Darkness threatens to overshadow her bright spirit…
Alessia clings to the belief that her heart is pure. Yet, her shadow-self grows louder, igniting a fear she can’t shake. She knows she can’t run from it forever. To survive, she must confront the darkness within and learn to wield it—something that seems impossible. However, with the threat of war closing in, she must join Rainer on a perilous journey to Dovenak to stave off disaster. She was determined to plant roots in solitude, growing her power alone, but he might be just what she needs to finally bloom.
Lovers bound by fate, divided by fear…
Rainer knows Alessia is pushing him away—it’s a tactic he’s mastered himself. But she’s sparked something within him that refuses to fade. Though their bond remains unfulfilled, he stands firmly by her side, determined to support her as she confronts her fears. However, as their connection deepens, the line between reason and desire blurs. Rainer is ready to sacrifice anything to have her—anything other than her safety. So, he nurtures her, helping her flourish like the wild rose she is as she learns to embrace the beauty of her true self.
When faced with life’s fragility, will the pair finally surrender to their love and bind their fates together? Or will they choose caution and forever yearn for more?
Miranda is a fan of all things magical and romantic. She believes some of the best heroes come from dark pasts, and family is more than blood. She loves writing about strong characters who overcome unpleasant situations and find love along the way.
Miranda Joy writes a beautifully lyrical conclusion to her Courts of Malice series. I loved getting to see where things ended for Rainer and Alessia. Their journey of finding each other, desperately trying to protect each other — it always places them so close and yet not quite there. And that edging did not help, Miranda!
It was wonderful to finally see them come together as both the team, and people really vocalize their feelings for each other.
I also really enjoyed that Miranda settled the plot between the human world and the fairy world released distinctly, but left the door open for so much more. I’m truly excited to see this next couple, especially given their previous interactions with each other and follow their story.
Overall, Miranda writes a lyrical story of acceptance, sacrifice, and learning to make choices. Not every single one of the choices that the characters make are clearly the best ones, but they’re doing it, hoping to find a better life for themselves. Overall thought it was a wonderful and sweet conclusion to this trilogy.
"This is my home. I am not a victim. I am not a prisoner. And I refuse to be either of those things in my own skin."
*A massive thank you to Miranda for allowing me to read an ARC of A Realm of Fear & Fury. All thoughts and comments are my own.*
A Realm of Fear & Fury is book three in the Courts of Malice series. It takes place shortly after book two, so be sure to read the rest of the series before beginning. Like the other books in the series, please be mindful of CW/TW: violence, grief, anxiety, PTSD, bullying, references to past abuse, etc.
Alessia must bare the weight of her shadow magic, and the responsibility of bringing life back to the Spiritus Court. She secludes herself away from Rainer and Ken while trying to keep control of her shadows. Will she be able to keep herself from hurting those she loves most? Will she be strong enough to get the iron necessary to save the Umbra Court?
Joy delves deep into themes of mastering fear, and accepting one's self wholly in this story, particularly from Alessia's perspective. She's been the rock that Rainer needs to do so in earlier books, but now she must come to terms with both the light and the darkness inside herself. Alessia and Rainer's journeys through this series mirror each other beautifully. That background gives Rainer the ability to be the male Alessia needs here. He gives her the space she asks for, but still finds ways to support her. I love how much they lift each other up, and don't get me started on the tension! So, so good!
The banter between various characters throughout the book is top notch! I love the found family that Joy created. Ken is still the standout side character for me, bringing laughs and truth bombs to everyone in his path. There are lots of surprises, of all shapes and sizes, throughout the story. One in particular had me gasping "Shut up!" to an empty room.
Filled with character development, action, and a bit of spice A Realm of Fear & Fury is a fitting conclusion to Rainer and Alessia's story. Have no fear, friends! Joy left us some loose threads, so fingers crossed we can hopefully stay in this world a little while longer. I enjoyed this story immensely, and recommend the entire series. It's fantastic!!
