Daughter of The Darkened City: Fates & Fables Book 2

Fates and Fables #2

by Willow Quinn

A disgraced academic.

A rogue demon warrior.

An enchanted forest.

And a city lost to fables.

Avenay would do anything to save her sister from the same fate that claimed their mother years ago. Avenay’s last hope rests on the tales of a cure that exists in the fabled city of Cirro. Her peers whisper behind her back that’s she’s gone mad, chasing children’s tales and bedtime stories. But she knows what she’s uncovered, and nothing will distract her from her goal. Not even the devilishly beautiful demon that is tasked with protecting her on the quest.

Enid enjoys living a life of freedom, unwilling to let anything tie her down or force her to face the fears that lurk deep within. But her carefree ways are interrupted when a summons from the Elf King makes her encounter the breathtaking Avenay. Now she’s questioning every wall she’s put up and letting herself dream in ways she’s never dared before.

But nothing is as it seems. An adventure that’s starts as an archeological expedition turns into so much more and the danger and wonder they encounter will alter their lives.

This is a tale of adventure with a strong romantic plot at its center. A sapphic story of opposites attract, perfect for fans of The Mummy, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Katee Robert.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Lesbian, Fantasy Romance, Queer, LGBT, Paranormal

537 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2024

About the author

Hopeless romantic. Bookworm. Gamer. Dog mom (our brains really do bond with them as if they are our children, I'm not just a millennial woman in her 30s!). Plant murderer. Purveyor of stories.

IG: @authorwillowquinn
TikTok: @willowquinnwrites

Reviews

[mica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️


aaaaaaaaa *suspiro* amo a las mujeres

[ChasxSabri💗🫧 · Rating 4 out of 5]

LESBIANS?! Sign me up neow

[Ashley S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was so excited to receive this as an ARC after falling in love with The Demon of the Wood (book 1) Avenay and Enids are so cute!! I love Willow Quinn’s writing style and I cannot wait to see what else she has for us, I would definitely recommend anyone pick this up if they are for a good read. 5⭐️

[Willow Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, I know. I wrote it! Cheers to all who come to read this story! I hope you enjoy and if you don't, that's fine too, I'm just really thankful you took the time to finish reading my book. :)

[Brend]

Sapphic opposites attract for fans of The Mummy

A disgraced academic.
A rogue demon warrior.
An enchanted forest.
And a city lost to fables.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Daughter of the Darkened City” by Willow Quinn

4⭐️/5⭐️
3🌶/5🌶

“Every time she looked into those eyes, she felt like she saw some kindred soul reflected, a spirit so unique and yet the same. It felt like home.”

-”Daughter of the Darkened City” is the second book in the Fates and Fables series, and in many ways is a big departure from the first book. The first book has a very straightforward plot, but in this sequel there are several different elements that are balanced quite nicely.

-The book is split between the POVs of Enid, the sister of Kaemon (MMC from book one) and a warrior, and Avenay, a devoted scholar. Avenay has harbored a crush on Enid for many years, but never really thought anything would come of it. Through many different events, the two are forced to work together to find an enchanted city long thought lost.

-This is a really great fantasy book where the focus is the characters embarking on a quest, not just sitting around in a fantasy world. There’s action, there’s adventure, there’s magic; it has a little something for everyone. The way the story works itself out in the last quarter of the book was really clever, and it adds to the mystery subplot.

-The romance aspect is a slow burn, but with enough angst and tension to keep readers interested. Avenay and Enid are definitely within the opposites attract trope, and it was really fun to read them going from bickering, to bantering, and finally flirting.

-I think readers who are fans of Ashley Bennett or Kass O’Shire will really enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it!

[Kenni D · Rating 5 out of 5]

TROPES:
♡ Demon x Angel-Being
♡ Infamous Warrior x Disgraced Academic
♡ Fated Mates
♡ Bad Girl x Good Girl
♡ Magical & Intriguing Adventure

PROS:
♡ Wow what a beautifully written romance story, while reading I kept thinking to myself this author is so talented. This story is so intricate and the author was able to write it in a way that the reader understood and could easily get into the big fantasy worldbuilding and follow the smooth flow of story progression
♡ Enid and Avaney was such a FABOLOUS couple!! There was tension, passion, humor, and beauty. Literally was smiling to myself while reading. One of my fave dynamics is the good girl x bad girl and these two fit that trope so well.
♡ While this book had a high fantasy vibe to it and the characters go on an exciting adventure, the story was also cozy and comforting :). Its such a good book to relax to while also being entertained.
♡ I really enjoyed the side characters and the relations they had to Enid and Avenay, I'm very excited to read Dryston's story.

[Kat]

Dnf @ 22%. I might come back to this, because maybe I'm just not really in the mood for this kind of romance right now. It's quite clunky and unpolished, but I don't feel like I can make a fair judgement of it atm because my other recent/current reads are exceptionally high-stakes and ultra polished.

