The Prince of Crows

by Vil N. Vile

When Emra Lunaras is chosen for the Harvest, she goes without a fight. Her life in Ronan isn't anything exceptional. The chance to cross the Veil and explore the Fae world, though most likely a death sentence, is better than staying put. What she finds there is nothing she could have ever imagined, though. Four Fae, appearing in various monstrous forms, keep her guarded in the Prince of Crow's magical Manor. Expecting them to tire of her and eventually eat her heart, she is on constant alert. But it becomes clear pretty quickly that not everything is as it seems, and she might be their only chance at survival. And their salvation.

The Prince of Crows is a steamy why choose, dark fantasy romance novella. It is book one in the Vicious Fae series, which is a series of interconnected standalones. This read is perfect for those who enjoy dark romance, spooky daddies, and Halloween themes year-round.

There is adult content. 18+

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Paranormal, Monsters, Paranormal Romance, Ebooks

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2023

Reviews

[Bookishentropy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This felt like a fever dream full of monster smut.

*Picked this up during one of stuff your Kindle day and did not read the synopsis…

[Ambers Book Nest · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a reverse harem that's hot and steamy with an abundance of spooky vibes, this is an enjoyable quick read. I like the story, but there was no real resolution, and it would have been better if there had been an additional 100 or more pages to detail or explain certain circumstances and inform us of how or why certain events occur. More context for this one would have been wonderful. I thought the spicier moments were excellent, and I also thought the Fae Wine sequence was fairly good.

"’I'd never been safe, protected, loved. Not like this. This was magic, and I could finally let go, soften, just be, without worrying about anything."

[Liza A · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you've ever wondered how acotar could have went if feyre stayed in the spring court and joined a reverse harem with the mmcs... and if she never killed that dog in the second chapter... oh and if the entire plot took place in 100 pages... OH AND if she spends 90 of those 100 pages horned up as fuck and making it everyone else's problem... then look no further. (now was it hot? well yes-)

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

picked this up during the stuff your kindle event!

super short & quick read, gives beauty and the beast retelling with a nightmare before christmas cross-over and then make it steamy and a RH.

no thoughts, head empty, had a good time!

[Wotchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The "Story" was just an excuse to write bad smut.
Very rushed. Very shallow. Very predictable.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5*

[Sarah Laginess · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very short monster smut book. Would have been better if it was longer and explained things more thoroughly. Had potential but was waaaay too short.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

October 2025
Kindle edition

I liked this one. Given that it was RH and #1 I was bracing myself for a cliffhanger. Surprisingly it was a HEA. Nice little group and good story for how short it was. Would've expected more fleshed out characters if it was longer. Nice little read with a manageable harem.

[Magik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise and the idea of the characters but I'm not sure a novella is a long enough story structure to set up 4 love interests and the MC in any meaningful way. The spice was good and spicy but there was no substance because I didn't feel anything for any of the characters because there wasn't enough time devoted to fleshing them out.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Meh, this started out well enough with a bit of worldbuilding and character introduction. Then it all kind of fell apart or rather fell to the wayside. None of the little bit of worldbuilding turned out to be relevant, and the characters introduced were quickly dropped, never to be seen again. Once Emra crosses the veil, the book basically starts anew with different characters.

Still, I thought this second take might turn out to be a fun read. It, too, started out well. But unfortunately, that did not last long. Now, I expected the book to be smutty. But the smut started abruptly and wasn't at all stitched into the plot, and it was overly mechanical. Thus, it was not particularly engaging. Plus, the whole thing was just kind of predictable and bland.

All in all, I'll pass on more of the series.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is for the fantasy romance lovers. In Ronan a young woman is given to the veil in a harvest offering every 50 years. Emra doesn’t expect to be selected, the woman chosen are usually among the most beautiful in the village. When her name is called she has to cross the veil into the fae world and survive if she can. What she finds on the other side is a dying world and four fae that she can’t help but be drawn to.

This was a fun read, it ended a bit suddenly without part of the plot being resolved or my rating would be higher. It’s why choose and I enjoyed the variety of men, including a scarecrow, skeleton faces, and a wolf man.

[sarahjaynes.shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prince of Crows
★★★★

If you’re looking for a reverse harem, that’s not a long read, straight to the point with spooky vibes then look no further! THIS is your book!

Despite the fact it was quite a short read, a lot happened in the book! There was a clear storyline, some action and plenty of spice 🌶️
It’s definitely a binge reading in one sitting kind of book because you cannot put it down 🥵

The only reason that this is four stars is because I feel like it ended a bit suddenly and there could have been a lot more to the ending. Nonetheless, it was still a great read and definitely recommended!❤️

[Eva Provost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!
Why choose, paranormal Novella.
The smutt 🥵 *chefs kiss*

I still have some questions though. Seems like it was just left on a cliffhanger possibly? Idk, you'll know once you come to it, I don't want to give anything anyway.

Lore was adorable throughout, I love when there's always 1 out of the guys who's immediately in love with the fmc. Helps to give that romance when there's a slow build between the other characters.
(Oh and Lores Wolf face or head?? Uhh idk, I had to really just accept that part and not overthink it😂 tried not to focus on that bit to much)
Recommend this read!

[Yasmin (yazg.books) ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

My review doesn't contain any spoilers.

