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The Red Woman and the White Bear #1
The Red Woman and the White Bear
It is both the fate and the burden of the Red Woman to bring peace.
The Fae are real—this is a fact that Aisling Morrow has believed with varying degrees of certainty since she was a child. Her late mother’s accounts of their beauty still linger in her mind, but always with the Do not involve yourself uninvited with matters of the Fae. Aisling has no plans to do so—until she discovers an arcane prophecy which names her the Red Woman, destined to turn the tides of war in the realm of Wyldraíocht by ensuring the fall of the Unseelie Court.
On a quest to understand her role, Aisling ventures into Wyldraíocht. Except Fae prophecies aren’t so easily interpreted, and she is soon ensnared in a dangerous web of political machinations, opposing religions, and dark magic—at the center of which stands the fierce and vengeful Unseelie King.
King Kael Ardhen, a vessel for raw power bestowed upon him by an eldritch god, is consumed by his own unbridled rage—a rage which he would not hesitate to turn on the human woman prophesied to destroy his court. Yet something about the way Aisling calls to his shadows draws him in, at once both granting him control over his violent magic and inviting him to relinquish control over his guarded heart.
As unsettling truths about the world her mother so loved challenge Aisling’s convictions and call into question the true purpose of the Red Woman, the Veil between realms grows ever weaker with the echoes of war. Soon, the crueler sorts of Fae will no longer be confined to Wyldraíocht. With time running out to protect those she loves, Aisling finds herself at the crossroads of fate and choice—and the ultimate price of peace may demand more than she is willing to pay.
The Fae are real—this is a fact that Aisling Morrow has believed with varying degrees of certainty since she was a child. Her late mother’s accounts of their beauty still linger in her mind, but always with the Do not involve yourself uninvited with matters of the Fae. Aisling has no plans to do so—until she discovers an arcane prophecy which names her the Red Woman, destined to turn the tides of war in the realm of Wyldraíocht by ensuring the fall of the Unseelie Court.
On a quest to understand her role, Aisling ventures into Wyldraíocht. Except Fae prophecies aren’t so easily interpreted, and she is soon ensnared in a dangerous web of political machinations, opposing religions, and dark magic—at the center of which stands the fierce and vengeful Unseelie King.
King Kael Ardhen, a vessel for raw power bestowed upon him by an eldritch god, is consumed by his own unbridled rage—a rage which he would not hesitate to turn on the human woman prophesied to destroy his court. Yet something about the way Aisling calls to his shadows draws him in, at once both granting him control over his violent magic and inviting him to relinquish control over his guarded heart.
As unsettling truths about the world her mother so loved challenge Aisling’s convictions and call into question the true purpose of the Red Woman, the Veil between realms grows ever weaker with the echoes of war. Soon, the crueler sorts of Fae will no longer be confined to Wyldraíocht. With time running out to protect those she loves, Aisling finds herself at the crossroads of fate and choice—and the ultimate price of peace may demand more than she is willing to pay.
508 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2024
87 people are currently reading
2689 people want to read
About the author
Fern A. Ellis
3 books59 followersBased out of Virginia but currently living in Africa, Fern A. Ellis is a 31-year-old author whose writing is heavily rooted in nature, inspired by a childhood spent in the forests and mountains of the Pacific Northwest—which she considers to be one of the last places on earth where real magic still exists. When she isn't writing, Fern spends her free time adventuring with her very own White Bear, a nine-year-old goldendoodle named Newt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
September 24, 2024
The Red Woman and the White Bear is an impressive debut fantasy romance that had me intrigued from the first sentence. It is full of my favorite tropes like enemies to lovers, forbidden love, slow burn, hurt x comfort care, but why were all done in a way that felt natural and integral to both the characters and the story.
Aisling is a human woman who has always had an interest in the fae realms, thanks to her mother's mysterious infatuation. When she and Briar, her Great Pyrenees dog are drawn into the Fae world she learns of a prophecy that marks her as the Red Woman who will turn the tides of the war and insure the fall of the Unseelie Court.
But not everything is as it appears, and she quickly learns that even though King Kael, while fierce and vengeful, might have good reason to be. Once she starts to see past his armor and hard outer shell, she realizes what she has been called to do might end up breaking her heart in the process.
