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Faceless: Legends of Abreia Volume 1
Bodyguard. Mage. Princess. Spy.
The Five Thrones have always been at peace, but rumors have begun to grow. Whispers of armies, of unrest, and of a masked knight murdering mages in cold blood.
To determine the truth of these rumors, a simple bodyguard must become a spy, and test her skills against an sinister assassin while staying one step ahead of a rival king...
While a sheltered princess must accept an arranged marriage with an enigmatic prince who wants nothing to do with her…
They’ve sworn to sacrifice their lives to save their kingdoms, but even that may not be enough. Now, it is only through magic and subterfuge that war can be avoided, and only if they’re willing to risk a far different fate than they ever imagined…
Falling for the enemy.
Faceless contains the first three books of Legends of Abreia, a complete fantasy romance series for readers who love warring kingdoms, strong, sassy heroines, and epic enemies-to-lovers romance!
- Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
- Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
- Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
Perfect for fans of Sylvia Mercedes, Tara Grayce, and Elise Kova, this epic story concludes in Sundered, Volume 2 of the Legends of Abreia Box Sets.
The Five Thrones have always been at peace, but rumors have begun to grow. Whispers of armies, of unrest, and of a masked knight murdering mages in cold blood.
To determine the truth of these rumors, a simple bodyguard must become a spy, and test her skills against an sinister assassin while staying one step ahead of a rival king...
While a sheltered princess must accept an arranged marriage with an enigmatic prince who wants nothing to do with her…
They’ve sworn to sacrifice their lives to save their kingdoms, but even that may not be enough. Now, it is only through magic and subterfuge that war can be avoided, and only if they’re willing to risk a far different fate than they ever imagined…
Falling for the enemy.
Faceless contains the first three books of Legends of Abreia, a complete fantasy romance series for readers who love warring kingdoms, strong, sassy heroines, and epic enemies-to-lovers romance!
- Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
- Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
- Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
Perfect for fans of Sylvia Mercedes, Tara Grayce, and Elise Kova, this epic story concludes in Sundered, Volume 2 of the Legends of Abreia Box Sets.
870 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2024
About the author
Kenley Davidson
37 books967 followersKenley Davidson is a romantic fantasy author and unrepentant caffeine addict who believes in the power of storytelling and loves nothing more than a good book hangover. Her books include romantasy, urban fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and sci fi, but no matter the genre, she writes stories of hope and redemption with characters you can root for, heart-pounding romance without the spice, and happy endings that might just make you cry.
Her favorite things (besides books) are coffee, k-dramas, cats, and playing cozy video games. And also scones.
Kenley currently lives in Oklahoma, where she cares for a menagerie of misfit house plants while waiting for her adult children to occasionally pop in for laundry and a home-cooked meal.
Find out more about Kenley’s books at her website: kenleydavidson.com
Her favorite things (besides books) are coffee, k-dramas, cats, and playing cozy video games. And also scones.
Kenley currently lives in Oklahoma, where she cares for a menagerie of misfit house plants while waiting for her adult children to occasionally pop in for laundry and a home-cooked meal.
Find out more about Kenley’s books at her website: kenleydavidson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 10, 2024
**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔: 𝑳𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒂 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 1 𝒃𝒚 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒔𝒐𝒏
Release Date: September 27, 2024
5⭐️2🌶
This series completely took me by surprise. I haven't heard of Kenley Davidson or this series, but it has everything I LOVE in a fantasy series. STRONG female main characters that love to kick ass and take names, but she also as a lighter side that is very honorable and caring. Plus, dark brooding male characters that will stop and nothing to see her protected.
The FMC is a human mage who can change her image at will, which is called a mirror mage. Her king/father figure tasks her with entering their neighboring kingdom disguised as his daughter to determine if the proposed betrothal is to their benefit or not. She adamantly refuses and wants to stay in her position as a Captain's Guard, but her King refuses her refusal and forces her to take on this task.
Upon arriving at the neighboring Kingdom, she finds a completely masked and armored man who is larger than any guard she has ever come across. The king tasks this "guard" with watching her day and night (as he does not sleep or speak).
She's the only human in decades that has ever wondered to ask about this guards history or purpose.
With the guards help, she learns that this King wants nothing to do with Mages and would much rather kill them all and betroth his rival's daughter to is bastard son.
This book is full of...
-Political intrigue
-Touch-her-and-you-die
-Assassins and mages
-Fae shifters
-Slow burn romance
This audiobook was actually 1 Volume containing 3 books!
- Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
- Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
- Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
I was pleasantly surprise when around the third way point, the audiobook told me I had finished the first book!
Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC read!
Release Date: September 27, 2024
5⭐️2🌶
This series completely took me by surprise. I haven't heard of Kenley Davidson or this series, but it has everything I LOVE in a fantasy series. STRONG female main characters that love to kick ass and take names, but she also as a lighter side that is very honorable and caring. Plus, dark brooding male characters that will stop and nothing to see her protected.
The FMC is a human mage who can change her image at will, which is called a mirror mage. Her king/father figure tasks her with entering their neighboring kingdom disguised as his daughter to determine if the proposed betrothal is to their benefit or not. She adamantly refuses and wants to stay in her position as a Captain's Guard, but her King refuses her refusal and forces her to take on this task.
Upon arriving at the neighboring Kingdom, she finds a completely masked and armored man who is larger than any guard she has ever come across. The king tasks this "guard" with watching her day and night (as he does not sleep or speak).
She's the only human in decades that has ever wondered to ask about this guards history or purpose.
With the guards help, she learns that this King wants nothing to do with Mages and would much rather kill them all and betroth his rival's daughter to is bastard son.
This book is full of...
-Political intrigue
-Touch-her-and-you-die
-Assassins and mages
-Fae shifters
-Slow burn romance
This audiobook was actually 1 Volume containing 3 books!
- Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
- Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
- Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
I was pleasantly surprise when around the third way point, the audiobook told me I had finished the first book!
Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC read!
October 23, 2024
3 Stars ✨
Clean YA Fantasy
“When humans grew tense or worried, or sometimes just excited, they seemed to gather in large numbers to become inebriated and make questionable choices.”
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced Audio copy of Faceless, in exchange for an honest review.**
This is a review of three books on one audio arc. Below are my reviews for each. Overall I give the narration a 4/5 stars and would recommend to those looking for a clean fantasy romance.
Book One - The Faceless Mage
4 Stars ✨
Clean YA Fantasy
“The ultimate freedom is to choose between hope and despair. As long as you feel you have no option but despair, you will always be a prisoner.”
Lesia was born with an unwanted magic. She does everything in her power to hide it. While she patiently waits for her family to return- the King took her in and gave her a place to stay and the task of guarding his daughter the princess. Life was simple, until the day that the King asks her to use her magic to Spy on a neighboring Kingdom.
Far from home with no allies and a secret so big it could mean death, her task is made harder by a dangerous enemy- the masked assassin called The Raven. As time goes on she seems to see through the mask to what lies beneath all the armor. He is not at all what she expected. Even though she feels drawn to him, she must evade him at all costs to complete her mission, without getting caught. If she fails, she and her entire kingdom will pay with blood.
I really enjoyed this one! The writing was simple and pace moved quickly. I didn’t have to think real hard while reading and just sat back and relaxed through the ride. I thought the concept of the Raven was unique, and one I don’t see often. Anytime a character is unable to talk and you can’t see beyond the mask, it makes for a fun trope. Lesia was a likable FMC, she was tough without the author hyping her up with extra extremes. The Raven was such a cool character and can’t explain much about him or the magic system without giving it away. The book ended on a cliffhanger, so I am definitely looking forward to the next in the series. Would Recommend!
Audio Narration 5/5 🎧
Book Two- The Unseen Heir
3 Stars ✨
Audio 🎧 Narration 4/5 Stars
This was the second book in the Legends of Abreia Series. I unfortunately, did not enjoy it as much as the first one. Maybe it was because our main characters were separated from each other for a while and there was not much interaction between them. Something was definitely lost with this one for me and I thought by the end of it we would get a continuation of the same MCs, but the next book in the series is other characters that I don’t really care about- So instead of continuing, I am going to stop here. This arc includes the 3rd book, but I am just not invested enough to continue on. The writing is good - just lost interest and was a little bored with this book.
Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
Audio 🎧 Narration 4/5 Stars ✨
DNF ( Lost interest )
Clean YA Fantasy
“When humans grew tense or worried, or sometimes just excited, they seemed to gather in large numbers to become inebriated and make questionable choices.”
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced Audio copy of Faceless, in exchange for an honest review.**
This is a review of three books on one audio arc. Below are my reviews for each. Overall I give the narration a 4/5 stars and would recommend to those looking for a clean fantasy romance.
