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Honey and Ice #6
Black Rose and Gold Queen
Underhill has been killed and the only thing standing between all realms and utter destruction by Unbalance and his minions….
Is me.
Named as the new Mistress of Underhill, I must gather those I trust to untangle the deadly riddles or I will be left to face the darkness alone.
The politics of the earth and fae realms, the survival of all, and the remains of my tattered heart will all be decided in a final battle.
But as more and more players enter this war of realms, I realize that things are not what they seemed. If I am to see this through to the end, I must do what my mother asked of me.
Somehow I must embrace a destiny that feels impossible… and give up on a love impossible to deny.
"This duo is nothing short of epic together! You don't want to miss anything Mayer and St Clare put out! I swear they put their stories into a blender, and what comes out is a freaking masterpiece you just never saw coming!"
Reader/Reviewer
Is me.
Named as the new Mistress of Underhill, I must gather those I trust to untangle the deadly riddles or I will be left to face the darkness alone.
The politics of the earth and fae realms, the survival of all, and the remains of my tattered heart will all be decided in a final battle.
But as more and more players enter this war of realms, I realize that things are not what they seemed. If I am to see this through to the end, I must do what my mother asked of me.
Somehow I must embrace a destiny that feels impossible… and give up on a love impossible to deny.
"This duo is nothing short of epic together! You don't want to miss anything Mayer and St Clare put out! I swear they put their stories into a blender, and what comes out is a freaking masterpiece you just never saw coming!"
Reader/Reviewer
Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2024
558 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Mayer
161 books7,246 followersA long time ago, in a galaxy far away, I was born into a family of Star Wars nuts. I have a lot of siblings (somewhere I lost count but I think there was more than could be numbered on one hand) and being one of the young padawans I was subjected to Star Wars marathons, on a regular basis. If you've read any of my books you'll see there is often a reference to said movies as a small homage to my upbringing. May the force be with you and all that jazz.
I started writing when I realized I didn't want to grow up not believing in magic, or not believing in creatures everyone else said didn't exist. That being said, I have never seen a fairy, unicorn or dragon. I had a neighbour who swore they fed the leprechauns in their garden, but I never caught the little buggers no matter how long I lay in wait. (And consequently had to help the neighbours plant new flowers to replace those I killed waiting for the leprechauns to show their faces.)
Along the way, I found my husband who is the rock that keeps me from floating away into my dreams, and we have a little boy who is the centre of our world. Living on a farm keeps us busy (as if the writing wasn't enough) and I have more than my share of stories about wrestling with cows, helping birth calves and ending up in the creek during the process, falling in the mud (we'll call it mud but we all know that on a farm, mud is rarely mud) and chasing escaped livestock in the hopes the four legged convicts don't make it to the highway.
I've taken up archery, and the goal is to move into horseback archery in time (you know, when I can hit the target on a consistent basis) and when no one is looking, I love to bake (this doesn't happen often as it's hard to keep the sweet treats in stock with two boys in the house.)
As to what's coming next for me? More stories (since those never stop inside my head, I might as well share them with all of you!) and more adventures. Pretty much, when the fancy strikes, I'll jump on it. Leap before you look I'm sure that motto was created for me.
Or was that . . . think big and dream bigger, ready, set, pull the trigger . . . yeah. That one is a good one too. But only if you have a gun. And are hunting elephants. Which is not cool because of so many reasons. Let's stick with the first one with an addendum.
Leap before you look and let your dreams carry you on their wings. And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
I started writing when I realized I didn't want to grow up not believing in magic, or not believing in creatures everyone else said didn't exist. That being said, I have never seen a fairy, unicorn or dragon. I had a neighbour who swore they fed the leprechauns in their garden, but I never caught the little buggers no matter how long I lay in wait. (And consequently had to help the neighbours plant new flowers to replace those I killed waiting for the leprechauns to show their faces.)
Along the way, I found my husband who is the rock that keeps me from floating away into my dreams, and we have a little boy who is the centre of our world. Living on a farm keeps us busy (as if the writing wasn't enough) and I have more than my share of stories about wrestling with cows, helping birth calves and ending up in the creek during the process, falling in the mud (we'll call it mud but we all know that on a farm, mud is rarely mud) and chasing escaped livestock in the hopes the four legged convicts don't make it to the highway.
I've taken up archery, and the goal is to move into horseback archery in time (you know, when I can hit the target on a consistent basis) and when no one is looking, I love to bake (this doesn't happen often as it's hard to keep the sweet treats in stock with two boys in the house.)
As to what's coming next for me? More stories (since those never stop inside my head, I might as well share them with all of you!) and more adventures. Pretty much, when the fancy strikes, I'll jump on it. Leap before you look I'm sure that motto was created for me.
Or was that . . . think big and dream bigger, ready, set, pull the trigger . . . yeah. That one is a good one too. But only if you have a gun. And are hunting elephants. Which is not cool because of so many reasons. Let's stick with the first one with an addendum.
Leap before you look and let your dreams carry you on their wings. And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
September 4, 2024
This series has been a wild ride from the beginning, and I’m sad it’s over. I went into this knowing this was the last one, and TBH, I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. And, boy, was I surprised at how it did. I really can’t say too much about this because I don’t want to spoil what happens, and much of what I want to talk about is that, but I can say that I am happy at how it ended. Am I completely happy? No, again can’t say why because of spoilers. LOL! I loved all the characters in this, and they all sort of took a turn…ugh, can’t say anything…LOL! Ok, this is a well-written, heart-breaking, heart-warming, full of action, lots of twists and turns, and above all a great series ender. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
November 3, 2024
Considering this is the last book in the series, I am severely, severely let down.
