With Wing And Claw

Fae Isles #5

by Lisette Marshall

The war is over… but the trouble is only just beginning

Thysandra’s world is falling apart. Rebels have overthrown the fae empire she’s served for centuries. Worse, she’s the one who caused the defeat – tricked into treason by her longtime nemesis and romantic obsession, Anaxia, who then promptly abandoned her again, like the empathy-lacking demon she is.

Execution by rebels would be a relief at this point.

Instead, the bastards name her High Lady of the very court she just betrayed. Punishment or reward, Thys isn’t quite sure.

Now she’s supposed to restore order at the Crimson Court… but fae are clamouring for violent revenge. Humans want rights and reparations. There's a sentient mountain causing trouble, and Anaxia is suddenly prancing around the castle again, refusing to leave, and murdering people left and right.

Most ridiculously of all, she’s claiming Thysandra is madly in love with her.

Agreeing to work together is the only way to restrain the little menace. But when tensions at the court rise to a breaking point, simple cooperation may no longer be enough… Because someone is undermining Thys at every turn. And if she doesn’t soon decide how much she can trust this fickle demon she can’t help but desire, it may just be the death of them both.


With Wing and Claw is a steamy sapphic fantasy romance featuring a former villain coming to terms with herself, a stabby demon with no morals but plenty of charm, and lots of deadly court intrigue. It can be read as a standalone, although certain events will be more meaningful for readers of the main Fae Isles series.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fantasy Romance, LGBT

455 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2025

About the author

Lisette Marshall is a fantasy romance author, language nerd and cartography enthusiast. Having grown up on a steady diet of epic fantasy, regency romance and cosy mysteries, she now writes steamy, swoony stories with a generous sprinkle of murder.

Lisette lives in the Netherlands (yes, below sea level) with her boyfriend and the few house plants that miraculously survive her highly irregular watering regime. When she’s not reading or writing, she can usually be found drawing fantasy maps, baking and eating too many chocolate cookies, or geeking out over Ancient Greek.

To get in touch, visit www.lisettemarshall.com, or follow @authorlisettemarshall on Instagram, where she spends way too much time looking at pretty book pictures.

Reviews

[Rochelle ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

save the court. save its people. and, maybe, if she is very, very lucky, save herself.

the fae isles was the series that made me fall in love with reading again after a far too long slump that plagued me for three long years. so it’s no surprise that as soon as lisette marshall announced that she’d write a story about anaxia and thysandra, i was excited! besides loving this series with my entire existence and enjoying the characters and world-building, all wonderfully complex and enchanting, naxi and thysandra’s relationship always intrigued me. we were handed brief snippets and little tidbits of the shared history between these enemies, who once shared a passionate encounter on the blood-filled battlefield, but we had never known the entire background, not until the novella. witnessing scenes of naxi and thysandra engaged in heated exchanges and sexual banter during emelin and creon’s books made me want more of them. i have a weakness for enemies to lovers and can never avoid an enticing morally grey character, or in this case morally grey ladies. i can say with utmost confidence and eternal happiness that with wing and claw graced me with a fae warrior who’s desperate to show that she’s worth her title and learns to embrace herself; a half demon, half nymph who’s confident in obtaining what or, rather who, she wants meanwhile understanding that love is shown in numerous forms, but does not make it less than; with both characters finding who they are as individuals within a deadly court filled with deceit and intrigue.

fair warning: if you haven’t read the fae isles series, expect ˚.✦ spoilers ✦.˚ in this review.

following the mother’s defeat, her tyranny no longer shadows the archipelago or the fae courts and emelin has appointed thysandra as the new high lady of the crimson court. to quote creon, to “do better”. torn between what she’s learned over the centuries and believes as fact, meanwhile at the same time is struggling with who she wants to be (and sometimes needs to be), thysandra is trapped between two distinct groups with different visions of what they expect of the new crimson court—the fae who believe the fae are superior and every other being wanting a fair opportunity to live without oppression. meanwhile, naxi is learning to navigate her feelings and understand that words are one thing, but actions are another in showing you not only care, you also love someone with your whole being and both forms are equally powerful.

♡ thysandra
with wing and claw is thysandra’s captivating journey of character growth as she learns self-acceptance and understanding of what a true leader is. i was always curious of thysandra, as she came across as this mean and cruel woman, bound to the mother and confined within the crimson court. desperate to earn the mother’s favour, thysandra despised anything and everyone who stood between her and her ambitions, including and especially the mother’s son, creon and blinded herself to the true violent nature of the crimson court. thysandra’s shrewd determination and cunning intelligence was admirable, however witnessing a soft side of this woman was an entirely new experience. she was always portrayed as this “villainous” character, in that she didn’t hesitate to assist the mother in binding everyone’s magic and aided in ensuring the mother reigned over the fae isles and archipelago, but at the same time she was never a true villain. she was never as vicious and had moments of hesitation or self doubt when it came to brutal tactics, and after learning the hard truth and harsh realities of the court and the mother, her entire understanding of everything she knew at the time encourages her into becoming a better version of herself.

