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Fae of the Roaring Age #1
The Prince of Prohibition: Fae of the Roaring Age, Book 1
The year was 1926. Glamour, riches and greed filled the air, but under the facade of glitter and gold lay truths much darker, more sinister, and entirely less human . . .
Adeline Colton was cursed. Everyone in Georgia knew the devil walked her farm, and maybe they were right, because each month she had . . . dreams. Visions of a dark prince and a shadowed forest. A creature so wrong, temptation lurked beneath her skin.
So after escaping to New York City, it’s no surprise when her bad fortune follows. Only this time, it’s in the form of Jack Warren: millionaire bootlegger, infamous gangster, and criminal who makes Addie his fervent obsession.
Jack is everything Addie should avoid, but the more she resists his pull, the deeper she’s drawn into his extravagant world. Lured by a life of freedom and desire, Adeline must make a choice: heed her family’s warnings or follow Jack into the dark. But when fate binds them together, Jack is revealed to be something else—not man, not beast, not even the devil, but a creature much, much worse.
ACOTAR meets The Great Gatsby in The Prince of Prohibition, an adult fantasy romance featuring scandalous flappers, sensual fae, hidden speakeasies and dark magic. It is book one in the Fae of the Roaring Age series.
Adeline Colton was cursed. Everyone in Georgia knew the devil walked her farm, and maybe they were right, because each month she had . . . dreams. Visions of a dark prince and a shadowed forest. A creature so wrong, temptation lurked beneath her skin.
So after escaping to New York City, it’s no surprise when her bad fortune follows. Only this time, it’s in the form of Jack Warren: millionaire bootlegger, infamous gangster, and criminal who makes Addie his fervent obsession.
Jack is everything Addie should avoid, but the more she resists his pull, the deeper she’s drawn into his extravagant world. Lured by a life of freedom and desire, Adeline must make a choice: heed her family’s warnings or follow Jack into the dark. But when fate binds them together, Jack is revealed to be something else—not man, not beast, not even the devil, but a creature much, much worse.
ACOTAR meets The Great Gatsby in The Prince of Prohibition, an adult fantasy romance featuring scandalous flappers, sensual fae, hidden speakeasies and dark magic. It is book one in the Fae of the Roaring Age series.
Audible Audio
First published March 1, 2023
232 people are currently reading
6613 people want to read
About the author
Marilyn Marks
2 books143 followersMarilyn Marks is a fantasy romance author who loves all things swords and sass. With a weakness for bad men and time periods that aren’t her own, she loves to pen books featuring otherworldly creatures, epic duels, high stakes and lots of steamy romance. When not writing, she can be found watching anything based in the early 1900’s, hanging out with her husband, or fending off her vicious and deceptively spry one-eyed shih tzu.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 493 reviews
January 1, 2026
4.0 ★— Is it cheating that most of my fondness for this book, and honestly a good chunk of its rating, comes from how much I loved the 1920s New York setting? Because that’s exactly how I feel.
Adeline Colton is a Southern woman who’s been dealing with strange visions and fae creatures in the woods around her family’s farmhouse since childhood. When she moves to New York City at twenty, she’s finally forced to confront the larger truth behind what she’s always seen, and meeting the infamous, larger-than-life figure of Jack Warren plays a big part in that awakening.
This book really nails its early setup! The confusing, isolating nature of Adeline’s childhood and her ability to see things others can’t, specifically fae, are handled well. I thought Marks did an excellent job establishing this early 20th century fantasy-tinged version of America and Adeline’s outsider status within her judgmental, conservative Georgia environment.
Her relationships with her brother and father are fleshed out thoughtfully and given a lot of emotional weight. Where things started to wobble for me was once Adeline arrived in New York. Her brother’s role is pushed aside pretty unceremoniously, and after how much their dynamic was built up earlier, that absence felt pretty noticeable.
Adeline herself is quite naive and deeply shaped by her rural upbringing, and I thought her fish-out-of-water experience in New York was portrayed well. Unfortunately, the book started to lose me as the romance between her and Jack took shape. Jack is introduced as this enigmatic, mysterious figure of the city, and I was genuinely excited to finally see him properly inert act with her. But once he’s actually on the page, their connection felt… underwhelming. The intrigue and buildup of Jack/Adeline didn’t live up to the reality of their relationship.
It took me a while to pin down why exactly that was and why their romance wasn’t working for me, but I think it comes down to how uninteresting they became together. Adeline often felt like she was at her dullest when she was with Jack, and Jack himself ended up reading as a fairly cliché possessive, “dark” and powerful love interest that the genre is filled with.
Once again, I'll just say that the book really shines when it focuses on the fae and their integration into the bustling world of 1920s New York. I ultimtately think that a lot of the plot points and twists this book features are very easy to to guess and if you’ve read a certain amount of fae books, YOU WILL know a lot of what happens in the story.
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, atmospheric setting paired with a somewhat familiar fae love story. Just be aware that that this book can absolutely feel long-winded at times and that it occasionally manages to take the wind out of its own sails with that.
Adeline Colton is a Southern woman who’s been dealing with strange visions and fae creatures in the woods around her family’s farmhouse since childhood. When she moves to New York City at twenty, she’s finally forced to confront the larger truth behind what she’s always seen, and meeting the infamous, larger-than-life figure of Jack Warren plays a big part in that awakening.
This book really nails its early setup! The confusing, isolating nature of Adeline’s childhood and her ability to see things others can’t, specifically fae, are handled well. I thought Marks did an excellent job establishing this early 20th century fantasy-tinged version of America and Adeline’s outsider status within her judgmental, conservative Georgia environment.
Her relationships with her brother and father are fleshed out thoughtfully and given a lot of emotional weight. Where things started to wobble for me was once Adeline arrived in New York. Her brother’s role is pushed aside pretty unceremoniously, and after how much their dynamic was built up earlier, that absence felt pretty noticeable.
Adeline herself is quite naive and deeply shaped by her rural upbringing, and I thought her fish-out-of-water experience in New York was portrayed well. Unfortunately, the book started to lose me as the romance between her and Jack took shape. Jack is introduced as this enigmatic, mysterious figure of the city, and I was genuinely excited to finally see him properly inert act with her. But once he’s actually on the page, their connection felt… underwhelming. The intrigue and buildup of Jack/Adeline didn’t live up to the reality of their relationship.
It took me a while to pin down why exactly that was and why their romance wasn’t working for me, but I think it comes down to how uninteresting they became together. Adeline often felt like she was at her dullest when she was with Jack, and Jack himself ended up reading as a fairly cliché possessive, “dark” and powerful love interest that the genre is filled with.
Once again, I'll just say that the book really shines when it focuses on the fae and their integration into the bustling world of 1920s New York. I ultimtately think that a lot of the plot points and twists this book features are very easy to to guess and if you’ve read a certain amount of fae books, YOU WILL know a lot of what happens in the story.
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, atmospheric setting paired with a somewhat familiar fae love story. Just be aware that that this book can absolutely feel long-winded at times and that it occasionally manages to take the wind out of its own sails with that.
dnf
May 21, 2024officially dnf-ing at 23%
i can't get my head around the vibes and it's so long i just don't feel motivated to keep going.
might pick up in the future.
i can't get my head around the vibes and it's so long i just don't feel motivated to keep going.
might pick up in the future.
November 8, 2023
3.75 Stars
Fae + Roaring 20s?!
Adeline spent most of her life on a farm that was shrouded in darkness and superstition. Her father, in his desperate attempt to ward off any evil forces, would scatter salt in the doorways and decorate the house with cryptic symbols. However, after her father's passing, Adeline and her brother made a courageous decision to leave their haunted past behind and embark on a new beginning in the bustling city of New York. Little did she know that fate had a different plan in store for her.