I didn’t love the first trilogy in this world because I found the story convoluted, full of holes, and confusing as hell. I was so happy going into book 3 of the second trilogy because we went in a different direction, and although this whole 2 lovers absorbed into one thing (I’ll come back to this) was a little weird, the story was pretty decent. But something happened in this book with Keefe and Orry and it just restarted the whole confusing balance nonsense over again. I read the first 2 books in 2 days. This one took me a week. I just couldn't bring myself to be interested at all.
I really, really liked the guys in the first book. The banter was great, the chemistry was there, I was super excited to see where it was going to go. And then Andas. I get it, we all like the morally gray bad guy but Andas wasnt that. He didn’t even feel like a villain to me. Silver played the whole “oh no, you did a terrible thing, but it's just your nature, so I forgive you” card a million and one times and it got old. This dude literally absorbed the two men that she “loved” and then she just… 1. Lets him take over Aaden’s body when they’re messing around (and gets off on it) and 2. Falls in love with the guy and takes his side over two 3 world’s worth of people over and over again.
The worst. The actual worst.
I made it through 6 books, and I can’t really recommend this series. Like… it wasn’t bad. There were some good things to come out of it. But it really wasn’t good, and I can’t say I had a fun time.
I didn’t love the first trilogy in this world because I found the story convoluted, full of holes, and confusing as hell. I was so happy going into book 3 of the second trilogy because we went in a different direction, and although this whole 2 lovers absorbed into one thing (I’ll come back to this) was a little weird, the story was pretty decent. But something happened in this book with Keefe and Orry and it just restarted the whole confusing balance nonsense over again. I read the first 2 books in 2 days. This one took me a week. I just couldn't bring myself to be interested at all.
I really, really liked the guys in the first book. The banter was great, the chemistry was there, I was super excited to see where it was going to go. And then Andas. I get it, we all like the morally gray bad guy but Andas wasnt that. He didn’t even feel like a villain to me. Silver played the whole “oh no, you did a terrible thing, but it's just your nature, so I forgive you” card a million and one times and it got old. This dude literally absorbed the two men that she “loved” and then she just… 1. Lets him take over Aaden’s body when they’re messing around (and gets off on it) and 2. Falls in love with the guy and takes his side over two 3 world’s worth of people over and over again.
The worst. The actual worst.
I made it through 6 books, and I can’t really recommend this series. Like… it wasn’t bad. There were some good things to come out of it. But it really wasn’t good, and I can’t say I had a fun time.
September 18, 2024
I was excited to return to this world for the finale of silvers story. It was definitely worth the wait.
Silver has some very serious life changes and adjusting to those changes is not always comfortable. Especially when you realize not only have you gone through some changes, but the people closest to you have as well. Dealing with all of that can be saddening, maddening, potentially heartbreaking. But silver pushes through so that she can make the hard decisions. Now, as she steps into her role as balance, she is facing the worst enemy yet, unbalance… A combination of both men that she loves. She will do anything that she can in order to restore them to themselves.
This book made me feel many things. I can always expect twists when I read these authors so I went in with little expectations. Some of the twists made me happy some of them made me sad. When you were dealing with balance and unbalanced, you know that you were in for a while ride. I was very happy with , the ending that they were able to make happen.
Silver has some very serious life changes and adjusting to those changes is not always comfortable. Especially when you realize not only have you gone through some changes, but the people closest to you have as well. Dealing with all of that can be saddening, maddening, potentially heartbreaking. But silver pushes through so that she can make the hard decisions. Now, as she steps into her role as balance, she is facing the worst enemy yet, unbalance… A combination of both men that she loves. She will do anything that she can in order to restore them to themselves.
This book made me feel many things. I can always expect twists when I read these authors so I went in with little expectations. Some of the twists made me happy some of them made me sad. When you were dealing with balance and unbalanced, you know that you were in for a while ride. I was very happy with , the ending that they were able to make happen.
September 11, 2024
Returning back to the Honey & Ice series especially in Silver's world was *chef's kiss*. After the last book I was very anxious to see what would happen next, and the author's didn't disappoint. I love this world, and I loved seeing some of the past characters, like Kallick, Faolan, and Cin. There were some unexpected trickster's that threw a wrench in Silver's path. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough! I really enjoyed the banter between Silver and Andas. The complexities between Balanced and Unbalanced and the path ahead of them is tumultuous and I was eager to see what would happen next. Very bittersweet ending and I loved how the title played a part in the story.
September 17, 2024
WHAT A RIDE!!
I absolutely love with this series and this book brings it a masterful conclusion!! The world building is absolutely fantastic and my emotions were all over the place. And I was in it for every word! Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare are amazing together!!
Silver is so strong and smart and now she has to learn to be Underhill. It’s a tough gig. Especially when her heart is broken. But even with a broken heart, for a girl who; for 21 years and had no parent or siblings, the love she carries for all fae, friends and found family is enormous.
Andas…what to say about him. I hate him, love him, hate him. And that’s how it will always be with Unbalance. He finds joy in destruction but is also marveled by Silver and the things she does to outsmart him when she can.