♡ anaxia/naxi
being half demon—a creature notorious for lacking empathy, who possesses the inability to feel or understand love and oftentimes finds themselves leaving everything behind as they’re unable to bind themselves to one area or person without becoming bored—naxi has suffered from everyone showing fear or wariness around her. naxi is more than her half demon nature however and her cute albeit violent nature makes for interesting moments, as her two halves—demon and nymph—create a juxtaposition in her personality. even though she’s inherited a demon’s lack of empathy and generally demonstrates an extraordinary amount of selfishness, underneath these qualities she’s a sweet, vicious menace with a cruel streak and sense of humour. her inherent kindness is exhibited in her decision to join the alliance in protecting magical beings and creatures, in befriending the sentient labyrinth hidden beneath the crimson court castle and fighting against injustices, which balances her demon side beautifully. naxi has full awareness of her more ‘negative’ traits, but she does well at softening them through finding alternatives to show she not just loves, she also cares for thysandra’s well being above all.

♡ naxi + thysandra
i loved these two women as individuals, however together they were even better. they’re two perfect halves who are utter opposites of each other and at the same time manage to balance each other well. naxi is soft and petite with a cold vicious side when needed, whereas thysandra is hardened and ambitious with a hidden kindness shadowed from loneliness and immense pressure. naturally, naxi is someone most don’t trust and she’s never cared to bother with earning it, but thysandra is different and the measures naxi goes to to defy her nature and show she can love in her own way, is wonderfully heartwarming and beautifully wholesome! i <>loved the heated banter they exchanged; it was intense and humorous, and the tension was near tangible.

lisette marshall writes fantasy and romance that is riveting and exciting, but it’s also easy to read—a considerable feat in romantasy, to be honest as most authors aim for the most overdone poetic prose. she’s become one of my favourite authors for this reason. she describes softer scenes in certain ways that they offer a sense of comfort. meanwhile, the darker moments evoke feelings of rage or sadness for the characters. while there is focus on the romance between naxi and thysandra, with a decent amount of heat, it’s not the centre of the narrative. it’s delicate and sensitive and you can feel the tension and passion between them grow and blossom as they fall in love. what started with sexual tension and domination transforms into something romantic and heartfelt.

with wing and claw focuses on character growth and redeeming oneself in between acceptance and navigating a court filled with deceit and cunning enemies. thysandra learns to manage the crimson court as she comes to terms with her guilt-ridden feelings from harbouring secrets from her fellow fae. the balance between shaping herself into what is needed, meanwhile staying true to herself challenges thysandra into doing better. i’m not ready to leave this world behind again, so here is me, keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed for more additions to the fae isles series. i’m most interested in inga and silas having a romance—imagine a half human, half fae falling in love with a male fae covered in bargain tattoos.

────────────────────

˖⁺‧₊♡ pre-read review ⋙
the novella was such a nice glimpse into naxi and thysandra's history, so my excitement levels are immense for this novel 😌

a massive thank you to lisette marshall and behind the pages for the gifted e-arc.

follow me on: instagram

[Fey Flowers (enbytweenthepages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please, dear Zera, make sure Lisette's wrists behave 🥹
------------
The amount of love I have for Naxi and Thys is wild.

Most of the time I wanted to hug and shake them at the same time - pure adoration from my side. Their love is so tender and it bloomed during such a cruel time... Yet nothing could keep these two apart, not even themselves.

I'm so so so proud of their growth, they deserve nothing less than the whole archipelago 🥹

Special shout-out to the Labyrinth: Hell YES!

It's a pleasure to be one of your ARC-readers 🖤

Edit: March 2025 - I still think this is one of the purest romances I have ever read.

[Bea27x · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

I’m so glad to be back in the Fae Isles world, I love the story, the world and most of all I love the characters, they’re so well done, complex, and I’m so very attached to them. Emelin and Creon are my favorites and incomparable, but I’m incredibly fond and adore all of them, Tared, Lyn, Agenor, Allie, Edored, and of course, Naxi and Thysandra.

The previous/main 4 books rate higher for me, for how obsessed and excited and happy and moved they made (and make) me feel (one of my favorite book series ever), but this one was great as well. The main story might be over but there’s still more than one situation to address, and couples to get together, and it’s the perfect time to dive into Anaxia and Thysandra and the mess left behind by the Mother’s rule in the Crimson Court.

Naxi especially is one of those characters whose presence I enjoy the most, she is such an adorable menace! Sweet, adorable, funny and murderous and ruthlessly efficient, one night at the Crimson Court and we find her in the morning that she has already killed 40 fae 🤣​ (it’s fine they deserved it and she had a good reason). And she’s far more complex than some people might believe seeing her only as a demon. There was more than one scene where I felt really bad for her; it’s true that she doesn’t feel empathy and she tends to think first about what benefits her, but she’s not evil or senselessly cruel and even if she might not care about laying down on a road for a stranger and it’s not exactly prone to inconvenience herself for others in many circumstances, she recognizes injustice, she fought a war against an empire despite the fact that the easiest thing for her would have been to walk away, but she didn’t because in her on way she cares and wants to help, for her own reasons perhaps but the fact itself that she WANTS to care is meaningful. And she certainly cares very much about Thysandra.

Thysandra is another very interesting character; technically she was a “villain”, in the sense that she has gladly aided a tyranny and fought for the wrong side, but at the same time she never felt like a real villain, mainly because we could always see that she was not like other evil fae. She served the Mother that’s true, but it came from a childhood desperate need to be loved, she was so desperate to be seen by the Mother and believed in her so much that she blinded herself to the truth, the truth of who the Mother really was and the truth about the ugliness of the court and what it did to others. It’s not an excuse or a pass for her mistakes, but it’s easy to feel for her. In the end of the last book she was finally confronted with the reality about the Mother, and in this one she is confronted with the reality of everything else, the awfulness of what the fae court does and is and the rotten of the people in it, and she goes through a beautiful journey of growth and acceptance of who she wants to be and what she wants to do.