Book One - The Faceless Mage
4 Stars ✨
Clean YA Fantasy
“The ultimate freedom is to choose between hope and despair. As long as you feel you have no option but despair, you will always be a prisoner.”
Lesia was born with an unwanted magic. She does everything in her power to hide it. While she patiently waits for her family to return- the King took her in and gave her a place to stay and the task of guarding his daughter the princess. Life was simple, until the day that the King asks her to use her magic to Spy on a neighboring Kingdom.
Far from home with no allies and a secret so big it could mean death, her task is made harder by a dangerous enemy- the masked assassin called The Raven. As time goes on she seems to see through the mask to what lies beneath all the armor. He is not at all what she expected. Even though she feels drawn to him, she must evade him at all costs to complete her mission, without getting caught. If she fails, she and her entire kingdom will pay with blood.
I really enjoyed this one! The writing was simple and pace moved quickly. I didn’t have to think real hard while reading and just sat back and relaxed through the ride. I thought the concept of the Raven was unique, and one I don’t see often. Anytime a character is unable to talk and you can’t see beyond the mask, it makes for a fun trope. Lesia was a likable FMC, she was tough without the author hyping her up with extra extremes. The Raven was such a cool character and can’t explain much about him or the magic system without giving it away. The book ended on a cliffhanger, so I am definitely looking forward to the next in the series. Would Recommend!
Audio Narration 5/5 🎧
Book Two- The Unseen Heir
3 Stars ✨
Audio 🎧 Narration 4/5 Stars
This was the second book in the Legends of Abreia Series. I unfortunately, did not enjoy it as much as the first one. Maybe it was because our main characters were separated from each other for a while and there was not much interaction between them. Something was definitely lost with this one for me and I thought by the end of it we would get a continuation of the same MCs, but the next book in the series is other characters that I don’t really care about- So instead of continuing, I am going to stop here. This arc includes the 3rd book, but I am just not invested enough to continue on. The writing is good - just lost interest and was a little bored with this book.
Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
Audio 🎧 Narration 4/5 Stars ✨
DNF ( Lost interest )
October 8, 2024
I was honestly super impressed with this series. I was a bit confused seeing as how this was previously published as a 6 book series, and this audio version is the first three books. Seems silly that considering each couple gets two books that this one would cut off after the first book in the second couple's journey but it is what it is. I assume that the second audio version will include the last 3 books in the series, thus making it 2 audiobooks for the entire 6 book series. That being said, this was unexpectedly good. Mages, night elves, assassins, political intrigue, shape shifters. I was like, sign me up now!!! I really enjoyed the story and was able to follow along easily. I loved the characters and was interested to know about each one and what might happen next. I will definitely want to continue reading and/or listening to this series to find out what happens. The Raven has my whole heart and soul.
This is listed as romantasy (fantasy/romance) and while that is true, if you are looking for a spicy romance book, this is not the one. This book has romance and kissing but it focuses more on the story/fantasy world.
I was super excited to get to listen to this ALC and the narrator Vanessa Moyen does a great job!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Page Nine Press for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
This is listed as romantasy (fantasy/romance) and while that is true, if you are looking for a spicy romance book, this is not the one. This book has romance and kissing but it focuses more on the story/fantasy world.
I was super excited to get to listen to this ALC and the narrator Vanessa Moyen does a great job!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Page Nine Press for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
October 27, 2024
This is a great young adult fantasy series so far. The premise grabbed me, the story dove right in with amazing world building that was easy to understand.
Legends of Abreia is a 6-book series separated into three duologies following a different POV. Faceless is an audiobook bundle that includes the first three books and Sundered included the remaining three books.
Blurb: "Bodyguard. Mage. Princess. Spy. Leisa’s ambitions used to be simple. Guard the princess. Hide her magic. Wait for her family to return. But all of that changes when her king demands that she use her unique abilities to spy on the rival kingdom of Garimore. Alone, far from home, and living a lie that grows more perilous by the day, Leisa’s task is complicated by her most dangerous enemy yet—the masked assassin known only as the Raven."
I'm happy that they updated the covers to the ones with the mask, because I don't think I would have picked it up otherwise.
The Faceless Mage:
This first book was easily 5 stars for me. It hooked me from the start and I enjoyed the world building and the set up. A bodyguard spying on a neighboring country by pretending to be a princess? Give it to me. There was no spice and not a ton of romance, but you can tell that it's coming and they have a connection. I didn't love one of the revelations at the end, but not enough to knock my rating down.
The Unseen Heir:
Leisa's story continues and she is a great FMC. This book focused on magical creatures and exploring new places in the world. Some of the plot points were not my favorite, but it had a happy ending for the couple and I never saw the way it wrapped up coming. It set up for the next book nicely.
The Hidden Queen:
Another 5 stars! We switched perspectives in this book to the heirs to the throne and I loved it. I enjoyed this enemies to lovers and arranged marriage story mixed with mystery. There was cool magic, more royal court politics and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.
Available on Kindle Unlimited. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job.
Legends of Abreia is a 6-book series separated into three duologies following a different POV. Faceless is an audiobook bundle that includes the first three books and Sundered included the remaining three books.
Blurb: "Bodyguard. Mage. Princess. Spy. Leisa’s ambitions used to be simple. Guard the princess. Hide her magic. Wait for her family to return. But all of that changes when her king demands that she use her unique abilities to spy on the rival kingdom of Garimore. Alone, far from home, and living a lie that grows more perilous by the day, Leisa’s task is complicated by her most dangerous enemy yet—the masked assassin known only as the Raven."
I'm happy that they updated the covers to the ones with the mask, because I don't think I would have picked it up otherwise.
The Faceless Mage:
This first book was easily 5 stars for me. It hooked me from the start and I enjoyed the world building and the set up. A bodyguard spying on a neighboring country by pretending to be a princess? Give it to me. There was no spice and not a ton of romance, but you can tell that it's coming and they have a connection. I didn't love one of the revelations at the end, but not enough to knock my rating down.
The Unseen Heir:
Leisa's story continues and she is a great FMC. This book focused on magical creatures and exploring new places in the world. Some of the plot points were not my favorite, but it had a happy ending for the couple and I never saw the way it wrapped up coming. It set up for the next book nicely.
The Hidden Queen:
Another 5 stars! We switched perspectives in this book to the heirs to the throne and I loved it. I enjoyed this enemies to lovers and arranged marriage story mixed with mystery. There was cool magic, more royal court politics and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.
Available on Kindle Unlimited. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job.
October 9, 2024
Book 1. I really enjoyed this book I got through it all in one sitting it was so full of magic and adventure and magical politics and just a hint of romance it kept me hooked the whole time.
Book 2. Really enjoyed this one as well it was definitely better then the first I think this author has now hit their stride.
Book 3. Really solid series wish I knew more of what happened after the end this book had magic fantastic creatures romance shifters and more
Book 2. Really enjoyed this one as well it was definitely better then the first I think this author has now hit their stride.
Book 3. Really solid series wish I knew more of what happened after the end this book had magic fantastic creatures romance shifters and more
January 15, 2025
This collection includes the first three books in the Legends of Abreia series. I appreciate the intriguing storyline and the unique ideas presented throughout, though I did find the pacing a bit slower than my personal preference. However, if you enjoy clean romance set within a fantasy world, this series could appeal to you and might be worth exploring!
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kenley Davidson, and Dreamscape Select for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kenley Davidson, and Dreamscape Select for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
September 27, 2024
I have followed this series from the very beginning (Kenley Davidson is an “auto read” author for me), and I am so happy these are coming out in box sets!
The first two books in “Faceless” focus on Kyrion and Leisa’s story, and they are hands down my favorite couple in this world. The third story is the beginning of Princess Evaraine and Prince Danric’s story.
All three books are packed with action and mystery, and the romance is realistic and lovely. I appreciate the way that Leisa’s story lays the foundation for the rest of the series and that the questions that are raised by her all get answered by the end of the series. There are no loose ends and I love that!
These books have become “staple” rereads in my library, I highly recommend picking this box set up and reading through all the books. Abreia is a magical place, you’ll love it!
The first two books in “Faceless” focus on Kyrion and Leisa’s story, and they are hands down my favorite couple in this world. The third story is the beginning of Princess Evaraine and Prince Danric’s story.
All three books are packed with action and mystery, and the romance is realistic and lovely. I appreciate the way that Leisa’s story lays the foundation for the rest of the series and that the questions that are raised by her all get answered by the end of the series. There are no loose ends and I love that!
These books have become “staple” rereads in my library, I highly recommend picking this box set up and reading through all the books. Abreia is a magical place, you’ll love it!