The author did a great job of weaving the mystical world of fae into the busy streets of New York City. I would have preferred the secondary characters to be more developed. However, this didn't hinder my overall enjoyment of the story. It was a delightful fusion of light fantasy and romance.
*** Thank you to NetGalley, Marilyn Marks, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Fae + Roaring 20s?!
Adeline spent most of her life on a farm that was shrouded in darkness and superstition. Her father, in his desperate attempt to ward off any evil forces, would scatter salt in the doorways and decorate the house with cryptic symbols. However, after her father's passing, Adeline and her brother made a courageous decision to leave their haunted past behind and embark on a new beginning in the bustling city of New York. Little did she know that fate had a different plan in store for her.
The author did a great job of weaving the mystical world of fae into the busy streets of New York City. I would have preferred the secondary characters to be more developed. However, this didn't hinder my overall enjoyment of the story. It was a delightful fusion of light fantasy and romance.
*** Thank you to NetGalley, Marilyn Marks, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
March 20, 2023
I shook my head. “Are you the Devil?” He leaned in. Close, so close oak and rain and gunmetal washed over me, slathered across my lips. “For you, I’ll be so much fucking worse.”
An inviting story with a found family, a slow-burn, fated romance, and an intriguing magic system. Taking place in the Roaring age, it felt like a hybrid between the Great Gatsby and the gangsters of the Peaky Blinders, but make it Fae. The magic system seemed very similar to the Fable comics, using glamour and other fun concepts. I loved the aesthetic and the magic but the spotlight of the book was the characters.
I have to give it to the author. All the characters were incredible. They were nicely introduced and the book's pace was adapted to fit each of them. Taking into account that the fmc had no idea of the Fae world, the story did not feel rushed at all.
Now about the mcs and especially my gorgeous, gorgeous love. Jack! He was addictive! Dripping danger and power while having a perilously charming demeanor. He was a gangster and a dreadful one at it but he retained an adorable and snarky attitude with Addie. It made their relationship so fun to read. Also, Jack in an uncontrollably hungry, feral state was such a thing to witness.
Addie’s story was the main focus of the book. Her journey was certainly long and rough. I felt sadness, happiness, and pride. Addie was an utterly clueless character and severely troubled mentally but in time she found her strength. It was difficult not to like her when she was fighting her beliefs and fears. Even so, there were countless times that she did irritate me. I needed a break from her, but the book was solely from her pov. It made my reading slower, so I would have preferred multiple povs.
Of course, the star of the book was Violet MF Warren.
She threw her cigarette to the ground. “Good girls are boring. I’d rather be a whore.”
She was such a bad b*tch. Undeniably strong and unapologetic, she owned it. I would sell my soul to read a book about her. Yes, she wasn’t gentle with Addie but she was also the one to push her out of her comfort zone and not patronize her. Although her cold attitude or probably because of that, she was a breath of fresh air. The secret ingredient of the success of this book.
I really liked the rest of the characters too and after that ending, I am excitedly waiting for the next book.
ARC Review
Did I like it? Yes
Would I reread it? Yes
4/5⭐
3/5🌶️
An inviting story with a found family, a slow-burn, fated romance, and an intriguing magic system. Taking place in the Roaring age, it felt like a hybrid between the Great Gatsby and the gangsters of the Peaky Blinders, but make it Fae. The magic system seemed very similar to the Fable comics, using glamour and other fun concepts. I loved the aesthetic and the magic but the spotlight of the book was the characters.
I have to give it to the author. All the characters were incredible. They were nicely introduced and the book's pace was adapted to fit each of them. Taking into account that the fmc had no idea of the Fae world, the story did not feel rushed at all.
Now about the mcs and especially my gorgeous, gorgeous love. Jack! He was addictive! Dripping danger and power while having a perilously charming demeanor. He was a gangster and a dreadful one at it but he retained an adorable and snarky attitude with Addie. It made their relationship so fun to read. Also, Jack in an uncontrollably hungry, feral state was such a thing to witness.
Addie’s story was the main focus of the book. Her journey was certainly long and rough. I felt sadness, happiness, and pride. Addie was an utterly clueless character and severely troubled mentally but in time she found her strength. It was difficult not to like her when she was fighting her beliefs and fears. Even so, there were countless times that she did irritate me. I needed a break from her, but the book was solely from her pov. It made my reading slower, so I would have preferred multiple povs.
Of course, the star of the book was Violet MF Warren.
She threw her cigarette to the ground. “Good girls are boring. I’d rather be a whore.”
She was such a bad b*tch. Undeniably strong and unapologetic, she owned it. I would sell my soul to read a book about her. Yes, she wasn’t gentle with Addie but she was also the one to push her out of her comfort zone and not patronize her. Although her cold attitude or probably because of that, she was a breath of fresh air. The secret ingredient of the success of this book.
I really liked the rest of the characters too and after that ending, I am excitedly waiting for the next book.
ARC Review
Did I like it? Yes
Would I reread it? Yes
4/5⭐
3/5🌶️
March 6, 2023
When Maryilyn Marks reached out to me a few weeks ago to read her new fantasy novel, I didn't know it was going to be a game changer. Prince of Prohibition is IMPRESSIVELY good. This book is like ACOTAR mixed with The Great Gatsby mixed with Peaky Blinders. If you like flappers and fae fantasy, you NEED to read this novel.
Set in the Roaring 1920s in the middle of Prohibition, Adeline (Addie) grows up as an outcast in rural Georgia due to her ability to see things no one else can; fairies, sprites, and a man with golden eyes who visits her in her dreams. When her father dies, her brother accepts a job in New York and brings her along. After days of boredom in their apartment, Addie runs into their flapper neighbor who brings her to a party put on by the infamous and wealthy bootlegger Jack Warren. When she meets him, Addie feels mysteriously drawn to him. She rapidly realizes that he resembles the man from her dreams and nothing is as it seems.
The world building in this book was SO well done. It starts out reading like historical fiction, and the fae world is slowly revealed as Addie learns about it. There is tons of action and adventure (a quest! and a heist!), but the romance is also completely swoon-worthy. Jack was AMAZING; I haven't been this into a MMC since Lore in House of Pounding Hearts (high praise). There are some deliciously spicy scenes, and I'm guessing there is a lot more to come. I LOVED the side characters, especially hilarious Lilian and prickly Violet.
By the time I got to the end, I could not put this book down, and I was FLIPPING out over all the reveals. There is a cliffhanger, and it is INTENSE. I'm so thrilled to have had the chance to read this ARC, and I am going to be feral until I can get my hand on the next one!
Set in the Roaring 1920s in the middle of Prohibition, Adeline (Addie) grows up as an outcast in rural Georgia due to her ability to see things no one else can; fairies, sprites, and a man with golden eyes who visits her in her dreams. When her father dies, her brother accepts a job in New York and brings her along. After days of boredom in their apartment, Addie runs into their flapper neighbor who brings her to a party put on by the infamous and wealthy bootlegger Jack Warren. When she meets him, Addie feels mysteriously drawn to him. She rapidly realizes that he resembles the man from her dreams and nothing is as it seems.
The world building in this book was SO well done. It starts out reading like historical fiction, and the fae world is slowly revealed as Addie learns about it. There is tons of action and adventure (a quest! and a heist!), but the romance is also completely swoon-worthy. Jack was AMAZING; I haven't been this into a MMC since Lore in House of Pounding Hearts (high praise). There are some deliciously spicy scenes, and I'm guessing there is a lot more to come. I LOVED the side characters, especially hilarious Lilian and prickly Violet.
By the time I got to the end, I could not put this book down, and I was FLIPPING out over all the reveals. There is a cliffhanger, and it is INTENSE. I'm so thrilled to have had the chance to read this ARC, and I am going to be feral until I can get my hand on the next one!