Keefe….Not what he appears to be but then shows his true colors. Grrrrr
Orry, in meeting up with Keefe, becomes a person I didn’t see coming. I don’t think anyone saw it coming, including Orry. I wouldn’t mind seeing an Orry story as she is more complex than once thought.
This series has it ALL!! Action, twists of all kinds, love, loss and everything in between. If that’s your kind of series, this one is for you. If you haven’t started it yet, I hope you start with the first trilogy. You don’t necessarily need it for the second one but the first (besides the fact that it’s amazing as well) will give you the backstories to a lot of the fantastic characters that appear in both trilogies.
I absolutely love with this series and this book brings it a masterful conclusion!! The world building is absolutely fantastic and my emotions were all over the place. And I was in it for every word! Shannon Mayer and Kelly St. Clare are amazing together!!
Silver is so strong and smart and now she has to learn to be Underhill. It’s a tough gig. Especially when her heart is broken. But even with a broken heart, for a girl who; for 21 years and had no parent or siblings, the love she carries for all fae, friends and found family is enormous.
Andas…what to say about him. I hate him, love him, hate him. And that’s how it will always be with Unbalance. He finds joy in destruction but is also marveled by Silver and the things she does to outsmart him when she can.
Keefe….Not what he appears to be but then shows his true colors. Grrrrr
Orry, in meeting up with Keefe, becomes a person I didn’t see coming. I don’t think anyone saw it coming, including Orry. I wouldn’t mind seeing an Orry story as she is more complex than once thought.
This series has it ALL!! Action, twists of all kinds, love, loss and everything in between. If that’s your kind of series, this one is for you. If you haven’t started it yet, I hope you start with the first trilogy. You don’t necessarily need it for the second one but the first (besides the fact that it’s amazing as well) will give you the backstories to a lot of the fantastic characters that appear in both trilogies.
June 11, 2025
If I hear the words balance and unbalance one more time, I'm going to lose it...
Other than that, I'm so damn confused.
There are so many holes I don’t even know where to start.
I said okay, it starts well, promising plot.
First book… okay.
Second one… feels like a memorial list, people keep dying, one by one.
Third one… Lord, please have mercy.
So… how can two people be absorbed into one, and at the end you're just like, oh, but I love you. Okay, got the point… but really?!?!
And what’s with the people dying and coming back… and how do you just never mention either of them, Cormac or Aaden again, and only go with I’ll love you Andas for eternity? I mean, I don’t know. But she got over it too fast and accepted it.
I just don’t know at this point.
The story idea was good, but it felt stretched over three books.
3.5 → 4 (only because of the epilogue part with the birth)
Other than that, I'm so damn confused.
There are so many holes I don’t even know where to start.
I said okay, it starts well, promising plot.
First book… okay.
Second one… feels like a memorial list, people keep dying, one by one.
Third one… Lord, please have mercy.
So… how can two people be absorbed into one, and at the end you're just like, oh, but I love you. Okay, got the point… but really?!?!
And what’s with the people dying and coming back… and how do you just never mention either of them, Cormac or Aaden again, and only go with I’ll love you Andas for eternity? I mean, I don’t know. But she got over it too fast and accepted it.
I just don’t know at this point.
The story idea was good, but it felt stretched over three books.
3.5 → 4 (only because of the epilogue part with the birth)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2024
When I tell you I ate up this ENTIRE series in a week, I am not joking. I could not stop reading them and then I was able to read the 6th and final book of the series.
I have only recently gotten into fantasy and this book has hooked me even more! I can’t wait to dive into even more books.
This final chapter, wow! The author write so beautifully together. Silver has to take on Unbalance and had to take on the toll of Underhill. You root for her the entire series and she continues to be tested and put through it all. In the final series you just want her to get everything she deserves and then some. But will she get it?
I have only recently gotten into fantasy and this book has hooked me even more! I can’t wait to dive into even more books.
This final chapter, wow! The author write so beautifully together. Silver has to take on Unbalance and had to take on the toll of Underhill. You root for her the entire series and she continues to be tested and put through it all. In the final series you just want her to get everything she deserves and then some. But will she get it?
September 15, 2024
Big thanks to the authors for the ARC! The final book in the Honey and Ice series, Black Rose and Gold Queen, was an intense and emotional ride. Silver’s journey as the new Mistress of Underhill leads her to face off against Unbalance and his dark forces, while navigating political intrigue, riddles, and her own heartache. The fate of all realms—both fae and human—hangs in the balance as she fights through one challenge after another.
Returning to familiar characters like Kallick, Faolan, and Cin added depth to the story, while new tricksters brought unexpected twists. The banter between Silver and Andas kept things engaging, and the intricate plot between Balance and Unbalance was nothing short of dramatic.
This series had me hooked from the start, and I’m sad to see it end. The authors did a fantastic job crafting an action-packed, heart-wrenching finale, and I can’t wait to see what they create next. If you’re a fan of fae, realm politics, epic battles, and tension-filled romance, you’ll love this one!
Perfect for fans of:
🏰 Fae & Realm Politics
🐉 Magical Creatures
💥 Epic Battles
🎯 High-Stakes Quests
❤️ Tension-Filled Romance
🎭 Unexpected Twists
Returning to familiar characters like Kallick, Faolan, and Cin added depth to the story, while new tricksters brought unexpected twists. The banter between Silver and Andas kept things engaging, and the intricate plot between Balance and Unbalance was nothing short of dramatic.