Together Naxi and Thys make for an unusual couple that works, they match and complete each other and are exactly what the other needs. I particularly enjoyed their discussion about trust, Naxi is a person others never trust completely, and that’s something she understands, but with Thysandra is different, she wants Thys to trust her and tries so much, but Thysandra only ever put faith in the Mother and it was undeserved, now she distrust everyone because opening up could mean being hurt and she’s terrified. She needed to recognize that Naxi, being happy and feeling safe for the first time in her life, is worth the risk, Naxi matters more to Thysandra like Thysandra matters more to Naxi. 130 years, it was long overdue their getting together (even if not so long overdue as Tared and Lyn’s) and very sweet.

The Crimson Court is rotten, it’s a pit of backstabbing, cruel, callous and heartless vipers, vapid people who care about nothing but their own comfort and power, they would walk over anyone and stab even their own parents for more, abuse and disregard anyone else. Honestly, Naxi had a point in saying that they might as well kill all of them, the world would be better for it, there is no changing them, but Thys is not one for giving up on her home, she wants to do better, and the courtiers of the Mother are 100% disgusting, but they need to be contained, and there are other people living in the court, those fae that don’t want to abuse and conquer, the working people that were always overlooked because they are not bloodthirsty ambitious or powerful, and the humans that were used and abused; for them Thysandra can do something.


Other thoughts:

I loved all the moments of other beloved characters guest appearance:

- first chapter that I really adored since I was dying to see the immediate aftermath of Emelin decisions, she is such a brilliant badass and, I mean, between her, Creon and Agenor who would have dared to make a fuss XD
- Tared’s visits and the meeting with the Alliance.
- Thysandra’s visit to the Cobalt Court. A talk between her and Creon was needed. She hated him because she blamed him for “taking the Mother’s love”, she envied him, and he hated her too, he grew up being tortured by his mother and Thys resented him and used to tell him how lucky he was; but the truth at the heart of it all is that the Mother never loved any of them. Their experiences were very different but at the same time similar, they are not so different in many ways, and Creon already went through what Thys is going through right now.
- (mild spoiler) Emelin and Agenor looking after Thysandra, their talk and Creon keeping Naxi company.
-The very beautiful epilogue.

Nice seeing Inga and what she’s doing, I was wandering about Allie’s family.

Silas is a very interesting character.

Also did those army idiots at the Crimson Court actually believe they could have won a new war? Really? Even without the Alliance, they thought they could beat god-sworn Emelin and unbound Creon? I almost wish they hadn’t been stopped by the Thys-Naxi-Silas-Labyrinth-humans-fae group just so I could see them all die a hundred against two. Even if the Labyrinth cooking them was satisfying too, the Labyrinth is the mvp.

I think next will be Edored and Nenya and the vampires, Bakaru needs to be dealt with. Tared and Lyn later on, probably after a time jump since Lyn looks like a 7 year old now.

[James McRay · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Jan 22, 2025] Reread Note: Sometimes when I really hoped to like a book, I reread it right away, in case life circumstances contributed to not liking it the first time I read it. I'm happy to report I did like this book much more on the reread.

[Jan 12, 2025]
So here you have the classic post-main story side character book. The romance between the MCs, Thysandra and Naxi, were hinted at throughout the main Fae Isles series and they even got their own backstory novella, In Love and War , where the sapphic romance is brilliantly set up. So, I had high hopes for this book but was a little disappointed, to be honest. A couple of reasons why.

First, was that the romance was okay but not great and got a little too magically kinky for my taste. That’s a real needle to thread when the author writes magic into the steam. The second issue was that Thysandra wasn’t the primary villain in the main storyline, but she was an antagonist. A very well-written antagonist, which meant Marshall had a lot of ground to cover to turn the reader’s opinion around. I was mostly there by the end, but not entirely.

Naxi, on the other hand, was a sweet character and a great opposite for Thysandra, but I always found Naxi’s magical powers hard to get my head around and it directly affected the romance, which again, created another challenge for Marshall’s storytelling.

Overall, let’s call this book a good coda to an excellent series.

Cheers.

[S.L. Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long live Naxi, murder-shine queen of chaos!

Honorable mention goes to the delightful murder mountain.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a 2.5 but i'm rounding up to 3 because of Naxi. I rage finished this instead of DNFing. I had high hopes because Naxi/Thys' novella was really good but damn this was hard to read.

[Michelle Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love being back in the world of the fae Isles.
Thysandra is back in Crimson Court, and I knew in the previous books there was more to her, and this proved it.
My heart broke at I read what was going on in her head and I spent the whole book wishing that she could trust those she brought into her confidence knowing full well at least one of them betrayed her.
Naxi is a violent, murderous breath of fresh air, and she is the only one I was trusting throughout this whole book.
I loved that the labyrinth was a major side character, and the growth that both Thysandra and Naxi went through was so well done. Both broken and damaged, they were exactly what they each needed to start healing.
I received an advanced reader copy and these thoughts are my own.

[Thenerdypsych · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐
🌶️.🫑

I have absolutely adored every installment of the Fae Isles so far but this one wasn't my favourite. I enjoyed the prequel novella and feel like this could have been much shorter. There are some beautiful moments of growth for both Thys and Naxi throughout the dominant theme of court politics and intrigue, but it missed the mark for me. I loved Naxi's team up with the Labyrinth and Thysandra getting closure on open wounds she hadn't realized were festering. It was lovely to see Inga reappear and I'm dying to see what happens between her and Silas as well as some of our long standing favourites within the Alliance. I'm hoping we'll see more of the Alves and Phoenixes (and Creon/Em 😉) in future books!!!