December 21, 2023
unfortunately this one was just okay. i didnt love it or hate it, i think this may have been one of the rare times that the audio just didnt do it for me and i wouldve been better off just reading it. it had a lot of promise but it felt underwhelming for the most part.
also theres entirely too much singing, once was quite enough for me.
also theres entirely too much singing, once was quite enough for me.
January 24, 2024
Update Jan 23 2024. It’s even better on the second read. All the small details and hint I didn’t get the first just added so much enjoyment ❤️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Damn that ending! It was amazing, twisty and kept me on the edge of my seat!
The narrator was so perfect for the writing style, truly making it come alive, I believe she played a role in my enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend picking this up as an audiobook.
The FMC is a young, sheltered girl and she behave like one. It takes time for her to come to term with what’s going on. She struggle a lot; with herself, her past, present and futur. She isn’t one of those strong warrior FMC who can take on the world single-handedly, but she is in no way weak. I appreciated her for that, the author really took the time to build her up.
I wasn’t convinced by the MMC at first. I mean, he was quite shady, but he really grew on me. And damn that ending again! I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s really worth waiting for.
This isn’t a five star read simply because somewhere in the middle too much and yet not enough was happening, which lost me a little bit. But it did not last long and gave space for this to really be a slow burn.
I cannot wait for the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Damn that ending! It was amazing, twisty and kept me on the edge of my seat!
The narrator was so perfect for the writing style, truly making it come alive, I believe she played a role in my enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend picking this up as an audiobook.
The FMC is a young, sheltered girl and she behave like one. It takes time for her to come to term with what’s going on. She struggle a lot; with herself, her past, present and futur. She isn’t one of those strong warrior FMC who can take on the world single-handedly, but she is in no way weak. I appreciated her for that, the author really took the time to build her up.
I wasn’t convinced by the MMC at first. I mean, he was quite shady, but he really grew on me. And damn that ending again! I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s really worth waiting for.
This isn’t a five star read simply because somewhere in the middle too much and yet not enough was happening, which lost me a little bit. But it did not last long and gave space for this to really be a slow burn.
I cannot wait for the next book.
March 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. There were so many twists and turns, that it always kept me on my toes.
I loved the Prohibition, bootlegging and flapper vibes throughout the book. It was so fun especially mixed in with the world of fae.
I feel that after being mislead and hidden away for most of her life, Adeline, has become so much stronger and resilient. She was so naive- not by fault of her own, but who she was raised. Once she had more control over her life, she started question everything and start making her own decision and form her own opinions.
I love Jack and his gangster vibes. I need more of Jack’s backstory. We would get snippets of it (As Addie, got it) but I am so intrigued by him and his motives.
The found family in this book was excellent. I loved all the side characters for all their unique
The magic and shading had such interesting takes. I loved the Shading concept with mirrors. How fun! There was actions and adventure.
That cliffhanger though, can’t wait for the next one in the series!
I loved the Prohibition, bootlegging and flapper vibes throughout the book. It was so fun especially mixed in with the world of fae.
I feel that after being mislead and hidden away for most of her life, Adeline, has become so much stronger and resilient. She was so naive- not by fault of her own, but who she was raised. Once she had more control over her life, she started question everything and start making her own decision and form her own opinions.
I love Jack and his gangster vibes. I need more of Jack’s backstory. We would get snippets of it (As Addie, got it) but I am so intrigued by him and his motives.
The found family in this book was excellent. I loved all the side characters for all their unique
The magic and shading had such interesting takes. I loved the Shading concept with mirrors. How fun! There was actions and adventure.
That cliffhanger though, can’t wait for the next one in the series!
November 16, 2023
Ooooh I loved this. I gotta say I'm not a fan of cliffhangers or slow burn but this was so good it makes me forget about both those things.
Honestly, a member of my bookclub helped me coin this sub-genre of romance as Dramione-coded and it is my absolute favourite type of romance!!!! You know, the one where you look at the cast of characters and know exactly who would be who if this was an HP fanfic.
It is also very rare that I fall in love with the MMC more and more as the story goes on but, by God, I love Jack with all my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Addie's character as well - she was thrust into a worlds she didn't know the rules off but was neither immediately brilliant at everything she attempted not did she need to be rescued and protected at every turn.
This was also so fun. Like chuckle-out-loud-on-the-tube fun. And the pining was so hot I did not even mind the slow burn that much. It's a blessing the second book comes out in just a few days because I do not want to risk forgetting the excitement around this.
Honestly, a member of my bookclub helped me coin this sub-genre of romance as Dramione-coded and it is my absolute favourite type of romance!!!! You know, the one where you look at the cast of characters and know exactly who would be who if this was an HP fanfic.
It is also very rare that I fall in love with the MMC more and more as the story goes on but, by God, I love Jack with all my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Addie's character as well - she was thrust into a worlds she didn't know the rules off but was neither immediately brilliant at everything she attempted not did she need to be rescued and protected at every turn.
This was also so fun. Like chuckle-out-loud-on-the-tube fun. And the pining was so hot I did not even mind the slow burn that much. It's a blessing the second book comes out in just a few days because I do not want to risk forgetting the excitement around this.
January 26, 2024
All aboard the hot mess express, because this was a rough ride. Let’s jump right in, shall we?
WALMART ACOTAR
I want to get the elephant in the room out of the way immediately. This is an ACOTAR rip off. Let me count the ways:
• A morally gray, all-powerful fae male treats the MC like a sexual object the first time he interacts with her in front of other fae to hide how much she actually means to him
• All-powerful mates
• A depressed MC who doesn't eat and the fae man (also her mate) who tries to help her heal
• Found family/inner circle
• “Stay with the high lord” vibes
• Possessive fae male who gets feral when she mentions another man's name during sex…Come on, now we’re just ripping off very blatant scenes from ACOTAR.
• A several-day sexcapade, followed by the fae male’s extreme possessiveness after their first mating
• The “band of banished” = Lucien’s “band of exiles”
There’s probably a lot more than this, but this is most of what I caught. The biggest issue with the ACOTAR rips was that they weren’t even done well. Honestly, the reason Rhys and Feyre worked was because their relationship was developed before we were told they were mates. We weren't just told "they're mates, they have a connection" without being shown anything. And yet, this is how Jack and Addie are being written.
We get nothing—no meet cute, no slow burn development—before being told that they’re mates, and that magic drives their attraction to one another. The problem with this should be obvious, but in case it’s not, there is no actual development of Addie and Jack’s relationship. It’s just…there. Marks tells us they’re attracted to one another, but immediately undercuts it by establishing that magic is artificially forcing along their feelings of lust. Nothing is shown, or grown organically. It’s just being spoonfed to us as we read. And the whole “magic is the reason we feel this intensely toward one another” spiel is honestly the least romantic thing I’ve ever read.
Which leads me to my next point of contention.
ROMANTASY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ROMANTIC
It’s literally in the genre name. Romantasy = Romance + Fantasy. This book fails to pull off either in any meaningful way. The biggest failures are the world building and the romance, which are the primary elements of the romantasy genre.
The world building is constantly info-dumped into the story artlessly. It often fails to make any sense at all. The plotting is also a hot mess, with random side plots abandoned and several obstacles either conveniently fixed without trouble or introduced and then immediately dropped.
The romance itself is pretty much hinged entirely upon the author telling us without showing us that Addie and Jack are in love/attracted to each other because *magic*. The reason this especially is a major issue is because romantasy sets itself apart from regular fantasy by being ROMANTIC. This is not romantic. It honestly grossed me out how often they were magically compelled to rip each other’s clothes off. It felt like it was bordering on dubious consent, since it was established again and again that their attraction and lust toward one another is a result of magic, not their own desires. An utter failure for a book sold as a romantasy.
THE MAGICAL CURING OF THE MC’S ALLEGORICAL INFERTILITY
The last thing I want to address is purely allegorical in nature, but still massively upsetting. Addie makes a bargain with a fae creature that basically states that she will die if she ever gives birth. Because of this, she resolves to be child-free despite her love for children.