This series had me hooked from the start, and I’m sad to see it end. The authors did a fantastic job crafting an action-packed, heart-wrenching finale, and I can’t wait to see what they create next. If you’re a fan of fae, realm politics, epic battles, and tension-filled romance, you’ll love this one!
Perfect for fans of:
🏰 Fae & Realm Politics
🐉 Magical Creatures
💥 Epic Battles
🎯 High-Stakes Quests
❤️ Tension-Filled Romance
🎭 Unexpected Twists
September 29, 2024
Perfectly Perfect! Action and Romance… Intrigue
I love this Series! If you love Passion and Paranormal… Action and Adventure, then this book is for you!
I love each familiar character and the twists and turns of the story. I love the magic and suspense. A book that is difficult to put down!
Check this series out! You won’t be sorry!
I love this Series! If you love Passion and Paranormal… Action and Adventure, then this book is for you!
I love each familiar character and the twists and turns of the story. I love the magic and suspense. A book that is difficult to put down!
Check this series out! You won’t be sorry!
September 8, 2024
This whole series has been amazing, I have been totally sucked into Silver's struggles. and her battle to find love. I cried so many times through this book as every choice lead to harder and harder decisions, but that ending was so good and satisfying. Love it.
March 4, 2025
Okay, I had to finish the series. While there were some great moments, the disjointed writing distracted from the good parts.
The stars are for beetroot tickles…
The stars are for beetroot tickles…
October 14, 2024
Sadly, I had to give up on reading this book. I really loved all the others in the series but this one was just unsettling. Nothing made sense… there was very little character development, just bad things constantly happening. Even when a great thing happened, it was glossed over and the world was ending some other way. Plus, the flowery writing style made it feel like I was reading Shakespeare and having to concentrate to get through the pages. That isn’t an enjoyable read for me, so I actually did something I’ve VERY rarely done. I stopped reading 3/4 of the way through. I don’t even care what the ending is at this point.
September 14, 2024
Unfortunately, Silver’s story just has not drawn me in as much as the initial trilogy with Kallick. I have struggled to connect with Silver this series and, sadly, this continued through the finale. There is a lot of action throughout this novel, which was what I did enjoy, but at times it didn’t even make sense to me what was going on. I was disappointed where a couple of the plot lines went with secondary characters. All that said, I did enjoy the very end of the novel with how things wrapped up, but I will not be revisiting this world.
September 11, 2024
Great ending!
I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time! It was worth the wait! The character development for silver, for all that she endured! I love it when a book can make me cry and boy did this book do it! Must read!
I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time! It was worth the wait! The character development for silver, for all that she endured! I love it when a book can make me cry and boy did this book do it! Must read!
April 7, 2025
Worst of the series for me. Strange, unsatisfying ending that made the whole saga feel pointless.
I binge-read/listened to the first five books about a year ago, pretty early in my romantasy reading journey, but geeze, this one was tough to get through. I was interested in seeing how Silver would take on the challenge promised at the end of the last book:
"The men I loved had become the very monster I was tasked to destroy."
Instead of an actual villain/hero forbidden love while Silver tries to reach the parts of Andas that come from "her men," it felt more like insta-lust: way too horny for the situation and way too little plot for the romance make sense.
Unbalance is supposed to be a return/reincarnation of the villain from the first trilogy and the mastermind of the evils of the first two in Silver's story, so it was surprising that the guy didn't do much other than add a little fuel to the fire of war that's been brewing between humans and fae.
Overall, I thought the story was strangely written ("Their decisions to take realm-sized decisions upon themselves..." is such a weird sentence). The focus being on the "forbidden romance" minimized the stakes, even though three realms would be impacted by the outcome. It felt like the whole point of the book was to have a couple of lackluster sex scenes with an unearned romance.
Considering this is the last of Silver's story (and the Honey & Ice series?), the ending was disappointing. How do we wrap up 6 books worth of good versus evil, balance versus unbalance, humans versus fae?
[spoilers]
“We'll stop the *true* bad guy, (that we just introduced), by manipulating his love for his adopted daughter, (that he used to have sex with), to get him to drink wine, but then I'll stop him from drinking it, and... actually we won't defeat him, we'll just let him exist as a middle-man so we don't hate each other.
~Time jump~ and that human vs fae war is still going on, but we're gonna fu*k for a week while there's a cease-fire and then our kid will fix things in 50 years. The end."
... so...
I binge-read/listened to the first five books about a year ago, pretty early in my romantasy reading journey, but geeze, this one was tough to get through. I was interested in seeing how Silver would take on the challenge promised at the end of the last book:
"The men I loved had become the very monster I was tasked to destroy."
Instead of an actual villain/hero forbidden love while Silver tries to reach the parts of Andas that come from "her men," it felt more like insta-lust: way too horny for the situation and way too little plot for the romance make sense.
Unbalance is supposed to be a return/reincarnation of the villain from the first trilogy and the mastermind of the evils of the first two in Silver's story, so it was surprising that the guy didn't do much other than add a little fuel to the fire of war that's been brewing between humans and fae.