October 19, 2024
Faceless: Legends of Abreia is the first 3 books in a completed 6 book fantasy romance series by Kenley Davidson
- Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
- Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
- Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
Expectations:
• Warring Kingdoms
• Forbidden Love
• Sassy Strong FMC's
• He fell first
• Slow-burn Romance
• Enemies to attraction
• Magic
• Arranged Marriage
• Untrustworthy Monarchy
• Fated mates (personally suspected)
• Fake Family
• Greedy monarchs
• Wyverns
• Magic
• Mysterious lineage
Book 1: The Faceless Mage: The FMC Leisa is a mirror mage who is Princess Evaraine of Farhall's body guard and pretends to be her in order to spy on the Kingdom of Garimore before accepting a marriage proposal from the younger Prince of the Kingdom Prince Vaniell. They don’t trust the King (warranted). While she is there, she has 24/7 "protection" aka babysat by a mysterious large man named The Raven who wears full armor and no one can see him and he doesn’t speak, but after receiving a gift from the princesses betrothed prince, suddenly can she and the Raven know each others feelings and then they find they can speak to one another as well. Both with this odd realization, their relationship gets confusing and unexpectedly personal. Can Leisa continue this false identity now that the Raven knows some of her secrets (she has magic and the King hunts and kills them), or will he turn her into the King who seems to control him.
Book 2: The Unseen Heir: Leisa and The Raven- Kyrion's story continues and are now aligned. He owes her a debt for helping free him from the magical bind the King of Garimore put him under that had him trapped to do as he wished. He is a night elf prince and they return to his home Dunmaren—Kingdom of Shadows to a suspicious and not so welcome return after 10 years missing. Her life is in danger and so are her people back home. Out of honor to protect her kingdom and adopted family, she feels she must leave Kyrion and return to warn her king of all she knows to keep them safe. Rather than a warm welcome, she is held prisoner for leaving her assignment at the other kingdom while Kyrion deals with is own kingdom's deceitful family who took over with ill intentions. Both long to be together, but must try to save their kingdoms.
Book 3: The Hidden Queen- Focuses on the real Princess Evaraine of align who is still betrothed to a playboy, Prince Vaniell who she has never met. Her hand is being forced to align with the Kingdom of Garimore but the alliance is more of a takeover and they don't know her secret. That she too has magic. The prince she is meant to marry leaves and the Kingdom not only is searching for Prince Vaniell, but watching her closely. The elder Prince Danric she corresponded with as a young child after her mother passed away isn't as soft-spoken as he once was. Hardened by his father's rule, she fears she cannot trust him but doesn't know that he also feels something is wrong. Things are not adding up. His father is keeping secrets and ruling the kingdom in a way that is not just. His mother the Queen also is acting odd and she confides in him that his father is not the same man he once was. Prince Danric battles with what is right for the kingdom and what his heart is telling him. The princess is not as meek as he once thought. She has a smart mind and sharp tongue. Perhaps she is more than she appears. They find that they both have things to lose with their kingdoms and will do what it takes to make things right.
To be honest, I have never had to do an ARC review of 3 books that were compacted into one audio-book before so it was strange (and long) to do a recap on them all. I enjoyed all three books immensely. The magic is interesting and the characters have layers. My fantasy romance-loving heart is humming after reading this series and I can’t get enough. I absolutely plan on reading the remainder of this series.
I appreciate NetGalley giving me the audiobook that includes the first 3 books in the Legends of Abreia in exchange for an honest review.
- Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
- Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
- Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
Expectations:
• Warring Kingdoms
• Forbidden Love
• Sassy Strong FMC's
• He fell first
• Slow-burn Romance
• Enemies to attraction
• Magic
• Arranged Marriage
• Untrustworthy Monarchy
• Fated mates (personally suspected)
• Fake Family
• Greedy monarchs
• Wyverns
• Magic
• Mysterious lineage
Book 1: The Faceless Mage: The FMC Leisa is a mirror mage who is Princess Evaraine of Farhall's body guard and pretends to be her in order to spy on the Kingdom of Garimore before accepting a marriage proposal from the younger Prince of the Kingdom Prince Vaniell. They don’t trust the King (warranted). While she is there, she has 24/7 "protection" aka babysat by a mysterious large man named The Raven who wears full armor and no one can see him and he doesn’t speak, but after receiving a gift from the princesses betrothed prince, suddenly can she and the Raven know each others feelings and then they find they can speak to one another as well. Both with this odd realization, their relationship gets confusing and unexpectedly personal. Can Leisa continue this false identity now that the Raven knows some of her secrets (she has magic and the King hunts and kills them), or will he turn her into the King who seems to control him.
Book 2: The Unseen Heir: Leisa and The Raven- Kyrion's story continues and are now aligned. He owes her a debt for helping free him from the magical bind the King of Garimore put him under that had him trapped to do as he wished. He is a night elf prince and they return to his home Dunmaren—Kingdom of Shadows to a suspicious and not so welcome return after 10 years missing. Her life is in danger and so are her people back home. Out of honor to protect her kingdom and adopted family, she feels she must leave Kyrion and return to warn her king of all she knows to keep them safe. Rather than a warm welcome, she is held prisoner for leaving her assignment at the other kingdom while Kyrion deals with is own kingdom's deceitful family who took over with ill intentions. Both long to be together, but must try to save their kingdoms.
Book 3: The Hidden Queen- Focuses on the real Princess Evaraine of align who is still betrothed to a playboy, Prince Vaniell who she has never met. Her hand is being forced to align with the Kingdom of Garimore but the alliance is more of a takeover and they don't know her secret. That she too has magic. The prince she is meant to marry leaves and the Kingdom not only is searching for Prince Vaniell, but watching her closely. The elder Prince Danric she corresponded with as a young child after her mother passed away isn't as soft-spoken as he once was. Hardened by his father's rule, she fears she cannot trust him but doesn't know that he also feels something is wrong. Things are not adding up. His father is keeping secrets and ruling the kingdom in a way that is not just. His mother the Queen also is acting odd and she confides in him that his father is not the same man he once was. Prince Danric battles with what is right for the kingdom and what his heart is telling him. The princess is not as meek as he once thought. She has a smart mind and sharp tongue. Perhaps she is more than she appears. They find that they both have things to lose with their kingdoms and will do what it takes to make things right.
To be honest, I have never had to do an ARC review of 3 books that were compacted into one audio-book before so it was strange (and long) to do a recap on them all. I enjoyed all three books immensely. The magic is interesting and the characters have layers. My fantasy romance-loving heart is humming after reading this series and I can’t get enough. I absolutely plan on reading the remainder of this series.
I appreciate NetGalley giving me the audiobook that includes the first 3 books in the Legends of Abreia in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2024
Kenley Davidson is a masterful storyteller and I am always on the look out for her next book release. Her Legends of Abreia series was no exception! I received an ARC of this box set and I am happy to review it with my own thoughts.
The first book in the box set, The Faceless Mage, had me at the edge of my seat throughout the entirety of reading it. I was dying to know what happened next and could hardly bear to set the book down!
Leisa is a tenacious and driven heroine even with her insecurities and painful past. She has just the right amount of spunk and tenderness to keep her relatable. The constant danger of her mission keeps the reader on their toes throughout the whole book.
The connection between Leisa and the Raven is to die for - which is something Leisa risks! I loved the air of mystery surrounding the Raven and he made the perfect dangerous love interest which was on brand for this storyline.
The ending of The Faceless Mage was perfection in all its angst and splendor. And that leads us to The Unseen Heir which is the next book in the box set.
Here the Raven is finally revealed as Kyrion, a dangerous night elf. This is the book where the love story really blooms, and I enjoyed the introduction into the world of the night elves. He and Leisa make a wonderful team that is easy to root for.
The ending to this book was another powerful scene with a magical reveal, and sadly the last book from Leisa’s POV.
(This paragraph includes spoilers) My only complaint from the first two books is that the mystery of Leisa’s heritage is teased at and the subsequently dropped for the rest of her story. When first reading these books as they released, I was very confused as to why such an important plot point would go nowhere. The answer, came in the last books of the series from a different character’s POV. While I understand the reason the thread was taken up later, it just didn’t work because there are two books about different characters in the middle of that plot point. When starting the next books, it honestly feels jarring to have no further information on the subject and it seems like the plot point was randomly dropped. Due to the order of POV’s, I’m not sure how the author could have fixed this. But it was a glaring issue nonetheless.
The last book in the box set, The Hidden Queen, picks back up in the human kingdoms by following Princess Evaraine as she journeys into Garimore. Here she begins to uncover more of the nefarious mysteries of the royal family while growing closer to the crown prince.
Throughout this book Danric is starting to come to grips with reality, and how much his upbringing has clouded his judgement. I look forward to his continued character development in the next book. I loved the strength and resilience of Evaraine’s character which led her to persevere through her physical limitations. Another great set of characters and a captivating storyline.
I thoroughly enjoyed Davidson’s extensive world building and the vivid action sequences throughout this box set. The story was definitely action packed!