I was so in love with this story, the characters are fully fleshed out, this had the most tension filled slow burn that also felt surprisingly sweet at times, and the overall plot and fantasy world was very well thought out and easy to understand without being too simplistic.
Fern's writing style leans into description, which really suits the tone of this romantasy and gives the book an ethereal, otherworldly feel that also feels grounded in the natural world.
I loved it, and I can not wait for book 2!
I received an ARC for review.
Aisling is a human woman who has always had an interest in the fae realms, thanks to her mother's mysterious infatuation. When she and Briar, her Great Pyrenees dog are drawn into the Fae world she learns of a prophecy that marks her as the Red Woman who will turn the tides of the war and insure the fall of the Unseelie Court.
But not everything is as it appears, and she quickly learns that even though King Kael, while fierce and vengeful, might have good reason to be. Once she starts to see past his armor and hard outer shell, she realizes what she has been called to do might end up breaking her heart in the process.
I was so in love with this story, the characters are fully fleshed out, this had the most tension filled slow burn that also felt surprisingly sweet at times, and the overall plot and fantasy world was very well thought out and easy to understand without being too simplistic.
Fern's writing style leans into description, which really suits the tone of this romantasy and gives the book an ethereal, otherworldly feel that also feels grounded in the natural world.
I loved it, and I can not wait for book 2!
I received an ARC for review.
November 11, 2024
4.25⭐️ This was so good! Unseelie and Seelie both depicted as morally gray. The characters were written so well. I need book 2, I am not ok after that ending.
November 10, 2024
“It is both the fate and the burden of the Red Woman to bring peace.”
FINALLY a book that depicts the Unseelie AND the Seelie as morally grey, or even morally black. Red Woman and the White Bear is an adult version of the vibes of The Folk of the Air trilogy with all the angst of Beyond the Aching Door or Jane Eyre. Aisling never thought her mother was right about the fae until she saved one, thus throwing her headfirst into a prophecy in which she is the Red Woman destined to end the war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. The prophecy claims she must be the undoing of the Unseelie King, Kael. Aisling conspires with her changeling best friend, Rodney, to seduce the King. Things go awry. The Unseelie Court is as cruel as she’s lead to believe. Some strange circumstances lead Aisling to question the true intentions of Kael. The Seelie Court isn’t as it seems. Aisling must untangle a web of magicked glamor, deceit, and fae politics while questioning who is on the right side of the prophecy.
Y’all. It was so good. I gobbled up the 400+ page book in less than two days. I adore all the characters, especially the complexity of Aisling and of Kael. The world building borrows from Celtic mythology in an urban setting. The different Courts are beautifully rendered. The magic is great. There’s a shadow daddy but not in the typical silly romantasy way, more like in the terrifying, heads will literally roll way. The concept of religion amongst the fae is well written. Ellis explores the clashing religions as if they were real, such as capitalization of names such as The Low One. The characters actually buy into the religion. I know that sounds weird, but it was different. I enjoy that aspect of the story. And don’t get me started on the romance. It was top tier- full of angst, longing, and the sweetest moments.
Reading this book leaves me struggling with an existential crisis. That ending was cruel. I need the next book so to mend the wounds Ellis gave me in the last few chapters.
Thank you Fern Ellis for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
FINALLY a book that depicts the Unseelie AND the Seelie as morally grey, or even morally black. Red Woman and the White Bear is an adult version of the vibes of The Folk of the Air trilogy with all the angst of Beyond the Aching Door or Jane Eyre. Aisling never thought her mother was right about the fae until she saved one, thus throwing her headfirst into a prophecy in which she is the Red Woman destined to end the war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. The prophecy claims she must be the undoing of the Unseelie King, Kael. Aisling conspires with her changeling best friend, Rodney, to seduce the King. Things go awry. The Unseelie Court is as cruel as she’s lead to believe. Some strange circumstances lead Aisling to question the true intentions of Kael. The Seelie Court isn’t as it seems. Aisling must untangle a web of magicked glamor, deceit, and fae politics while questioning who is on the right side of the prophecy.