Overall, I thought the story was strangely written ("Their decisions to take realm-sized decisions upon themselves..." is such a weird sentence). The focus being on the "forbidden romance" minimized the stakes, even though three realms would be impacted by the outcome. It felt like the whole point of the book was to have a couple of lackluster sex scenes with an unearned romance.
Considering this is the last of Silver's story (and the Honey & Ice series?), the ending was disappointing. How do we wrap up 6 books worth of good versus evil, balance versus unbalance, humans versus fae?
[spoilers]
“We'll stop the *true* bad guy, (that we just introduced), by manipulating his love for his adopted daughter, (that he used to have sex with), to get him to drink wine, but then I'll stop him from drinking it, and... actually we won't defeat him, we'll just let him exist as a middle-man so we don't hate each other.
~Time jump~ and that human vs fae war is still going on, but we're gonna fu*k for a week while there's a cease-fire and then our kid will fix things in 50 years. The end."
... so...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2024
I love this series and this book just made the series even more enjoyable. The world building is fantastic and the character development is wonderful. I love it when an author can pull so many emotions from me.
Silver, she is strong, tough, smart, kicks butt and has so much love inside of her. She never gives up on the ones she loves. My heart broke for her and I found myself cheering her on when she had to make the tough decisions.
Andas, the bad boy you hate and then love and then hate again, only to end up loving him again. He is truly the unbalance of the realms.
Keefe, Grrr.... total bad guy and yet you come to understand him a bit better before the end of the book.
Orry, wow! she is such a complex character on her own. The history with Silver and all that happens to them in this book, just pulls at your heart.
I was so happy that I actually cried when an old friend shows back up in this book.
If you love a book with action, love, twists, life and death choices, and one that pulls at your heart this one is for you.
If you have not yet read this series, I encourage you to start at the beginning, it will give you a better understanding of exactly what is going on. You can read this one without reading the other books, but I do not think you will have the same deep connection with the characters as you would if you have read one or more of the other books. You can start the series with the first book, " A Court of Honey and Ash" the first book in the Honey and Ice series.
Silver, she is strong, tough, smart, kicks butt and has so much love inside of her. She never gives up on the ones she loves. My heart broke for her and I found myself cheering her on when she had to make the tough decisions.
Andas, the bad boy you hate and then love and then hate again, only to end up loving him again. He is truly the unbalance of the realms.
Keefe, Grrr.... total bad guy and yet you come to understand him a bit better before the end of the book.
Orry, wow! she is such a complex character on her own. The history with Silver and all that happens to them in this book, just pulls at your heart.
I was so happy that I actually cried when an old friend shows back up in this book.
If you love a book with action, love, twists, life and death choices, and one that pulls at your heart this one is for you.
If you have not yet read this series, I encourage you to start at the beginning, it will give you a better understanding of exactly what is going on. You can read this one without reading the other books, but I do not think you will have the same deep connection with the characters as you would if you have read one or more of the other books. You can start the series with the first book, " A Court of Honey and Ash" the first book in the Honey and Ice series.
September 15, 2024
Book: Black Rose and Gold Queen
Series: Honey and Ice, Book 6
Author: Shannon Meyer and Kelly St. Clare
Will You Read More From This Author: Yes
Completed Series: Yes
So I loved the book! It was fun and I really didn’t see how the book would come to an end. I love it when my theories are proven wrong! It makes for a fun read. I will say that with the number of books I read, I struggled in the beginning. They jump right back into it, which is great for a binge read, but hard on a returning reader. I would have loved a quick reminder of who was who and maybe a summary of what happened in books 1-5. I have no complaints other than that. Now that the series is finished, go binge this set! It will make you laugh and surprise you! It is on KU for those who use that platform.
Because I struggled with who each character was (my fault, not the authors’), I struggled in the beginning to remember the characters. But once I did! Man, they were all great! I can’t talk about a few of them, because I don’t want to ruin the reveals, but I still loved Orry and Silver is a crack-up. I love how she gives zero Fs and at the same time, cares for everyone. It is a beautiful balance See what I did there? IYKYK
This is a slow burn. So, nothing too crazy happens. It is more of a will they or won’t they. Spoiling it for you would be no fun! There are two scenes and a kiss if I counted correctly.
Triggers: Violence, sexual conduct, and war. I wasn’t triggered at all, but for you sensitive types I hope this helps
Series: Honey and Ice, Book 6
Author: Shannon Meyer and Kelly St. Clare
Will You Read More From This Author: Yes
Completed Series: Yes
So I loved the book! It was fun and I really didn’t see how the book would come to an end. I love it when my theories are proven wrong! It makes for a fun read. I will say that with the number of books I read, I struggled in the beginning. They jump right back into it, which is great for a binge read, but hard on a returning reader. I would have loved a quick reminder of who was who and maybe a summary of what happened in books 1-5. I have no complaints other than that. Now that the series is finished, go binge this set! It will make you laugh and surprise you! It is on KU for those who use that platform.
Because I struggled with who each character was (my fault, not the authors’), I struggled in the beginning to remember the characters. But once I did! Man, they were all great! I can’t talk about a few of them, because I don’t want to ruin the reveals, but I still loved Orry and Silver is a crack-up. I love how she gives zero Fs and at the same time, cares for everyone. It is a beautiful balance See what I did there? IYKYK
This is a slow burn. So, nothing too crazy happens. It is more of a will they or won’t they. Spoiling it for you would be no fun! There are two scenes and a kiss if I counted correctly.
