds. while some lands sound dangerous, overall the kingdoms and environments seem charming and enchanting! in some circumstances, the language sometimes becomes too poetic that you have to re-read sentences to understand what happened or was happening, especially as there’s so many secrets and information being withheld, and that can make for difficult and frustrating reading.
♡ flea/tullia
flea—who later learns her real name is actually tullia—is aching to travel to folkyn in search of answers to her unanswered questions. having been raised by an awful and cruel human woman, tullia hasn’t experienced the feeling of being loved by another. so it is no surprise that tullia is naive and honest as soon as someone shows her some level of kindness, even when it’s clear there’s ulterior motives behind the act. there’s something a little endearing about tullia’s abilities to find others trustworthy, considering she’s a woman who has suffered incredible amounts of abuse and mistreatment, however within most circumstances this characteristic was frustrating as she’d make a number of uninformed, reckless decisions. i’m maintaining high expectations that tullia’s tragic encounters will transform her into a stronger, more formidable character with newfound self-preservation.
♡ florian
determined to seek revenge for the cruel, violent death of his sister florian, the once kind and warm princeling and now the cold and heartless king of the hellebore kingdom is confident, ruthless and shameless in his ambitions—a classic morally grey man. i was fond of florian’s wicked and villainous characteristics; i loved his dishonest and unashamed actions. a man so unapologetically himself who took measures to ensure he obtained what he wanted, even if said measures were ethically or morally debatable. after some time, i started to find florian to be a flat, one-sided character who was lacking in interest and substance, as he went from eating out tullia, to controlling her actions or decisions, to demanding she sit in his lap with not much else in between to make him seem less of an arrogant, dominant and selfish brute.
♡ tullia + florian
all these two did was have sex and it was worse when tullia went into heat. i don’t mind instant lust or attraction in romance however within reason, but considering this is supposed to be slow-burn romance with a contracted, marriage of convenience, i wanted to feel that burn. tullia and florian’s relationship was nothing more than an exchange of constant fluids, where the use of the pleasure house and tullia’s heat created a convenient excuse to increase the instant lust tenfold. it became a little ridiculous how much these two faeries fucked and didn’t bother to learn the other’s wants or needs outside of the bedroom, so it made the romance feel nonexistent.
in the end, i don’t love nor hate this book, however i don’t feel indifferent towards it either. i feel i appreciated more elements than i considered them to be a frustration, as there’s an abundance of dangerous secrets, hidden motivations and brimming war on the horizon to keep me invested and interested in the overall narrative. nectar of the wicked had a lot of enticing moments and promising characters, but they needed to be established a little more (florian) and the ending was brutally overdone, meanwhile it was kind of engrossing with how much happens in it!
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nectar of the wicked focuses on flea (more on that name later) and her journey to the fae realms known as folkyn to find her family, learn of her origins and understand the reasons for her being in the middle lands—the area between the fae realms and human kingdom. when the wild hunt, a group of fae not connected to one specific kingdom, arrives in the middle lands to trade, the events following this moment change flea’s entire life. once within the unfamiliar, dark land of folkyn, flea encounters a number of fae-folk, like her, some with malicious intentions and others with disinterest or kind wariness on their faces. as she’s entered into a contracted marriage with florian, the king of the cold hellebore kingdom, flea learns that most fae are devious creatures who find hurting others an enjoyable experience and that to survive the wild land of folkyn, she needs to mould herself to her surroundings, otherwise risk becoming another casualty in someone’s vengeful schemes.
ella fields’ method of writing is well suited to fantasy romance as the prose is poetic and works to frame the fantastical and detailed world-building. the fae lands and kingdoms are described in some of the most magically captivating ways that you feel this longing to escape to them, as they come across as beautifully haunting and wonderfully enthralling worlds. while some lands sound dangerous, overall the kingdoms and environments seem charming and enchanting! in some circumstances, the language sometimes becomes too poetic that you have to re-read sentences to understand what happened or was happening, especially as there’s so many secrets and information being withheld, and that can make for difficult and frustrating reading.
♡ flea/tullia
flea—who later learns her real name is actually tullia—is aching to travel to folkyn in search of answers to her unanswered questions. having been raised by an awful and cruel human woman, tullia hasn’t experienced the feeling of being loved by another. so it is no surprise that tullia is naive and honest as soon as someone shows her some level of kindness, even when it’s clear there’s ulterior motives behind the act. there’s something a little endearing about tullia’s abilities to find others trustworthy, considering she’s a woman who has suffered incredible amounts of abuse and mistreatment, however within most circumstances this characteristic was frustrating as she’d make a number of uninformed, reckless decisions. i’m maintaining high expectations that tullia’s tragic encounters will transform her into a stronger, more formidable character with newfound self-preservation.
“sweetest creature...” his lips curved, and he closed the space between us to whisper against my mouth. “no one’s intentions for you are more wicked than my own.”
♡ florian
determined to seek revenge for the cruel, violent death of his sister florian, the once kind and warm princeling and now the cold and heartless king of the hellebore kingdom is confident, ruthless and shameless in his ambitions—a classic morally grey man. i was fond of florian’s wicked and villainous characteristics; i loved his dishonest and unashamed actions. a man so unapologetically himself who took measures to ensure he obtained what he wanted, even if said measures were ethically or morally debatable. after some time, i started to find florian to be a flat, one-sided character who was lacking in interest and substance, as he went from eating out tullia, to controlling her actions or decisions, to demanding she sit in his lap with not much else in between to make him seem less of an arrogant, dominant and selfish brute.
this unfeeling yet passionate king was an addiction. one i knew i would never crawl free from.
