Sold to the Dark Elf

Masters of Protheka #1

by Celeste King

I am a doll. A plaything. Meant for a dark elf.
And I’ve just been sold to the highest bidder.

I expect a life of misery and torture.
But in a twist of fate, I get longing and passion instead.

At first, I’m his possession.
Then, I become Karul’s obsession

I obey his every command.
Not because I have to. But because I want to.

I’ve fallen for my master.

I accept my role. He keeps me underneath him.
It’s where I crave to be.
He might have bought my body.

But he’s swiftly claimed my heart.

Read on a dark romantasy with lies, secrets, and unexpected twists! Get ready for two spies to find their unlikely mate…and for this HEA to dive into the darkest depths of the heart that Protheka has to offer.

Genres: Elves

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2024

About the author

Celeste King is the author behind the Worlds of Protheka, a collection of interconnected series that promise dark fantasy, intense romance, and washboard abs. When it comes to her stories, there are sure to brooding alphas, sassy humans, and plenty of spice to look forward to.

With the ever growing fantasy worlds, the 'what ifs' are endless, and that is what excites her the most. Even she doesn't know just how far these characters will go, but she's gladly along for the ride.

You can always find her fearlessly diving into an adventure (in this world or another), typically with her husband, and partner in crime, at her side.

She helps keep the excitement alive for the rest us with each of her Prothekan works, where there are no heroes coming to save you and being kidnapped...isn't so bad when your captor is this hot.

Reviews

[kymagirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karul (H), a seemingly rebellious dark elf, faces his father, Karag, and a council of elder elves who announce that to save their family from enemies, Karul must marry to secure an alliance with a powerful dark elf family. Jasmine (h), a captive being prepared for sale at a dark elf auction, reflects on her difficult past and dreads her impending fate. Karul submits the winning bid for Jasmine, quickly marrying her in secret, as part of his plan to bring down his family members. The marriage must be consummated quickly, though neither Karul nor Jasmine expected such an intense fiery need for the other. Jasmine's interactions with Karul are tense as she tries to navigate her new reality. Despite his initial harshness, Karul reveals layers of vulnerability and complexity, in part due to his traumatic past, seemingly at the hands of his family. Their relationship slowly evolves, marked by a mix of vulnerability, defiance, and growing affection. Karul shares glimpses of his painful past, and Jasmine begins to see him as more than just her captor. As they spend more time together, Jasmine's hope for freedom becomes intertwined with her feelings for Karul. She starts to believe that together, they might overcome the challenges ahead. However, Karul's intermittent absences leave Jasmine feeling isolated and uncertain about their future. Karul runs so hot and cold with Jasmine, where he's caring one moment and bitingly harsh the next, as he struggles with his growing feelings for her. There were several significant aspects that seemed missing - Karul's first love, Isa, who was murdered; his family's actions that drove Karul to destroy them; Fara and her threats that never materialized. Hot and steamy human-dark-elf romance with drama, angst, revenge, and more.

[Nancy Warr · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to ask myself why do I continue to read this authors books when I know they are going to be the same??? ***Spoilers***Although this book unlike the others had potential but the jumbled up telling of the story totally ruined it. The inconsistencies in the story had the story making no sense. The switching of feelings our dark elf male had toward the human female made me think he has bipolar disorder. One minute he loves her, the next without any explanations he suddenly can't stand her going so far as to say he hates her and then he loves her again only to turn cold shoulder again. It read like the author made the story up as she going along as there was no explanation for anything. Our elven male had hatred for his father but no explanation was given as to why, we also was not told what alleged terrible deeds father has done to the son. We are not told how the human females sister survived an orc invasion. We read about a first love of his dying and its kind of hinted that the father might of had a hand in her dying but its very slightly hinted at and its also slightly hinted that our elven male has issues with loving another but only very slightly hinted and then you don't hear about his first love again. I know where the author was trying to go with the story but the execution was horrible. I am thinking there are a lot of half elven offspring in protheka as the human females ALWAYS end up pregnant by their dark elven lovers. The authors *dark elves* seem to be getting lighter on her book covers, as the image on this cover IS NOT of a dark elf nor does it fit the description given of the dark elf in the story.

