Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

To Bind The Dusk

Rate this book
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Raven Kennedy, To Bind The Dusk is a seductive fantasy romance with pulse-pounding adventure, Fae magic, and heart-breaking betrayal.

When the gods fell they cursed the land with their dying breath. The magic was gone and with it so too were the fae.

Twenty-five-year-old Liora has lived her entire life in the Spinebacks, outside the Courts of Faerie. But when her village is attacked and secrets revealed she finds herself a pawn in a war that began before she was born.

Now thrust into a world of magic and intrigue she must learn to survive the hidden dangers that lurk in the shadows and resist the call of its alluring beauty.

But Calais, the powerful Fae King now holding her captive is proving to be the real temptation.

Guarding her heart will only get her so far as war threatens to tear Faerie apart while forcing Liora to face the hidden truth of who she is.

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2024

7 people are currently reading
167 people want to read

About the author

Amanda McCauley

2 books11 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
19 (41%)
4 stars
20 (43%)
3 stars
5 (10%)
2 stars
1 (2%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for FloofyMooseReads.
602 reviews99 followers
August 7, 2024
This is the first book in a new romantasy series about a woman who finds herself at the center of a brewing war and subject to the attention of the Fae King. Tropes include slowburn, tension, touch her (and him) and die, fated mates and forced proximity. There id a small bit of adult spice content and, as always, please check content warnings.

The Lovely: I loved the characters and the tension between them. It legit had me giddy at times. Both of the main characters are imperfect in the best way - it makes them more relatable. Liora, the FMC, has so many unknowns in her life and you can feel her struggle in her thoughts and action.

Also Lovely: I also loved the plot and the pacing. There are a number of twists and plot threads, most of which are resolved by the end (but I do have some questions). The story kept me engaged and I was desperate to know how things would resolve.

The Mundane: The book would benefit from a final round of editing as there were numerous instances of spelling & grammar mistakes, in incorrect word usage. (Note: I read a post-publication review copy).

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Flames

Recommendation: I received a post-release review copy, and am leaving this review voluntarily. While not clear from the book description, this does appear to be the start of a series. I liked the ending - emotionally devastating but not super cliffy. I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Megan.
283 reviews198 followers
August 13, 2024
I think this is the worst book I’ve read this year. I don’t understand the 4/5 star reviews at all??

This was terribly written, there was a grammar mistake on every other page. The plot and characters were just so one dimensional and boring and so so predictable.

It’s on kindle unlimited.. and that’s the only positive thing I can think of saying about this book💫
Profile Image for Claudia M..
149 reviews2 followers
July 28, 2024
Beautiful build up of a new fantasy world. I initially thought it was a standalone book and towards 20% of the book I thought the author was taking her time to develop the plot- when I found out it was the fist of a series, it totally made sense.

What i liked about this book:
- characters: the description of every character is accurate and I grew attached to the main characters pretty easily

-magic: the magic described in the book is powerful and the author makes it easy to understand how it feels to have it (or not have it) for a character

-dialogue/banter: the conversation between MMC and FMC has a lovely dynamic and it’s witty

-the plot: I have read a fair amount of fantasy books but I haven’t read anything specific which reminds me of To bind the Dusk. and I love it

what I think could have been done better:
- the writing: there is a bit of editing to be done throughout the book! grammar and spelling mistakes are everywhere and sometimes wrong words are used (you can tell it’s a typo).

-location: characters are well described and built, but there is little to none description of the places (castles, surroundings).. which could have done better.

-the last 100 pages are too quick: this is the main part of the book and you assume something big is happening -and it does- but the development is too quick, what happens seems too easy. The author did a good job building up everything and taking her time to explain what happens and describe characters in details until that time, then everything happens in a few pages without too much explanations


All in all I liked the book and it made me emotional at the end (no spoilers), which for me is rare. I’m looking forward to read the second book!!!!

