The Erlking's Daughters

The Karneesia Chronicles #1

by Claire Trella Hill

The Unseelie Caverns are closing in on Morwë. The handsome prisoner may be her only way out.

The Unseelie faefolk dwell in darkness, consume human life force, and care for no one… except for the half-human daughters of the Erlking. Morwë encases her feelings in walls of ice, only allowing herself to care for her younger sister—and even then, not openly. She navigates hostility from family and acquaintances alike and believes there is no other way to live. But her world is shaken with the abrupt arrival of a prisoner who sees her—in more ways than one.

Arken has always placed family first. When his village is attacked and his younger brother stolen, he sets off determined to rescue him. An encounter with faefolk out of stories and spook-tales wasn’t in his plan, and neither is the woman with haunting eyes just as trapped as he is. She’s his enemy. He shouldn’t trust her. But she may be his only hope for salvation.

As a forced marriage looms and violence mounts in the caverns, Morwë must choose—acquiesce to the bleak, terrifying future she thought was her only option, or risk everything to escape with the human prisoner and protect their siblings—even if it costs her life.

A dark fantasy with slow burn romance, The Erlking's Daughters is perfect for fans of Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf, Robin McKinley, Kate Stradling, and anyone who loves to see characters move from darkness to light.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2024

About the author

Claire Trella Hill will read anything, but fantasy romance and gothic fiction are her favorites.  When Claire isn't writing, she can be found with her nose glued to her library app, assisting with the last tricky pieces of a puzzle, swilling Dr. Pepper, collecting vintage romance covers, or cuddling with her cat.

Reviews

[Claire]

Edit: The Erlking's Daughters is out now and you can get it here: https://books2read.com/TheErlkingsDau...

Going to be tacky and give my book five stars because it’s my heart. ❤️

The Erlking’s Daughters is a story about moving from darkness to light, finding your place in the world, and learning that it’s okay to feel things. It’s a story I wrote for myself. But I hope you like it too.

Heat level: kissing only
CWs: murder, torture, light body horror, discussion/threat of sexual assault (Does Not Occur), fantasy violence

[Suzannah Rowntree]

This is one of those special first books, the sort that grow with an author for ten years in a quiet simmer and eventually come out into daylight rich, unique, and unexpected. There are so many books about fae realms which follow a human into the world of the fae, or which are about a girl stolen by the fae as a bride. This book upends all those tropes: our main characters are the daughters of the stolen fae bride, and their journey is out of the dark cruel world of their home into the world of humanity and sunshine and familial love. And it's the blokes who end up getting stolen by the fae, which is additionally delightful.

Apart from the way it plays with tropes, I loved so much about THE ERLKING'S DAUGHTERS. I'm really not a fan of grimdark, but I am a huge fan of how the grimdark stuff in the first half of this book is quickly followed by a second half full of comfort, healing, and hope. Truly delightful.

[Night Owling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, intense, well paced story,. excellent characterization, adorable MC

Surprised at how dark it was and at the same time how very moving and wholesome.

Make sure you read the bonus stories that Claire gives when you subscribe to her newsletter.

[Katie King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I typically avoid dark books like the plague, but I had a hard time putting this one down! The writing was wonderful and shows that there can be hope even in the darkness. There are content warnings for this book for a reason, but none of them were graphic or drawn out.

The Erlking’s Daughters has multiple POVs that really add to the overall story and don’t become confusing. Each POV does a good job reflecting the personality and life experiences of the character it focuses on.

I didn’t expect Christianity in a grimdark book about Unseelie, but Claire Trella Hill weaves it in in a way that makes sense for the characters and their world.

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see where this world takes us!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, loved it, loved it! But that should be no surprise — not only is this by an author who jumped onto my favorites list with her debut, Black and Deep Desires , but it contains so many of my favorite things. It has a deep, lore-rich world (though the story itself is fairly localized) and a story that transitions from a grimdark beginning to a bright, hope-filled ending in a way that mirrors the main character's internal journey. It has dark, deadly, sometimes monstrous fae. It has a beautiful redemption storyline. It has giant, fluffy forest cats (I want one!). It has a sweet slowburn romance — a real slowburn, with hesitation and pining.