[Karen Nastasio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This as a great book in the world on Protheka where the Dark Elves rule and the human are of the lowest class and used as slaves or play toys for them and this Jasmine life as she has been train for and as she has just turned 20 yrs old it time to be auctioned off and she wonders what her life will be like and who her new master will be. Karul is a Dark Elf who is being forced into a marriage of alliance with Lia who he doesn’t even like but it’s been arranged but he refuses even when his father Karag and the Dark Elves Council want so he heads to the auction to find a wife and put a stop to his fathers plans. Now at the auction he see’s Jasmine a beautiful human female and buys her to be his wife and marries her straight away and tells her its a marriage off convenience and take her home to consummate the marriage and he never expected the fiery passion and connection to her to be so intense and this can only mean she is his fated mate. Jasmine has been brought by a very handsome Dark Elf who makes her heart race and when they get married straight away she is shocked and then he tells her it’s fake and a marriage of convenience she is a little sad but now they need to consummate the marriage and it was more than she could have imagined as the sparks of passion built between them and she new this was much more than either of them thought. Do they get there HEA or does Lia and his Father ruin it all.

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

[Nina Diab · Rating 4 out of 5]

'I realize that Karul is not what he seems at first glance - there's more depth to him than his cold exterior suggests. Yet danger still lurks beneath the surface like hot coals under snow.
My heart races with every glance he gives me; his eyes are fireflies in the darkness of his soul.'

I enjoyed this book. I loved the premise and it was interesting for a dark elf to buy a slave and marry her to foil the marriage his father is forcing him to agree to. I liked Jasmine but I didn't like Karul's treatment of her. One moment he's kind and affectionate, the next he's cold and angry. Calls her his love here, says he hates her not longer after, and thinks her a witch and a temptress. All because he's falling for her and is rebelling against his own growing feelings. I don't really like that kind of MMC. But the story kept me interested. 4 stars.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars - This story is about Karul a Dark Elf and Jasimine a slave and their experiences. Karul was brought from a bar to his father who's in a meeting with older dark elves. His father decides to unite the family with another prominent dark elf family. Karul's father wants him to marry the daughter, Faro Klutaro which Karul agrees. Jasimine a slave has been trained since she was a little girl how to please her dark elf master is sold to Karul. What will Karul do when he starts to have deep feeling toward Jasmine? The story was enjoyable to read with their interactions and drama. The characters were likable, and the story drew me in in this copy I'd received and volunteer to review.

[chesirern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sold to the Dark Elf (Book 1 of Masters of Protheka Book) by Celeste King is a paranormal romance novel. The tale of the dark elves i say that because dark elves and fairies have always fascinated me. So of course I had to read another fun romance book about them.
As are most fantasy novels this is a complicated tale of greed, betrayal, plotting, love, friendship, and so much more. It is hard to delve into too much without giving it all away. Karul is our dark elf who has so many fascinating layers and Jasmine our human.
The world building was great as well as the characters development and plot. I enjoyed reading this.

[Holly Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celeste King’s Sold to the Dark Elf is great! Jasmine is a female human destined to be sold at auction to a dark elf. Karl buys her and marries her to thwart his father’s plans to marry him off to aide the family, but he’s not having that! On his wedding day, Jasmine is revealed to be his legally wedded wife although their contract says they are only a marriage of convenience. He can’t shake his feelings for her, though, so they carry on a torrid affair. Will they give in and accept they love each other?.

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

[Jill Mess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karul is a playboy prince of the dark Elves, Jasmine is a slave destined for the auction block. But there is something in the background that brings these two together in a marriage of convenience in this new tale of the Masters of Protheka.
The story was overall a strong installment in the world. I'm a fan of marriage of convenience tropes in any genre. I would have liked if the two main characters where a little stronger/fleshed out. The world building was great, but there were times the mmc seemed almost archetypal villain-y? I love coming back to this universe and there were some side characters it would be interesting to see again.

[Cottage_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started off really strong, but unfortunately it started to unravel around the part of the fake wedding.

In the end, this book really requires a good read-through and edit.

This is a quick read with high spice.

Thank you to Booksprout for the free ARC.

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Karul and Jasmine's story. Very high levels of intensity, drama and emotion flow throughout this gripping read that held my interest and engaged my heart.

[Amelky Sousa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fraco.
Desisti na metade.
É difícil voltar a outros livros quando ainda estou tão ligada Dramione. Droga entrei nessa toca de Coelho e parece que não consigo sair mais...

[Nicola Schmidt · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf