A Tale of Vines and Vengeance

Wicked Darlings #3.5

by Rebecca F. Kenney

This is not a full novel, it is a short story connected to the Wicked Darlings series. It is meant to be read after you've completed all three of the main novels in the series, starting with A Court of Sugar and Spice. It contains some spoilers for the series.If you loved Clara and her handsome Sugarplum Faerie, Finias, you'll enjoy this small glimpse into their life after the events of the series.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Retellings, Smut, Adult, Fae

73 pages, Paperback

Published January 26, 2024

About the author

Rebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.

Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.

For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney

Reviews

[Tarryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

Dearest Rebecca F. Kenney,

I have a proposition for you. It goes like this: You - continue to write within the Wicked Darlings universe indefinitely. I - do whatever the hell you want me to do so that I can read the Wicked Darlings universe indefinitely.

I await your response with bated breath.

Yours eternally,

Tarryn

[pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

when i was reading it a little angel descended from heaven and kissed my eyes it was that good

[AlenGarou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-

Ridendo e scherzando potrei leggere qualsiasi cosa con Fin come protagonista. Anche la lista della spesa.
E mi rode che questa novella sia solo di 50 pagine mentre quella di Lir e Louisa di ben 250. Insomma! Capisco che Fin appaia anche nel secondo capitolo della trilogia (rubando la scena a Riordan e Caer), ma Sugarplum merita il giusto spazio in ogni circostanza.
Ma veniamo a noi.
Questa piccola novella racconta una mini avventura della coppia più amata (credo?) della serie, nella quale avremo altri scorci della psicologia dei personaggi e delle pare di coppia. Perché sì, Fin alle volte sbarella e diventa fin troppo protettivo.
La trama è semplice: Fin deve andare in un posto molto pericoloso a recuperare un raro ingrediente per i suoi incantesimi e Clara non perderà occasione di seguirlo nell’ennesima avventura e dimostrare così che non è una damigella indifesa. Cosa che, ovviamente, farà imparanoiare Fin.
Soprattutto nel considerare che riesce a farsi amici e nemici in ugual maniera. E quando le cose si faranno pericolose… beh… potete immaginare.
Nel complesso non è stata una lettura malvagia, ma inizio a pensare che i finali dell’autrice siano la parte che preferisco di meno. Non tanto per l’happy ending in sé, ma perché rispetto al resto risultano sempre scialbi.
Insomma, dov’è il matrimonio? E i pargoli?
Non mi interessa vederli copulare alla fine, mi aspetto il grande Happy Ending da old school Disney!
In sostanza è una parentesi carina, ma non offre qualcosa di diverso dal solito.

[Destiny Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaken LOVED this!!😍

Clara and Finias are everything to me so to see them again is just so special to me. I don’t even care that it was less than 100 pages, it was like seeing a Christmas special or Easter egg episode😂🙌🏽

Apart of me hopes that Rebecca will start a line of just short novels for ALL her books, I’d fuckin love that🥹

[sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

[Meiske · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Rebecca F. Kenny’s A Tale of Vines and Vengeance is a cute and enjoyable short story in the series! It was such a treat to get another glimpse of Fin and Clara—seeing their relationship evolve is always a delight. The story is quick but still manages to capture the magic and charm that makes this series so much fun.

While it’s not as deep as the main books, it’s a great little addition to the world, offering a nice balance of whimsy and romance. If you’re a fan of the series, Rebecca F. Kenny delivers yet again with this sweet and satisfying read!

[Lauren]

Not gonna rate as this basically added nothing, but I did miss them.

[brii | brii (three months behind...) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super short and quick read, a nice short story of Fin and Clara. They aren't my favorite of the series, but it was a fun little adventure!

[Nyx Wyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fin and Clara have always held my heart, and this short novella did just the same.

Join these two characters on another adventure into the lands, this time heading deep into an icy mountain for the collection of ingredients for Fin's spells. Our dynamic duo face battle between trolls and themselves as others are after their harvest, this mountain affects Fin's magic and leaves both of them more vulnerable when attack comes.

Decent amount of spice and for the smut we received, it's passionate, lustful, and full of desire. Fin conjures up new candies made specifically for both to improve their orgasms, and they utilize that candy to their full advantage.

[leena.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

« I need her like I need air, like I need magic. She is the magic, the source of all the most vivid and valuable parts of my life. »

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Genre: Fantasy romance novella
Format: Ebook
Pages: 51
Spice: 1 🌶️
POV: Double first POV
S/S: Wicked Darlings (novella)
Check trigger warnings for any book

I want more books about Fin and Clara. I need their whole relationship.

This little novella only solidifies that they’re my favorite RFK couple

Would’ve loved one spicy scene with some of their wild imagination, but loved the ones we got nonetheless!