This is explored repeatedly in the first 50% of the book. Addie thinks about becoming a teacher so she can spend time with children. When she gets introduced to the fae in NYC and they talk about mating so she can bear magical children, she hides her curse in shame. She then tasks a friend to assist her in searching for a way out of the curse, to no avail. We learn, in no uncertain terms, that the bargain cannot be broken. It’s impossible.
All of this felt like a very strong allegory for infertility, or at least a body incompatible with childbirth. It was heart-wrenching to see Addie struggle under the burden of the curse, knowing her true desires, but I was hoping to see some kind of fae adoption down the line or Addie’s eventual acceptance of a child-free life.
Instead, after the first half of the book, this curse was conveniently shelved and forgotten, until the eleventh hour of the novel. In that moment, just after the climax, Addie is speaking to the creature that cursed her, and she asks this creature to remove the curse. And you guys, SHE FUCKING DOES IT. JUST LIKE THAT. ADDIE’S TURMOIL OVER HER MAGICAL INABILITY TO SAFELY CARRY A CHILD TO TERM? POOF. GONE. JUST LIKE THAT.
The way this infuriated me is not something I can adequately express. We were already told that her curse CANNOT be removed. And yet, after Addie makes nice with the creature who cursed her, she simply asks her to take away the terms of the bargain, and she does it because it no longer serves her purposes anymore.
All in all, this entire side plot disgusted me and felt extremely disrespectful toward people who are infertile or cannot safely carry a pregnancy to term. Addie literally had this upsetting reality resolved for herself with the snap of a finger, and she didn’t even REACT to the resolution of a life-changing curse before she immediately moved on.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I was so excited to read this one. Fae in the roaring twenties? I was all in. Unfortunately, this was basically an unromantic, borderline offensive, Walmart ACOTAR. What a massive disappointment.
Audiobook Review: Brenda Scott Wlazlo’s performance was a shining beacon among the letdown that was this book. She was excellent, and her singing was beautiful. Drop that single stat, girl!
OVERALL RATING: 1 star.
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
WALMART ACOTAR
I want to get the elephant in the room out of the way immediately. This is an ACOTAR rip off. Let me count the ways:
• A morally gray, all-powerful fae male treats the MC like a sexual object the first time he interacts with her in front of other fae to hide how much she actually means to him
• All-powerful mates
• A depressed MC who doesn't eat and the fae man (also her mate) who tries to help her heal
• Found family/inner circle
• “Stay with the high lord” vibes
• Possessive fae male who gets feral when she mentions another man's name during sex…Come on, now we’re just ripping off very blatant scenes from ACOTAR.
• A several-day sexcapade, followed by the fae male’s extreme possessiveness after their first mating
• The “band of banished” = Lucien’s “band of exiles”
There’s probably a lot more than this, but this is most of what I caught. The biggest issue with the ACOTAR rips was that they weren’t even done well. Honestly, the reason Rhys and Feyre worked was because their relationship was developed before we were told they were mates. We weren't just told "they're mates, they have a connection" without being shown anything. And yet, this is how Jack and Addie are being written.
We get nothing—no meet cute, no slow burn development—before being told that they’re mates, and that magic drives their attraction to one another. The problem with this should be obvious, but in case it’s not, there is no actual development of Addie and Jack’s relationship. It’s just…there. Marks tells us they’re attracted to one another, but immediately undercuts it by establishing that magic is artificially forcing along their feelings of lust. Nothing is shown, or grown organically. It’s just being spoonfed to us as we read. And the whole “magic is the reason we feel this intensely toward one another” spiel is honestly the least romantic thing I’ve ever read.
Which leads me to my next point of contention.
ROMANTASY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ROMANTIC
It’s literally in the genre name. Romantasy = Romance + Fantasy. This book fails to pull off either in any meaningful way. The biggest failures are the world building and the romance, which are the primary elements of the romantasy genre.
The world building is constantly info-dumped into the story artlessly. It often fails to make any sense at all. The plotting is also a hot mess, with random side plots abandoned and several obstacles either conveniently fixed without trouble or introduced and then immediately dropped.
The romance itself is pretty much hinged entirely upon the author telling us without showing us that Addie and Jack are in love/attracted to each other because *magic*. The reason this especially is a major issue is because romantasy sets itself apart from regular fantasy by being ROMANTIC. This is not romantic. It honestly grossed me out how often they were magically compelled to rip each other’s clothes off. It felt like it was bordering on dubious consent, since it was established again and again that their attraction and lust toward one another is a result of magic, not their own desires. An utter failure for a book sold as a romantasy.
THE MAGICAL CURING OF THE MC’S ALLEGORICAL INFERTILITY
The last thing I want to address is purely allegorical in nature, but still massively upsetting. Addie makes a bargain with a fae creature that basically states that she will die if she ever gives birth. Because of this, she resolves to be child-free despite her love for children.
This is explored repeatedly in the first 50% of the book. Addie thinks about becoming a teacher so she can spend time with children. When she gets introduced to the fae in NYC and they talk about mating so she can bear magical children, she hides her curse in shame. She then tasks a friend to assist her in searching for a way out of the curse, to no avail. We learn, in no uncertain terms, that the bargain cannot be broken. It’s impossible.
All of this felt like a very strong allegory for infertility, or at least a body incompatible with childbirth. It was heart-wrenching to see Addie struggle under the burden of the curse, knowing her true desires, but I was hoping to see some kind of fae adoption down the line or Addie’s eventual acceptance of a child-free life.
Instead, after the first half of the book, this curse was conveniently shelved and forgotten, until the eleventh hour of the novel. In that moment, just after the climax, Addie is speaking to the creature that cursed her, and she asks this creature to remove the curse. And you guys, SHE FUCKING DOES IT. JUST LIKE THAT. ADDIE’S TURMOIL OVER HER MAGICAL INABILITY TO SAFELY CARRY A CHILD TO TERM? POOF. GONE. JUST LIKE THAT.
The way this infuriated me is not something I can adequately express. We were already told that her curse CANNOT be removed. And yet, after Addie makes nice with the creature who cursed her, she simply asks her to take away the terms of the bargain, and she does it because it no longer serves her purposes anymore.
All in all, this entire side plot disgusted me and felt extremely disrespectful toward people who are infertile or cannot safely carry a pregnancy to term. Addie literally had this upsetting reality resolved for herself with the snap of a finger, and she didn’t even REACT to the resolution of a life-changing curse before she immediately moved on.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I was so excited to read this one. Fae in the roaring twenties? I was all in. Unfortunately, this was basically an unromantic, borderline offensive, Walmart ACOTAR. What a massive disappointment.
Audiobook Review: Brenda Scott Wlazlo’s performance was a shining beacon among the letdown that was this book. She was excellent, and her singing was beautiful. Drop that single stat, girl!
OVERALL RATING: 1 star.
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
March 22, 2023
The ending 👀 I changed my mind, it’s a 3. . While there was room for some improvement through out the book to make it stronger, it was still a decent story. Addie irritated me beyond belief. I get it, she was sheltered. But she was so inconsistent. I would have liked her to have more of a back bone and not rely on the men in her life to make decisions for her. And Jack, he is a good guy. Not morally gray at all. I love anything with Fae lore, and then add in the roaring 20s- I was sold. Definitely looking forward to book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2023
DNF at 30%
This book should be illegal. It was a bad rip off of ACOTAR set in the 1920s with no real world building to make it feel like the 20s.
The plot had promise but it was predictable and repetitive. The author used the same words over and over again, even on the same page. This sounds like a weird complaint but it made it lack creativity and just felt amateur.
I also felt like I kept reading and saying “what?” because it felt like I had missed entire previous parts.
Honestly my head hurts and I’m just mad that I wasted time trying to read this in hopes that it would get better.
