A human’s shattered trust, a love turned to ash, and three fae warriors who must choose. Will they fight for the woman they betrayed or fall to the darkness they awakened within her?
I never saw it coming, but I should have. Their betrayal has ensured my punishment at the hands of the monster I thought was dead.
Varrik is determined to break me, his brutal games stripping away my hope for a future as surely as my flesh is flayed from my bones, a canvas for his depraved diversions.
Kallum, Grey, and Dane—the fae males I'd foolishly allowed into my heart—have delivered me to my worst nightmare. They watch as I suffer, their heated gazes and gentle touches a cruel mockery of the fragile bond we'd begun to forge. But as I lay in the darkness, my own grows stronger, whispering seductive promises of destruction.
The Harbinger.
This time, I won't ignore it. I'll embrace the only weapon I have left—Death itself—letting each vicious act fuel the fire of vengeance burning inside us until the lines between who I was and who I'm meant to be are blurred beyond recognition.
One thing is clear: together, the Harbinger and I will watch as our enemies kneel in the ashes of their own making, choking on the same blood and tears they've wrung from my broken body ... even if that means the three men I let into my heart are destroyed as well.
Because in this twisted world of pain and power, the only way to survive is to let the flames consume us all.
Owned by the Fae is the second dark romantasy in the Dark Realms: Duet 1, The Harbinger. If you like twisted fae antiheroes and a strong yet vulnerable FMC, multiple POV, and dark tropes with bite, read the end of Lia’s story now.
But please read the Author’s Note at the front of the book before you delve into this insidious, dark realm where humans are considered nothing but slaves.
Kyra was 18 when she read her first romance, 19 when she left the US for the UK, 20 when she decided to stay in London, 25 when she met her now husband, 30 when she got married, 31 when she had kid 1, 33 when she had kid 2, and 36 when she was diagnosed as autistic.
She now lives a few miles outside London with her husband, the two (likely neurodivergent) kids, and a cuddly cocker spaniel named Patch who likes to roll in bird crap.
Not all of her stories have neurodivergent FMCs but representation is important, especially when so many women are not diagnosed until well into later life!
She writes PNR, Romantasy, and Contemporary why choose where the enemies to lovers journey is rough but worth it!
Take a look at her website, or subscribe to the newsletter for info on release dates, exclusive content and other general awesomeness from the worlds and characters she’s created.
Follow her on Instagram, Goodreads, Twitter or Facebook for all the up-to-date info on release dates, exclusive content and other general awesomeness from the Dark Brothers' world - where the road to happily ever after might be rough, but its well worth the journey!!
The best place to talk about her books is on Discord, where there’s a channel for every series and the spoiler threads!
After that brutal cliffhanger Sold to the Fae ended with,i needed reassurance that Lia would be ok,badly. Thankfully,the ARC of Owned by the Fae gave me that…..and so much more! But this story put me through the wringer,gave me a moment here and there to catch my breath,only to throw even more nailbiting,heartbreaking and devastating moments at me after. If there’s one thing you can say about Kyra’s writing,it’s that she gives you ALL the feels! Never a dull moment with that one,and that’s why i love her so much.
Lia is back where she started,under Varrick’s thumb. But this time,it’s even worse….not only is she starved,beaten and tortured,she was betrayed by the fae she has to admit she has feelings for. Well,two of them…..Kal and Grey still hold a place in her heart somehow. But Dane? He’s the one that’s responsible the most,and she wouldn’t mind if she never saw him again…..right?
During her time in the cell,during the torture,she’s surprised to find the Harbinger does it’s best to help her through the worst. And in her dreams,she sees,and talks to it……getting to know a little more about it. Starting to understand it,as it starts to understand her…. But if her situation doesn’t change for the better soon,it may be all they’ll ever have. Luckily,her situation dóes change,but if it’s for the better remains to be seen! So,she takes the only opportunity she has,and escapes to find Kal,or Grey for help.
When they returned to the fold,Dane,Kal and Grey all had different feelings about being back. Dane is happy,he can’t wait to see his beloved Fiana again. Kal hates being back,he feels betrayed by Dane,and wants his little Lia back. Grey is confused,his beast wants Lia,but at the same time it’s good they’re back…..right?