"You're perfect for each other!...You are both stubborn, broody, irritating little feckers- always learning the hard way."
"When you lose someone you love, every moment without them feels like an eternity. They're gone, yet the ghost of their memory remains in all the places they frequented."
"We can't hide ourselves away to spare ourselves from making mistakes. We need to get out there and live, regardless of our fears. Don't let life pass you by because you're afraid of being imperfect."
“A Realm of Fear & Fury” is an emotional rollercoaster that perfectly blends romance, fantasy, and personal growth. I absolutely loved Alessia’s journey as she comes into her own power. Watching her evolve into the strong, confident character she becomes was a highlight of the story. What really resonated with me, though, was the relationship between Alessia and Rainer. Their love for each other is unwavering and unconditional. They accept each other, flaws and all, and that kind of deep, true love is rare to find in books.
Another aspect I adored was that none of the main characters died! It’s such a relief to read a fantasy novel where the characters you care about get to live and thrive. The emotional payoff when Alessia finds a long-lost family member brought such a sense of fulfillment and closure—it felt like the perfect culmination of her journey.
Overall, A Realm of Fear & Fury captivated me from beginning to end. The themes of love, self-acceptance, and finding family are beautifully woven into the story, making it a truly memorable read. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a gripping, heartwarming fantasy with complex characters!
A fun ending, a fun cameo and all together a fun book. I was really excited to finally read the end of this series (especially after that cliffhanger in book two) I think my favorite part was the first half. I loved seeing Rainer and Alessia reunite after everything, it was finally their choice to come back. At first, seeing Alessia navigate her court by herself was very depressing but you see it is very necessary for her to see that having people around is no weakness. Of course, she is also scare of her new magic/shadow. Which was understandable to close herself off, but I really enjoyed the parallel of her doing the same thing Rainer did in book one. It’s like they both went through it and both helped each other.
I was very surprised to see the prince of Aer with Fern. And we are getting an extra story with them?? (Amazing) I am very curious to also follow up on Sera. And well, the cameo at the almost end was very fun! I very much enjoy this book series and will totally reread when I am free.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
4.75 stars. AAAHHH. I'm so sad this trilogy is over just because I want to read more about these characters. Alessia's character arc is epic and one of the best I've read in the romantic fantasy genre. I adore the way Rainer helps her grow and get over her fears however, she's not dependent on him to make her better. The sloooow burn finally pays off in this book and does not disappoint! Overall, this is one of my favorite trilogies that I've read this year and deserves more hype.
I gave it 4.75 stars because I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and left a few things to the imagination.
An engaging and entertaining ending for Alessia and Rainer’s ending. Accepting ourselves and mastering our fears is quite apparently the theme here and the lead up to getting the happily ever after deserved. A great blend of romance, fantasy and growth of our characters.
The finale to the Courts of Malice trilogy was everything I was hoping for and more. Alessia, Rainer, and all their friends (both new and old) fought through so much in this series, and Miranda Joy gave them the ending they all deserved.
As a character, Alessia has come so far since we were introduced to her in the first book. She has grown so much, both mentally and emotionally, and I absolutely loved the character she became throughout this third book. This third installment had Alessia's toughest journey, and I ended up loving every nail-biting moment. From finding her place in a new home to finding peace and love with Rainer, A Realm of Fear & Fury gave Alessia the ending she deserved.
I will admit, I'm not usually a huge fan of a slow burn romance. Waiting until the third book in a trilogy for any real spice would normally make me want to put the book down, but there was just so much between Alessia and Rainer that I truly enjoyed that build up between them. Their love for each other was evident, whether they were together or apart.
There was so much character growth and world building throughout this series, and Miranda didn't slow down when it came to the final book in this series. We visited new places, met new people, and I remained fully immersed in the lush descriptions until the very end. A Realm of Fear & Fury was the perfect end to Rainer and Alessia's journey and a fantastic gateway to more adventures and romances within this world.