This book should be illegal. It was a bad rip off of ACOTAR set in the 1920s with no real world building to make it feel like the 20s.
The plot had promise but it was predictable and repetitive. The author used the same words over and over again, even on the same page. This sounds like a weird complaint but it made it lack creativity and just felt amateur.
I also felt like I kept reading and saying “what?” because it felt like I had missed entire previous parts.
Honestly my head hurts and I’m just mad that I wasted time trying to read this in hopes that it would get better.
March 24, 2023
3.5⭐️ definitely intriguing and was refreshing to have a fae romance set in the 1920s as opposed to medieval times..
February 20, 2024
DNF @57%.
I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t get into it. I kept forcing myself to read, but I felt bored for a majority of it.
I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t get into it. I kept forcing myself to read, but I felt bored for a majority of it.
March 21, 2023
First thank you Marilyn so much for sending me an ARC for review! Secondly I love this book and the whimsical yet terrifying world you have created in the this beautifully blended story filled with 1920’s history and magical fae whimsy! Think ACOTAR set in the world of The Great Gatsby and that is what you get with The Prince Of Prohibition and it is a fantastically wild ride!
This dark fantasy set in the land of NYC during the roaring 20’s is everything you want in a fantasy. The unique characters and picturesque writing that makes you feel as through you are right stepping into a secret speakeasy in the elite society of 1926 New York! It’s enemies to lovers, fated mates, slow burn spicy romance with forced proximity and found family and it’s perfection!
And I’m already eagerly awaiting for book 2!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
This dark fantasy set in the land of NYC during the roaring 20’s is everything you want in a fantasy. The unique characters and picturesque writing that makes you feel as through you are right stepping into a secret speakeasy in the elite society of 1926 New York! It’s enemies to lovers, fated mates, slow burn spicy romance with forced proximity and found family and it’s perfection!
And I’m already eagerly awaiting for book 2!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
March 13, 2023
Immediate 5 🌟 I have sat in stunned silence for 20 minutes since finishing this book unsure of what to do with myself.
That feeling is why I read!!! I want to grieve when a book ends and the last 20% of this story just got wilder and more intense where I was left breathless. I didn’t realize there would be a massive cliffhanger so know going into this that you will have so many questions!
“Are you the devil?” He leaned in. Close, so close oak and rain and gunmetal washed over me, slathered across my lips. “For you, I’ll be so much fucking worse.”
Things I loved:
• Our FMC Addie who is so sweet and i respect how she sticks to her values
• Our MMC Jack - a bootlegging cocky fae prince glamouring himself in the 1920s “your god is not here, sweetheart. You can pray to me.” Excuse me while I pick myself off the floor for yet another morally grey fae prince I have become obsessed with
• FATED MATES that are of course enemiesssss
• All the fae folk and mythical creatures! Dragons, druids, banshees, Gods, an actual star!
• The roaring 20s glamour and details
• Jack’s magic and all the poisonous plants
• The gang - they gave me that homey, cozy feeling I got from ACOTAR’s inner circle
• The bank robbery
• Violet getting Addie to pull herself together in that bar scene. Violet is so under appreciated and I need more of her!
• Beautiful strong family bonds
• Spice
Per my usual self I requested the arc based on a pretty cover alone - always a gamble. Thankfully this book delivered!! The cover is so pretty but this book opens with some serious some dark fantasy vibes which pleasantly surprised me. The setting and backstory on Addie’s childhood was creepy! Addie’s growth and the discoveries she makes as she learns to trust Jack kept me reading all night and I’m so glad I got an arc. Thank you so much Marilyn!
Also - That damned succulent 🪴 I need closure
That feeling is why I read!!! I want to grieve when a book ends and the last 20% of this story just got wilder and more intense where I was left breathless. I didn’t realize there would be a massive cliffhanger so know going into this that you will have so many questions!
“Are you the devil?” He leaned in. Close, so close oak and rain and gunmetal washed over me, slathered across my lips. “For you, I’ll be so much fucking worse.”
Things I loved:
• Our FMC Addie who is so sweet and i respect how she sticks to her values
• Our MMC Jack - a bootlegging cocky fae prince glamouring himself in the 1920s “your god is not here, sweetheart. You can pray to me.” Excuse me while I pick myself off the floor for yet another morally grey fae prince I have become obsessed with
• FATED MATES that are of course enemiesssss
• All the fae folk and mythical creatures! Dragons, druids, banshees, Gods, an actual star!
• The roaring 20s glamour and details
• Jack’s magic and all the poisonous plants
• The gang - they gave me that homey, cozy feeling I got from ACOTAR’s inner circle
• The bank robbery
• Violet getting Addie to pull herself together in that bar scene. Violet is so under appreciated and I need more of her!
• Beautiful strong family bonds
• Spice
Per my usual self I requested the arc based on a pretty cover alone - always a gamble. Thankfully this book delivered!! The cover is so pretty but this book opens with some serious some dark fantasy vibes which pleasantly surprised me. The setting and backstory on Addie’s childhood was creepy! Addie’s growth and the discoveries she makes as she learns to trust Jack kept me reading all night and I’m so glad I got an arc. Thank you so much Marilyn!
Also - That damned succulent 🪴 I need closure
May 18, 2025
Sigh, I just did not like this one. It was so boring and I couldn’t get into it sadly. I really expected to enjoy it more. I know a lot of friends who have read and loved it, the premise sounded super fun (ACOTAR meets The Great Gatsby—2 things I really love), but it just didn’t hit for me and I never cared about the plot or characters. The audiobook is on hoopla and maybe audio wasn’t the way to go? I don’t know. Oh well, on to something else.
February 26, 2024
3.75 stars
The ending kind of felt like it came out of nowhere but I'm excited to read the next book!
The ending kind of felt like it came out of nowhere but I'm excited to read the next book!
March 9, 2024
The Prince of Prohibition is the first book in the Fae of the Roaring Age trilogy. The series is set in 1920s New York and is described as ACOTAR meets The Great Gatsby with Fae, flappers, speakeasies and magic. The story follows Adeline, who is cursed with visions of dark creatures around her farm in rural Georgia, and every month she has dreams of The Devil. When Adeline moves from Georgia to New York, she soon meets the millionaire bootlegger and gangster Jack Warren. But Jack looks suspiciously like someone she's been seeing in her dreams for a very long time.
The setting for this romantasy Fae tale is what really sets it apart. It is such a unique setting for a Fae romantasy and I found it fascinating. I'd say that the prohibition era setting was particularly explored in the first half of this book, and then it takes a bit of a back seat as it gets into the Fae-heavy plot in the second half of the book. When it starts delving into that, I was so invested. And the reveals at the end of the book are so good! There's hints throughout that not all is being explained, which is intriguing rather than irritating, and it definitely pays off at the end of the book. I won't say anything specific because I don't want to spoil anything at all, but I imagine that much more of the lore and Fae world will be explored in the next two books based on the ending.
The book is also longer than I expected, at around 550 pages but this really worked for me because it wasn't rushed at all. The story was well set up in Georgia, giving us a good look at Adeline's sheltered and odd life before she moves to New York where the plot really gets going. There's plenty of time spent developing the relationships between Adeline and Jack and between Adeline and Jack's friends. If it had been a shorter book, you wouldn't have the time for this detail, and it would have relied more on the bond between Adeline and Jacks. Instead, you get to see them get to know each other.
I don't like characters that I call 'wet noodle protagonists', which is essentially when the female main character has no backbone and is weak willed. Based on her sheltered life, there was definitely potential for Adeline to go this way for me. However, she actually felt like a real person with genuine issues, coping mechanisms and reactions based on her early life and the effect of being made to feel like she was either seeing the Devil or going mad. I should mention as part of this area of review that Adeline does use coping mechanisms such as food restriction and mutism as a child and as an adult, so these could be classed as trigger warnings. Jack and her new friends challenge her regarding her behaviours and coping mechanisms as well, rather than just facilitating it or acting like it's not a problem. In this first book she already starts to feel more comfortable with herself and with support and encouragement, she develops more agency. With two further books in the series to go I think this will only continue.