When Lia manages to find their house,it’s Dane she finds. For the first time,he sees something’s wrong….the way she moves doesn’t correspond with the way she looks. Seeing the truth when he removes the hiding conjure is…..a slap in the face? Uncomfortable? Painful? And that’s his side,how must she feel??? Those scars look BAD,and they’re not all recent….. But he knows he’ll have to bring her back,even if every fiber in his body refuses the idea. If anything,he could at least try and use his influence to improve her situation,right? Taking charge of the execution of Varrick’s plans seems the least he can do.
Kal is ready to get his girl and get out of Dodge,and it seems Grey is on board with the idea. But how,and where can they go that Varrick won’t be able to find them? Finding out that Dane not only found their girl at their home,but that he brought her back,is a low blow,even for him. Even though they don’t trust him as they used to,he was still their brother….right? Hearing the details,that changes things,though. But then Fiana returns……
Will the three fae manage to keep Lia,the Harbinger,and other precious people safe? Can they escape to a safe haven,and find help before it’s too late? What is the extent of Varrick’s plans,and where does Lia fit into them? Or will Fiana get her vicious hands on her,promising a similar life of misery for Lia…..as well as Dane? Or……there’s still the Harbinger,right??
This story…..man,this story……it had me crying,screaming,cursing and yelling. But it also had me smiling,hoping,and embracing the good moments. There were so many twists and turns,my head is still spinning. But the end gave me what i needed most….to know they’re in a good place,together,thát’s what makes it all worth while!
Lia has been betrayed by the men she had hoped to trust and was slowly becoming attached to and is back in the evil hands of Varrick. Thrown in the dungeon, she endures the worst torture and abuse. While the healer can heal her outwardly, she is left in pain internally. Dane, Kal and Grey have no idea the hell she’s been thrust back into.
In moments of her deepest despair, she learns the Harbinger within her is more than it appears and they are able to form a friendship and alliance in a way Lia was never expecting.
In a daring escape attempt, Lia tries to get to Kal or Grey and once again runs into Dane who realizes just how blind he’s been. In an effort to make the best of the situation he has to take her back but Dane is able to manipulate Varrick a little and all that couldn’t be seen starts to make itself clear.
To save themselves and all the innocents from Varrick, it will be up to Lia and her Harbinger and the three Fae that have fallen for her to find a way. Will they?!
Dane, Kal and Grey have a lot of making up to do and Kyra is the queen of delivering a good grovel and redemption. Dane was such a bonehead at times but when he finally realizes what he didn’t before, I loved his teddy bear alphaness. Kal was dominant and demanding and Grey was loveable as well. Lia was the real star in this story and I loved her unbreakable spirit.
I loved the steam in here and I loved the action and intricate world. This story had me crying, wanting to shake my Kindle, swooning and smiling. Kyra, as always, wrote a great story about courage and loyalty and the lengths one will go for those they love.
well written with few grammar / spelling mistakes …. interesting story line … definitely preferred the first book to the second …as the second lacked the sprinkling of humour of the first and that was desperately needed …. i did find it frustrating that for the majority of the book 2 so much would be solved if the main characters actually bothered to communicate and listen to each other … especially since one of the MMCs had the ability to read thoughts ….which left me occasionally wondering … while reading … if the main problem was that they were all a little too self centered and more than just a bit stupid ….
After the cliffhanger ending from Sold to the Fae I was desperate to find out what happened. Heartbreaking and nail biting moments that will keep you on edge. Fantastic end to the story. Love Lia and she’s such an awesome FMC. Love Kyra’s writing.
I've been a fan since the first book, on account of it being written well and without a heavy world-will-end-but-for-chosen-one theme, although it has been building towards the latter towards the end of that series. My point, overall, is that Alessy is a good writer and can put together compelling stories without throwing in too many unnecessary elements.
This one didn't quite live up to the standard I expected from her.
While the resolution to the Dane-Fiana challenge was reasonable, even to the reason for the deep devotion everyone kept feeling towards Varrik, not much else felt as neat in this installment.