✨ Thank you Lisette for trusting me with this ARC, my views are my own ✨

[Jillsbooknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💫

Save the court. Save its people. And, maybe, if she is very, very lucky, save herself.

With Wing and Claw is the fifth instalment in the adult romantasy series, Fae Isle. Written in third person POV the spin off follows our villain turned ally Thysandra as she is "gifted" the very court she betrayed to the allies. Yet with the fae demanding vengeance, a sentient mountain wanting attention, and an adorable feral ex-lover/demon running through the Crimson Court, Thysandra has her hands full. The only thing she can do is to work with said ex lover (who also claims to be in love with her) to help get things in order...but as tensions rise in the court Thysandra must decide how much trust she is willing to put in those around her. For it appears it is not just her heart on the line but her life...and the court's.

This book was such a perfect return to the world of the fae isles.

Thysandra is a character of such nuance and contrasts that it was such a joy to explore her further. She struggles with her part in betraying her court with the allies but she recognizes the necessity there. She also has a lot of baggage with her family and what she endured under the oppressive regime of The Mother. This was very much a healing journey for her in some regard but it is a slow one as she really doesn't trust things and people. She can therefore be a bit stubborn at times.

Naxi is our feral demon ex-lover. I loved how all in Naxi is. She is unapologetic in her eccentricities (aka violence and bloodshed) and chaos. What is most fascinating about her story is the discussions around love and how demons are said to not love. We get a little bit of a window into Naxi's POV at times to unpack this and how aware she is of peoples' perceptions of her. She is a character that is so much fun!

There are side characters to play around with and we also get to see old characters as well. I felt the side characters do a great job to challenge Thysandra throughout the journey. They also reveal secrets that shake their world's in the best way.

In terms of spice I would say the spice level is 2.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. This is an ff romance and I loved the tension between these two. Spice grows throughout as the characters grow more comfortable around each other. The spice is detailed but it is more romantic than explicit. I like the sense of surrender that came with the spice as Thysandra realizes fighting her attraction is a moot. Their connection was everything.

“Haunting is too gentle a word…You’re a gods-damned plague…I spent a century wishing I’d never laid eyes on you in the first place.”
“Because you couldn’t stop missing me?”
“Yes…”

The story itself is a journey of redemption, court intrigue, and acceptance. Thysandra is forced to save her old court but she struggles to accept that she is meant for the position because of the guilt she feels for harbouring secrets. The balance of her trying to do good for the court but also appease those she thinks she betrayed really challenges Thyrsandra to see herself differently. Meanwhile Naxi's story is a bit more murky for a good chunk of the story. We know she wants to be with Thysandra and she is willing do anything to make sure they can be together. There is a fun back and forth of whether her actions are good or bad but I found it adorable. The story further opens up with people trying to sabotage Thysandra's efforts to rebuild the court in the name of revenge. I felt the pace was smooth and kept on moving. There is good action, peril, secrets, investigations, and we get to explore the land a bit more. I felt it came together so well and cannot wait to see where the next book goes.

Thank you to the author for this arc!

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The day I tell you Lisette wrote a book that I don't consider 5 stars is the day I'm obviously DEAD because something has snatched my body and is impersonating me. I went to bed last night around midnight with TWO chapters left in this book because I knew in my bones that once I finished this I was going to be stuck laying there unable to sleep.

With Wing and Claw was SO GD good. This book can be read as a standalone, but you're honestly doing yourself a disservice by NOT reading the rest of the Fae Isles series. I'M NOT MESSIN' AROUND HERE. It's one of my all time favorite romantasies out there.

Did you think now that the war was over and the political scheming and drama would be over??? THEN YOU'RE WRONG. I was pleasantly surprised at how much backstabbing and unrest there was in this book. Never a dull moment. I also can't get over how unique the magic system is this world is and all the fun ways it was used in this story.

Naxi and Thysandra might be my new favorite Lisetteverse couple. I don't see enough sapphic romance and they are truly so perfect for each other. You get a grumpy/stuffy Fae warrior who falls for a sunshine/unhinged Demon/Nymph. They both grow and learn so much about themselves together while sharing the cutest banter.

There's also the most delightful sentient labyrinth.

Aside from Naxandra, we also get to see our favorites from earlier in the series and what they're up to. Plus some new faces that I am SUSPISH we will be seeing again in the future.

Quotes:
"I'll happily fuck you for free every day of the week. Consider it my humble tribute to the crown..."

[christinashaw96 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Marshall's Fae Isles series and as sad as I was to have Creon and Em's story finish in the last book, I was so excited to jump into Thy and Naxi's story. And readers fear not, there are cameo's from our fav characters from Em's books!

I struggled to put this book down, Thy's mind is absolutely fascinating and I devoured this story!! The plot was intriguing and constantly left me guessing, a couple of the plot twists I definitely did not see coming!! Watching Thy's world and everything she thought she knew fall apart was devastating to read, but as a reader it help me emphasise with her actions and decisions in previous books. We definitely were introduced to a softer side of Thy (and Naxi) in this book, which made her character even more likeable. Her character development in this book was dramatic, but entirely believable with everything that happened.