Y’all. It was so good. I gobbled up the 400+ page book in less than two days. I adore all the characters, especially the complexity of Aisling and of Kael. The world building borrows from Celtic mythology in an urban setting. The different Courts are beautifully rendered. The magic is great. There’s a shadow daddy but not in the typical silly romantasy way, more like in the terrifying, heads will literally roll way. The concept of religion amongst the fae is well written. Ellis explores the clashing religions as if they were real, such as capitalization of names such as The Low One. The characters actually buy into the religion. I know that sounds weird, but it was different. I enjoy that aspect of the story. And don’t get me started on the romance. It was top tier- full of angst, longing, and the sweetest moments.
Reading this book leaves me struggling with an existential crisis. That ending was cruel. I need the next book so to mend the wounds Ellis gave me in the last few chapters.
Thank you Fern Ellis for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2024
✨”He didn't think when he reached out for her either, and cupped her cheek, or when he brought his lips crashing down onto hers in a fierce and fiery collision.
It was a kiss borne of frustration, of anger, of a passion that had long simmered beneath the surface.”✨🖤
Wow, this was such a fun and unique read!! I was shook several times by the events that unfolded!
TRW&TWB is a fae fantasy that intermingles with real/human world. The FMC is forced into a world of fantasy in order to help fulfill a prohecy that is as vague as her current life plans. She tries to find her role in this new place full of choas and war, before it ends her and the human realm.
✨beautifully descriptive vibes- earthy, magical
✨dual pov
✨true enemies to lovers
✨soft for only her
✨fae courts battle for power
✨spice is classy & emotional, lower scale descriptive
✨high romantic tension❤️🔥
Thank you so much to the author, Fern A. Ellis for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for my honest review. I am so curious to find out what develops in book 2!
It was a kiss borne of frustration, of anger, of a passion that had long simmered beneath the surface.”✨🖤
Wow, this was such a fun and unique read!! I was shook several times by the events that unfolded!
TRW&TWB is a fae fantasy that intermingles with real/human world. The FMC is forced into a world of fantasy in order to help fulfill a prohecy that is as vague as her current life plans. She tries to find her role in this new place full of choas and war, before it ends her and the human realm.
✨beautifully descriptive vibes- earthy, magical
✨dual pov
✨true enemies to lovers
✨soft for only her
✨fae courts battle for power
✨spice is classy & emotional, lower scale descriptive
✨high romantic tension❤️🔥
Thank you so much to the author, Fern A. Ellis for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for my honest review. I am so curious to find out what develops in book 2!
September 25, 2024
➳❥༻🌲🌧️🌲༺➳❥
╔.★. .═════════════╗
✨🅑🅞🅞🅚•🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦✨
╚═════════════. .★.╝
📖𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳
✍🏻𝘍𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘈. 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴
───────✨☆✨───────
📚📝✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨📝📚
🌲𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙳 𝚆𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
🌧️𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙲 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈; 𝙵𝙰𝙴 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈
✨𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝚂𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟺𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈➤𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄✨
🌲𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐕𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐒: 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙰 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝙾𝙽 𝙰 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝙼𝚈 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙵𝙾𝙶𝙶𝚈 𝙳𝙰𝚈; 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙾𝚄𝚂; 𝙴𝙼𝙾𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻; 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺; 𝙷𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙵𝚄𝙻; 𝙼𝚈𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙾𝚄𝚂
🌧️𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑: 𝟻𝟶𝟾 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄: 𝙵𝙰𝙴 𝙲𝙾𝚄𝚁𝚃𝚂; 𝙿𝙾𝙻𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝙸𝙽𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙶𝚄𝙴; 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲/𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙳𝙰𝙳𝙳𝚈 𝙼𝙼𝙲; 𝚂𝙻𝙾𝚆 𝙱𝚄𝚁𝙽 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙱𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴; 𝙷𝚄𝚁𝚃/𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃; 𝚁𝙴𝙻𝚄𝙲𝚃𝙰𝙽𝚃 𝙲𝙷𝙾𝚂𝙴𝙽 𝙾𝙽𝙴; 𝙷𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚂; 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝙱𝙴𝚂𝚃 𝙵𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙽𝙳
🌲𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
🌧️𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒: 🌶️🌶️ || 𝟻
───────✨☆✨───────
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to @fernaelliswrites for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
Y’all! This book is now apart of my Roman Empire! The Red Woman and the White Bear was an AMAZING read, full of rich world-building, and a beautiful narrative woven with lore, romance, and wonderfully flawed characters who will pull you into the story and never let go. I couldn’t put this one down! It gave me Lord of the Rings vibes, but add in Fae and a lot of political intrigue with an amazing forbidden, slow burn romance! The mood of it was just amazing; it reminded me so much of walking in a forest on a rainy, foggy day. The plot was intriguing and I loved how easily everything in the story flowed - it was easy to digest all of the elements together and nothing ever felt overwhelming or like it was too info-dumpy.