I did not care for the late introduction of Fiana as a plot instrument, mainly on account of her being poorly put together and having virtually no valid reason for specifically targeting Lia? She also had extremely convenient positioning in the power structure -- I mean, she comes back and gets a huge party, but the return of Varrik's precious weapon gets a "Well done" and we move on? -- and her trio of evil had an unexplained immunity to Varrik's power? Also the battle at the end between Varrik and Fiana was deeply unsatisfactory.
Speaking of unsatisfying ends, there was a great load of gratuitous death in this installment, but none of it felt like it actually resolved much. All the deaths caused by the harem were somehow conveniently slipped under the rug and didn't cause significant upheaval. And because they have no price for the men, they also feel like they don't add a lot to the story itself.
The Ryon sideplot? Um, why? What did all of that interlude add?
The beginning also felt rather clumsy, showing some unnecessarily cruel scenes that didn't add much either. We could have comfortably started out in the depths of the dungeon, and the plot would have moved along just as well.
We're treated to great lengths showing Lia building a sort of relationship with the Harbinger, only for it to not add up to much. The binding suddenly works, even though it previously wouldn't, and neither of those inconsistencies is explained. The Deus Ex Machina at the end 20% also felt entirely unnecessary, as if trying to justify the existence of the Harbinger, but not really doing much more than open more questions about the story.
For all the attempts at redeeming Dane in this book, there's really an insufficient amount of conversation between all these people who supposedly love each other. Dane could have easily stuck around more despite his feelings, maybe being drawn to stay against his better senses? Pushing more conversations? Something to build a relationship rather than infatuation? The first book made more of an effort to build connections between them.
I found the scene where Dane finally cracks why he couldn't work his mirror charm on the mirror in Lisa's room to be quite unbelievable, because seriously, who would get distracted by THAT in the middle of what was going on? And the idea proposed by Kallum, under the guise of it being Thalia's idea, also comes across as entirely absurd, in a situation where they still haven't acknowledged they have tender feelings towards each other?
For once, it felt that there were a lot more loose ends than could be justified, and I think the book could benefit from some more thorough editing and plotting, to make the scenes more impactful throughout. As I say, Kyra's a good writer, but this didn't hit the spot like her writing usually does.
Holy Smokes!!!! This was one crazy ride of a story. The story basically continues where book one leaves off. It is a story that is jammed packed with so much drama and suspense with a ton of betrayals mixed in. I will say check your triggers as there may be some for some people. The story drew me in on book 1 and when I started book 2 I couldn’t put it down. I felt so many emotions for Lia. She goes through so much in this book. The pain is easily felt throughout the story. It is so surprising how Lia maintains her sanity throughout everything that she goes through. I absolutely love her personality. It is so kind and caring. Kallum was my absolute favorite. He is so protective and loving with Lia. I love how he provides for her. Grey is the same and definitely gives as well as he gets. Dane is one that we have mixed emotions about. But all of them definitely are a great match for Lia. The ending of the story was definitely epic and I absolutely loved how it ended. It gives so many answers that have plagued us during the first book. This is absolutely a stunning story and is a must read.
Wow, what an amazing yet difficult read, so many triggers but oh so good. I had to keep putting it down as I found it so upsetting in places. Lia suffers so much at the hands of almost everyone. She is still hated for the destruction she caused during her previous escape. Lia is tough tho and in harmony now with the harbinger as they struggle to plan an escape and remember the past. Love that we find out more about the harbinger and its secrets. Varrick is still the evil mastermind, torturing Lia to try and break her spirit as well as nefarious plans with Fiana, Lias long term bully and tormentor. They both definitely need to meet a grisly end,never hated characters as much as I do them. Really hated all of 5he guys after book one but they redeem themselves here, eventually realising their mistakes. Still hated Dane for the majority of the book tho, still my least favourite of the three. We find out more about the reasons for his behaviour here tho. Plenty of spice as always, some red hot scenes, especially with all four of them together, red hot. Another amazing read.
"Owned by the Fae" is the second book in the Dark Realms duology, and I found it even more engaging than the first. This installment provides the answers we've been eagerly awaiting since the first book, making it a satisfying continuation of the story.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 Plot: 4/5
In this book, Thalia has been returned to the one man she hates most in the world. However, this time, her Mates (whether they realize it or not) are with her. As the story unfolds, the politics and hidden agendas of Varrik, along with some unexpected revelations, come to light.