Triggers: Violence, sexual conduct, and war. I wasn’t triggered at all, but for you sensitive types I hope this helps
September 11, 2024
Black Rose and Gold Queen is the 6th and final book in the Honey and Ice series by Kelly St Clare and Shannon Mayer. And what an ending it is.
Reeling from betrayal and loss, Silver must find a way to protect all the peoples and creatures of the Fae realms from the darkness of unbalance that threatens them.
Now, face to face with unbalance - Andas, Silver must fight against the destruction Andas creates, knowing that killing him will bring about her greatest pain.
What I love about this story, and high fantasy in general, is at it's very core, are the fundamentals of the human condition. Yes, it's fiction and fictionalized, but life and death, birth and rebirth, war and peace, love and hate, is the ebb and flow of human civilizations that have risen and fallen. What Mayer and St Clare have given us in the Honey and Ice series, and especially Black Rose and Gold Queen, is an epic story of perseverance in the face seemingly impossible odds.
Don't get me wrong, there are still snarky, foul mouthed side kicks and beetroot tickles. There are laughs and lust. And there are beautiful passages where the words will take your breath away. That's the beauty of fantasy, and of these two authors specifically.
To paraphrase a snarky, foul mouthed, side kick, hurry the fricky deedle dum up and read the masterful conclusion to the Honey and Ice Series
Reeling from betrayal and loss, Silver must find a way to protect all the peoples and creatures of the Fae realms from the darkness of unbalance that threatens them.
Now, face to face with unbalance - Andas, Silver must fight against the destruction Andas creates, knowing that killing him will bring about her greatest pain.
What I love about this story, and high fantasy in general, is at it's very core, are the fundamentals of the human condition. Yes, it's fiction and fictionalized, but life and death, birth and rebirth, war and peace, love and hate, is the ebb and flow of human civilizations that have risen and fallen. What Mayer and St Clare have given us in the Honey and Ice series, and especially Black Rose and Gold Queen, is an epic story of perseverance in the face seemingly impossible odds.
Don't get me wrong, there are still snarky, foul mouthed side kicks and beetroot tickles. There are laughs and lust. And there are beautiful passages where the words will take your breath away. That's the beauty of fantasy, and of these two authors specifically.
To paraphrase a snarky, foul mouthed, side kick, hurry the fricky deedle dum up and read the masterful conclusion to the Honey and Ice Series
September 12, 2024
Knowing this was likely the last in the series, I struggled. I didn't want it to end! Even writing this review makes it more real that the story has finally concluded. Yes, this is a worthy conclusion to a tale that has enraptured so many. I'm sad it's over. There are surprises to be found within the pages that will make your heart glad, and some that will make your heart weep. “Black Rose and Gold Queen” returns us to the world of the fae trying to fit in with humanity. In this final installment, we see Silver, now Underhill, desperately trying to navigate her loss of loved ones, discovery of her own abilities, politics, and the rivalry of the ages with Unbalance. To see how much she's grown over six books is actually amazing! The amount of heartache and happiness is finely balanced, proving that even the authors know the world requires a little of both! While I'm sad to see and end of this story, I am happy to say that I finished the book feeling that the story's potential was realized beyond what I had hoped for! A definite beach read!
September 16, 2024
This world has been amazing from the start. I was drawn in from page one of A Court of Honey and Ash and flew through each consecutive book. I have anxiously awaited the release of this finale and it was absolutely worth the wait. I loved seeing so many old faces in this book from the first half of the series. And the twists and turns and roller coaster of complexities that made this story had my heart in a vice grip. I adored the banter between Silver and Andas and the unexpected but needed closure Silver got for her men. The epic betrayal from a so-called friend and the introduction of a new villain who was wily and devious had me on the edge of my seat. And that ending…boy was it bittersweet. But it was honestly the perfect way to close this series.
🩶Balance vs Unbalance
💛Light vs darkness
🖤Betrayal
🩶Loss
💛Slow burn
🖤Fae
🩶The Chosen One
💛Morally Black MMC
🖤The Quest
🩶Magic
💛Found Family
🖤Fantastical creatures
🩶Enemies to lovers
“𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓌𝑒’𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝒶𝓉 𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓉,” he hissed. “𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂 ℐ’𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓁 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒾𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑒𝓃𝒹. 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉.”
🩶Balance vs Unbalance
💛Light vs darkness
🖤Betrayal
🩶Loss
💛Slow burn
🖤Fae
🩶The Chosen One
💛Morally Black MMC
🖤The Quest
🩶Magic
💛Found Family
🖤Fantastical creatures
🩶Enemies to lovers
“𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓌𝑒’𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝒶𝓉 𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓉,” he hissed. “𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂 ℐ’𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓁 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒾𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑒𝓃𝒹. 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉.”
September 12, 2024
An epic ending for an epic fantasy!
I’m glad the last book was from Silver’s point of view while also sprinkling in a heap of Kallik, Cin, and all our favorite characters!
Now that Unbalance’s minions have been defeated Silver must navigate how, if any way, it’ll be possible to co-exist with Andras as she still cannot give up the loves of her life. She is forced to make a profound decision in saving the Fae from Andras and sends the worlds into turmoil.
Several new battles ensue, several heart lurches both good and bad, and by the end of the wild ride you’re left gawking at what remains!