I’ve received this book as a free copy to review from Voraciousreadersonly- but I’ll gladly but the next book in the series!!
Profile Image for Marissa Bouvier.
154 reviews7 followers
June 13, 2024
To Bind the Dusk has everything a fantasy reader would enjoy. Romance, abduction, powers to be explored, Kings, powerful foes, magical creatures, and more. I enjoyed the dance that our main characters had throughout the book and the self discovery Lioras character went through.
There was delicious banter, slow burn romance, found family, and a strong FMC who was fun to read about. I was interested in her story from the first chapter. She's gentle and sweet, I can't wait for the second book to truly display the bite she can have. Calais and friends being there to support and conquer everything thrown their way.
This was a lovely read with intriguing characters, strong plot, with loads of lore and creatures to keep you interested in this new world that Liora is navigating.
Profile Image for Lianne Scheepers.
151 reviews2 followers
June 16, 2024
“ I see you, all of you, and it does not scare me.”

Oh wow! This was really good! I absolutely loved the story, the world building and the characters. There are so many secrets surrounding Liora, she has no idea who she is, what she is capable of and who she can trust.

The sparks flying between Callais and Liora (between their constant fighting that is) were just wonderful. It’s a slooooooow burn though, so we have to be very patient before things to spice up. The build-up us totally worth it though!

This book had me feeling all the feels and I could not put it down. It ends on a heartbreaking cliffhanger too, so get those tissues ready and be prepared to get your heart broken. I felt more tears running down my cheeks than I care to admit.
Profile Image for Luzanne Warren.
335 reviews35 followers
August 3, 2024
Embrace the Enchantment: Why "To Bind The Dusk" by Amanda McCauley is a Must-Read
Dive into a world where magic lingers in the shadows and romance blazes amidst ancient feuds with Amanda McCauley’s latest masterpiece, To Bind The Dusk. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Raven Kennedy, this fae fantasy romance will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Why You Should Pick Up "To Bind The Dusk" 📚✨
For Fans of Your Favorite Fantasy Queens: If you love the intricate worlds and intense romances of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Raven Kennedy, this book is tailor-made for you. 🧚‍♀️💖
Epic Fantasy Elements: Inner circles, courts at war, outside enemies, and old gods—all the elements that make fae stories captivating are present in full force! 🏰⚔️
Thrill of Destiny: The epic thrill of destiny, old players reawakening, and spicy romance scenes will have you on the edge of your seat. 🌌🔥
Immersive World-Building: With highly detailed world-building, an enthralling narrative, and complex characters, you’ll be eagerly awaiting the sequel! 🌿📖
Synopsis
To Bind The Dusk

Publication Date: June 14, 2024
Genre: Fae Fantasy Romance
Key Elements:
✨ Fae Fantasy Romance
✨ Slow Burn
✨ Touch Her and 💀
✨ Hidden Magic
✨ Fated Mates
✨ Forced Proximity
When the gods fell, they cursed the land with their dying breath. The magic was gone and with it so too were the High Fae.

Twenty-five-year-old Liora has lived her entire life in the Spinebacks, outside the Courts of Faerie. But when her village is attacked and secrets are revealed, she finds herself a pawn in a war that began before she was born.

Now thrust into a world of magic and intrigue, she must learn to survive the hidden dangers that lurk in the shadows and resist the call of its alluring beauty.

But Calais, the powerful Fae King now holding her captive, is proving to be the real temptation.

Guarding her heart will only get her so far as war threatens to tear Faerie apart while forcing Liora to face the hidden truth of who she is.

To Bind The Dusk is a seductive fantasy romance with pulse-pounding adventure, fae magic, and heart-breaking betrayal. Don’t miss out on this enthralling journey that promises to be as enchanting as it is exhilarating!
Profile Image for Emelia (emeliaisreading).
450 reviews33 followers
August 1, 2024
Title: To Bind the Dusk by Amanda McCauley
Genre: Romantasy
Pub Date: June 14, 2024
📖 410 pages

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

“𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌, 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔, 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕.”

✨ Slow Burn
✨️ Open Door Spice 🌶
✨ Touch Her and 💀
✨️ Court Intrigue + Politics
✨ Hidden Magic
✨ Fated Mates
✨️ Devastating Betrayals
✨ F0rced Pr0ximity

My Review:

Following a devastating assault on her village, Liora finds herself a captive of Calais, the High King of Faerie. Through a series of events (and a great deal of denial), Liora and Calais collaborate to find the words to bind the Duskwalker in order to enlist their assistance in the battle against the encroaching darkness and a malevolent entity of immense power.