I highly recommend Legends of Abreia as a well crafted and complex story that keeps the reader wholly entertained. I can’t wait for the next installment!
The first book in the box set, The Faceless Mage, had me at the edge of my seat throughout the entirety of reading it. I was dying to know what happened next and could hardly bear to set the book down!
Leisa is a tenacious and driven heroine even with her insecurities and painful past. She has just the right amount of spunk and tenderness to keep her relatable. The constant danger of her mission keeps the reader on their toes throughout the whole book.
The connection between Leisa and the Raven is to die for - which is something Leisa risks! I loved the air of mystery surrounding the Raven and he made the perfect dangerous love interest which was on brand for this storyline.
The ending of The Faceless Mage was perfection in all its angst and splendor. And that leads us to The Unseen Heir which is the next book in the box set.
Here the Raven is finally revealed as Kyrion, a dangerous night elf. This is the book where the love story really blooms, and I enjoyed the introduction into the world of the night elves. He and Leisa make a wonderful team that is easy to root for.
The ending to this book was another powerful scene with a magical reveal, and sadly the last book from Leisa’s POV.
(This paragraph includes spoilers) My only complaint from the first two books is that the mystery of Leisa’s heritage is teased at and the subsequently dropped for the rest of her story. When first reading these books as they released, I was very confused as to why such an important plot point would go nowhere. The answer, came in the last books of the series from a different character’s POV. While I understand the reason the thread was taken up later, it just didn’t work because there are two books about different characters in the middle of that plot point. When starting the next books, it honestly feels jarring to have no further information on the subject and it seems like the plot point was randomly dropped. Due to the order of POV’s, I’m not sure how the author could have fixed this. But it was a glaring issue nonetheless.
The last book in the box set, The Hidden Queen, picks back up in the human kingdoms by following Princess Evaraine as she journeys into Garimore. Here she begins to uncover more of the nefarious mysteries of the royal family while growing closer to the crown prince.
Throughout this book Danric is starting to come to grips with reality, and how much his upbringing has clouded his judgement. I look forward to his continued character development in the next book. I loved the strength and resilience of Evaraine’s character which led her to persevere through her physical limitations. Another great set of characters and a captivating storyline.
I thoroughly enjoyed Davidson’s extensive world building and the vivid action sequences throughout this box set. The story was definitely action packed!
I highly recommend Legends of Abreia as a well crafted and complex story that keeps the reader wholly entertained. I can’t wait for the next installment!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2024
Thanks to Kenley Davidson, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1: Faceless Mage
Wait....it ends there? Well that's annoying. Thumbs down for this book---incomplete plot. We find out a lot but none of it yet means anything to the reader. Leisa assessed Garimore for danger, found some, and went to report back.
Now read that sentence again but stop after "and." That's the exact situation.
Either Davidson doesn't know how to write a complete narrative, or she's greedy. "Writing's hard and I want money. I'm going to sell an incomplete story to force readers to buy the next book and hide behind the excuse that's it's a series. Integrity, inshmegrity."
This galley of the first three books is free, or I'd refuse to purchase book 2 on principle.
I like Leisa's character and the Raven, but it feels like we're just starting to get to know them, especially the Raven. I wish I could feel more chemistry between them, assuming they're meant to become a couple.
*frustrated sigh* It really feels like we're just getting started, yet this is supposed to be a complete book? Yeah, I don't think so.
Let's see what book 2 accomplishes.
2: The Unseen Heir
I've decided it's both---greedy and wouldn't know a plot point if it slapped her in the face.
Books 1 and 2 could have been one storyline, meaning one book, if Davidson had picked up the pace and limited her tangents.
So Leisa tells her king that Garimore is sus, he locks her up because reasons. I Forget His Real Name is waiting for her to come back and is taken prisoner by guards. A fae dude frees Leisa. Leisa in turn frees Adrianian---fuck it, I'm calling him the Raven. They're pursued, escape, and wander into the Raven's home village. We meet a bunch of new people we're supposed to suddenly care about, dabble in the boring-ass politics, receive no explanation whatsoever for wtf they even are---they're called night elves but they're wolf shifters and don't act fae at all---wait, were they elves or fae? Don't remember, don't care, doesn't matter anyway. Leisa skedaddles back to the king because looks like Garimore is ready to start war, then someone is engaged to someone, then the night elfaeries are there for some reason, wyverns became important somewhere. There was very little development to Leisa and the Raven's relationship; Davidson seemed to just decide okay they're in love now. They were apart more than they were together. Leisa's background was teased then left dangling with no actual answers.
Sounds like a mess, doesn't it? That's because it is. I would be shocked if Davidson isn't a pantser. Swear to god this reads like a flow-of-consciousness first draft.
I have absolutely no desire to keep my hands and feet inside this ride. No book 3 for me.
I would not recommend giving this author your money. Not until she gives hers to an editor, at any rate. Narrator was fine, though.
I will say, it was beyond nice to find no sex in this book. It was bad enough without empty smut.
1: Faceless Mage
Wait....it ends there? Well that's annoying. Thumbs down for this book---incomplete plot. We find out a lot but none of it yet means anything to the reader. Leisa assessed Garimore for danger, found some, and went to report back.
Now read that sentence again but stop after "and." That's the exact situation.
Either Davidson doesn't know how to write a complete narrative, or she's greedy. "Writing's hard and I want money. I'm going to sell an incomplete story to force readers to buy the next book and hide behind the excuse that's it's a series. Integrity, inshmegrity."
This galley of the first three books is free, or I'd refuse to purchase book 2 on principle.
I like Leisa's character and the Raven, but it feels like we're just starting to get to know them, especially the Raven. I wish I could feel more chemistry between them, assuming they're meant to become a couple.
*frustrated sigh* It really feels like we're just getting started, yet this is supposed to be a complete book? Yeah, I don't think so.
Let's see what book 2 accomplishes.
2: The Unseen Heir
I've decided it's both---greedy and wouldn't know a plot point if it slapped her in the face.
Books 1 and 2 could have been one storyline, meaning one book, if Davidson had picked up the pace and limited her tangents.
So Leisa tells her king that Garimore is sus, he locks her up because reasons. I Forget His Real Name is waiting for her to come back and is taken prisoner by guards. A fae dude frees Leisa. Leisa in turn frees Adrianian---fuck it, I'm calling him the Raven. They're pursued, escape, and wander into the Raven's home village. We meet a bunch of new people we're supposed to suddenly care about, dabble in the boring-ass politics, receive no explanation whatsoever for wtf they even are---they're called night elves but they're wolf shifters and don't act fae at all---wait, were they elves or fae? Don't remember, don't care, doesn't matter anyway. Leisa skedaddles back to the king because looks like Garimore is ready to start war, then someone is engaged to someone, then the night elfaeries are there for some reason, wyverns became important somewhere. There was very little development to Leisa and the Raven's relationship; Davidson seemed to just decide okay they're in love now. They were apart more than they were together. Leisa's background was teased then left dangling with no actual answers.
Sounds like a mess, doesn't it? That's because it is. I would be shocked if Davidson isn't a pantser. Swear to god this reads like a flow-of-consciousness first draft.
I have absolutely no desire to keep my hands and feet inside this ride. No book 3 for me.
I would not recommend giving this author your money. Not until she gives hers to an editor, at any rate. Narrator was fine, though.
I will say, it was beyond nice to find no sex in this book. It was bad enough without empty smut.
October 11, 2024
If you love adventure, mages, mystery, intrigue and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, then look no further and discover The Legends of Abreia series by Kenley Davidson! Faceless is comprised of the first three books in this epic romantic fantasy series (1-The Faceless Mage, 2-The Unseen Heir, & 3-The Hidden Queen). This book is well-written, entertaining and makes you want to read more!! Kenley’s storytelling, world building and character development is powerful and clever!
Book 1 – We meet Leisa who is the bodyguard to the Princess of Farhall. Her job was simple: guard the princess, hide her magic and wait for her parents to return. But King Soren demands she use her magical abilities to pretend to be the princess and travel to Garimore to see if his daughter Princess Evaraine should accept the proposal of marriage to Prince Vaniell of Garimore which would forge a treaty to save their kingdom. King Melger of Garimore hates mages and uses his personal ruthless masked assassin – The Raven – to get rid of all people with magical abilities. Garimore isn’t at all what they thought it would be and Leisa (disguised as the Princess) is basically a prisoner, and she must escape! Her task is complicated and impossible – but she meets the Raven, and an unlikely “friendship” is formed and this just has me on my toes waiting to see what happens! We end book 1 with finding out the Raven’s real name (Kyrion) and immediately you are ready to go right into book 2.