I absolutely loved our main characters, Aisling and Kael. These two had me swooning so much! I loved their romance. I love how perfect they are for each other and how she was such an anchor for him. There were so many moments when his story broke my heart and I loved that he was able to find solace and comfort with Aisling. She is an amazing FMC! One of my favorite things about her is that she keeps it real - she doesn’t hide anything and chooses time and again to be honest with Kael despite the consequences that might ensue. I loved her for this and thought it made her so brave! And I can’t forget about Rodney and Briar! I love how protective they both are over Aisling and how they look after her!
Overall, this book was really amazing! I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to continue the series when the next book comes out! I highly recommend if you love romantic fantasy and are looking for a new book to get lost in!
➳❥༻🌲🌧️🌲༺➳❥
╔.★. .═════════════╗
✨🅑🅞🅞🅚•🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦✨
╚═════════════. .★.╝
📖𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳
✍🏻𝘍𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘈. 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴
───────✨☆✨───────
📚📝✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨📝📚
🌲𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙳 𝚆𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
🌧️𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙲 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈; 𝙵𝙰𝙴 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈
✨𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝚂𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟺𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈➤𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄✨
🌲𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐕𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐒: 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙰 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝙾𝙽 𝙰 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝙼𝚈 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙵𝙾𝙶𝙶𝚈 𝙳𝙰𝚈; 𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙾𝚄𝚂; 𝙴𝙼𝙾𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻; 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺; 𝙷𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙵𝚄𝙻; 𝙼𝚈𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙾𝚄𝚂
🌧️𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑: 𝟻𝟶𝟾 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚂
✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄: 𝙵𝙰𝙴 𝙲𝙾𝚄𝚁𝚃𝚂; 𝙿𝙾𝙻𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝙸𝙽𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙶𝚄𝙴; 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲/𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙳𝙰𝙳𝙳𝚈 𝙼𝙼𝙲; 𝚂𝙻𝙾𝚆 𝙱𝚄𝚁𝙽 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙱𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴; 𝙷𝚄𝚁𝚃/𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃; 𝚁𝙴𝙻𝚄𝙲𝚃𝙰𝙽𝚃 𝙲𝙷𝙾𝚂𝙴𝙽 𝙾𝙽𝙴; 𝙷𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚂; 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝙱𝙴𝚂𝚃 𝙵𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙽𝙳
🌲𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
🌧️𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒: 🌶️🌶️ || 𝟻
───────✨☆✨───────
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to @fernaelliswrites for my Advanced Reader Copy of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.
Y’all! This book is now apart of my Roman Empire! The Red Woman and the White Bear was an AMAZING read, full of rich world-building, and a beautiful narrative woven with lore, romance, and wonderfully flawed characters who will pull you into the story and never let go. I couldn’t put this one down! It gave me Lord of the Rings vibes, but add in Fae and a lot of political intrigue with an amazing forbidden, slow burn romance! The mood of it was just amazing; it reminded me so much of walking in a forest on a rainy, foggy day. The plot was intriguing and I loved how easily everything in the story flowed - it was easy to digest all of the elements together and nothing ever felt overwhelming or like it was too info-dumpy.
I absolutely loved our main characters, Aisling and Kael. These two had me swooning so much! I loved their romance. I love how perfect they are for each other and how she was such an anchor for him. There were so many moments when his story broke my heart and I loved that he was able to find solace and comfort with Aisling. She is an amazing FMC! One of my favorite things about her is that she keeps it real - she doesn’t hide anything and chooses time and again to be honest with Kael despite the consequences that might ensue. I loved her for this and thought it made her so brave! And I can’t forget about Rodney and Briar! I love how protective they both are over Aisling and how they look after her!
Overall, this book was really amazing! I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to continue the series when the next book comes out! I highly recommend if you love romantic fantasy and are looking for a new book to get lost in!