Liora is kinda naive but I enjoy her character development throughout, especially in discovering her powers and how she well handles the situation with the Duskwalker!❣️ Olette and Balwg are my favorite characters!🥹 The cliffhanger is pretty painful, so prepare some tissues. 🤧 I look forward to reading book 2

If you like a slow burn with lots of open door spice near the end, this one is for you! There's a couple chapters **I'll list chapters at bottom of caption for my smut skimmers 🫶**

Thank you so much, R&R Book Tours and author, for the digital review copy ❣️

**25 + 26 are mostly open door scenes. There is mention of what a mark on her neck means (basically a bond mark, it's important later)❣️
Profile Image for Devon.
246 reviews17 followers
August 15, 2024
“𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙚.”

Living her very ordinary existence as a barmaid in the Spinebacks, Liora’s life is as separated from the fae and Faerie as can be. But when mysterious beasts attack her village, she learns the man who has raised her for her entire life isn’t who she thought, and she’s whisked away to the Vale by the last male she thought possible - Calais, the High King of Faerie. As secrets are revealed, her long lost connection to her magic unfolds, and her growing infatuation and infuriation with Calais simmers, war brews just past the wards that keep her safe.

𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪.
𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪.

I found myself getting really frustrated with Liora and Calais in a good way - their hot and cold interactions, steamy banter that turned into hurtful words had me pulling at my hair. The chemistry between them was really obvious and their constant need to deny it and create distance really built up the slow burn. There reached a certain point in the book where I just could not put it down anymore because the plot pacing was excellent and I had to know more. The world building was a bit heavy but still unique for fae court systems, and I’m so intrigued with Liora’s magic and its origins.

“𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪��� 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨. 𝙎𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨. 𝙉𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙇𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙖. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣.”

Thank you R&R Book Tours for the review copy

3.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Profile Image for Kimberly (Book Swoon)  .
447 reviews38 followers
June 11, 2024
“𝙱𝚎𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚎, 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚢 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚋𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗, 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚛𝚑𝚢𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗, 𝚝𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚞𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜.”

“𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚, 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓.”

Okay, this book was so good. I literally sped through it in about a day. It had all the elements of a fantasy romance I was hoping for.

Amanda’s writing style is easy to follow while she enchants readers with a world of faerie filled with magic, danger, and creatures.

When I read a fantasy romance, I want the fantasy world to make me feel as if I’ve escaped for a while, 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐬𝐤 easily does this. There’s court intrigue between realms, dangerous villains, awakening magic, found family, magical allies and of course a slow-building romance that I was definitely there for.

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒂𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈?”

Liora and Calais have such a swoony, slow-buildup of a romance that I loved. Liora is a fierce and determined heroine coming into her magic while Calais, the powerful Fae King is caught between a war and his attraction to Liora.

This is my first read of Amanda McCauley & I’m so excited to continue this series. The ending resolves some issues while leaving you definitely anxiously waiting for more.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:

• Fae Fantasy Romance
• Slow Burn
• Touch Her and 💀
• Hidden Magic
• Fated Mates
Profile Image for Lisa Conant.
624 reviews39 followers
June 13, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 out of 5
Spice: 🌶  out of 5

Tropes:
✨️Fae Fantasy
❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
⚔️Touch Her and D1e
💭Secrets
⚔️Impending War

Review:
A highly engaging fae fantasy with characters that draw you in and attach you to their world and turmoil immediately.

Sometimes I has to reread a few parts when it came to the world building being laid down but I was sucked in nonetheless. There is a good amount of drama as start with our FMC Liora. She finds herself taken by a the powerful Fae King Calais. Though why she is taken is more complex then we initially believe. There is a spark that starts to develop but the tension of his anterior motives drives her hesitation very believably.

There's a wonderful balance struck between the two, and I felt equally charmed and invested. At the same time we get well laid secrets coming to light, deepening the drama and adding complexity especially to the somewhat reluctant King Calais...a good hearted man thrust into his role as leader.