I loved the multiple POVs in this book, as they allow us to delve into the minds of our male main characters (MMCs). Their occasional cluelessness about what's right in front of them makes them endearing, especially when they finally uncover the truth. Additionally, Thalia's journey of self-discovery and empowerment is truly inspiring as she finally connects with her power to become a stronger woman.
Although I'm sad to see this series come to an end, "Owned by the Fae" is a great quick read and a perfect entry point for those interested in reverse harem novels.
Thank you, Kyra, for the opportunity to ARC read this—I loved it!
This is the second book of the first duet in the Dark Realms series, a why choose fantasy romance series with a human female with a secret inside and three fae males who don’t like her in the least. Tropes include why choose (mfmm), morally gray characters, slow burn, hurt/comfort, and revenge. This is a darker fantasy romance so please review the content warnings.
The Lovely: Much life the first book, this story is the complete package. The plot, the characters and the world meld together to create a dark but romantic story. Several of the plot twists I didn’t see coming and I couldn’t put the book down. Indeed, I read this in one day.
Also Lovely: I loved the FMC and the three MMCs even more than I did in book one. Each of the MMCs is different in how they view and treat the FMC and I love how they treat the FMC based on their individual relationship with her. Also, the amount of cuddling and holding was just wonderful. Made my heart all gooey.
Rating: 5/5 Stars 3/5 Flames
Recommendation: I received an advance review copy, and am leaving this review voluntarily. This book went out with a bang. Actually, the epilogue is yet to come (was not included in the ARC version) but I loved how the duology ended up to that point. One of the MMCs in particular really went on a self-discovery journey in this book and I loved how he turned out. I can’t wait to read more by this author in the future. If you like dark fantasy why choose, but with fae, and the complete package of a good book, I think you would love this story.
Dark,twisted, sizzling hot! Kyra Alessy did a brilliant work Owned by the fae is intriguing, passionate, heart breaking, with all the feels to keep me on the edge and hooked until the perfect end. Lots of triggers but, in my opinion only add depht to the story. Special mention to the excelent characters developmen ,almost coud feel Lia 's stoic resilience ,her strenght or how Dane is an ass but...(didn't see that coming),and so much more. Highly recomend!
Really enjoyed book 2 from The Dark Realms series.
It continues on from book 1 & had me sucked in from the get go. I enjoyed the twists that came to light & development between MMC’s & FMC.
The only downside to this book, was towards the end it felt as though it was rushed & tried to have all loose ends tied up into pretty bows. Thinking about it now, perhaps it has been left open ended for another book either way I enjoyed reading both books in this series.
If you love dark and twisty plot with fae, magic, betrayal, redemption, whychoose, and spice splashed in then I highly recommend this read! READ TRIGGERS FIRST BEFORE DIVING IN!!!!
Amazing conclusion to the duet, and can safely say Dane 1000% redeemed himself in this book! I loved the twists, and at times my heart broke for Lia, and the guys. Especially at the start as everything was not as it seemed. The spice was definitely spicing especially at the end, and I’m sad to let go of Lia and the Trio, but cannot wait for the rest of the series to see what happens.
10/10 recommend 4.5/5 spice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book broke my heart before putting it back together; Lia is an amazingly resilient character and is dealing with betrayal on all fronts after the events of book one. Lia's situation is bleak for a very long time and what she goes through is brutal; physically and mentally. The scenes with Kal in the shadows thinking everything was ok had me on edge screaming for him to trust his instincts!
I loved the tension of book one and this was almost like the flipside where Lia knew something the guys didn't. Jak was a welcome addition as the closest thing to ally Lia has whilst she is trapped with Varrik. Kal continues to wear his heart on his sleeve and I loved Grey (who remains my favourite) and his own revenge mission. Dane however was the dark horse in this book and I loved his plot which I am staying spoiler free on. The pacing is good although the ending was just a little too quick for me after the build up with a couple of key moments I'd liked to have witnessed happening off page. Most things are tied up nicely however there is one loose thread that I'd love to be resolved in the later books so I hope Lia reappears at some point!