Books 1 and 2 are currently available on Kindle Unlimited, and Book 3 hasn't been released yet. If you like Fae romantasy and fancy a unique setting, I'd definitely recommend this series. Plus the story is genuinely interesting and the reveals at the end of this book are strong and definitely left me wanting to get straight into the second book.
The setting for this romantasy Fae tale is what really sets it apart. It is such a unique setting for a Fae romantasy and I found it fascinating. I'd say that the prohibition era setting was particularly explored in the first half of this book, and then it takes a bit of a back seat as it gets into the Fae-heavy plot in the second half of the book. When it starts delving into that, I was so invested. And the reveals at the end of the book are so good! There's hints throughout that not all is being explained, which is intriguing rather than irritating, and it definitely pays off at the end of the book. I won't say anything specific because I don't want to spoil anything at all, but I imagine that much more of the lore and Fae world will be explored in the next two books based on the ending.
The book is also longer than I expected, at around 550 pages but this really worked for me because it wasn't rushed at all. The story was well set up in Georgia, giving us a good look at Adeline's sheltered and odd life before she moves to New York where the plot really gets going. There's plenty of time spent developing the relationships between Adeline and Jack and between Adeline and Jack's friends. If it had been a shorter book, you wouldn't have the time for this detail, and it would have relied more on the bond between Adeline and Jacks. Instead, you get to see them get to know each other.
I don't like characters that I call 'wet noodle protagonists', which is essentially when the female main character has no backbone and is weak willed. Based on her sheltered life, there was definitely potential for Adeline to go this way for me. However, she actually felt like a real person with genuine issues, coping mechanisms and reactions based on her early life and the effect of being made to feel like she was either seeing the Devil or going mad. I should mention as part of this area of review that Adeline does use coping mechanisms such as food restriction and mutism as a child and as an adult, so these could be classed as trigger warnings. Jack and her new friends challenge her regarding her behaviours and coping mechanisms as well, rather than just facilitating it or acting like it's not a problem. In this first book she already starts to feel more comfortable with herself and with support and encouragement, she develops more agency. With two further books in the series to go I think this will only continue.
Books 1 and 2 are currently available on Kindle Unlimited, and Book 3 hasn't been released yet. If you like Fae romantasy and fancy a unique setting, I'd definitely recommend this series. Plus the story is genuinely interesting and the reveals at the end of this book are strong and definitely left me wanting to get straight into the second book.
March 13, 2023
ARC review
"'The devil ain't coming for Papa's soul.' 'I know, He's coming for mine.'"
This book right here? It's the ONE. It is EVERYTHING! It's been days since I finished it and I am still thinking about it. I literally want to live inside the pages of this world because it just has the perfect mix of everything; action, humor, moral grayness, banter, romance, and magic. Marilyn did such a beautiful job bringing to life this roaring 20s fae world and its amazing characters. From the magic world system to the character development everything is so vividly written I just sucks you right in.
"'Are you the Devil?' He leaned in. Close, so close, oak and rain and gunmetal washed over me, slathered across my lips. 'For you, I’ll be so much fucking worse.'"
So a little background. This book starts off set in Georgia in the 1920s. Our FMC Adaline (Addie) grew up to be an outcast due to her father's upbringing. When her father passes away her brother, Tommy, takes a job in New York and Addie goes with him. Having promised her brother to try to have a fresh start in New York she makes fast friends with Lillian and gets introduced to our MMC Jack Warren.
The book is broken into three parts. The first part feels like a fever dream and there are a lot of unanswered questions that just hook you into the story. Don't worry they all get answered throughout the second and the third part.
"Your god's not here sweetheart. You can pray to me."
The character are so so so wonderfully written. We got ACOTAR inner cricle worthy feels. Its honestly hard for me to even pick my favorite, but I do most appreciate Violet, mostly because she is the much better written Nesta, in my opinion.
"'Annwyl?' I swallowed. 'Yes?' 'You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.'"
Once you hit 90% of this book it's just a freaking rollercoaster and the cliffhanger is crazy! I cannot wait for book two!
Here is a Spotify playlist for when you read: https://spotify.link/BksCLpFw7xb
Happy Reading!
"'The devil ain't coming for Papa's soul.' 'I know, He's coming for mine.'"
This book right here? It's the ONE. It is EVERYTHING! It's been days since I finished it and I am still thinking about it. I literally want to live inside the pages of this world because it just has the perfect mix of everything; action, humor, moral grayness, banter, romance, and magic. Marilyn did such a beautiful job bringing to life this roaring 20s fae world and its amazing characters. From the magic world system to the character development everything is so vividly written I just sucks you right in.
"'Are you the Devil?' He leaned in. Close, so close, oak and rain and gunmetal washed over me, slathered across my lips. 'For you, I’ll be so much fucking worse.'"
So a little background. This book starts off set in Georgia in the 1920s. Our FMC Adaline (Addie) grew up to be an outcast due to her father's upbringing. When her father passes away her brother, Tommy, takes a job in New York and Addie goes with him. Having promised her brother to try to have a fresh start in New York she makes fast friends with Lillian and gets introduced to our MMC Jack Warren.
The book is broken into three parts. The first part feels like a fever dream and there are a lot of unanswered questions that just hook you into the story. Don't worry they all get answered throughout the second and the third part.
"Your god's not here sweetheart. You can pray to me."
The character are so so so wonderfully written. We got ACOTAR inner cricle worthy feels. Its honestly hard for me to even pick my favorite, but I do most appreciate Violet, mostly because she is the much better written Nesta, in my opinion.
"'Annwyl?' I swallowed. 'Yes?' 'You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.'"
Once you hit 90% of this book it's just a freaking rollercoaster and the cliffhanger is crazy! I cannot wait for book two!
Here is a Spotify playlist for when you read: https://spotify.link/BksCLpFw7xb
Happy Reading!
March 12, 2023
“Are you the Devil?”
He leaned in. Close, so close oak and rain and gunmetal washed over me, slathered across my lips. “For you, I’ll be so much fucking worse.”
What a refreshing take on urban fantasy and fae! I truly loved the push-and-pull dynamic of the heroine Adeline and Jack. The story immediately pulled me in and there were times when I didn’t want to stop reading. I loved the found family. Especially Violet! She comes off bitchy and intimidating at times, but I liked the fact that she was the only one who didn’t coddle Addie. She pushed and pushed until she made Addie want to break out of her rut of having someone always instructing her what she can and cannot do with her life.
I had a few issues with the story near the midway point. The storyline is set in the 1950s era and there was some modern slang (i.e. “daddy”) that felt out of place and briefly through me out of the story. I’m all for a good kink however the use of (UGH!) daddy kink felt forced in those scenes. Normally I don’t complain about the pacing though I struggled a bit to make it through midway.
All in all, this was a fantastic debut and I’m really excited to see where this story goes!
He leaned in. Close, so close oak and rain and gunmetal washed over me, slathered across my lips. “For you, I’ll be so much fucking worse.”
What a refreshing take on urban fantasy and fae! I truly loved the push-and-pull dynamic of the heroine Adeline and Jack. The story immediately pulled me in and there were times when I didn’t want to stop reading. I loved the found family. Especially Violet! She comes off bitchy and intimidating at times, but I liked the fact that she was the only one who didn’t coddle Addie. She pushed and pushed until she made Addie want to break out of her rut of having someone always instructing her what she can and cannot do with her life.
I had a few issues with the story near the midway point. The storyline is set in the 1950s era and there was some modern slang (i.e. “daddy”) that felt out of place and briefly through me out of the story. I’m all for a good kink however the use of (UGH!) daddy kink felt forced in those scenes. Normally I don’t complain about the pacing though I struggled a bit to make it through midway.