I really loved the slow burn with them as well as the subtle banter. The magic system as well offers originality that sets it apart refreshingly. I'm definitely wanting to read more as I found myself smitten with Calais ( the broody, dark haired, blue eyed beauty) and Liora is coming into her own power in an exciting way! The impending battle of good vs evil, a blooming love, uncovered secrets and magic...this is a solid fantasy to add to your TBR!
Profile Image for NeedMoreBookSpace .
375 reviews10 followers
August 21, 2024
This book is a story about a woman of faerie heritage raised in the human borderlands. When evil creatures wreak havoc on her tiny town, she is kidnapped away to a fairy kingdom in order to be saved from the dangerous entity trying to take over the human lands. And who kidnapped her, well the High King of Faerie himself. He did just save her life from an evil wraith, she could say thank you instead of storming off and almost getting killed again in the magical woods. As she comes to terms with her new life with the King and his court, she discovers some very shocking secrets about herself and her adoptive father. Secrets that could destroy her and all the realms. And her new life only gets more complicated from there. This was a good book, but our FMC tends to be a little more hotheaded and verbally combative than I think is entirely necessary. And the king is no better. I say this falls under that whole belligerent love trope. The banter is good, but sometimes slightly aggravating. I enjoyed the world building, and the different deities and mythical creatures our FMC encounters.

Thank you to the author and R&R Book Tours for my advanced copy of the book.
Profile Image for Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog).
3,122 reviews92 followers
June 21, 2024
To Bind the Dusk

I’m an emotional mess after reading this book! So fair warning the book leaves in a cliffhanger!

But before all that… the story was riveting! This fascinating world of fae, magic, gods/goddesses and more was easy to lose myself in.

There’s so many twists and turns in this story it keeps you guessing what will happen next.

I love the characters and I’m dying to know more about them! Liora was sassy and enjoyable to read. She was real and I loved her!
Calais was broody swoon-worthy fae king who was a joy to unmask and get to know more of!
I loved their enemies to lovers vibes relationship. The way they danced around each other with that highly anticipated tension was fun to read.

So many wonderful tropes were found in here like; found family, royalty, fae, magic, tension, fated mate vibes, fish out of water, enemies to friends to lovers, Fae King MMC, sassy powerful FMC, self-discovery, and so much more!
Profile Image for Annaliese.
118 reviews16 followers
July 31, 2024
The ending of this book had me in tears. So much happens in the last 10% that I’m shook and the cliffhanger ending ❤️‍🩹💔

Liora and Calais make such a fun FMC/MMC combo, though the story is told from Liora’s POV. The imminent war on Faerie and the challenges of Liora’s past made me coming back for more every time that I opened the book.

She even has two magical creature side kicks: Odette and Baylus who bring comfort and sometimes even satire to Liora’s situation. I enjoyed the banter between Gareth and Marlak throughout the book because it added a sense of found family and lightness to the overall mood.

There were some plot twists that I didn’t see coming and some questions I have still swimming in my brain, even at the end of the book. However, it is clear at the end of the book the McCauley is planning a sequel.

Overall, a great read with a plethora of tropes and micro tropes that made me happy to experience this world.
27 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2025


“To Bind The Dusk” is a mesmerizing fantasy romance that will captivate fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Raven Kennedy. The story follows Liora, a 25-year-old woman living in the Spinebacks, who becomes embroiled in a war of magic and betrayal after her village is attacked.

Liora’s character is relatable and strong, navigating the loss of magic and the fae world’s complexities. Calais, the alluring Fae King, adds depth to the story with his electrifying chemistry with Liora, leading to a romance filled with tension and longing.

The pacing is thrilling, with plenty of twists that keep readers hooked. While some plot elements may feel familiar, the author’s unique voice and engaging storytelling shine through.

Overall, “To Bind The Dusk” is a heart-pounding adventure exploring love, identity, and sacrifice. Perfect for anyone seeking a magical escape, this book is sure to leave you wanting more!
Profile Image for Amber Crook.
861 reviews11 followers
June 12, 2024
To Bind the Dusk is such a great Fae romantasy! Thank you, Amanda and RR Book Tours for sending me this ARC!