➳❥༻🌲🌧️🌲༺➳❥
September 30, 2024
I am obsessed. It was a slow start for me in the beginning, but the more she developed the characters and the world, the more I began to love the story. It's quite a unique storyline, and I absolutely love the 2 main characters and their relationships. I was completely caught off guard by the twists and turns that occurred that I didn't see coming. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens!
November 29, 2024
✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌 ✨
📖: The Red Woman and the White Bear (The Red Woman and the White Bear, Book 1)
Confronted with a prophecy, Aisling discovers she may be the Red Woman and key to destroying the Unseelie fae. Embarking on a dangerous game of deception in search for answers, what she learns may be most surprising of all.
Tropes/themes:
🚫 Enemies to lovers
🩶 Morally grey characters
💫 Shadow magic
🏰 Court politics, Fae courts
🩹 Hurt/comfort
📓 Opposing religions/religion is magic
🔥 Slow burn, forbidden love
🫥 Hidden identity
☝🏻 Reluctant chosen one
🤝 Soul-deep connection
🌶️: Mild - Moderate
The author spectacularly builds a world of brutal fae, journey of self discovery, and the evolution of enemies to lovers. I loved the twists and turns as the prophecy unfolds and the delightfully tantalizing slow burn between Aisling and Kael. With quite the jaw-dropping ending, I am eager to find out what happens next!
With vivid imagery and unique interplay of magic and religion, The Red Woman and the White Bear is a darkly imaginative tale!
Thank you to the author and BOMM for the review copy. This is my honest and voluntary review
📖: The Red Woman and the White Bear (The Red Woman and the White Bear, Book 1)
Confronted with a prophecy, Aisling discovers she may be the Red Woman and key to destroying the Unseelie fae. Embarking on a dangerous game of deception in search for answers, what she learns may be most surprising of all.
Tropes/themes:
🚫 Enemies to lovers
🩶 Morally grey characters
💫 Shadow magic
🏰 Court politics, Fae courts
🩹 Hurt/comfort
📓 Opposing religions/religion is magic
🔥 Slow burn, forbidden love
🫥 Hidden identity
☝🏻 Reluctant chosen one
🤝 Soul-deep connection
🌶️: Mild - Moderate
The author spectacularly builds a world of brutal fae, journey of self discovery, and the evolution of enemies to lovers. I loved the twists and turns as the prophecy unfolds and the delightfully tantalizing slow burn between Aisling and Kael. With quite the jaw-dropping ending, I am eager to find out what happens next!
With vivid imagery and unique interplay of magic and religion, The Red Woman and the White Bear is a darkly imaginative tale!
Thank you to the author and BOMM for the review copy. This is my honest and voluntary review
September 16, 2024
Before I start my review I would like to be completely transparent, I was gifted an ARC of this by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I ended up rating it a 4.75 stars and rounded up.
"Aisling Morrow was raised on stories of her late mother’s encounters with the Fae. She never intended to disobey her mother’s warning about meddling in their affairs…but it seems fate may force her to do just that." -Fern A. Ellis
TRWATWB is a fantastic new take on the classic fae. For a preface, this book is more urban fantasy rather than classic fantasy. Aisling is one of the realest main characters I've read in a long time, plus the bond between her and her dog, Briar, absolutely show cases how most fur parents feel. Kael, the Unseelie King, feels extremely authentic to the classic fae. Also, a huge selling point he is a shadow daddy. While on a walk with her dog, Aisling comes across a small faerie that address her as "the Red Woman" and we find out she is the center of a major prophecy. Aisling, with the help of her undercover fae friend, Rodney, sneak into the Unseelie Court. She goes undercover to seduce the King and quickly leaves him wanting more. From there our plot really unfolds and we find out much more is going on.
I really enjoyed this book, Aisling quickly becomes your best friend and, I think I speak for everyone when I say, everyone wants a dog like Briar. The romance feels very true to enemies to lovers. While it is a little bit insta-lust-y they are true enemies once Kael finds out who Aisling really is. I truthfully am waiting on the edge of my seat to see all that will unfold in book 2!