My interpretation of the star system; 3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again 4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series 5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read
This book was such an excellent conclusion to this duet. We pick up right where book 1 left us at the huge cliffhanger. Lia has been recaptured thanks to Dane. Kallum is going crazy without Lia, knowing she's probably being tortured. And Grey is loosing himself to his beast without his mate. The only one seemingly not affected is Dane, but he's not as cool and calm as he wants everyone to believe. While Kallum and Grey are questioning everything they've ever believed, Dane is slowly coming to realize that everything is not as it seems.
This book had so many twists and turns, and kept me on toes the whole time! I loved Kallum and Grey's devotion. Dane's struggle really made me mad at first, and then broke my heart. There are some seriously twisted, psycho baddies in this book. Lia was fantastic! She was incredibly strong and resilient. I loved how her relationships with each guy was unique. There dedication to her safety was wonderful, and the spice was spicy!! Definitely recommend this read!
I really enjoyed the first book of this duet and mostly the same for this second book. I wished some extra time was put in towards the end. I noticed some mistakes it writing not reflecting the right character pov and that bothers me. And as much as I liked this story the end was abrupt to me, I knew it was coming but I wasn’t expecting it to just end. I would have liked a little bit more of this group being together before it ended and then have the chance for a bonus scene.
I did like this read, I’m happy with how things eventually went and all I just needed some more care put into the book therefore I’m giving 4 stars.
After the cliffhanger of the first book, I was excited to read this one. Lia is a mentally and emotionally strong character. I loved her transformation in this book as she accepted certain parts of herself.
Dane, Kal, and Grey succeeded in their mission. They captured and returned Lia, the Harbinger. After 10 years, they can finally return to their home. They should be happy, but things had changed on their journey. They have doubts about their home and their leader. Kal and Grey know how they feel about Lia while Dane remains confused and conflicted. Nothing is how they expected it to be.
Lia knew what life would be like returning to the fold once she saw Varrik. She hadn't anticipated Dane, Kale, and Grey's goal when they forced her to travel with them. Feeling betrayed is an understatement, but she is a human, so she should have known better. Lia is prepared to do what she has to do to survive and wait for an opportunity. Even after everything, she wonders if the three fae she had gotten closer to will help her as Verrik's plans go from bad to worse.
Let the dark times roll! If you’re looking for unicorns and rainbows, this book is not for you. If you like some 🌶 🥵 and don’t have issues with triggers, welcome (back) to the Dark Realms!
Owned by the Fae is the 2nd book in a spicy, RH duet and follows Sold to the Fae, and is an extension to the Dark Brothers series (different characters and story lines, related worlds). The Harbinger (Lia) does NOT have an easy go of things in this book - I’m serious about the trigger warnings, check them out before jumping in. She is at the mercy of a sadistic madman (or 10) and can’t rely on the trio of fae (Dane, Kallum and Grey) who initially captured her and began to steal her heart nor can she trust herself… or can she?
Loved how this book gave us a look into the back story on many of our characters (main and minor), provided closure at the end and tied back in to the Dark Brothers series. I refused to put spoilers or details in my reviews, so if you’re intrigued, get your copy now, you won’t be disappointed!!!!
‘You’ll be the death of me. And what a death it would be.’
All I gotta say is that Kyra is a phenomenal writer, I’ve read most of her books and each series she has written is amazing. Ok so onto this book, it was just as good as the first one I can even say it was better. We were able to get more world building in this one and glimpse’s into the past, especially of what happed to Lia. We were able to get a better understanding of her power (the harbinger) and the growth of her cute relation ship with it. Along with the other main characters which increased the growth of the storyline and your love for them. The ending plot was just perfect with her being able to execute her revenge (don’t we love a strong female character). Won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it. You just have to get yourself a copy and experience this well written story for yourself.
I thought the first book in this series was good, but book 2 is just as good if not even better. Lia is feeling betrayed by thr fae men she thought she made see the truth but Dane could not see past the lies.
Kal and Grey are not happy about Dane betraying their girl as they try to fit back into their old life. Dane is hope to reunite with his girfriend but nothing is as is seems.
So many lies and power hungry people in this book, and despite everything Lia had to suffer her 3 fae boys really did pull through for her ib the end.
This ended up being such a poweful story with a rather happy ending and I really enjoyed watching them all grow together. I totally fell in love with those boys, even Dane once you learn the truth about everything. They were just pawns in a game they never wanted to play.