My favorite thing, though? As the title would suggest, The Erlking's Daughters is a book about family, and it's especially a book about the love between siblings. All four main characters are primarily driven by their families and those relationships. The family relationships here run the gamut from abusive (I was rooting for Morwë's father and brother to get stabbed from early on in the book) to oh-so-sweet and loving, but all of them are drawn with care. And, really, if you give me a book that's primarily about a pair of older siblings ready to move heaven and earth (possibly literally, if necessary) to protect their younger siblings, there is no way I'm not going to love it.

In summary: this book is magnificent, and I look forward to both rereading it and discovering the rest of the series!

[Mookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away how much I enjoyed reading the Erlking's Daughters. This was my first time reading an ARC book from Booksirens, and I didn't know what to expect.

Well. Good God Van Damme. I got scared! I actually got scared in this book! The author painted the unseelie world as being so vicious, so mysterious, dank, dark and miserable, that I was tense at every single interaction the daughters had with anyone not human. Their brother is basically Patrick Bateman with less self-control, the father is a character that is unbelievably unpenetrable. Court of hellions and savages, more like. It felt original and eerie. I remember watching the Black Cauldron as a kid, and the goblin world felt both silent and chaotic. This has a similar feel.

I'm genuinely hoping there are more books to come. And the ending, chef's kiss.

Edited to add: This book is dark, but the sisters fight for their light. Sounds corny, but so good.

It's been a good long while since I ate up a story's originality.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mireille (readingwithmrleo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my second time reading that author and I feel like I can already tell I'm going to want to read anything she writes. There is just something about her stories that makes me happy. Even though there is darkness in there, the characters are shining so bright, it makes it all pretty wonderful.

Read if you like:
❁ YA fantasy
❁ Redemption
❁ Slow burn
❁ Love in all its forms
❁ Dark world
❁ Improbable friendships
❁ Multiple POVs

This one was really dark and yet, it felt so good to see these characters shine light onto this world. The multiple POVs made me really excited about the story and the fact that they switched quite often made it all more dynamic. I love getting all the POVs, especially when the characters are all so different, it gives us a better understanding, without being confusing.

I loved Enzella and Micah's relationship so much. It was cute and I just wanted to protect them from that harsh world. And then, there was Morwë and Arken, so strong and selfless. If I am being 100% honest with myself, my priority while reading is to get a good character arc, to fall in love with the characters. As much as I love action and a good plot, if the characters do not sway me, it will be a miss. In this book, I got it all, there was amazing action and a fast-paced story keeping me so interested but the characters were simply AMAZING. They went through so much and really learned about themselves on that journey. They evolved through it all and that's what I am here for. They opened up, learned to trust others and realized what is important for them and found themselves. So satisfying.

The world-building was rich and fascinating. The romance was sweet and you know how I love slow burns so I was really happy. This whole "learn to love" side of the story was really enjoyable. From love between siblings, to love between friends and lovers, it was all there and it was perfect. And that redemption arc, I'm always happy with that, it was well done. All in all, it was a fantastic story and I just want more of this world and more of Claire Trella Hill's writing!

Definitely recommend you read this one!

Thanks to the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deliciously dark Unseelie fae story with a dash of romance and heart-racing twists.

The Erlking’s Daughter follows Morwë, daughter of the Erking and a wight (human) as she navigates the ruthless world of the Unseelie and her true nature. The Unseelie dwell in darkness in a vast cavern under a mountain. They are a vicious, cold species and Morwë struggles with falling in line and caring for her younger sister. Having a weakness could be her downfall. Her world is shaken when her people bring back a human prisoner with a brother that will do anything to save him. Morwë finds herself drawn to the prisoner and as a marriage looms and violence skyrockets, Morwë must choose between her bleak future or risk everything to escape.

The Erlking’s Daughter is a multi-pov slow burn romance with really great characters and plot. Morwë was such a treat to read about and I loved her growth and arc throughout the course of the novel. She struggles so much but cares for her sister even when she believes she shouldn’t. She has to fight against the world she was raised in and the beliefs she was taught and it was so enjoyable to read about her growth. I liked Enzella, she was cute for a little 12-year-old.