Naxi and Thy are end game. I don't normally reach for sapphic books, but this book has made me far more open to reading more in the future! The chemistry between these two is off the charts. In the novella we were introduced to their dynamic (in quite a spicy manner), but With Wing and Claw showed us a gentler side of this budding romance. I still hate the miscommunication trope, and do feel like these two took there sweet time realising their feelings for each other, but it did make the moment they did realise far more epic. There is quite a bit of spice in this book so lovers of spice will definitely enjoy this book!

Overall an incredible addition to the Fae Isle series, I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us! I am hoping it is more of Thy's story!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's the thing about this book. Thysandra and Naxi were never my favourite couple (I'm just being honest). When we have couples like Allie and Agenor and Emelin and Creon, can you blame me? But with the promise of more Labyrinth, and the hope of all the other characters showing up, I dove in.

The fact that Lisette kept my attention and interest in a multi-hundred page story of my not-favourite couple is a testament to her powers as a writer. Not only did I find Thysandra compelling, but I learned about a depth to Anaxia I wasn't sure was there. Meanwhile, she brought in new characters like Nicanor and Silas and made me care about them too, even while being suspicious of everyone's motives and always hoping this or that character wasn't the leak. (Well played, by the way I caught the tell right away when it happened, then promptly forgot about it and started trusting because of said character's actions.)

I would be lying if I didn't tell you that my favourite parts of the book were when characters from the other books showed up, but most of that is down to nostalgia and simply wanting to see those characters again. That epilogue is one of the many favourite Lisette things I've read. This woman knows her characters so well it's truly amazing, and you can feel her love for them in every word she writes. I have no doubts that when I go back and re-read the series for the third time this year (something I have never done in my life), I will find so many new little tidbits she's thrown in there that I missed before reading this book. I truly cannot wait for more stories in this world. Lisette is easily on my list of all-time favourite authors.

Happy book #300 to me

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“So I did haunt you, then?” Thysandra could no longer think. She just wanted to be free of this. “Haunting is too gentle a word.”

This booooook! If you’ve seen my insta, you know that I LOVE the Fae Isles series. I was so sad when I thought it was over after Queens of Mist and Madness, so when I saw that Lisette was writing this book I was so happy!!

I’ve been intrigued by Thysandra and Naxi since book one, and reading more about their story was so satisfying. I’m a little obsessed with them. It picks up right where book four left off!

Both of them learning how to trust, and love, and get past their own traumas in order to care for each other made me so emotional. They had me tearing up multiple times.

I loved seeing more of the world and the political intrigue. There are new characters I absolutely loooove, and we still get to see our favorites too 🫶🏻

Read this if you like:
Hurt/Comfort
Sapphic Romance
Fae/Half Demon
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity

[Rachel Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I’d forgotten just how much I loved the crimson court series, but this managed to be just as delightful even without much Creon content.

Naxi and Thys were 👌🏻 and the story was great. Can’t wait to see whose story will be next

[Mishay Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sweet little Naxi, she would never… Oh… Oooh yes she would.

[Sandra Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this as much as the previous books in the series but Thys seemed totally insecure and lost for most of the book. It was annoying.

[Danielle Kida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the other Fae Isles books, but just couldn’t get as invested in this one.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start off with, THIS ENTIRE SERIES IS OUTSTANDING!!!! I loved Thydandra from when I first encountered her, even though she was the villain, a complex character with so much more to her than met the eye, she's not just Mother's lackey, she's....more. I was thrilled that some characters I'd come to love in previous books were featured, like Aegnor, Tared, Inga, Emelien, Creon...And let me tell you that ALL the characters stand out, stand apart from the norm. This author and her immense talent takes me through a whole host of emotions, takes me on a path with so many turns, so much hidden from plain view, that when it DOES present itself, I relish every detail, every emotion, every battle, everything!

But back to Thydandra.... what she endured at the hand of the Mother, her need, her desire, her very existence was to gain Mother's approval, to retain Mother's approval. But Mother wasn't a normal loving mother, she was calculating, cold, emotionless, who used her children, who lavished attention on them, then janked it away to move onto her next "favour of the month" and Thydandra lost favour, Thydandra did whatever she could to regain her position in Mother's eyes, to no avail. But Mother is no more, Thydandra is held prisoner by the Alliance and then her whole world got shook up like a churning tornado shook up! She went from enemy, to prisoner, to sitting on a throne, all in the blink of an eye! A position fraught with danger, a position she doesn't want, a position thrust upon her by Emelien. And there's the added complication of Naxi...

Oh how I loved the way Naxi gets under Thydandra's skin! Conditioned by Mother to loathe humans and demons, Thydandra's inner struggle is so real, to her, they're lesser, not to be trusted, yet, the stirrings within her she can't ignore. It really is the most beautiful love story, not a usual one by any means, but tender and warm despite the many pit holes. Ms Marshall really exells at character depiction, character development, and growth. Seeing the struggles Thydandra endures, her inner struggles of want, need, desire, duty, all coalesce into contradictory thoughts, how she agonised over every decision, not knowing who to trust, what to trust, the uncertainty, the despair and finally the revelation that everything she took as gospel was a lie, opened a chasm in my heart. This quote by her captures the truth of her situation "the game she'd played for 400 years, had turned itself against her" and "The quicksand of court intrigue" can only be described as daunting, nearly sucking her under, physically, mentally, emotionally. The only thing keeping her sane is Naxi, although, even their relationship is fraught with mistrust.