All in all, this was a fantastic debut and I’m really excited to see where this story goes!
June 23, 2025
Prince of Prohibition is the first book in the Fae of the Roaring Age series. Adeline is a human, but also something more Jack than a rich bootlegger. He is fae and he wants Adeline as they are fated mates. This is urban fantasy set during the 1920s Prohibition era in New York. I love the historical context of the world, and the way the author entwined real life with magical creatures and elements. The plot is entertaining, and it sucked me in right away! The characters were well developed and felt real. The romance is SLOW but very satisfying. It is one of the most unique romantasy books I’ve read!
March 12, 2023
The Prince of Prohibition is a new adult fantasy romance based in the roaring twenties with Fae, enemies to lovers, fated mates, and found family, and it’s down right addicting. If The Great Gatsby and A Court of Thorns and Roses had a baby, it would be this book.
Addie, the FMC, has had a very unconventional childhood and she has been very sheltered until she moved to New York. We get her backstory as young Addie in the first chapter and it helped me to understand her character. She’s curious and resilient. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Addie break the mold of what a woman should do and just do what she wants and stand up for herself.
Jack Warren is not a good man. He’s a gangster that dabbles in all sorts of things like bootlegging and more. He’s very morally grey, and I always love a morally grey MMC. But he’s literally so cute to Addie at some points I was blushing.
The relationship between Addie and Jack is developed so well and it’s perfectly slow burn. I was so happy this wasn’t insta love. There is so much tension between Addie and Jack, it had me fanning myself, and spice was delicious.
It’s a little feverish in the beginnning but not in a bad way, it just takes a little bit to adjust. I loved the setting in the roaring twenties—speakeasies, bootlegging, secrets, betrayals, plotting, flappers, and more?! It was honestly such a vibe. Faeries live in plain sight and Addie can see them when no one else can and she thinks she’s going crazy, until she meets Jack. There are lower Fae like brownies, sprites, and druids and then there are the high Fae like Jack and his friends.
This book has such a charming found family that I absolutely adored—their unofficial name is Band of the Banished. Each character is unique and loveable in their own way. They all have many different layers that we get to know as the reader. The author did a great job of making even the side characters complex.
Jack, Addie, and Co a mission to save the humans from the rival gangster who wants to destroy the humans, and Addie is drawn into Jack’s world of glitter, glamour, danger, and Fae. The first half was a little slow but it set up the rest of the story nicely. The 50% mark?! Damn things start happening and I loved it. I could not put it down at this point.
The world is beautifully imagined and the magic system was surprisingly complex but easy for the reader to understand.
I could not put this book down at the end. The betrayal and plot twist was jaw dropping and everything tied together in such an intricate, shocking way. I loved the ending and did not see the plot reveals coming at all. I am in desperate need of book two, I can’t wait to continue Addie and Jack’s story.
Things to expect from this book:
•The great gatsby but with Fae
•Roaring twenties
•Dreamscapes
•Gossip and secrets
•Faeries
•Fated mates
•Enemies to lovers
•Spice (2.5/5)
Addie, the FMC, has had a very unconventional childhood and she has been very sheltered until she moved to New York. We get her backstory as young Addie in the first chapter and it helped me to understand her character. She’s curious and resilient. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Addie break the mold of what a woman should do and just do what she wants and stand up for herself.
Jack Warren is not a good man. He’s a gangster that dabbles in all sorts of things like bootlegging and more. He’s very morally grey, and I always love a morally grey MMC. But he’s literally so cute to Addie at some points I was blushing.
The relationship between Addie and Jack is developed so well and it’s perfectly slow burn. I was so happy this wasn’t insta love. There is so much tension between Addie and Jack, it had me fanning myself, and spice was delicious.
It’s a little feverish in the beginnning but not in a bad way, it just takes a little bit to adjust. I loved the setting in the roaring twenties—speakeasies, bootlegging, secrets, betrayals, plotting, flappers, and more?! It was honestly such a vibe. Faeries live in plain sight and Addie can see them when no one else can and she thinks she’s going crazy, until she meets Jack. There are lower Fae like brownies, sprites, and druids and then there are the high Fae like Jack and his friends.
This book has such a charming found family that I absolutely adored—their unofficial name is Band of the Banished. Each character is unique and loveable in their own way. They all have many different layers that we get to know as the reader. The author did a great job of making even the side characters complex.
Jack, Addie, and Co a mission to save the humans from the rival gangster who wants to destroy the humans, and Addie is drawn into Jack’s world of glitter, glamour, danger, and Fae. The first half was a little slow but it set up the rest of the story nicely. The 50% mark?! Damn things start happening and I loved it. I could not put it down at this point.
The world is beautifully imagined and the magic system was surprisingly complex but easy for the reader to understand.
I could not put this book down at the end. The betrayal and plot twist was jaw dropping and everything tied together in such an intricate, shocking way. I loved the ending and did not see the plot reveals coming at all. I am in desperate need of book two, I can’t wait to continue Addie and Jack’s story.
Things to expect from this book:
•The great gatsby but with Fae
•Roaring twenties
•Dreamscapes
•Gossip and secrets
•Faeries
•Fated mates
•Enemies to lovers
•Spice (2.5/5)
March 18, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ It was a fun and unique concept. The beginning of the book got me hooked and I was looking forward to how the FMC got tied into the fae in the Roaring 20’s. I trudged through the whole middle of the book and suddenly the FMC became an annoying damsel in distress. I honestly think I would’ve enjoyed it better if I read it rather than listen to the audiobook. I’m hoping Addie redeems herself in the next book, and I’m curious to see what happens with Jack and his motives.
October 30, 2023
2023 reads: 334/350
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
every month, adeline has visions of a dark prince and a shadowed forest. this vision becomes tangent when she moves to new york and meets jack warren. though she knows she should listen to her family’s warnings, she just can’t seem to stay away from him.
what drew me to this book is that it was described as “acotar meets the great gatsby.” although i don’t care for acotar, i interpreted this to mean a fantasy romance, and i love the great gatsby, so this seemed right up my alley! i adored all these elements within the book. i loved the romance between adeline and jack and can’t wait to see where their story goes in book two!
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
every month, adeline has visions of a dark prince and a shadowed forest. this vision becomes tangent when she moves to new york and meets jack warren. though she knows she should listen to her family’s warnings, she just can’t seem to stay away from him.
what drew me to this book is that it was described as “acotar meets the great gatsby.” although i don’t care for acotar, i interpreted this to mean a fantasy romance, and i love the great gatsby, so this seemed right up my alley! i adored all these elements within the book. i loved the romance between adeline and jack and can’t wait to see where their story goes in book two!
March 14, 2023
As a Dutch person I've never grown up with stories like the Great Gatsby. However, as a lover of the The Vampire Diaries I have been introduced to the roaring 20's and the beauty of the lives of the rich at the time. When I saw this book was gonna combine the world of the fae with the vibe of the 20's I couldn't be more curious. I was therefore very happy that I was offered an arc and could start reading before release. Although I had not anticipated that this book would have the high fantasy length.
This book takes its time to explain things and to introduce us to the world. It takes a while before we know for sure that all the creatures our heroine meets in the woods behind her house really exist. It takes even longer before we understand a little what has been happening leading towards those meetings. And it's only at the very end, in the very last chapters, that we actually get the answers and all the pieces of the puzzle click into place.
It's that ending making everything worth while. The first half of the book is not only slow, but also sometimes hard to get through. There are a lot of characters introduced in a short amount of time and it takes a while to tell them all apart. We're hearing a lot of titles and stories and it's not always easy to follow what they're about. But the more stories we hear and the more often we meet people the more familiar everything starts to feel.