And their love and care and admiration for each other, UGH MY HEART

Can’t wait to dive more into Rebecca’s backlog

Favorite quotes (MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS):

« Sweet sugar darling precious scrumptious baby girl. »

« You can’t just come into my studio and fuck me whenever you want. » « Can’t I? »

« Stop flirting with me, Fin. » « Never. »

« When we get back, I’ll leave you alone to paint. I won’t ask for sex for weeks… I won’t even speak to you or look at you, because if I do I’ll definitely want to fuck you, so it’s best to avoid all temptation. »

« Take your cock out right now. » « At your service, my lady. »

« I love this tiny little bit of you. A bud that blooms with pleasure if I tweak it just right. It’s so cute, so small, and yet it’s the trigger for such powerful ecstasy. »

« You are everything, sugar. » « I love you. » « I love you too. »

« My favorite expression of hers - other than her face when she comes - is the look of wonder she wears whenever I introduce her to some new marvel or glorious vista. »

« Are you serious? » « I’m always serious about orgasms, dearest. »

Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok and instagram

[Cat Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy, short adventure of a favorite couple

Clara and Finn are definitely my favorites of any of the couple Rebecca has created and she keeps their lovable nature here. I adore that we get to see them as an established couple after time together but that love burns strong.

We get to explore another fun area of Faerie, which naturally has its own dangers. But Finn and Clara’s relationship carries them through as it always does.

And as per usual, expect a fine sample of spice along with the sweetness.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun short story about Fin and Clara as they go about collecting a rare ingredient for Fin’s magical concoctions. Naturally it doesn’t go as smoothly as hoped and they have to deal with trolls out to harvest the same plant. Fin has guilty feelings for exposing Clara to danger and considers that she should be sent back to where she came from. She addresses his doubts and convinces him she is right where she belongs. They share a new magical stimulant and I’ll leave its results to your imagination.

[Alexandra DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely love this series!!

The wicked darling series is one of my absolute favorites! They are all different retelling with characters crossing over and beautiful parallels and new interpretations! This is a short story following the events of the series and was such a great catch up with my favorite characters!

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I just read a 65 page naughty novella simply because it follows my favorite leads (Clara and Fin), in the hopes that it would in deeper way? Yes, yes I did. Am I disappointed? No, I got what I paid for. A smutty good time (and I got to watch a troll battle for my trouble). I'm not mad at it. Still hard to give full five stars. 4.5? Higher end 4.5 for sure.

[Aurien · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Kiss me, you beautiful reckless mortal. Kiss me until I am drunk with the taste of you.”

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 / 5

"This is the life I chose. This is the life I will always choose, and you will respect that choice because you love me, Finias, you sweet, generous, impossible bastard."

[molly elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fin and Clara will always hold such a special place in my heart. This short story makes me want more glimpses into their lives. Reading this felt like returning home to something familiar and comfortable while also experiencing something new.

[Inkaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bez dokładnej oceny, bo trudno mi ocenić coś tak krótkiego, ale coś między 3-4 ⭐️

Fajny dodatek, który rozbudowuje historię Fina i Klary o kolejną przyrodę. Nie jest to coś, co koniecznie musicie przeczytać jeśli chodzi o tę serię, bo nie dowiadujemy się niczego istotnego.

Smut jak zawsze 🔥

[H.N. DeFore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love them

This couple is one of my favorites in the Wicked Darlings world. Revisiting them is always fun and I like every book they appear in. This little adventure was a fun trip back into Clara and Finias' world.

[Cassie'sBookCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara and Fin are my favorite couple in this series! I will always be happy for any extra content or short stories of theirs.

I hope we get to experience more with their family in the future!

Content warnings: violence, gore, blood, negative self-talk

My rating: 5/5

Spice: 2/5

[Leslie Mcfarland · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I need her like I need air, like I need magic. She is the magic, the source of all the most vivid and valuable parts of my life.”

A short and sweet story of my fav couple Fin and Clara😍 Love their love

[Rayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these characters so much

[Michaela Di Mauro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss this couple!

Love this quick revisit to faerie and get to see Clara and her sugarplum again. Very quick read but was just enough

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun to visit Clara and Finias again; my favorite couple from these books!

[Sarah Linn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short story about Fin and Clara. You get a small dose of character development but not much.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
It's literally like 50 pages but I just really like these characters ❤️

[Shiny Ruins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fin is such a blast to read, he's among my favorite Fae MMCs for sure.

[Adela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always love some extra Finias and Clara content 🥰

World Building 4/5
Readability 4.5/5
Smut 3/5
Overall 4/5

Fast read, but super cute. Best if you’ve read the previous books in the series first.

[Crystal Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short story. Wonderful little side adventure to add for Clara and Fin!

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Mookayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best characters ever ♡

Clara & Fin/Sugarplum are, as always, perfection! I could read 1,000 more stories about them.

This one was short but as sweet as Sugarplum himself! 🍭