Naxi is so perfect a character, she's a tiny ball of pure dynamite! Deadly. A half demon. Uncaring, self serving, unable to feel sympathy, empathy for others, selfish, heck, just unfeeling! But that's not Naxi, not by a long shot. Naxi feels, Naxi loves, Naxi has emotions. I loved her exuberance, her easy go manner which actually hides the emotions she shouldn't have. The growth in both these leading ladies is immense, extremely satisfying and gorgeous. Thydandra painfully discovered the true meaning of love, what it means to love another, not the desperation for Mother's affection. She couldn't have depicted it better than with these words "this was finally allowing her feelings to speak for her, approval be damned, survival be damned" When these two complex, diverse women, so conditioned to be other than who they are, so feared for who they were, to acknowledge their raw sensations, my heart did a bounce and happy jig at these words "I'm terrible at feeling love myself, I'm damned sure I can make you feel loved" Ms Marshall, as I mentioned, knows exactly how to draw one in, exactly how to feel the characters, exactly how to entice one not to relinquish the book until the very end. The twists were jaw dropping, the world explosively brightly coloured, the emotions rife with rawness and the story? Oh heck, a story that captured every fibre of my being and delivered a beautiful HEA to embrace me. Outstanding read!

[Beth’s Book Collection · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Whatever she had expected to find upon her return to her rooms, an explosive invasion of houseplants had not been on the list."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

What you'll find in this book:
- Sapphic Fantasy Romance
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Sentient Settings
- Former Villain/Stabby Demon
- Morally Grey x Morally Greyer
- Court Intrigue
- One of Them is Plotting Murder
- The Other is Planning the Wedding

This book that very much sits as a perfect addition to the series, with a natural progression to a story focused on two characters, we have seen limited facets of in other the other books. As with Lisette's other books this one is positively gripping, steeped in intrigue and political machinations with amazing characters both that we know and that are new to us, it keeps you hooked from page to page.

If you had told me early in this series that Thysandra was going to get a redemption arc I would have laughed in your face. However, as the fae Isles series went on you could see the evidence of the twisted lies she'd been tricked into following and how this and growing up within the Crimson Court had shaped her. Throughout this book you get an insight into her personality and who she was and who she is trying to be now, it makes for one heck of a compelling read. Knowing Naxi and Thysandra's history you could bet your bottom dollar that Naxi becomes the little menace that Thysandra affectionately titles her, even if it doesn't begin in such an affectionate manner. Their back of forth was one of my favourite parts of the book, and how they grow and change together, Naxi learning what love looks like and Thysandra learning to trust.

Lisette has created a plot that keeps you guessing, set in the brutal, cut throat Crimson Court the stakes are high at all times and this fits beautifully with the fast paced nature of the read. There are so many players in the game that you have to provide your upmost attention to keep track but it is damn worth it. As the story goes on the emotions you feel spans across the whole spectrum and I felt that this was just another reason I adored this book so much. The ending was fabulous and fitting and gorgeous and I wish I could read it again for the first time.

Author: Lisette Marshall
Series: Fae Isles
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: 25th November 2024

[✨Im_Literary_Anxious✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀:⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲:🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 5/5
𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: 5/5
𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5
𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5
𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀: 3/5



AN ✨EXTENDED VERSION✨ OF THIS REVIEW AND OTHERS can also be found on the 📝I’m Literary Anxious Blog📝 or my 📖📚Bookstagram📚📖

🔪 Grumpy/Sunshine
🌹 Morally Grey MFC x2
🔪 Murderous Half-Demon
🌹 Questionable Use of Greenery
🔪 One Very Pissed-Off Labyrinth
🌹 Court Intrigue
🔪 Creon in Comfy Sweaters
🌹 “How Many Bargains Is Too Many Bargains?”
“The limit does not exist.”
– Silas, probably

The wait is over! Or, should I say, the war is over—and Thysandra is left wondering which way is up, who’s actually right, who’s just very wrong, and how on earth she ended up as High Lady of the Crimson Court.

She does know two things for certain:
1. She’s a traitor, and if anyone finds out, her neck is toast.
2. The stabby half-demon terrorizing her court needs to go. Definitely. Probably. Because she doesn’t need her protection. Or her tea. Or ensuring she’s fed. Or drawing baths after murder attempts… right?

✨ Stabby heroines, court intrigue, morally grey chaos, and… Creon in cozy sweaters? Yes, please. 🖤

Lisette Marshall does it again! Thysandra’s journey from The Mother’s devoted pawn to an exhausted-yet-still-stabby High Lady gave me all the feels (and maybe a little emotional damage).

Also, can we talk about the tiny half-demon menace who’s totally not stealing Thy’s heart? Because I’m obsessed.

Now... are we getting Silas and Inga next? Asking for a friend… and that friend is me.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thysandra is stunned when the rebels name her as High Lady of the Crimson court. She grew up there and knows exactly how treacherous the residents of the court can be, and when the human residents start demanding rights of their own. She knows it's only a matter of time before tensions between fae and humans reach a boiling point, and with the sentient mountain causing its own trouble she is wondering how much longer she can survive. To top it all off her nemesis the half demon Naxi has taken up residence not only in the court but in her private quarters. Naxi tells Thys that she only wants to help her, to protect her, but a creature incapable of feeling love and who has already betrayed her is not to be trusted as far as Thys is concerned. Doing her best to restore order and trying to discourage the more hot headed fae residents from taking up arms to take back the islands is starting to look impossible, especially when it becomes clear that there is a traitor amongst her few human and fae advisers. She will have to find a way to neutralize that individual before another war is provoked between the fae and the already victorious rebels.