Book 2 – So Leisa escapes Garimore with the Kyrion’s help and goes to Farhall to try to warn them of what has happened in Garimore but her reception wasn’t at all what she thought it would be. She is held as a prisoner. Torn between her loyalty to her kingdom and her debt to Kyrion – she is forced to choose and flee with Kyrion to his home of Dunmarren, Kingdom of Shadows and home to the night elves! I fell in love with Kyrion more in this book. I love how the bond between Leisa and Kyrion deepens and just has me wanting more but they both have to decide how to proceed and where their true loyalties lie. The ending of this book has you reaching for book 3 and you won’t be disappointed.
Book 3 – I absolutely loved how we get to know more about Princess Evaraine in this story as well as Prince Danric, Prince Vaniell and even Queen Portiana of Garimore! To put it bluntly – you just need to read this series because it is one of the best that I have read. I’m so happy to be able to continue this series in Sundered which is comprised of the last three books in this series (4-The Captive Throne, 5-The Uncrowned Prince & 6-The Sundered Blade).
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book for you! I am a fan for life!
Book 1 – We meet Leisa who is the bodyguard to the Princess of Farhall. Her job was simple: guard the princess, hide her magic and wait for her parents to return. But King Soren demands she use her magical abilities to pretend to be the princess and travel to Garimore to see if his daughter Princess Evaraine should accept the proposal of marriage to Prince Vaniell of Garimore which would forge a treaty to save their kingdom. King Melger of Garimore hates mages and uses his personal ruthless masked assassin – The Raven – to get rid of all people with magical abilities. Garimore isn’t at all what they thought it would be and Leisa (disguised as the Princess) is basically a prisoner, and she must escape! Her task is complicated and impossible – but she meets the Raven, and an unlikely “friendship” is formed and this just has me on my toes waiting to see what happens! We end book 1 with finding out the Raven’s real name (Kyrion) and immediately you are ready to go right into book 2.
Book 2 – So Leisa escapes Garimore with the Kyrion’s help and goes to Farhall to try to warn them of what has happened in Garimore but her reception wasn’t at all what she thought it would be. She is held as a prisoner. Torn between her loyalty to her kingdom and her debt to Kyrion – she is forced to choose and flee with Kyrion to his home of Dunmarren, Kingdom of Shadows and home to the night elves! I fell in love with Kyrion more in this book. I love how the bond between Leisa and Kyrion deepens and just has me wanting more but they both have to decide how to proceed and where their true loyalties lie. The ending of this book has you reaching for book 3 and you won’t be disappointed.
Book 3 – I absolutely loved how we get to know more about Princess Evaraine in this story as well as Prince Danric, Prince Vaniell and even Queen Portiana of Garimore! To put it bluntly – you just need to read this series because it is one of the best that I have read. I’m so happy to be able to continue this series in Sundered which is comprised of the last three books in this series (4-The Captive Throne, 5-The Uncrowned Prince & 6-The Sundered Blade).
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book for you! I am a fan for life!
October 8, 2024
This book offers a spellbinding blend of fantasy, intrigue, and romance. The story is set in a world where five thrones are precariously held in balance, but rumors of unrest and war threaten to destroy the peace.
Davidson skillfully weaves multiple storylines in this collection, particularly highlighting themes of sacrifice, duty, and deception. The enemies-to-lovers trope is at the heart of the narrative, and Davidson does an excellent job of balancing character development with the fast-paced plot. Each protagonist is forced into difficult choices, and their growth, particularly as they grapple with loyalty, survival, and love, is compelling. While there's plenty of action and political tension, at its core, this story is driven by romance and the emotional journeys of the characters.
One of the highlights of the book is the tension-filled dynamic between the bodyguard (who must act as a spy and face off against a deadly assassin) and the princess (trapped in an arranged marriage with a prince who appears disinterested in her). Both characters’ arcs are rich with emotional turmoil, and their eventual attraction builds at a satisfying pace. Davidson does a great job of creating an immersive fantasy world, complete with complex magic systems and political intrigue, all while layering in emotional intensity.
Vanessa Moyen’s narration is solid, bringing the characters to life with warmth and precision. Her performance elevates the story, especially the character voices and emotional nuances. However, as you mentioned, the experience might have been enhanced with a duo narration, especially given the story’s alternating perspectives. A second narrator could have deepened the connection with the characters’ individual journeys.
While the romance is undeniably "cute," with enough heartwarming moments to keep romance lovers satisfied, it’s not without its complications. The push-pull dynamic between enemies and lovers creates a delightful tension. That said, there are times when the characters' romantic developments feel somewhat predictable, though fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will find this satisfying.
Overall, "Faceless" is a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy strong heroines, dangerous quests, and star-crossed romance. The mix of magic, espionage, and emotional stakes makes for an entertaining read. For those who love romance set against the backdrop of warring kingdoms and political alliances, Davidson delivers a fun, engaging series. A dual narration might have taken the listening experience to the next level, but Moyen’s solo performance does a commendable job.
Davidson skillfully weaves multiple storylines in this collection, particularly highlighting themes of sacrifice, duty, and deception. The enemies-to-lovers trope is at the heart of the narrative, and Davidson does an excellent job of balancing character development with the fast-paced plot. Each protagonist is forced into difficult choices, and their growth, particularly as they grapple with loyalty, survival, and love, is compelling. While there's plenty of action and political tension, at its core, this story is driven by romance and the emotional journeys of the characters.
One of the highlights of the book is the tension-filled dynamic between the bodyguard (who must act as a spy and face off against a deadly assassin) and the princess (trapped in an arranged marriage with a prince who appears disinterested in her). Both characters’ arcs are rich with emotional turmoil, and their eventual attraction builds at a satisfying pace. Davidson does a great job of creating an immersive fantasy world, complete with complex magic systems and political intrigue, all while layering in emotional intensity.
Vanessa Moyen’s narration is solid, bringing the characters to life with warmth and precision. Her performance elevates the story, especially the character voices and emotional nuances. However, as you mentioned, the experience might have been enhanced with a duo narration, especially given the story’s alternating perspectives. A second narrator could have deepened the connection with the characters’ individual journeys.
While the romance is undeniably "cute," with enough heartwarming moments to keep romance lovers satisfied, it’s not without its complications. The push-pull dynamic between enemies and lovers creates a delightful tension. That said, there are times when the characters' romantic developments feel somewhat predictable, though fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will find this satisfying.
Overall, "Faceless" is a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy strong heroines, dangerous quests, and star-crossed romance. The mix of magic, espionage, and emotional stakes makes for an entertaining read. For those who love romance set against the backdrop of warring kingdoms and political alliances, Davidson delivers a fun, engaging series. A dual narration might have taken the listening experience to the next level, but Moyen’s solo performance does a commendable job.
October 9, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️
This review is of Vol 1 of Legends of Abreia, which includes the first three books of this series. I am trying something new her and doing a quick review of each one and then overall thoughts. Due to this being three reviews in one, there are spoilers. You’ve been warned!
Faceless Mage: Leisa can change her appearance thanks to her powers as a mage. She is sent to the neighboring kingdom to form a marriage alliance, however the king of this kingdom despises mages. She has to pretend to have no magic and not be caught. Once there she finds herself placed under the guard of the King’s bodyguard, Raven. He is ruthless and efficient when it comes to keeping his king safe, although we find out it is due to a compulsion is said king has placed him under. Yes the same one who hates magic. As Raven and Leisa grow closer, loopholes are found and they form an unlikely alliance.
The Unseen Heir: Leisa and Raven (aka Kyrlon) have returned from Garimore, even it seemed as though no one wanted them too. With new truths learned, loyalties tested, and questionable decisions being made, this book had twists book 1 did not. Leisa and Raven grow so much in this book. Both as individuals and as a couple. Leisa has been betrayed by someone she used to consider a father, leaving her no choice but to flee once again. When bad news from home finds its way to them, they must decide what to put first. Loyalty or love.
The Hidden Queen: Same storyline, different characters. Princess Evaraine and Prince Danric come from kingdoms that are unfriendly with each other. As in books 1 and 2 we still have magic mysteries to be solved. If nothing else, it’s going to be this mystery that keeps me reading so I can finally find out what is going on. These two find themselves drawn to each other as well, but again the question of loyalty or love, brings them to a breaking point.
These books kept me intrigued, the slow burn romance simmered through all 3 books, and there were twists I wasn’t ready for. I enjoyed Kenley’s character development across all 3 books. With 3 more books until everything is wrapped up pretty, I look forward to continuing this journey.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
Tropes:
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Marriage of Convenience
✨Witty Banter
✨Warring Kingdoms
✨Slow Burn
This review is of Vol 1 of Legends of Abreia, which includes the first three books of this series. I am trying something new her and doing a quick review of each one and then overall thoughts. Due to this being three reviews in one, there are spoilers. You’ve been warned!