Some parts tie up into neat little bows ready for the reader to open the gift, while other parts feel like a rushed wrap job to ensure an ending and that is the only reason I gave it 4 stars.
While I know this is the final book in the series, it’s open ended enough to potentially have a spin off one day!
I’m glad the last book was from Silver’s point of view while also sprinkling in a heap of Kallik, Cin, and all our favorite characters!
Now that Unbalance’s minions have been defeated Silver must navigate how, if any way, it’ll be possible to co-exist with Andras as she still cannot give up the loves of her life. She is forced to make a profound decision in saving the Fae from Andras and sends the worlds into turmoil.
Several new battles ensue, several heart lurches both good and bad, and by the end of the wild ride you’re left gawking at what remains!
Some parts tie up into neat little bows ready for the reader to open the gift, while other parts feel like a rushed wrap job to ensure an ending and that is the only reason I gave it 4 stars.
While I know this is the final book in the series, it’s open ended enough to potentially have a spin off one day!
September 10, 2024
Black Rose and Gold Queen is the action packed conclusion to The Honey and Ice Series by Shannon Mayer and Kelly St Clare.
I am not going to go into big details about the synopsis, to avoid spoilers for the series but this book perfectly wrapped up storylines from this trilogy and the original trilogy nicely. I feel like the ending left things a little open for a possible future storyline too.
Silver had a wild ride throughout the entire trilogy, but this final book was full of twists and turns. There was constant drama and action throughout the book and never a dull moment. I really love how the characters from the previous trilogy were integrated into this story and felt like Silver really stepped into her role. The story was a rollercoaster of emotions…love, loss and found family.
If you are looking for a binge-worthy series, I highly recommend the Honey and Ice Series.
Thank you to Shannon Mayer and Kelly St Clare for gifting me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I am not going to go into big details about the synopsis, to avoid spoilers for the series but this book perfectly wrapped up storylines from this trilogy and the original trilogy nicely. I feel like the ending left things a little open for a possible future storyline too.
Silver had a wild ride throughout the entire trilogy, but this final book was full of twists and turns. There was constant drama and action throughout the book and never a dull moment. I really love how the characters from the previous trilogy were integrated into this story and felt like Silver really stepped into her role. The story was a rollercoaster of emotions…love, loss and found family.
If you are looking for a binge-worthy series, I highly recommend the Honey and Ice Series.
Thank you to Shannon Mayer and Kelly St Clare for gifting me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2024
What an explosive and phenomenal way to conclude this amazing series!
We are thrown right back into this magical world filled with unique characters, magical beings, good and evil and everything in between.
There wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t on the edge of my seat as I devoured every incredible moment of this final story. I was on the edge the whole way through, biting my nails with anxiety and holding my breath until the end.
The story was packed with intense action, adrenaline inducing moments, shocking twists and turns, and emotional ups and downs that either had me laughing or crying! And I could not get enough of it.
From beginning to end this was one hell of a wild and incredibly bumpy rollercoaster ride that builds and builds until we get to one hell of an exceptionally epic ending.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!
We are thrown right back into this magical world filled with unique characters, magical beings, good and evil and everything in between.
There wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t on the edge of my seat as I devoured every incredible moment of this final story. I was on the edge the whole way through, biting my nails with anxiety and holding my breath until the end.
The story was packed with intense action, adrenaline inducing moments, shocking twists and turns, and emotional ups and downs that either had me laughing or crying! And I could not get enough of it.
From beginning to end this was one hell of a wild and incredibly bumpy rollercoaster ride that builds and builds until we get to one hell of an exceptionally epic ending.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!
September 10, 2024
Black Rose review
And, just like that we are back in the world of Kallik and Silver! Gaia states that Time is a predator. That’s hard to believe given the talents of our authors. Balance versis Unbalance, Good versis Evil and Black versis White. These are not quite the sum total of existence. There are many shades of grey that determine whether there is war or peace, happiness or sadness. Silver and Andas struggle mightily through their duties and feelings. Mistakes are made. Justice is meted out. Suffering is inevitable.
Sigella says to Silver: “If Orlaith's time with you is done, then nothing you do will change that" Relationships are not always easy. However, the ending shows us that no matter what path is followed, at least these characters end up where they were meant to be.
And, just like that we are back in the world of Kallik and Silver! Gaia states that Time is a predator. That’s hard to believe given the talents of our authors. Balance versis Unbalance, Good versis Evil and Black versis White. These are not quite the sum total of existence. There are many shades of grey that determine whether there is war or peace, happiness or sadness. Silver and Andas struggle mightily through their duties and feelings. Mistakes are made. Justice is meted out. Suffering is inevitable.
Sigella says to Silver: “If Orlaith's time with you is done, then nothing you do will change that" Relationships are not always easy. However, the ending shows us that no matter what path is followed, at least these characters end up where they were meant to be.
September 11, 2024
This is it. The final book in the series. Are you ready to say goodbye to these characters? We weren't, yet here we are.
The final showdown has finally come. Silver has been through so much throughout this series, and you can't help but feel that it's time for our girl to catch a break. Well, she won't be catching one anytime soon. Brace yourself to say goodbye to more than one character as this book goes along. Yes, there will be tears and heartbreak, but the ending? The ending is going to give you all the feels.