[TendaiisNarrative · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came at a very hectic time in my life which is why it took me a bit longer to finish it than usual but I am very thankful for it. Like the first book, this addition to the series was an easy and light read for me which acted as a nice escape when I needed it.

I loved being able to explore the world of this series and get a more in-depth understanding of the inner workings of the politics between lands and species. Despite the book's lightness and ease, I really enjoyed the dark edge that came with the discovery of the new city and its dark secrets. It was enough to keep me on my toes and invested in the story (cause I knew right away that something was off) but it wasn't so obvious that it lost its intrigue. I loved getting introduced to the new host of characters and my admiration for Enid in particular grew immensely. She was particularly fun for me because we very rarely get to see a rakish heartbreaker character be a woman and they are almost exclusively attributed to male characters and it was very fun seeing it play out in this story with her character.

I loved the dynamic between Enid and Avenay as they were both surrounded by people who love them but at the same time don't fully believe in them. This causes a mental and emotional strain on these characters and it causes them to react to it in different ways but it was great seeing this commonality between them act as a bridge of understanding in their relationship. Though never explicitly talked about, they were able to appreciate each other in a deeper way.

The only thing I truly didn't like about the book was Onora's character and while I am excited for her book with Dryston I dislike characters with such strong prejudice and aggressive bias as a rule. I was very bitter watching the siblings have to constantly take the high road with this character and never receive the same courtesy in return and I could go on a whole rant about why hearing Enid say "Maybe my mind can be changed about hunters" made me want to through my phone at a wall. While I know her character will grow in the next book I also know it will take a very good character arc for me to change my feelings about her purely because I am a petty person. Following the vein of my pettiness I would have really liked to see Avenay have a conversation with Cyrus about how his lack of faith in her made her feel. There was a moment where I thought a conversation would be had because she admitted to avoiding him due to her feelings about it but it never did and because I am petty I cannot so quickly forgive all those people in her life that dismissed her so harshly without some sort of apology or conversation about it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I had a thoroughly joyful time reading this book and I can't wait to see where the story goes in its continuation with Dryston.

[Hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ☆

I enjoyed the world building and things became high-stakes so quickly!

[ciin_leest · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt soo good to be back in this world! I loved the Demon of the Wood and was very curious how the serie would continue. This time we follow Enid and Avenay in their story. Stepping back a couple of years with how they met and then coming to the here and now. I loved Avenay and Enid together. They were so cute together, yet so hot! 

I love Willow her writinstyle, it is so flowy and teasing sometimes you just want to keep reading to know what will happen next. The worldbuilding and character development were amazingly done. With their quest to follow you are really going on a adventure with the characters. I can't wait to see what will happen in book three. 

Thank you Willow Quinn for this ARC to read and review.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this one and I had a blast

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to be able to read the ARC for this!! I’m new to fantasy and the Demon of the Wood was one of the first fantasies I got into!! Book 2 was nothing short of an engulfing read!
I loved following Enid and Avenay’s story and seeing the development through their quest both internally and externally!! Willow did a great job ( Once Again!) with creating such an immersive and unputdownable world and I’m it itching to see what happens in the next one!!

- Thanks Willow!!

[mica · Rating 5 out of 5]

"To be a disappointment to others was one thing. But siblings knew you too well. (...) And if they didn't love you, if they didn't approve, then who could?"

This is my second time reading a story by Willow Quinn and I have to admit that after reading TDOTW my expectations were hiiiiiiigh. But, this story??????? Let me tell you that its something else. I absolutely loved it.

This sapphic story (fated mates🥹🥰🫶🏼) in an amazing fantasy world created by the author has officially become one of my favourite fantasy books🙋🏻‍♀️
Besides the romantasy, family (siblings) is another relevant topic in this story, and it was so beautifully written that some times it hurt a bit too much (hija del medio que sufre por sus hermanos siempre reportandose).

I loved this story. I love it, love it, love it and will forever love it.