Faceless Mage: Leisa can change her appearance thanks to her powers as a mage. She is sent to the neighboring kingdom to form a marriage alliance, however the king of this kingdom despises mages. She has to pretend to have no magic and not be caught. Once there she finds herself placed under the guard of the King’s bodyguard, Raven. He is ruthless and efficient when it comes to keeping his king safe, although we find out it is due to a compulsion is said king has placed him under. Yes the same one who hates magic. As Raven and Leisa grow closer, loopholes are found and they form an unlikely alliance.
The Unseen Heir: Leisa and Raven (aka Kyrlon) have returned from Garimore, even it seemed as though no one wanted them too. With new truths learned, loyalties tested, and questionable decisions being made, this book had twists book 1 did not. Leisa and Raven grow so much in this book. Both as individuals and as a couple. Leisa has been betrayed by someone she used to consider a father, leaving her no choice but to flee once again. When bad news from home finds its way to them, they must decide what to put first. Loyalty or love.
The Hidden Queen: Same storyline, different characters. Princess Evaraine and Prince Danric come from kingdoms that are unfriendly with each other. As in books 1 and 2 we still have magic mysteries to be solved. If nothing else, it’s going to be this mystery that keeps me reading so I can finally find out what is going on. These two find themselves drawn to each other as well, but again the question of loyalty or love, brings them to a breaking point.
These books kept me intrigued, the slow burn romance simmered through all 3 books, and there were twists I wasn’t ready for. I enjoyed Kenley’s character development across all 3 books. With 3 more books until everything is wrapped up pretty, I look forward to continuing this journey.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
Tropes:
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Marriage of Convenience
✨Witty Banter
✨Warring Kingdoms
✨Slow Burn
October 16, 2024
"Faceless" begins with a young woman princess named, Evaraine, being asked to visit their neighboring kingdom in order to assess the possibility of an arranged marriage between their kingdoms. However, Evaraine has a weak disposition, so her bodyguard, Leisa, is tasked to go in her place. Leisa is in a unique position to help Evaraine because Leisa is a shape-shifter; she can change her face and body to appear exactly like anyone else. Through the three stories included in this audiobook, Leisa and Evarine are forced to confront their fears and limitations as they navigate the tense political climate with the neighboring kingdom.
Includes:
- elves, fae, shapeshifters, magic casters, wyverns, and more
- three books in one!
- a tortured and broken man
- a kingdom built on lies
- story arcs about believing in oneself
- two kingdoms at odds
- a fight against prejudice and bigotry
- TW: forced servitude
I really enjoyed "Faceless." It was such a treat when I realized it was a collection of three books in one. I particularly enjoyed Leisa's story arc and the way she comes to terms with her abilities and embraces her differences as a strength. I also really appreciated the Raven's POV. His perspective brought so much depth to the storyline and his character was a great example of the downfall of hubris, but also the willingness to grow and change for the better.
All three of these stories are romantasies, but each of the romances are slow burns and take a few appreciated and unexpected turns. The world-building and magic systems aren't particularly impressive, but that's not really the point of these books.
I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Kenley Davidson, and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightin...
Includes:
- elves, fae, shapeshifters, magic casters, wyverns, and more
- three books in one!
- a tortured and broken man
- a kingdom built on lies
- story arcs about believing in oneself
- two kingdoms at odds
- a fight against prejudice and bigotry
- TW: forced servitude
I really enjoyed "Faceless." It was such a treat when I realized it was a collection of three books in one. I particularly enjoyed Leisa's story arc and the way she comes to terms with her abilities and embraces her differences as a strength. I also really appreciated the Raven's POV. His perspective brought so much depth to the storyline and his character was a great example of the downfall of hubris, but also the willingness to grow and change for the better.
All three of these stories are romantasies, but each of the romances are slow burns and take a few appreciated and unexpected turns. The world-building and magic systems aren't particularly impressive, but that's not really the point of these books.
I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Kenley Davidson, and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightin...
October 2, 2024
Political intrigue, high stakes, kingdoms in danger?
The Legends of Abreia is one of the coziest high stakes fantasy I've ever read. Despite the ticking clock, civil unrest and the threat of execution due to lying to the kingdom you're trying to reconcile with before they declare war on you. Of course it's cozy. Makes perfect sense.
The heroines and the heroes bring this plot to life. Leisa, Everaine, Kyrion, and Danric aren't prepared for the depths they are suddenly asked to go to save those they love. But they rise to the challenge anyways. They show that sometimes you aren't ready, you aren't prepared, you are scared - but you do it anyways. Bonus points for the mystery and intrigue - nothing better than trying to ferret out the villains before you end up dead.
Books 1 & 2: The Faceless Mage and The Unseen Heir are a delightful dance of political espionage and a myriad of masks before pulling us out of that circle in an unexpected twist.
Book 3: The Hidden Queen This follows Everaine's path, pulling us back into the ruling circles of the Five Kingdoms, and the true path, duty, and sacrifice of monarch. What is loyalty? To whom do you owe it and when does allegiance and loyalty become the dishonorable course of action?
I will absolutely be reading this again. I loved the plot and the characters are some of my favorites.
The Legends of Abreia is one of the coziest high stakes fantasy I've ever read. Despite the ticking clock, civil unrest and the threat of execution due to lying to the kingdom you're trying to reconcile with before they declare war on you. Of course it's cozy. Makes perfect sense.
The heroines and the heroes bring this plot to life. Leisa, Everaine, Kyrion, and Danric aren't prepared for the depths they are suddenly asked to go to save those they love. But they rise to the challenge anyways. They show that sometimes you aren't ready, you aren't prepared, you are scared - but you do it anyways. Bonus points for the mystery and intrigue - nothing better than trying to ferret out the villains before you end up dead.
Books 1 & 2: The Faceless Mage and The Unseen Heir are a delightful dance of political espionage and a myriad of masks before pulling us out of that circle in an unexpected twist.
Book 3: The Hidden Queen This follows Everaine's path, pulling us back into the ruling circles of the Five Kingdoms, and the true path, duty, and sacrifice of monarch. What is loyalty? To whom do you owe it and when does allegiance and loyalty become the dishonorable course of action?
I will absolutely be reading this again. I loved the plot and the characters are some of my favorites.
October 21, 2024
Absolutely loved these books! I will be purchasing the second box set for the rest of the story!
Publisher's summary
Bodyguard. Mage. Princess. Spy.
The Five Thrones have always been at peace, but rumors have begun to grow. Whispers of armies, of unrest, and of a masked knight murdering mages in cold blood.
To determine the truth of these rumors, a simple bodyguard must become a spy, and test her skills against an sinister assassin while staying one step ahead of a rival king…
While a sheltered princess must accept an arranged marriage with an enigmatic prince who wants nothing to do with her…
They’ve sworn to sacrifice their lives to save their kingdoms, but even that may not be enough. Now, it is only through magic and subterfuge that war can be avoided, and only if they’re willing to risk a far different fate than they ever imagined…
Falling for the enemy.
Faceless contains the first three books of Legends of Abreia, a complete fantasy romance series for listeners who love warring kingdoms, strong, sassy heroines, and epic enemies-to-lovers romance!
- Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
- Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
- Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
Thanks to NetGalley & Page Nine Press for the ALC of this book!
Faceless
By: Kenley Davidson
Narrated by: Vanessa Moyen
Series: Legends of Abreia Series
Length: 23 hrs and 44 mins
Release date: 10-08-24
Publisher: Page Nine Press
Publisher's summary
Bodyguard. Mage. Princess. Spy.
The Five Thrones have always been at peace, but rumors have begun to grow. Whispers of armies, of unrest, and of a masked knight murdering mages in cold blood.
To determine the truth of these rumors, a simple bodyguard must become a spy, and test her skills against an sinister assassin while staying one step ahead of a rival king…
While a sheltered princess must accept an arranged marriage with an enigmatic prince who wants nothing to do with her…
They’ve sworn to sacrifice their lives to save their kingdoms, but even that may not be enough. Now, it is only through magic and subterfuge that war can be avoided, and only if they’re willing to risk a far different fate than they ever imagined…
Falling for the enemy.
Faceless contains the first three books of Legends of Abreia, a complete fantasy romance series for listeners who love warring kingdoms, strong, sassy heroines, and epic enemies-to-lovers romance!
- Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
- Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
- Book 3 - The Hidden Queen
Thanks to NetGalley & Page Nine Press for the ALC of this book!