♡ tullia + florian
all these two did was have sex and it was worse when tullia went into heat. i don’t mind instant lust or attraction in romance however within reason, but considering this is supposed to be slow-burn romance with a contracted, marriage of convenience, i wanted to feel that burn. tullia and florian’s relationship was nothing more than an exchange of constant fluids, where the use of the pleasure house and tullia’s heat created a convenient excuse to increase the instant lust tenfold. it became a little ridiculous how much these two faeries fucked and didn’t bother to learn the other’s wants or needs outside of the bedroom, so it made the romance feel nonexistent.
“i still hate you, you know.”
he tensed, something passing through his eyes.
reaching out, i traced his cheekbone, whispering without enough air in my chest. “most of all, i hate that i think i’m falling in love with you.”
in the end, i don’t love nor hate this book, however i don’t feel indifferent towards it either. i feel i appreciated more elements than i considered them to be a frustration, as there’s an abundance of dangerous secrets, hidden motivations and brimming war on the horizon to keep me invested and interested in the overall narrative. nectar of the wicked had a lot of enticing moments and promising characters, but they needed to be established a little more (florian) and the ending was brutally overdone, meanwhile it was kind of engrossing with how much happens in it!
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August 15, 2023
The sequel doesn't come out until December 😃 Why do I keep doing this to myself? This book has proven that I need to buy more from this author to fill this gaping hole until the next book releases.
I wanted to be a bit more specific in this review because this book got me out of a reading slump. Which has my eternal gratitude always.
For me, there a delicate kind of line that needs to be in place for a morally gray love interest to stay as a love interest and not tread into grotesquely monstrous territory. Florian always kept right on that line for me where it was fun to watch him do and say monstrous things but where Tullia was never really in danger.
The tension between Tullia and Florian was also so beautifully taut that I ate up every single interaction. Even though Florian was being objectively weak with Tullia, you could tell that he wasn't a character who shied away from inflicting pain.
Tullia was also a really interesting character to me - mainly because she had so many growing moments within this book. First we see her as naive with very little of a personality. Because to me that made sense. Her guardian had even taken away her name and called her Flea all her life. All she had ever known was following orders and so her innocence didn't really bother me all that much.
As time goes on and she slowly gains more and more of her own desires and feels safe within Florians kingdom, she kind of develops a really lovely, combative personality. I loved to see it. And with the end of this book, I feel like she's going to be changing even more since the last of that innocence has been ripped away.
I just...really enjoyed how consistent Ella Fields was with developing a story. Sure theirs spice and tension but the tightness of the plot and characters was really what pushed this from 4 to 5 stars for me. Ugh. I'm gushing and I sound preachy but damn - I just love it.
I wanted to be a bit more specific in this review because this book got me out of a reading slump. Which has my eternal gratitude always.
For me, there a delicate kind of line that needs to be in place for a morally gray love interest to stay as a love interest and not tread into grotesquely monstrous territory. Florian always kept right on that line for me where it was fun to watch him do and say monstrous things but where Tullia was never really in danger.
The tension between Tullia and Florian was also so beautifully taut that I ate up every single interaction. Even though Florian was being objectively weak with Tullia, you could tell that he wasn't a character who shied away from inflicting pain.
Tullia was also a really interesting character to me - mainly because she had so many growing moments within this book. First we see her as naive with very little of a personality. Because to me that made sense. Her guardian had even taken away her name and called her Flea all her life. All she had ever known was following orders and so her innocence didn't really bother me all that much.
As time goes on and she slowly gains more and more of her own desires and feels safe within Florians kingdom, she kind of develops a really lovely, combative personality. I loved to see it. And with the end of this book, I feel like she's going to be changing even more since the last of that innocence has been ripped away.
I just...really enjoyed how consistent Ella Fields was with developing a story. Sure theirs spice and tension but the tightness of the plot and characters was really what pushed this from 4 to 5 stars for me. Ugh. I'm gushing and I sound preachy but damn - I just love it.
September 24, 2023
This was not written by a woman
I don't know what the F this book was, but I kept trying in good faith. This sounds like it was written by a teenage boy obsessed with fancy flourishes in language but with no idea how women think or how to put together a story.
I don't know what the F this book was, but I kept trying in good faith. This sounds like it was written by a teenage boy obsessed with fancy flourishes in language but with no idea how women think or how to put together a story.
April 18, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
Feminism? We don’t know her 👩🦯
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
Feminism? We don’t know her 👩🦯
June 30, 2024
If ‘Go girl give us nothing!’ was a book.
dnf
June 2, 2024 DNF at page 144 (44%)… because instalove with no plot is really not my vibe
May 5, 2024
I am unwell after finishing this book, as it is devastating, and I am thankful for putting off reading it until the second book came out.
Most of the time, I get annoyed when I read a book where the FMC is clueless and naive, but her character is so well written that I actually felt sympathy.
The romance is definitely not a slow burn, but no complaints from me, haha. It is a dark romance and an adult fantasy for sure. The MMC is... wicked ;)
I had to dock a star from my review because I wanted more of a backstory about the FMC's upbringing, and I couldn't get on board with one of his pet names for her.
Most of the time, I get annoyed when I read a book where the FMC is clueless and naive, but her character is so well written that I actually felt sympathy.
The romance is definitely not a slow burn, but no complaints from me, haha. It is a dark romance and an adult fantasy for sure. The MMC is... wicked ;)
I had to dock a star from my review because I wanted more of a backstory about the FMC's upbringing, and I couldn't get on board with one of his pet names for her.
September 7, 2024
I did enjoy this book and the darker aspects to it but I want more from the romance which I hope the second book will provide!
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