I really enjoyed Calais and Liora's characters. Liora is kidnapped from her lands to the land of Faerie to convince her guardian to help Calais's side in the war. Naturally, Liora is upset that she was taken, she doesn't know who she is, and she has this strange draw toward Calais, even though he should be her enemy since he took her. There is world building, enemy building, and a big build up to a war that will be happening. She doesn't know who or what she is and her magic is strange. There is a lot at stake, and a huge cliffhanger at the end. I don't say this often, but this book does have ACOTAR vibes for those of you who are fans.

Tropes:
Slow Burn
Touch her and 💀
Hidden Magic/Identity
Forced Proximity
Fated Mates

🌶️🌶️.5
8 reviews
June 20, 2024
I enjoyed reading the first installment in this series to come! There was quite a bit world building which was nice in helping set the scene while reading. I wouldn’t say it was enemies to lovers but it was definitely dislike to lovers. I loved that the dislike wasn’t based on a complete misunderstanding that could’ve been solved a lot easier. The mystery behind Liora’s (FMC) origin and powers had me on the edge of my seat. I’m very curious to see what Liora’s powers are as the series continues. My favorite character has to be Olette I loved the relationship Liora built with her and Balwg. It was so endearing to me how she went from being wary of them to seeking them out for comfort. I’m still on the fence with how I feel about Aerin…but I’m hoping to take more of a liking to him as the series continues. I can’t wait to see what the next book will bring us!
Profile Image for Kata.
536 reviews49 followers
August 14, 2024
Great start to a new fantasy romance series!

The FMC Liora’s world changes and she has to learn and adapt quickly. I liked her as a FMC and grew attached to her and her story. The characters overall were well developed with interesting backstories and I can’t wait to learn more about them.

I enjoyed the banter, tension and relationship development between the FMC and MMC and can’t wait to read what happens to them in the future.

Also the magic system seemed interesting and I would like to learn more about it. I would have also liked to see a bit more world building and descriptions about different places etc.

The plot itself was interesting. The pacing was okay, the ending felt maybe a bit rushed, but otherwise the pace was pretty good.



I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
Profile Image for Amber's Book Cave.
217 reviews41 followers
June 8, 2024
"To Bind The Dusk" by Amanda McCauley was a captivating fae fantasy romance that I quickly devoured. The unique world and magic system are fascinating.

Liora’s journey begins with her being captured by the powerful Fae King Calais. As she navigates this new world filled with magic and danger, she discovers more about her true identity, making for a fast-paced read. With a slow-burn romance, fated mates, betrayal, and found friends/family, this book has everything romantasy fans love. The relationship between Liora and Calais adds a seductive layer to the adventure, and the supporting characters and magical creatures make the world feel alive.

Thank you R&R Book Tours and Amanda McCauley for providing me with a review copy. All opinions are unbiased and my own. 🖤
Profile Image for Red Book Review .
1,011 reviews36 followers
August 5, 2024
To Bind The Dusk drew me in by the cover and kept me turning the pages until the very end. The book is a fantasy romance with adventure, fae magic and heart-breaking betrayal. This was my first time reading this author and I can not wait to read more of her books. I loved the characters, plot, magic, romance and overall it was written really well. The ending was amazing and I am looking foward to reading the second book in this series. I loved this book and would highly recommend this one to anyone but especially to readers who love a good fantasy romance or fantasy book. Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for this fantasy read in exchange of my honest review of To Bind The Dusk by Amanda McCauley.
Profile Image for Rebelle.
181 reviews2 followers
August 10, 2024
The twists in this one! I did not see them coming. I liked Liora as an FMC- I didn’t find her annoying but I did find her impatient, which made me simultaneously like her as a more real-feeling character and also dislike her because I wanted to tell her to just be chill. Calais was an interesting MMC, at first he seemed the bad guy but by the end he was the broken hero with a throne he didn’t even want. Aerin was a complicated character that I still don’t understand and will probably find out more about in the next one. Aeliana is BFF goals, she’s amazing! I liked her depth and quirks. This read is great if you love fantasy that lives on the edge of dark and light, with lighthearted friendships blooming within a dark and depressing story. The balance is so unique and I enjoyed the read! Thanks to the author for providing me a review copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jenny.
443 reviews6 followers
August 13, 2024
🗡 Fae
🗡 Hidden Powers
🗡 Touch Her and ☠️
🗡 Enemies to Friends to Lovers
🗡 Slow Burn
🗡 Found Family