Faceless
By: Kenley Davidson
Narrated by: Vanessa Moyen
Series: Legends of Abreia Series
Length: 23 hrs and 44 mins
Release date: 10-08-24
Publisher: Page Nine Press
December 8, 2024
Faceless includes the first three books in the Legends of Abreia series. The first two books in the series follow the adventures of Leisa, a bodyguard for the Princess of Farhall. Leisa is a mage, gifted with mirror magic that allows her to take on the face of others. In this case, she takes on the face of Princess Evaraine and travels to the Kingdom of Garimore as a spy to try to discover whether the proposed match between Princess Evaraine and one of the Princes of Garimore is a wise choice for their kingdom. The third book follows Princess Evaraine's adventures traveling to the Kingdom of Garimore herself, dealing with the fallout of the subterfuge and trying to discover what became of the missing Prince of Garimore.
These books were a solid start to the series. They have magic, romance, deception, and interesting characters. My main complaint is that the world doesn't feel super built up within these first few books. They mostly take place inside the castles of the two kingdoms, which makes the stakes feel a bit lower overall. There also isn't very much explained about the whole magic system in general, but I assume that there is more of that in the later books based on the characters they feature. Overall, these are cozy, entertaining fantasy stories that will appeal to fans of romance.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
These books were a solid start to the series. They have magic, romance, deception, and interesting characters. My main complaint is that the world doesn't feel super built up within these first few books. They mostly take place inside the castles of the two kingdoms, which makes the stakes feel a bit lower overall. There also isn't very much explained about the whole magic system in general, but I assume that there is more of that in the later books based on the characters they feature. Overall, these are cozy, entertaining fantasy stories that will appeal to fans of romance.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.
October 6, 2024
I have loved this series since I first read it in individual installments, so this was a no-brainer for me. The only downside is that it's split right in the middle of the series, so you'll need the next installment ASAP. Other than that, I enjoy having all the books combined, and it's great for a long trip when you need a series of books to get you through a flight, car ride, etc. I love Kenley Davidson's poetic way of writing that flawlessly combines wry humor, wit, and heart into a series full of magic, political intrigue, and found family. (And elves, assassins, and many types of weapons.) Oh, and romance—prepare for all the swooning with Kyrion and Danric! While completely separate types of leading men, they're both courageous, loyal, and (eventually) smitten with their fierce heroines (who, bless their hearts, are trying to avoid falling in love because hello, there are kingdoms to save!). And to top it all off, this is a clean series, so while it may be swoony, dark, and serious, it doesn't include things that would make your grandmother blush. Overall, this is an amazing series written by a talented fantasy author. You won't regret reading this book, and if you're like me, you'll be itching for the next installment. ;)
September 10, 2024
You lucky people! You won’t need to wait for these three awesome books like I originally did. Kenley has now released them as a box set. I will now give you my thoughts on each of these books:
Book One- The Faceless Mage: I don't have the words to describe the pleasure it's been to discover and read this book. Leisa shows great strength of character, and I will not give spoilers because you need to experience and feel what I did while reading this amazing book! Meeting Raven is a real experience! Kenley's mind produced a masterpiece and this is only the beginning.
Book Two- The Unseen Heir: This second book of the series does not disappoint; the storyline moves quickly and there are surprises along the way. The character and relationship of Leisa and Kyrion continues to be developed, and the addition of Kyrion's mother adds a great twist. Now on to the next!
Book Three -The Hidden Queen: This book takes us into the relationship of Evaraine and Danric with all its twists, turns and complications. The story is beautifully written with dialogue and thoughts expressed in a way that transcends time and place. If you need more immediately, book four will do it!
Book One- The Faceless Mage: I don't have the words to describe the pleasure it's been to discover and read this book. Leisa shows great strength of character, and I will not give spoilers because you need to experience and feel what I did while reading this amazing book! Meeting Raven is a real experience! Kenley's mind produced a masterpiece and this is only the beginning.
Book Two- The Unseen Heir: This second book of the series does not disappoint; the storyline moves quickly and there are surprises along the way. The character and relationship of Leisa and Kyrion continues to be developed, and the addition of Kyrion's mother adds a great twist. Now on to the next!
Book Three -The Hidden Queen: This book takes us into the relationship of Evaraine and Danric with all its twists, turns and complications. The story is beautifully written with dialogue and thoughts expressed in a way that transcends time and place. If you need more immediately, book four will do it!
September 14, 2024
Books 1-3 in Legends of Abreia series
To state it simply, I adore this series. And, having the first three books in one volume is even better.
A fantasy romance filled with raw emotion from beginning to ending. Fighting for freedom and hoping for change in this journey to defeat a common enemy while forming allies and connections along the way. The love interests throughout the 6 book series focus on 3 different couples, 2 books dedicated to each couple at a time, yet tying them all together in the overall storyline. It's quite brilliant in its development and portrayal.
The characters are well-developed and show continued growth. The world building is very detailed and intricate. The plot is gripping and captivating.
"The ultimate freedom is to choose between hope and despair. As long as you feel you have no option but despair, you will always be a prisoner."
"To know when to attack, when to retreat, and when to call for peace - for a warrior, that is the beginning of wisdom."
"It was an unacknowledged truth that life's least comfortable moments nearly always begin with a lie."
To state it simply, I adore this series. And, having the first three books in one volume is even better.
A fantasy romance filled with raw emotion from beginning to ending. Fighting for freedom and hoping for change in this journey to defeat a common enemy while forming allies and connections along the way. The love interests throughout the 6 book series focus on 3 different couples, 2 books dedicated to each couple at a time, yet tying them all together in the overall storyline. It's quite brilliant in its development and portrayal.
The characters are well-developed and show continued growth. The world building is very detailed and intricate. The plot is gripping and captivating.
"The ultimate freedom is to choose between hope and despair. As long as you feel you have no option but despair, you will always be a prisoner."
"To know when to attack, when to retreat, and when to call for peace - for a warrior, that is the beginning of wisdom."
"It was an unacknowledged truth that life's least comfortable moments nearly always begin with a lie."
October 10, 2024
Kenley Davidson is a master of her craft! If you enjoy epic romantasy without the spice then look no further. This series grabbed my attention from the very first page and held it throughout all six books. I love that it's now available as a box set so that I can immediately jump into the next book when I finish one. Warning for new readers: This series is seriously addictive so do yourself a favor and download both box sets (Faceless and Sundered) at the same time because you will not want to stop reading when you get to the end of Faceless!
Faceless consists of the first three books in the Legends of Abreia series:
* Book 1: The Faceless Mage
* Book 2: The Unseen Heir
* Book 3: The Hidden Queen
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version after I finished re-reading this series and it was spectacular! Vanessa Moyen does an impressive job narrating this book with differing voices and intonations. It was so much fun hearing this series brought to life in such an engaging way.
I highly recommend this series!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ALC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Faceless consists of the first three books in the Legends of Abreia series:
* Book 1: The Faceless Mage
* Book 2: The Unseen Heir
* Book 3: The Hidden Queen
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version after I finished re-reading this series and it was spectacular! Vanessa Moyen does an impressive job narrating this book with differing voices and intonations. It was so much fun hearing this series brought to life in such an engaging way.
I highly recommend this series!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ALC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 4, 2024
Back to Abreia. First off I loved this series and so glad they are in a triple book box, so you can just keep reading.
I have found it hard to have a favourite couple because they were all excellent and all made the story progress beautifully.
Books is this set are:
Faceless Mage
Unseen Heir
And Hidden Queen
Leisa is the MFC in the first two books and Everaine is the MFC in the 3rd and 4th
I do love these two as they are like sisters (not by blood) but it's great to see them grow and become formidable Queens.
I found the night elves interesting Leisa's MMC is well ... Swoon, I loved their chemistry and just was so in to their building romance (these are clean books with a good bit of passion and swoon in my opinion)
The story isn't massively complicated but has a good mix of twists and turns and my favourite a good dose of Adventure!
All the characters cross over in all books so you do get some very good beefed out characters that you can't wait to read more about. Bring on the next 3 book I'm ready!
I have found it hard to have a favourite couple because they were all excellent and all made the story progress beautifully.
Books is this set are:
Faceless Mage
Unseen Heir
And Hidden Queen
Leisa is the MFC in the first two books and Everaine is the MFC in the 3rd and 4th
I do love these two as they are like sisters (not by blood) but it's great to see them grow and become formidable Queens.
I found the night elves interesting Leisa's MMC is well ... Swoon, I loved their chemistry and just was so in to their building romance (these are clean books with a good bit of passion and swoon in my opinion)
The story isn't massively complicated but has a good mix of twists and turns and my favourite a good dose of Adventure!
All the characters cross over in all books so you do get some very good beefed out characters that you can't wait to read more about. Bring on the next 3 book I'm ready!
October 15, 2024
I really enjoyed this audiobook, and the compilation of 3 books was nice but daunting when you look and it says run time is 24hrs
Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
Book 3 - The Hidden Queen (the TOD of the series. IYKYK)
3.75* would be 4, but going into the third book being only about Evaraine and Danric made me wilt a bit.... but I get it, plots and all that.