I also really loved the heroine's journey. It makes sense, especially at the time, that our heroine wasn't used to take charge and make her own choices. During the story, partly because she's called out a few times for being passive and boring, she's discovering that she does have the power to change things and to fight, both literally and figurative. And after this character growth and all the reveals I can't wait to see her star in the sequel!
This book takes its time to explain things and to introduce us to the world. It takes a while before we know for sure that all the creatures our heroine meets in the woods behind her house really exist. It takes even longer before we understand a little what has been happening leading towards those meetings. And it's only at the very end, in the very last chapters, that we actually get the answers and all the pieces of the puzzle click into place.
It's that ending making everything worth while. The first half of the book is not only slow, but also sometimes hard to get through. There are a lot of characters introduced in a short amount of time and it takes a while to tell them all apart. We're hearing a lot of titles and stories and it's not always easy to follow what they're about. But the more stories we hear and the more often we meet people the more familiar everything starts to feel.
I also really loved the heroine's journey. It makes sense, especially at the time, that our heroine wasn't used to take charge and make her own choices. During the story, partly because she's called out a few times for being passive and boring, she's discovering that she does have the power to change things and to fight, both literally and figurative. And after this character growth and all the reveals I can't wait to see her star in the sequel!
April 21, 2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
So much potential but just fell so short and flat in the middle.
Ngl, I skimmed the second half as the plot became very tedious and I also wasn’t really invested in the story or the romance but I was on a mission to finish it.
I was intrigued by the concepts and ideas of this book for the first 15%. I love the 20s era and find it so fascinating so I was excited to read a fae book in that setting for a twist. However, I just felt that the execution was off and that the FMC was quite unlikeable, especially after the move to New York. I felt like the first one on one confrontation with the MMC Jack was very forced and out of character in the manner she spoke/behaved. She went from being shy af to attempting to blackmail him in 0.000001 seconds and I kinda hated it, especially when she backtracks on that personality trait in the next page.
I also hated the fact that the urges and feelings between the main characters kept getting put down to “magic”- that really just takes any romance out of the story for me. I feel like this was an example of what I don’t like in some fated mates books, where it truly feels like they have no control over their feelings and it’s a completely inorganic connection that’s not built on true love or slow nurturing of a bond. ACOMAF and Feyre/Rhys are the blueprint to me on how to write fated mates well, and it’s just a completely different vibe here.
I also want to leave this by saying that I absolutely HATED Violet’s character. And that at some points, especially towards the beginning, she was giving off Crimson Peak sister (iykyk) vibes which was icky.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
So much potential but just fell so short and flat in the middle.
Ngl, I skimmed the second half as the plot became very tedious and I also wasn’t really invested in the story or the romance but I was on a mission to finish it.
I was intrigued by the concepts and ideas of this book for the first 15%. I love the 20s era and find it so fascinating so I was excited to read a fae book in that setting for a twist. However, I just felt that the execution was off and that the FMC was quite unlikeable, especially after the move to New York. I felt like the first one on one confrontation with the MMC Jack was very forced and out of character in the manner she spoke/behaved. She went from being shy af to attempting to blackmail him in 0.000001 seconds and I kinda hated it, especially when she backtracks on that personality trait in the next page.
I also hated the fact that the urges and feelings between the main characters kept getting put down to “magic”- that really just takes any romance out of the story for me. I feel like this was an example of what I don’t like in some fated mates books, where it truly feels like they have no control over their feelings and it’s a completely inorganic connection that’s not built on true love or slow nurturing of a bond. ACOMAF and Feyre/Rhys are the blueprint to me on how to write fated mates well, and it’s just a completely different vibe here.
I also want to leave this by saying that I absolutely HATED Violet’s character. And that at some points, especially towards the beginning, she was giving off Crimson Peak sister (iykyk) vibes which was icky.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2023
I need the next book in the series to come out ASAP because I flew through this one in less than 24 hours.
The plot was the perfect blend of fun and adventure mixed with secrets and darkness. It fit with the setting and characters really well to make a super cohesive story.
Both settings were fantastic. I loved the small town farm in Georgia and then the drastic change to NYC. This book absolutely gave a dark 1920s Gatsby feel which worked surprisingly well with Fae. I do wish there had been more description about the Fae world, so fingers crossed the next book has that!
Every character was very unique and I got really attached to them by the end. Adeline took some time to toughen up but ultimately became a badass. I really enjoyed reading her development. Jack was protective and moody and charming. I loved everything about him. A huge part of this book was the group dynamic, and not once did I find myself annoyed with how often the other characters were involved which is rare for me.
The romance was amazing and full of fire and passion. It was a fantastic enemies to lovers with super protective and sweet moments. The fated mates trope was done really well and I loved the tug and pull of the bond between Addie and Jack.
Overall I was super impressed with this book. I can’t wait to read what comes next!
Thank you Marilyn Marks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The plot was the perfect blend of fun and adventure mixed with secrets and darkness. It fit with the setting and characters really well to make a super cohesive story.
Both settings were fantastic. I loved the small town farm in Georgia and then the drastic change to NYC. This book absolutely gave a dark 1920s Gatsby feel which worked surprisingly well with Fae. I do wish there had been more description about the Fae world, so fingers crossed the next book has that!
Every character was very unique and I got really attached to them by the end. Adeline took some time to toughen up but ultimately became a badass. I really enjoyed reading her development. Jack was protective and moody and charming. I loved everything about him. A huge part of this book was the group dynamic, and not once did I find myself annoyed with how often the other characters were involved which is rare for me.
The romance was amazing and full of fire and passion. It was a fantastic enemies to lovers with super protective and sweet moments. The fated mates trope was done really well and I loved the tug and pull of the bond between Addie and Jack.
Overall I was super impressed with this book. I can’t wait to read what comes next!
Thank you Marilyn Marks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 16, 2023
2nd read through in December, same year. Still 5 stars! The audiobook was divine!!
I was gripped into the story from chapter 1. I enjoyed everything about this book, I have no complaints. Only that I have to wait until November for book 2. Fae in 1920s made for such a great story. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, I was thrown a new curve. And the epilogue, OMG! What a twist! The major part of what I loved about this book is Addie's character development and growth. I loved reading about her getting stronger and becoming herself. Jack, OMG, Jack! If you want to know, read the whole book and then to epilogue, and then you will know. I seriously can't wait for the second book.
Thank you, Marilyn, for an ARC copy. I thoroughly enjoyed your book.
I was gripped into the story from chapter 1. I enjoyed everything about this book, I have no complaints. Only that I have to wait until November for book 2. Fae in 1920s made for such a great story. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, I was thrown a new curve. And the epilogue, OMG! What a twist! The major part of what I loved about this book is Addie's character development and growth. I loved reading about her getting stronger and becoming herself. Jack, OMG, Jack! If you want to know, read the whole book and then to epilogue, and then you will know. I seriously can't wait for the second book.
Thank you, Marilyn, for an ARC copy. I thoroughly enjoyed your book.
May 16, 2023
QUICK REVIEW: When I watch sports on TV, I really only care about that final quarter/last inning. (This may or may not show you my lack of passion for most sports) - That doesn’t translate to my reading habits, but it did for this book. The last act felt like Marks talent really started to shine. (You just have to hang on because this is a longer book than most.)
Now to be fair, I feel similar to when I read the The Diviners by Libby Bray. I wasn’t “jake” with the campy decade world-building, but as series progressed, I was hooked. (But maybe it’s also because the audio narration was A+++?) So though, yes, it took me awhile to get into this, I’m excited it’s a series and curious on will it go. Glad to see book 2 will be out later this year.
Now to be fair, I feel similar to when I read the The Diviners by Libby Bray. I wasn’t “jake” with the campy decade world-building, but as series progressed, I was hooked. (But maybe it’s also because the audio narration was A+++?) So though, yes, it took me awhile to get into this, I’m excited it’s a series and curious on will it go. Glad to see book 2 will be out later this year.
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