Thys and Naxi have had encounters in the past, and not necessarily pleasant ones, but this book shines a very different light on their interactions. They are absolutely fascinating characters and very unique. All of the characters are well written and each personality is clearly portrayed and engaging. Magic and murder, betrayal and bloody battles with plenty of unexpected twists in the plot kept me engrossed in this book from the first page to the last. This is a dark, sometimes twisted, and very steamy romance that I recommend to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[the_book_nook_girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 AMAZING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!!!!!!!!!

The Fae Isle series has been at the very top of my favorite romantasy series of all time and this is no surprise that the newest book is another five star read for me.

This book picks up right where Queens of Mist and Madness ends. The war is over and Thysandra has been named High Lady of the Crimson Court. But just because the war is over doesn’t mean there’s still battles that Thysandra will have to overcome to bring actual peace to the Crimson Court and it seems that there’s danger everywhere she turns.

This book is filled with tension. Thysandra doesn’t know who to trust and things just keep going wrong. For a good part of this book I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next and if everyone would come out unscathed.

You learn so much about Thysandra’s past in this book and she grows so much from the beginning to the end. My heart broke for her so many times.

And then there’s Naxi… the half demon half nymph that just won’t go away. The chemistry between Thysandra and Naxi is undeniable and boy do things get a whole lot messier, but oh so good. I LOVE them together, and they’re definitely one of my favorite couples from the series. Naxi also has a lot she has to work on herself and she really doesn’t give herself enough credit.

And then there’s characters from the rest of the series we get to see. I treasured each little moment we got of Creon, Lyn, Tared, Allie, Emelin etc… It is so nice seeing them all “post war” where they can be just a bit more relaxed with the stakes not quite so high.

I received an eARC of this book from the author but this review is my own.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The War might be over but that doesn’t mean things are peaceful back in the good ol Crimson Court…and now that it’s Thysandra’s problem to deal with…well, this new High Lady is pissed and doesn’t know who she can trust…and not to mention that adorably, annoyingly scrumptious half-demon, half-nymph that might be a tad obsessed with our new High Lady (and let’s not kid ourselves, the feeling is mutual even if Thysandra is loathe to admit it) just won’t leave her alone.

I will fully admit that sapphic love stories are not my normal, go-to when it comes to reading material. I’m into more of the dark, brooding, morally grey, bad boy/shadow daddy BUT the Fae Isles series is one of my favorites and I have a soft spot for Naxi. You just want to hug her and maybe gently shake her a bit because sometimes she’s just not quite all there. That’s also why Thysandra and Naxi work so well together. They balance each other out. They’ve both dealt with some gnarly crap but when they’re together they compliment each other even if one of them tries her hardest to not recognize it.

While this is a story focused on Naxi and Thysandra we do so some familiar, loved faces and meet some new characters that we will hopefully learn more about in upcoming spinoff books?

This was a fabulous continuation of the Fae Isles series and I highly recommend you read the original series if you haven’t already done so. If this is your first foray into sapphic romance (like it was for me) please give it a chance. This was a beautiful story between two fantastic characters that deserved to live authentically, to love who and how they wanted and be loved the way they and everyone else deserves to be loved.

[Michelle (easy.vesey.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I just wanted to say I know what it feels like. To wake up one day and realise the game is not the game you thought it was, your allies are not the people you thought they were, and the rest of the world has every right to see you as a villain.”

The Fae Isles series is one of my favorites and what can I say this spin-off/continuation was no different! I loved being back in this world and back with all of these great characters! Thysandra’s and Naxi’s banter from their prequel novella continued in this one and really puts this book on another level! They are truly the definition of grumpy x sunshine! 😂

Lisette’s writing is also what makes this book so fantastic! I was laughing and crying throughout this one and my heart actually broke for Naxi at one point (trust me if you read this book you will know when).

Despite the fact that this book was about Thysandra’s and Naxi’s relationship, it was also about so much more! That’s why one of my favorite quotes (see above) actually came from a conversation between Thysandra and Creon! Thysandra grew so much in this book and really found herself and she has Creon, Naxi and everyone else to thank for it.

This book was the perfect blend of fantasy and romance and I’m so glad with the way things turned out in the end! Also, I am so hyped that we are getting even more books in this world!! 💗

Tropes: enemies to lovers; sapphic romance; tons of banter; grumpy x sunshine

Thank you so much to @authorlisettemarshall for an advanced copy! With Wing and Claw releases on November 25th, so be sure to check it out!! ♥️

[Nelia ~ trixeyverse · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Some evil demon might sit on my face.’ ‘Oh, that wouldn’t be too bad… I’m delicious”

I really enjoyed this book! Lisette's writing always hooks me from the get go. Thysandra and Naxi continue their dynamic relationship from their prequel novella, with Thysandra growing significantly and finding herself thanks to Creon, Naxi, and others. The book features intricate court politics and intrigue as Thysandra navigates her rule and battles those trying to undermine her. In the story Naxi befriends the sentient Labyrinth and uses her empathic powers.

Thysandra's journey involves overcoming past traumas, learning to trust again, and striving to be a better ruler despite the challenges. Naxi plays a crucial role in breaking down Thysandra's emotional barriers, making for a charming and steamy romance. I love that Naxi drives Thysandra crazy but she can’t stop wanting her.

Thysandra's rule is tested as she realizes the flaws in her expectations and learns from those she once saw as enemies. Throughout it all, she has Naxi by her side, supporting her as she deals with betrayal and works to fix the broken court. If you're a fan of the series, this book is a must-read, offering a deeper look into beloved characters and new developments.