All Liora has lived her entire life in the Spinebacks, a village without magic. That is until a gateway is opened and her village is attacked. Liora is taken by Calais the High King of Faerie and whisked away to a world full of magic. She soon discovers there is more to get life and many things her grandad Fionn kept from her.

Liora is definitely full of snark. She tends to not have a filter. I loved watching her relationship with Calais grow. It's definitely a slow burn.

Fionn loves Liora fiercely and will do anything to protect her.

Than you Amanda McCauley and R&R Tours for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Stacey Rae.
204 reviews6 followers
June 4, 2024
What I enjoyed about this book was the unique world and magic the author has created. Liora’s world is turned upside down when she is taken from her home, along with her grandad, and is held in the High Fae King’s castle. Here she begins to learn about who she really is. This story is fast paced, and really contained all the things I enjoy in a romantasy.

✨Slow Burn
✨Fated Mates
✨Betrayal
✨Unique Magic
✨Found Friends
✨Magical Pals
✨Heartbreak

I feel like we still have some things to learn about our FMC and I’m totally hoping she kicks some ass in book 2!
Profile Image for Lois Garrett.
363 reviews11 followers
June 16, 2024
Another Great book!! I kept finding ways to sneak back to reading this one I literally couldn’t put it down. Liora is an orphan raised by an unbiological Granddad and while working in the local tavern all of a sudden all hell breaks lose and her entire world is turned upside down. She gets taken and all the secrets that have been kept from her start pouring out. Liora goes on a journey on this one with betrayal and secrets around every corner. I loved her character and how she dealt with all the things that were thrown at her. That ending tho killed me and I can’t wait for the next book.
Profile Image for jennifer langdon.
654 reviews18 followers
July 29, 2024
4.5 Stars

I loved it. The world sucked me in almost immediately.

It was a slow burn romance with lots of tension and banter, and the banter was absolutely fantastic, I was here for it 100%.

We also had fated mates, secrets, betrayal, and found family.
Everything that's needed to make a great fantasy romance read.

Liora and Calais' story was a fantastic one. The unique world and magic had me turning the pages like a mad woman.
Profile Image for Spiritedbookishbabe .
284 reviews42 followers
June 15, 2024
I loved this book so much. The whole book had me hooked until the very end. Of course I cried at the end because Calais and Lieora were being separated because of the impending war that was about to hit Faerie. Calais vowed to fight alongside his men until the very end and knowing he may die had me tearing up at the very end.
Profile Image for Courtney.
114 reviews
August 1, 2024
I would rate this book a 4.5. I absolutely loved the characters and world building. Liora and Calais... Sigh. There's a lot of push and pull between them, but their connection is undeniable. This book has a great plot, with intriguing characters, and a slow burn romance. I can't wait for the second book.
Profile Image for Heather Santos.
316 reviews11 followers
June 8, 2024
Amazing adventure with the Fae! This was an amazing experience! The characters were all so awesome! This book was written by an incredible author! From beginning to end I did want to put it down!!
Profile Image for Hailie.
14 reviews
June 24, 2024
I am unwell! The ending?!?! Someone remind me when book two is out. 🥲
Profile Image for Samantha.
138 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2024
✨Slow Burn
✨Touch Her and 💀
✨Hidden Magic
✨Fated Mates
✨F0rced Pr0ximity

I loved this book so much. I got into the story quickly and never lost interest. The characters were interesting, the world was exciting, and the story had enough mystery to keep me hooked. It reminded me a lot of the SJM Throne of Glass series. And this book ended at a very suspenseful point in the plot...Amanda when is book 2 coming out?! Highly recommend you pick this book up!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.