I really liked the brothers and their love for each other and the length they went through to save each other. I enjoyed that they had chapters as I think it really kept the pace moving and added more depth to the world. Arken was such a good love interest and I love reading the scenes between him and Morwë. They were so sweet and their romance was very believable and sweet.

The plot was really interesting and fast-paced. I was very curious to see where it would go and when they’re in the caverns, there’s such a tense and anxious vibe as there are threats everywhere, that it keeps you really enthralled. I was enraptured by the world building. There is such lush detail and fascinating intrigue that painted a really brutal and clear picture. The magic system was really unique and cool. This is a great take on the fae and Unseelie and felt very fresh.

Overall, a really good dark fantasy with a beautiful message of characters in darkness finding light.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gina Dalfonzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this earlier in the year but somehow forgot to review it! :-) Really enjoyable fantasy. I'm looking forward to picking up the sequel.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book? I wasn't sure what to expect from this book other than the promise that it would start out grimdark and end noblebright. It certainly lived up to the promise!

I loved it!

First thing, I loved the characters, and I never felt the disappointment I usually get from a shift in perspective. I just (usually) get into what's happening with a particular character and want to stay with them. In this case, the main characters are all very engaging, and the narrative flowed smoothly, so the transition was never jarring. I love Zel's innocence and curiosity despite her upbringing. I love how dedicated Morwë is to her sister... how much she loves her without actually understanding what love is. And I love how Arken is a strong masculine character, while also being a great example of what familial love looks like.

Next, the world building was amazing! To me, the mark of truly great world building is that the world seems bigger than just the little part that you see in the story, and Claire Trella Hill definitely pulled that off! The book is also very immersive. You find yourself immediately inserted into this dark Unseelie culture with exposition coming later in the form of answering questions to those outside of that society (also very well done, in my opinion). I also just want to add that I enjoyed the human culture as well! I love how the family home is passed to the eldest daughter, and I especially love the logic behind it!

This book might be for you if:
*You like grimdark stories but also love a happy ending
*You like complex characters
*You like seeing characters who want to be good but struggle with a dark nature
*You like when characters fall in love, but romance isn't the main point of the story

This book might not be for you if:
*You avoid books with swearing (it's not a lot, and it was at appropriate moments to deliver emotional impact, but there is a little bit there)
*You avoid books with violence (grimdark was not kidding... a lot of unnamed people die, main characters have broken bones, get tortured, stabbed, etc, and there's references to someone trying to force themselves on the female lead in the past)

[Christina Baehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great reviews on this book give you all the details you need. I’m just going to add that I admired the third act a lot. I’m thinking about endings as I’m writing the fifth and final book in my first series. I hear the word eucatastrophe thrown around, but this really was one, with wonderful use of symbolism.

[Grace T · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel set in Karneesia. I liked that the main characters were Unseelie fae, it was a different way to begin the story. I liked that the characters had very different personalities, and that they felt well-rounded, not with just one character trait. I liked that Arken was rescuing his brother. I LOVED the point about halfway through when the plot shifted, because it opened up so many possibilities. I also loved the interplay of darkness and light throughout the story, it was essential to the story, yet never felt heavy-handed or preachy. And the romance was always light and understated, just how I like it. And the ending.... by the time you got there, you knew pretty much what was going to happen, but it was a good ending and it was very fun seeing how the author got the characters there.

Content: Some violent scenes, some torture. Nothing too graphic or gory, but what is happening is described enough that imagination can fill in. I'd say an older YA audience on up

[Katie Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark fairy tale as it literally takes place a good chink of the time underground in tunnels and burrows made by dark elves or unseelie fae. They are cruel and bloodthirsty. The two daughters of the Erlking are half mortal though. When some humans are brought below ground and one of the sisters gets to talking with a human prisoner she learns about a word called love. It's not something they have in the dark. This is a story about learning to love and learning to love the right things and in the right way. It's an adventure, a fantasy, and a romance.

[Alexandra Constantinou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Trella Hill has done it again! I loved Black and Deep Desires and was so excited to see Hill's second book. The Erlking's Daughters has the same great writing style and character development. The story is engrossing, the characters feel alive. Like, I had genuine emotional desires to hurt some of them and protect other. By the end and after many emotional roller coasters, my crops are thriving, my skin is clear, all is good in The Karneesia Chronicles.