Leisa goes through it in these books, being sent off by her king to a country that hates her kind (mages) while she thought of him as a father figure. She gets a hostile welcome that was clearly meant to intimidate her into compliance, but my girl Leisa said "hell no" and showed them a thing or two about backbone before escaping back to her butthole of a king.
The Raven - love. What's not to love about a broody bodyguard that can't talk. Duh, he has his own dark backstory and eventually is released from his proverbial chains by Leisa.
All in all, a good fantasy read with a touch of romantasy, but I thiiiiink could also pass as YA
Book 1 - The Faceless Mage
Book 2 - The Unseen Heir
Book 3 - The Hidden Queen (the TOD of the series. IYKYK)
3.75* would be 4, but going into the third book being only about Evaraine and Danric made me wilt a bit.... but I get it, plots and all that.
Leisa goes through it in these books, being sent off by her king to a country that hates her kind (mages) while she thought of him as a father figure. She gets a hostile welcome that was clearly meant to intimidate her into compliance, but my girl Leisa said "hell no" and showed them a thing or two about backbone before escaping back to her butthole of a king.
The Raven - love. What's not to love about a broody bodyguard that can't talk. Duh, he has his own dark backstory and eventually is released from his proverbial chains by Leisa.
All in all, a good fantasy read with a touch of romantasy, but I thiiiiink could also pass as YA
October 3, 2024
Oh. My. Gosh. I will always love diving into a new fantasy world, but I didn’t know what I was getting into when I started “Faceless: Legends of Abreia,” the first of two boxed sets containing the complete Legends of Abreia series.
I want to start off by saying that Kenley Davidson is a new to me author. But after reading this one boxed set alone, I’m now tempted to read her entire backlist! This boxed set was just that good. I literally dropped everything in order to devour it, and I have zero regrets.
I loved the unique setting, the world building, the complicated storyline, the political intrigue, the banter, the tropes… just everything. I think that Davidson is an extremely talented author, and I found her writing style to be absolutely addicting.
I’m so thrilled to have discovered Kenley Davidson’s books, and I will definitely be continuing with the series! I think the Legends of Abreia series is an absolute must for any fantasy romance fan. I highly recommend!
I want to start off by saying that Kenley Davidson is a new to me author. But after reading this one boxed set alone, I’m now tempted to read her entire backlist! This boxed set was just that good. I literally dropped everything in order to devour it, and I have zero regrets.
I loved the unique setting, the world building, the complicated storyline, the political intrigue, the banter, the tropes… just everything. I think that Davidson is an extremely talented author, and I found her writing style to be absolutely addicting.
I’m so thrilled to have discovered Kenley Davidson’s books, and I will definitely be continuing with the series! I think the Legends of Abreia series is an absolute must for any fantasy romance fan. I highly recommend!
October 8, 2024
Three main love stories, each with their own duology, make up the Legends of Abreia series. The books each hold a piece of the overarching storyline, where the man currently sitting on the throne of Garimore works to expand his empire through manipulation and by force. Faceless includes books 1-3: The Faceless Mage, The Unseen Heir, and The Hidden Queen.
I was immediately hooked by this one. Are there maybe small things that could have used some finessing? Sure, but I enjoyed getting swept up into the story.
Read this one if you’re a fan of strong heroines, magic, slow burns, and MMCs that still have things they need to figure out. Romantasy fans, please note that the heat level is kissing only.
Vanessa Moyen’s narration kept me engrossed in the story. I enjoyed her voices for both the male and female characters and how she captured the various emotions the characters experience in the story.
4.75⭐️
I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Dreamscape Select. All review opinions are my own.
I was immediately hooked by this one. Are there maybe small things that could have used some finessing? Sure, but I enjoyed getting swept up into the story.
Read this one if you’re a fan of strong heroines, magic, slow burns, and MMCs that still have things they need to figure out. Romantasy fans, please note that the heat level is kissing only.
Vanessa Moyen’s narration kept me engrossed in the story. I enjoyed her voices for both the male and female characters and how she captured the various emotions the characters experience in the story.
4.75⭐️
I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Dreamscape Select. All review opinions are my own.
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October 9, 2024⚔️Book Review⚔️
First off, this cover is absolutely stunning! I would have bought this just based on the cover.
@lifeisgood.slb put this collection on my radar (got the ebook collection on sale!) and when I saw the audiobook on NetGalley I immediately requested it.
Faceless is comprised of the first three books in the Legends of Abreia series. And it was fantastic! I loved everything about it. All the characters, the plots, the slow burn romances. A terrific Romantasy! You get enemies to more, marriage of convenience, magic, betrayal, hidden identities, she saves him, a wide cast of players in a political tug of war. Very clean, very good!
The audio was also very well done. The narrator was articulate and versatile. Giving life to each character and the story.
I highly recommend this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.
First off, this cover is absolutely stunning! I would have bought this just based on the cover.
@lifeisgood.slb put this collection on my radar (got the ebook collection on sale!) and when I saw the audiobook on NetGalley I immediately requested it.
Faceless is comprised of the first three books in the Legends of Abreia series. And it was fantastic! I loved everything about it. All the characters, the plots, the slow burn romances. A terrific Romantasy! You get enemies to more, marriage of convenience, magic, betrayal, hidden identities, she saves him, a wide cast of players in a political tug of war. Very clean, very good!
The audio was also very well done. The narrator was articulate and versatile. Giving life to each character and the story.
I highly recommend this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.
October 25, 2024
Before I get into the review of the story, the audiobook narrator was so good. I could listen to Vanessa Moyen read anything. She truly captured the essence of each character and it was incredible.
The plot and the magic system were great. The one thing about the writing is I’m not a huge fan of when the dialogue is consistently having the character asking themselves questions. It becomes repetitive and reminding the reader too much of what they already know and could potentially have the reader lose interest, but understandably it is a YA. The more the story unfolded the more I was intrigued to learn about the Raven and was excited for the relationship forming between him and Leisa. Overall, for the audiobook, I love the idea of a series is being put into one purchase. For this series, it is split into two audiobooks three books in each audiobook, which I find very convenient.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The plot and the magic system were great. The one thing about the writing is I’m not a huge fan of when the dialogue is consistently having the character asking themselves questions. It becomes repetitive and reminding the reader too much of what they already know and could potentially have the reader lose interest, but understandably it is a YA. The more the story unfolded the more I was intrigued to learn about the Raven and was excited for the relationship forming between him and Leisa. Overall, for the audiobook, I love the idea of a series is being put into one purchase. For this series, it is split into two audiobooks three books in each audiobook, which I find very convenient.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2024
✨Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!
Let me start by saying that I’m ashamed I have been only reading wildly popular Romantsy novels by well known authors- Not to say that Kenley Davidson isn’t well known, but you get what I’m saying.. I hadn’t personally heard about her on my SM platforms, buuuuttt…
This was a truly amazing slow burn romantasy and I absolutely need the second installment! Definitely going to pick this up on Kindle and Audiobook.
I really love the found family (better late than never in some cases), political intrigue, and romance between a Night Elf and Half Human/Fae Mage...
The narrator did a great job as well so hopefully she continued the second half of the series.
Thank you so much to the publisher for letting me listen to this wonderful series!
Let me start by saying that I’m ashamed I have been only reading wildly popular Romantsy novels by well known authors- Not to say that Kenley Davidson isn’t well known, but you get what I’m saying.. I hadn’t personally heard about her on my SM platforms, buuuuttt…
This was a truly amazing slow burn romantasy and I absolutely need the second installment! Definitely going to pick this up on Kindle and Audiobook.
I really love the found family (better late than never in some cases), political intrigue, and romance between a Night Elf and Half Human/Fae Mage...
The narrator did a great job as well so hopefully she continued the second half of the series.
Thank you so much to the publisher for letting me listen to this wonderful series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2024
These books are amazing!! I mean seriously, they are exceptional fantasy reads! I love that these stories are super plot heavy with a side of romance. Yes, there is tension between the main characters. Yes, there is the push and the pull. There is the "will they or won't they" that I love. But these stories...their overarching plot lines and themes to these books are really what shines the brightest here. I love that each book has it's own immediate story line, while also having the overarching story that ties them all together! The cliffy in book 3 has me salivating for book 4 and I cannot wait to see what happens!
October 17, 2024
Why is this soooo GOOD?!? This is a fantastic high fantasy. It’s easy to follow which sometimes high fantasy isn’t. I cannot comment on some people’s review on the writing because the story and plot were so good I didn’t notice anything else. It’s the first book that has really drawn me in lately. The narrator for the audiobook is solid, although initially I was confused when it switched to the MMC POV, I appreciated that the narrator didn’t try to fake a male voice though. She is easy to listen to and has kept me captivated with the story. For the vibes this is a definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. For my other romance girls, know that romance is a subplot, not the main plot.
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