Thank you Lisette for choosing me to be part of the Street and ARC Team, I’m so grateful. I would recommend this book if you like morally grey main characters, grumpy vs sunshine, court intrigue and a cheeky demon.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to Lisette Marshall and behind the pages for giving me this opportunity ❤️

this is the first time i was in the fae isles. I really enjoyed this story and this made me want to read the other books in the series. this book can be read as a standalone but I do think that reading at least some of the others will give more context and world building. 🌎

I love fantasy but I haven't read any in a while so this was very refreshing to read.

the growth both thysandra and naxi had throughout the book was so good to see and I loved watching their relationship build throughout.

I loved the banter between them and the overall world building. I loved the details that were given as well. the labyrinth also seemed to be a great complex side character andbis love to see a whole book or novella all about the labyrinth.

Thysandra was first a prisoner, then was going to be taken off to most likely be killed, then thrown to a throne by Emelin, and thrust into a world of being in charge. it seemed like she was scared of what she could or couldn't do for the people.

Naxi definitely gets on Thysandra’s nerves but she does seem to want to protect her with everything she has. she's a half demon. she does have her issues and doesn't really seem to understand the power behind what she does but Thysandra seems to understand her more.

overall, I really enjoyed the book and I definitely recommend

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!

Oh, my heart! I felt a bit sorry for Thysandra in the previous books, but now that we get her full story, my heart breaks for her. Everything that happened with her father, her mother, and then how the Mother took her memories... Wow, my heart aches for her, and I want the Mother to die all over again.

I was impressed with how she felt about mistreating the humans. She was really repulsed by how often humans died by encounters with or were abused by the fae. I was impressed with how she wanted to be fair to everyone, not just do good for the fae. No matter how the Mother tried, she couldn't turn Thysandra into a demon.

But Thysandra was so horribly abused & manipulated that she couldn't trust or tell what a friend was. I think that was the worst part. It was hard for her to be vulnerable.

Naxi went through just as strong a transformation as Thysandra. She finally realizes she's not totally demon, not even mostly demon. She's also nymph and has the qualities of a nymph, too. It's a beautiful thing to know yourself.

This book had me on my toes, trying to figure out who Thysandra could trust, who was leaking critical information. Would Naxi stick around? Would they stay together? Could Thysandra bring order to the Crimson Court? Would the Alliance help her? It was a rollercoaster of emotions!

[Sarah ⟡ Tea & Tomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Lisette Marshall for the free book!

Lisette Marshall has done it again, and With Wing and Claw only further cements why the Fae Isles series is my absolute favorite. I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan of Anaxia (“Naxi”) going into this book. I struggled to connect with her in previous installments, and Thysandra was so firmly entrenched in my mind as a villain that I honestly didn’t think I’d care much about their story. But wow, was I wrong. Laughably wrong.

Marshall’s storytelling had me fully immersed from the start, and by the end, I was ugly crying for both Naxi and Thysandra on so many levels. Their journey is heart-wrenching and redemptive in the most satisfying way possible.

The way Marshall crafts her characters is unparalleled. She takes two deeply flawed, complex individuals and weaves a tale that not only makes you root for them but also shatters your heart into pieces before putting it back together stronger and more beautiful than before.

This book is a masterpiece of emotion, tension, and redemption. If you’ve followed the series this far, you’ll be blown away by Thysandra and Naxi’s story. And if you’re new to the Fae Isles, prepare yourself for a world that will captivate you and leave you utterly invested in its characters.

[Michaela Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Ughhhhhhh, oh my GOODNESS—this was AMAZING 😩 I really didn’t think this spin-off would be as captivating as Creon and Emelin’s story being a standalone book, but WOW was I wrong! I love Lisette Marshall as a writer and, if it’s even possible, my love for her world-building and storytelling skills has skyrocketed 🚀


The simple fact that Marshall was able to get SO MUCH detail within one book was magnificent in itself, but the actually storyline—the twists and turns, the characters, I mean, beautiful 😍 Naxi and Thysandra were already such interesting characters throughout the Fae Isles series, but seeing the world through their perspectives was eye-opening. Understand the motivations of each, specifically Thys and her dedication to the Mother, really allowed the reader to fall in love with their backstories and personalities.

Obviously, LOVE that these two ended up together, but something that really stuck with me was Naxi’s ability to learn—her willingness to want to be “good” and the fact that (even though she said she couldn’t feel love) she showed Thysandra so much love was astounding 💕

Honestly, I will miss these two DEARLY. I hope we get to explore a few more characters from this series soon… 😉

[Emma Durphey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the end of the war, Thysandra must take place as the head of the Crimson Court, the very court she betrayed in the war. Can she manage the court, despite her mixed feelings, getting undermined, dealing with a deliciously murderous demon and a very sentient labyrinth?

As always, Lisette Marshall does a fantastic job with this universe (and all her others too), continuing the story of the Fae Isles with Thysandra’s story. I definitely felt for her in the beginning, but loved how as the story went on, she grew, learning to trust again while also realizing the flaws of her past.

I adored Naxi’s character, it was awesome to get to see more of her character, especially since I really enjoyed her in the earlier books. She’s a refreshing little demon you can’t get enough of. I really enjoyed her and Thysandra’s relationship. We love a badass sapphic couple.

I’m glad we also got to see more of the labyrinth, definitely a fun, interesting sentient.

Definitely recommend to anyone who loves the series, loves fae, demons, court politics and some sapphic romance with steam.

Thank you to Lisette Marshall for the arc, all thoughts are my own!