[Beverly]

For those who like their fae dark and conflicted with a dash of romance and redemption

[Jennifer Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read Black and Deep Desires by this author and absolutely loved it, and The Erlking's Daughters just confirms it - I will read everything that Claire Trella Hill writes. This book took a few chapters for me to get into as I tried to wrap my mind around who all the characters were and the setting, but once it clicked, I had a hard time putting this book down. (I had to force myself to go to bed at midnight, I was so engrossed in it!) The story was very unique and had a Viking, folklore type vibe, with a beautiful message of light from darkness and hope.

I was a huge fan of the short chapters and the frequent changing of POV's. It made the book fly by even faster, making every scene feel important, and I enjoyed getting to know all the main characters more. The whole book was a good blend of tension building and action scenes. I was definitely on the edge of my seat a lot, especially if Ingridon was involved somehow. He gave me the serious ick. The romance between Arken and Morwe was so sweet, and I loved how it just naturally developed. Romance was definitely not the main focus of this book (for anyone who doesn't always care for it in fantasy books), but I believe it was just the right level. Friendships, trust, and humanity took center stage, and it was on display throughout. The protectiveness of Michah over Enzella, becoming like brother and sister, Luned taking care of Morwe because of (spoilers), and even Morwe and Enzella allowing themselves to embrace their human half and learning what love is. Just a lot of beautiful moments.

Enzella was one of my favorite characters surprisingly. I can get kind of scared with children in books because they're the ones causing the conflict unknowingly (I will never get over Atonement). Enzella did cause some problems, but they weren't major and she definitely made up for it. She was wise for her years and for the situation she was in, and her love and light helped the group with their escape and journey. The ending was amazing, thrilling, and emotional. Everything just came together so well.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It's a wonderful dark fantasy that is very unique. The world building is well done, and the characters are strong. I didn't find myself feeling disappointed when the chapters would switch perspectives, which does happen a lot in books with split narrators. I tend to get attached to one specific character, and I was happy to say that was not the case with this book. And I will say, I loved the characters! Morwe and Enzella's sister relationship develops beautifully from the beginning of the book to the end. It almost made me tear up a bit because I love sister dynamics in books.

This book was a lot darker than I was expecting! Some scenes were a little hard to read as there was a fair amount of violence happening on page that you don't always get with YA books. The author did a really good job of depicting the Unseelie kingdom as being a very cruel place to live and the effect that would have on relationships between family members and friends. Many of the interactions between Unseelie were very tense and had me on the edge of my seat.

The romance in this book is not the priority of the story, and I enjoyed it. It is a slow burn. The characters spend time getting to know each other and build trust before anything ever happens, and I loved it. It was super cute.

If you enjoy reading books with slow burn romances, interesting (dysfunctional) families, fairy tale vibes, and/or unique world building, then I would definitely recommend The Erlking's Daughters.

(Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC of this book! I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! This author is swiftly becoming an auto-read for me; her novels are unique and hold a depth to them that is almost unexpected.

In The Erlking’s Daughters, there is an earthiness and a grit that surprised me. The world building is a strong mixture of lore, faerytale, and history. It feels part Appalachian, part Mountain King, part Eurydice and Orpheus.

The fae have taken up residence in Arken’s mountains and have attacked his home, stealing his neighbors and family. Arken launches a one-man rescue mission to save his brother. Meanwhile his brother is discovering how captivity to the cruel fae can be brightened by one small sweet candle in the dark.

Morwe is balancing the darkness of her cruel family and that light in her sister. Feeling that the small darkness in her own soul is the only thing keeping her safe, Morwe is at times kind, at times cruel in her own actions. Can she overcome the lifetime of training in darkness her father has forced on her?

I loved everything about this book. I loved Arken’s quiet heroism, Micah’s gentle support, Morwe’s character growth, and Enzella’s sweet innocence so at odds with her environment. The villains were ones you love to hate, the plot was excellent, and the story pacing perfect. Definitely give this one a try!

Rated PG-14 for violence, torture, and some gore
—clean romance
—some mild sexual innuendo (villains threatening force, none depicted)
—little to no language
—moderate to strong violence, gore, death, torture

I received this ebook ARC free from the author. There is no expectation of a good review; my opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! It was dark, but I loved that, despite all that darkness, there was still an abundance of light and hope.