I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

Enid y Kaemon mis amores🥹🫶🏼🥰

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gleeful Goblin Review: I am in love with how the author describes the first time our MC's see each other because it's so perfectly queerdo disasterpiece and for me at least, VERY RELATABLE. "Avenay had heard about demons plenty of times before. She’d even seen sketches of them in the papers. It hadn’t been too long ago that they were all anyone could talk about because of The Cruel Lord of Shadows’ occupation of Nemus. But she’d never seen one in the flesh, and it was an entirely different experience. She’d heard of the demonic thrall. They could entrance others to do their bidding, falling prey to their charms and calling it love. She’d always thought it a fanciful fairy tale. Until that moment. Enid Erebus leaned casually against a wall next to her brother, the newly appointed Lord of Shadows, arms crossed. Her black dress fell to the ground, the jewelry glittering silver likes stars, as she looked around the room with the cool familiarity of someone whose presence was always desired. Even though her dark, leathery wings and black attire were in stark contrast to the symphony of pastels and whites in the room, she somehow looked as if she belonged there more than anyone. Ilu gave Avenay a nudge with his elbow, yanking her attention away from the demons. “You haven’t stopped looking at that girl all evening.” Avenay’s cheeks flamed, and she shot him a glare, which only resulted in him laughing. “Maybe you should ask her to dance.” Avenay crossed her arms. She wanted to ask Enid to dance, but she was certain she’d say no. Enid was the type of girl that would barely notice Avenay with her shy and quiet nature. She was used to feeling on the outside, always standing at the edge of the room, watching everyone else dance and take part. Enid was the pull that made all attention revolve around her regardless of what she did. Another archangel came up and grabbed Ilu to meet more people of import. She sighed in relief as he walked away. Any courage she’d saved up to ask for a dance dissipated."

There's an almost Bridgerton style high court romance vibe, complete with it's own gossip publication, but with a distinctly sapphic thread and I love it. I can see the comparison the author is making with The Mummy vibes because both Avenay from this book and Evelyn from The Mummy have theories that aren't accepted by the academic majority and causes them to be pushed to the fringes and drives them into the main story. I think if you enjoy Bridgerton and The Mummy with some Good Omens feel for flavor this is gonna be a great book for you because it certainly was for me. 5/5 Stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[XOrchidCrystalX · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEWER

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes
Fated Mates
Sapphic
Opposites Attracts
Spice 🌶🌶🌶
Magical Forest
Adventure
Neurodivergent Rep

You have an arch angel and a demon. I really liked how this fantasy world was built. It's not the typical demon and angel situation. The fantasy world is well built.  I love all of the mystical creatures in the world. Both FMCs are very well done with their personalities make sense based on their past.

I really found myself liking Avenay, would do anything to save her sister from the same fate that claimed their mother years ago. Avenay’s last hope rests in the tales of a cure that exists in the fabled city of Cirro. Her peers whisper behind her back that’s she’s gone mad, chasing children’s tales and bedtime stories. But she knows what she’s uncovered, and nothing will distract her from her goal. Not even the devilishly beautiful demon that is tasked with protecting her on the quest.

Enid the demon, is a badass. When she meets Avenay, she's now questioning every wall she’s put up and letting herself dream in ways she’s never dared before.

Then they go on a quest to find a cure for Avenay's through the magical but deadly. That is where the journey starts.

[Em]

This was so sweet and cozy! Don’t get me wrong there are some definite TENSE moments - the battles! But the romance itself is sweet and lovely, with a dash of jealousy and miscommunication!! Don’t you love it when they each think the other isn’t interested at first!??! This was my first F/F Romantasy and I absolutely loved it! willow has created a rich and diverse world that I just can’t get enough of, I was completely immersed, reading WAY too late into the night and loving it!

I loved that the FMCs were total opposites -
Enid is tough, sure of herself and her skills and determined to prove her worth on the battlefield, no matter what her brother thinks! Avie (yup I’m using the nicknames!) is a scholar, determined to prove her research is true and save her sister. They are thrown together on a quest of epic proportions! Their chemistry, banter and overall will they/wont they is fantastic!!!!!!!!

The side characters, I remembered whilst reading it how much I loved Melina and Kaemon from the first book!!!! Enid’s brother, Dryston comes across as a complete a33 but I’m betting there’s more to it!!!!!! But I cannot wait for the next one which is going to be EPIC!!!!

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars I was so excited for Daughter of The Darkened City to come out after reading Demon of the Woods! Especially after finding out that it's a sapphic romance!

There's been a lot of growth with Willow Quinn's writing from what I've noticed in this book and I can't wait to read what Willow has in store for us next.

I enjoyed how the world building and magic system expanded. I thought the storyline was plotted out well and the reveal towards the end.

Aveney's devotion to her sister had me in tears! I found Aveney very relatable with how her mind works and how she interacts with others.
The tension and banter between Enid and Avenay was delicious!

I really don't want to spoil anything so I'm not going to go in too much detail.

Thank you for the ARC and these have been my honest thoughts.

[Thursday ♡‧₊˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love when i read a book and it makes me giggle! and swoon a little bit!!!

i haven’t read the first book in this series, but i think i will, given how much i enjoyed this one. i love when i get into a romance of any kind, and find myself rooting for both of the leads. both enid and avenay are trying to do right by the people that they love, with enid feeling like she has to prove herself to her remaining family members, and avenay racing against the clock to find this rumored city with a cure for her sister. there was emotional depth and tension between the two of them, but the way that their relationship developed further was well-paced. and besides that, the overall plot has this wonderful sense of adventure that made me want to read more, and more!