Just when I didn’t think I could love a book more, Kyra comes out with this one and knocks it right out of the park. I am obsessed. I absolutely loved it!
Even when Lia thinks she’s been betrayed, her men will stop at nothing to end those who have hurt her. Lia is so strong, mentally, physically and emotionally. She gets through all she endures and comes out even stronger for it.
This books contains enemies to lovers, touch her and d!e, strong and powerful FMC, protective MMCs, suspense and it is a romantasy book. If you are interested in any of that, you will enjoy this book as much as I did!
Great 2nd book of the series! I couldn’t wait to read what happened to Lia after book 1 and this did not disappoint. This is reverse harem more than the first book. Some interesting things happen in this and you should be ready for some bullying, violence toward Lia, and almost rapes. Very good storyline! I am not usually a fan of reverse harem but the plot and character development kept me reading and I loved it. Can’t wait for the next book!
I needed book 2 so much! It picks up after the first and thankfully answered a few of my concerns.
This story really took me on a ride too! With twists, some edge of your seat moments, betrayal, and some many different emotions are felt throughout. In addition, we got action, spice, drama, and suspense.
Poor Lia. She is and has been put through the ringer. My heart hurt for her. I was also proud of her for not giving up. She continued to push forward. We finally see the guys, mostly Dane really open their eyes and see the truth. It was good to see them grovel.
I think this was an excellent conclusion to Lia's story!
A fantastic end to The Dark Realms duet! An intense, compelling and twisted dark read, this story kept me immersed from start to finish. The brutality of what Lia must endure at the hands of the Skilled is offset by witnessing the developing bond between her, Kal and Grey grow into more. The tension between her and Dane though is almost unbearable! Scorching sexy times and full of the unexpected, Owned by the Fae had me captivated and guessing as to how it was all going to end! I received a copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was so invested in this story! Lia is such a strong character and deserves so much more than what has happened to her. I almost wish the book was longer so I could get more of them all happy and together! Kallum knew what he wanted from the get go and I'm so happy he's able to get closer to Lia more in this book. Grey has really come into his own and I'm happy to see him towards the end (no spoilers, but it's good).
Dane. Oh dear. Forever the tortured soul, Dane really struggles throughout the second book in this duet. He's lost a lot of his anger, but we can see his frustration taking hold as his feelings towards Lia develop and when we finally see why...when he breaks free, it's a sight to behold. I'm curious to see what the other stories in this realm will bring! But I loved the first book and I highly recommend the second. I loved the Dark Brothers and their world with the very first book in the series and I'm so excited to see more of Kyra's Fae Realms!
Not quite as much spice in this one as previous stories, but still well worth the read.
This was an interesting fantasy story that follows Thalia, a human enslaved by the fae. This book continues from the previous book in this dark series and sees Lia stuck again with the dark Lord Varick. The story is quite dark and moves at a good pace.
An amazing conclusion to the Dark Realms duet. Action, pain, betrayal and power mad individuals make this so enthralling. Lia goes through so much and her men come good. Spicy with plenty of twists.
Phew!! What a ride! I thought the first book was good but this is the icing on the cake. I'm glad Thalia finally gets to get her revenge but I just wish they could have been treated the way they treated her. They got off too easily. Loved it!!!
Okay, there’s quite a bit to unpack with this series. When I saw that this was a dark romance featuring enemies to lovers with some deep hatred between the FMC and MMCs, I was instantly sold. However, everyone has a line for how dark a romance can get, and how far the hatred can go between characters and this book crossed that line for me.
As soon as the relationship between the FMC and MMCs became non-consensual, I was rooting for the MMCs to lose their lives, and certainly not end up with the FMC. Honestly, it was disgusting- including scenes where the MMC ‘sold’ the FMC to a random man for the night. Absolutely N O T. Set all of them on fire.
So, why did I read book 2? Because I was honestly hoping someone would come along, and emasculate the MMCs while the FMC could actually go find someone who appreciated her, and RESPECTED her. Sadly this does not happen, and she actually develops feelings for these absolute scum of men.
Anyway, the plot and world building of this series was well done, and if the main male characters weren’t absolutely disgusting examples of men, this series would have immense potential.