This was just fantastic.
Honestly, it was so spicy too, MMMMF 🤌🏻✨
It felt as if the Hunger Games met Aladdin met Beauty and the Beast, in a autumn setting with monsters. I don't normally rate on the spicy scale, but I will for this book because 🤌🏻🌶️✨

The story was actually good and I felt very engaged and wanting to read on. I was sad it had to end actually. I wish there was more!

I will recommend this to everyone who loves some smut! How fun! 🖤

[Reads_Must · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Prince of Crows
Vicious Fae #1
Fantasy
Vil N. Vile
⭐️⭐️⭐️

• ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠꜱ • ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ • ᴍᴀᴛᴇꜱ •

This was a quick read that definitely focused on spice and the "why choose" trope more than anything else.

The pacing was fast, sometimes too fast. I would've liked feelings and the spice to develop a bit slower.

I liked the magic and the strange curse but I wish there was more world building and the characters need more development.

The ending was nice and it seemed like everything worked out for the best.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely delivered on spooky and steamy. I took off a stare because I thought the ending, where FMC finally figures out how to end the MMCs’ curse, was going to come with more of an explanation about what exactly the curse was, and the exact wording of it, but it never happened. It was never explained why the MMCs’ strange appearance wasn’t fixed by the curse ending, even though the MMCs thought it ought to have been. So, with unanswered questions at the culmination of a novel I can’t really give 5 stars.

[Gigi_ljones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uhm wow

It's the way I feel like the author could have made this story into a full length fae dark romantasy if desired. It was good on the fae aspect as well as the magical parts. The why choose portion was done really good, and the little bit of spice included in the book wasn't overly repetitive.

But I do have a bunch of questions, which is why I guess while I enjoyed the novella, am upset that it is indeed a novella.

But if you like fae, pumpkin kings, reverse harem, and why choose this is a good little read.

[acurseofkate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel this could have done without Lore.

The animal component to this really ruined it for me. It’s one think to shift into a wolf and there be intimacy in human form, but the spicy scenes with him as an animal i had to skip it’s was just no. This book was 80% smut in my opinion and Im just still bothered by the animal aspect. I had to skip big portions because i’m just not into animals.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monster Fae why choose?! Yes please

A quick and spicy why choose monster fae romance.
Emra is selected to be given at the Harvest. She assumes she will enter the woods and die like every women selected before her, but she is the one to wake the Prince of Crows and his friends from a deep slumber.
A Scarecrow, a Wolf man, and two Skelton fae mates await her and there is curse to be broken.

[Cheremie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggle with the rating and I wish I could give it 3.5 stars. This book began so well. I enjoyed the world building and mystery. Spice level 5 out of 5. Once the spicy parts began there was no longer any storyline. I would have liked to see more build up and way more story added in. That said I will try another book from the author.

[✨️ The Reading Trove ✨️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
SPICE RATING:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5

3 stars only because i enjoyed the read.
Such a small book - which made it a fast paced story.
More of a palate cleanser as opposed to an actual story.
Just spice, no plot.
It could have been a well written book if the story was fleshed out more - slower buildup to the spice.
If done right - it could have been a 5 star read.

[RaSa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐
I'm not sure how I'm feeling about this book.
I like the story but it had no a real ending and it would be better if there were 100+ pages more to describe/ explain some situation more and enlightening us with how some things come to stand or why things happened.

[Akire Snowfalcon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autumn Why Choose Fun

Short but fun and sexy little novella. Not super Halloween themed but would be a great festive read for that season. Each man being a different unique(even for montster-esc romance) creature was interesting. Not alot of romance but plenty of spice and a HEA.

[Someone Unknown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give this 1½ star.
This story had potential but the writing is simple. I need more details, more world building but didn't get it. Everything was moving very fast. I did like the story but will probably won't read the next books if the writing is the same style.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked these characters though I do wish we knew more about Lore, Kade and Viktor’s backstories. I don’t know how this author managed to make the guys simultaneously sexy, sweet and scary but it works!

[Corrine Zelaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was weird. Like it said it was a Halloween RH but the only thing Halloween about it was she fucked a werewolf, scarecrow, and 2 skeleton men. The smut wasn’t even that good. It was just very weird. But you can’t really expect amazing when it’s under 200 pages. And it’s a standalone.

[mellie_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second why choose and it was on point! I can’t tell whether it was because of the fantasy elements or because of the plot but this was a really enjoyable read. I don’t know how she managed to take 4 very huge fae males at once but I’m not questioning nothing!!! It was also a very nice short story!

[Katrina Stacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this up as a quick kindle unlimited. It was indeed a very quick read and very disappointing. Writing was incredibly simple and the plot missed so much substance to actually make sense. Felt so all over the place and massively rushed.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spicy why choose fantasy.
Some smut with a sprinkle of plot.
Quick read, I do wish there was just a little more though especially with some of the characters backstory and a few more explanations with the plot. Otherwise it wasn’t a bad book.

[Maren K Philip · Rating 1 out of 5]

Listen, I can get behind monster romance... But the "why choose" in this book was a wolf man, a scarecrow, a skeleton man, and a half skeleton man. The writing was fine, the premise was fine, but the cast of love-interests just couldn't pull its weight.