[wiltingpages · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book!! i was crying, i was laughing, i was cringing haha. i felt so many emotions and it was so good!! usually fantasy is a little hard for me because it's not my absolute favorite, but i am a sucker for sapphic relationships and i loved this so so much!! i love how flustered Avenay was at first with Enids advances! i loved their protection from one another. i also really enjoyed the twists in this book and definitely knew something was up but it was so fun to watch (read) it unfold! i definitely cried a lot when Dryston and Enid had a serious talk. i am really looking forward to Dryston and Onoras story and to see what else is happening 👀
this was an ARC!

[Christa Corley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man! I so enjoyed this book from the first page. I find it funny when I read a book with a character that’s so relatable. Avenay is a quirk, academic on a mission (me) who is attracted to her opposite Enid (also me always attracted to my opposite). This book was so fun and adventurous. I was rooting for them the entire time. Pep talking them like they were real people. This book feed my love for a classics fantasy romance with a slow burn and an epic quest. This was my first Willow Quinn book and I’m such a fan for life now.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute and sweet. I wouldn't classify it as a cozy fantasy because there were some very dark parts but I was happy I read it. I thought this was better than the first book (which I did enjoy) because I thought the romance was entertaining and it was a little easier for me to read the dramatic parts. I loved the characters and I felt like I would definitely want to read more from this author but this book was definitely complete.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lorenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was sweet yet adventurous. It had demons and angels, an enchanted forest, and a quest for a lost city.

Read if you like:
- Dual POV
- A FMC with an academic passion
- A 2nd, strong, brave, and flirty FMC
- A magic quest
- Sibling love and strength
- Mated love

This book delivered a very sweet story of two women where 'opposites attract,' finding strength within each other.

3.5 Stars

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kali Dempsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️

I'm so happy we got more from this world, and that it was Enid. I really loved both her and Avenay so much and Willow did an amazing job with the sapphic spice. It was a slow burn, but oh so worth it, definitely a sweet and spicy story.

There was a fair bit of action and suspense that was really well written. Willow has a beautiful writing style that makes you feel whimsical and like you're there.

This story was well worth the wait and I can't wait to see what else Fates and Fables has in store for us.

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMg 😱 this book was a spicy page turner and the suspense was warming. I couldn’t even put it down and I was on the edge of my seat. It caught my attention of love drama and romance. It was like a rollercoaster ride in funny but dark comedy romance of Avenay and Enids. It was sensational and powerful that they were meant to be together forever. It was too cute and complicated.
I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones

[Siren Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Willow for hooking me up with an ARC! I read this one first and after read book 1 to get a better sense of the world building! Loved the opposites attract aspect. One is light, the other is dark! That's like, my favorite combination!

This read is cozy but dark in some moments but what it wasn't was boring! I turned every page wanting to get to know these two and squee-d as their romance blossomed! I love anything sapphic and as far as spice, it met all my requirements. I'm actually looking forward to the next book if there will be one! I finished this in one day!

[Nicole ✨Sultry Tart Reviews✨]

DNF at 12%
I really wanted to get into this book, but I just couldn’t vibe. I really didn’t get very far, but I was pretty confused (I guess is the best way to put it?). The prologue seemed unnecessary, nothing really happened. All of Enid’s chapters that I read felt like I was missing a lot of background story (potentially that’s because I didn’t read the first book?). But it was frustrating going straight into that and feeling like I was on unsure footing. I didn’t have the patience currently to stick this out and see if it got better.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avenay is an academic looking for a fabled lost city with the hopes of finding a cure for her sick sister. Enid is a (little bit too) carefree demon with high walls to keep her safe. Ending up on a trek to find the city together, they work together to not only find the city, but unravel the strange mystery surrounding it.

I liked this book more than the first in the series - the way it was written had more confidence and flowed better than the previous book.

The adventure, the spice, and the growth towards each other as mates was all fantastic.

[Alonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This is the second book in the Fates and Fables books by Willow Quinn. This one is definitely spicier than her last one, but Enid and Avenay have met long before the start of this book, so no awkward meeting to get over and they are both part of the supernatural being community, so no weird freak out and get over stage. I really liked seeing the old characters making an appearance and the addition of new characters as well. The search for the fabled city and the possible cure for all disease makes this story interesting and keeps you turning the pages. I had sensed the danger surrounding the quest, and it was way more than I could have imagined. The little cliffhanger has me wanting more.

[Cierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me laughing, crying and rolling my eyes. I love the way the emotions were portrayed and showed struggle. Though there were times I desired go bonk their heads together. 🤣🩷 All in all, a great book and an enjoyable read. Found minimal typos which is nice and I thoroughly enjoyed the dual POV. I always felt that that way makes it more inclusive. And the surprise chapters at the end that show the final battle from the other characters POVs was a very nice touch 👌