This book is a rollercoaster. You just don't know which way things are going to go, and that makes this story a page-turner. As Silver has become Balance and Andas is Unbalance the chaos is rampant, and sacrifices must be made. It truly makes for a riveting story.
This book and series broke my heart, but it is absolutely worth reading and one you won't forget any time soon.
The final showdown has finally come. Silver has been through so much throughout this series, and you can't help but feel that it's time for our girl to catch a break. Well, she won't be catching one anytime soon. Brace yourself to say goodbye to more than one character as this book goes along. Yes, there will be tears and heartbreak, but the ending? The ending is going to give you all the feels.
This book is a rollercoaster. You just don't know which way things are going to go, and that makes this story a page-turner. As Silver has become Balance and Andas is Unbalance the chaos is rampant, and sacrifices must be made. It truly makes for a riveting story.
This book and series broke my heart, but it is absolutely worth reading and one you won't forget any time soon.
September 17, 2024
✨Exciting and Heartbreaking All At Once✨
I absolutely LOVED diving into this fantastical world again. Silver, and *all* these characters are so multifaceted, complex, rich, and colorful. Filled with so many layers, this reader enjoyed taking the ride and discovering new morsels every step of the way.
Silver is such a dynamic FMC. Resilient, fierce, loyal, determined, and feels things more deeply than people are aware. The perfect person to be chosen as Underhill's protector- for she will give it everything within her and then some. Anything to save it, and faerie kind. Friends and allies unite to fight a common foe. Pain, loss, sacrifice, trials and tribulations, and more test our band of monarchs, family, friends, and allies as they battle for faerie. Twists and turns, riddles and surprises at every turn- it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I absolutely LOVED diving into this fantastical world again. Silver, and *all* these characters are so multifaceted, complex, rich, and colorful. Filled with so many layers, this reader enjoyed taking the ride and discovering new morsels every step of the way.
Silver is such a dynamic FMC. Resilient, fierce, loyal, determined, and feels things more deeply than people are aware. The perfect person to be chosen as Underhill's protector- for she will give it everything within her and then some. Anything to save it, and faerie kind. Friends and allies unite to fight a common foe. Pain, loss, sacrifice, trials and tribulations, and more test our band of monarchs, family, friends, and allies as they battle for faerie. Twists and turns, riddles and surprises at every turn- it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
September 10, 2024
This has been one hell of a series and one hell of a ride and this final book is absolutely what we needed. Fate paced and action packed as we dive back into this incredible world these authors designed just for us and our feet do not touch the ground. Action filled and full of adventure, magic and twists and turns that keep you spinning as we rejoin Silver on her incredible journey. We have laughed with her, we have definitely cried with her and we have grown and watched her grow and totally kick ass. She is a fantastic character that has definitely been through the mill and still comes out swinging and the ending is epic as the authors bring everything together for a finale worthy of this series.
September 10, 2024
Underhill is back in this continuous series of World of Honey and Ice.
Silver is a very strong daughter of Underhill. She was kidnapped and treated horribly. But she didn't let that keep her down, that's when her badness came out. The Queen of Underhill, Silvers Mom, got killed. Now it's up to Silver to prove she's worthy of following in her mom's footsteps.....
Boy is she worthy. The trials that is throwed at her is something else. Sometimes she doesn't know which is up or down. But when she figures it out she kicks some booty.
She proves herself over and over. She is worthy of her title, but she has to fight for it and keep good and evil in balance......
I very highly recomend this book and the whole series.....
They are all full of awesomeness.....
Silver is a very strong daughter of Underhill. She was kidnapped and treated horribly. But she didn't let that keep her down, that's when her badness came out. The Queen of Underhill, Silvers Mom, got killed. Now it's up to Silver to prove she's worthy of following in her mom's footsteps.....
Boy is she worthy. The trials that is throwed at her is something else. Sometimes she doesn't know which is up or down. But when she figures it out she kicks some booty.
She proves herself over and over. She is worthy of her title, but she has to fight for it and keep good and evil in balance......
I very highly recomend this book and the whole series.....
They are all full of awesomeness.....
September 16, 2024
This is the last book in the Honey and Ice series. If you have not read the previous books, I would suggest reading them before you read this book. I love this book and if it wasn’t for my newborn, I would have finished it in one sitting! This book takes you on an emotional roller coaster with a little bit of slow burn slice! The plot is fast paced and action packed although there are several plot points that I did not see coming. I love when a book can surprise me!
As always, Shannon and Kelly did a beautiful job with the characters and the world building, especially with this being the last book in the series. I love books with strong female characters! They made sure to wrap up the story lines of all the characters, including a very satisfying ending for our two main characters.
As always, Shannon and Kelly did a beautiful job with the characters and the world building, especially with this being the last book in the series. I love books with strong female characters! They made sure to wrap up the story lines of all the characters, including a very satisfying ending for our two main characters.
September 18, 2024
At the ending of the last book "Ivy Touched and Bronze Blade" my heart was breaking , I had so many questions, so many moments through out the series where I was like dude what else can happen to them...by the end of this book my heart was happy. I can't tell you how desperately I wanted there to be a happy ending . How much I wanted Silver to get closure to come into her own to find and keep the things she had missed growing up. Honestly I have never read a more beautifully done series ending book. We get every loose end woven in , and we get to see why all the things had to happen as they did. We get an ending that doesn't leave us wondering or aching. I completely adored this series and I loved this book.
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