The worldbuilding was impressive! There was a lot to take in at first, but I never got confused or overwhelmed. I was instantly intrigued by the Unseelie court. It was a harsh and dangerous place, filled with some brutal and intimidating characters.

I really enjoyed the multiple POVs. It was a nice way to get to know the characters. I loved seeing their growth and watching them discover new things about the world and themselves. I can’t say that I liked Morwë in the beginning, but by the end of the book, she became one of my favorite characters I’ve read about in a long time.

I didn’t want this book to end! It was so good! I highly, highly recommend it. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy, you’re sure to love it.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting fantasy with some slow-burn romance. The world the author created for this story seemed really cool; I would have loved to get a little more information about it. The characters grew on me, especially Morwë, although none of them quite burrowed into my heart the way I might have hoped. I enjoyed Morwë and Enzella's journey to freedom and their growth as they learned that they didn't have to be the people they'd been raised to be. The final conflict and end of the story felt somewhat rushed to me, which I think is part of the reason why I didn't give it a full 5 stars.

I understand that the author plans to write several novellas set in the same fantasy world, so I might have to check those out.

I received an e-ARC from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dahlia (ofpagesandprint)]

The Erlking’s Daughter was an interesting YA fantasy read with fun characters and some sweet moments.

Though there were many things to enjoy in The Erlking’s Daughter, the story did not work for me. Some parts felt cringy and cheesy; others felt a little forced. The characters were entertaining, but I felt they could have used more depth. The writing felt younger and more like lower YA, though some themes were geared towards the upper YA category. I felt the story grew more entertaining and developed better as it went on, which I enjoyed, and the ending was cute! Despite this book not working for me, definitely check it out if it sounds like something you would enjoy!

Thank you to the author for the free ARC!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this unique book. It is the story of Fae and humans, but the Fae are not fitting all of the usual characteristics in many Fae books published recently. That made the story fresh, even though it was a slow burn romance between a Fae princess and a human boy.

Set in an interesting, brutal world, with family dynamics and quandries between right and wrong. An interesting female main character, who was the Fae for a change. Nice character development, as she guides her sister through some shocking events, and slow rolling story made this a really good read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karen Lroc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

WOW! This book is quite a ride. I had a hard time getting through it at certain points, not because the writing was bad, but because the writing is so evocative that descriptions of what the antagonists are doing get very intense. The book is excellent, but absolutely NOT for the faint of heart or anyone easily triggered by abuse or gore. If you can handle it though, this book will get under your skin in the best way.

[Brooke Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I intend for the rating to be 3.5 instead of 3. This story was well written and original, the story is well thought out and it is clear a lot of passion went into this story. On a personal note, I struggled to connect with the characters which is why I did not rate it higher but that is due to purely personal preference. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amena · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic story

I really had no intention of reading this book, but it drew me in regardless. It’s a really interesting and unique depiction of fae (especially Unseelie fae), and the dynamic of Morwë, Enzella, Arken, and Micah was sweet and beautiful. I loved the land being alive — and especially the women-centric customs of this region of the world. The evil was frightening, and the good inspiring. Truly, all in all, a perfect book, and I’m glad I read it.

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sits firmly in the realm of dark fantasy. There was quite a bit of body horror and gore. Violence doesn't typically bother me too badly, but there were times it was a bit too much for me.
I think my favorite aspect of the story was the loving sibling relationships. I like that the focus was more on those relationships than even the romance.
Overall, I think this one just wasn't for me, though.


I received an ARC from the author. I was not required to leave a review, either positive or negative. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cleocutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that is about family and what lengths people will go to to protect it. I like how it focuses on the child of a kidnapped fae bride and trying to get back to earth as there are so many stories about the kidnapped fae brides themselves and this is the first one I ran across about what happened after.

[LooseBoots · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read.
I especially liked the different chapters with each character, it certainly helped me to get my head around all the different factions of the world in the story.

Great stuff with a new author for me.

Wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Kai's Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really sure what to make of this. It had nice good world building and characters and their roles fit them nicely. But I can't quite say if it's action filled or just.. not enough action. Its fast paced but also slow, if you know what I mean.

Tell me what you think about this