Tropes:
✨Fae Courts
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Hurt/Comfort
✨Shadow Magic
✨Court Politics
✨Opposing religions/religion is magic
✨Slow Burn Forbidden Love
✨Hidden Identity
✨Morally Grey Characters
✨Reluctant Chosen One
✨Soul-Deep Connection
Tigger Warnings:
💥Violence
💥Forced Captivity
💥Blood
💥Graphic death
💥Grief
💥Open Door Scenes
💥Parental Suicide (Brief mention/Off-page)
💥Coarse Language
I ended up rating it a 4.75 stars and rounded up.
"Aisling Morrow was raised on stories of her late mother’s encounters with the Fae. She never intended to disobey her mother’s warning about meddling in their affairs…but it seems fate may force her to do just that." -Fern A. Ellis
TRWATWB is a fantastic new take on the classic fae. For a preface, this book is more urban fantasy rather than classic fantasy. Aisling is one of the realest main characters I've read in a long time, plus the bond between her and her dog, Briar, absolutely show cases how most fur parents feel. Kael, the Unseelie King, feels extremely authentic to the classic fae. Also, a huge selling point he is a shadow daddy. While on a walk with her dog, Aisling comes across a small faerie that address her as "the Red Woman" and we find out she is the center of a major prophecy. Aisling, with the help of her undercover fae friend, Rodney, sneak into the Unseelie Court. She goes undercover to seduce the King and quickly leaves him wanting more. From there our plot really unfolds and we find out much more is going on.
I really enjoyed this book, Aisling quickly becomes your best friend and, I think I speak for everyone when I say, everyone wants a dog like Briar. The romance feels very true to enemies to lovers. While it is a little bit insta-lust-y they are true enemies once Kael finds out who Aisling really is. I truthfully am waiting on the edge of my seat to see all that will unfold in book 2!
Tropes:
✨Fae Courts
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Hurt/Comfort
✨Shadow Magic
✨Court Politics
✨Opposing religions/religion is magic
✨Slow Burn Forbidden Love
✨Hidden Identity
✨Morally Grey Characters
✨Reluctant Chosen One
✨Soul-Deep Connection
Tigger Warnings:
💥Violence
💥Forced Captivity
💥Blood
💥Graphic death
💥Grief
💥Open Door Scenes
💥Parental Suicide (Brief mention/Off-page)
💥Coarse Language
September 25, 2024
If you like romantasy then this is for you. There is court politics, magic, fae, prophecies, and a shadow daddy. Everything I love but with enough originality that it doesn’t feel like other books I’ve read this year.
The storyline was easy to follow and avoids the info dump at the beginning that some fantasy has. The authors writing style was enjoyable and detailed. You get enemies to lovers with romance that feels organic to the story. The set up for the next book was also refreshing.
My reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was the names in the book. Both for characters and places. Even with the pronunciation guide (which was in the back of my ebook instead of the front) the names were complicated. It just made reading difficult at times.
Thank you for the eARC and I look forward to continuing this story when the next one comes out.
The storyline was easy to follow and avoids the info dump at the beginning that some fantasy has. The authors writing style was enjoyable and detailed. You get enemies to lovers with romance that feels organic to the story. The set up for the next book was also refreshing.
My reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was the names in the book. Both for characters and places. Even with the pronunciation guide (which was in the back of my ebook instead of the front) the names were complicated. It just made reading difficult at times.
Thank you for the eARC and I look forward to continuing this story when the next one comes out.
October 18, 2024
This is an ethereal, cozy read that feels like a timeless fable wrapped in a contemporary fantasy. I found myself immediately drawn to the atmospheric world that Ellis creates, and it pairs perfectly with a blanket and a quiet afternoon. Maybe a nice cuddle buddy.
Aisling is such an endearing main character. I loved that she’s tough, yet so innately kind, even when thrust into a role she never asked for. She has no interest in being the “chosen one,” yet her childhood tales and glimpses into the world of the fae eventually catch up with her, forcing her to face her fate. Her reluctance and inner conflict add real depth to her character—she’s not just a hero with all the answers, but a woman trying to navigate an impossible situation with compassion and determination. Watching her embrace all aspects of her personality over time, including her darker aspects, was so fun to watch.
Kael, the Unseelie King, carries the emotional complexity you’d expect from a good enemies-to-lovers romance. He reminds me of Cardan from The Cruel Prince (but less of a bully)—someone who has never had anyone to depend on and as a result, has a lot of emotional growth to do. His relationship with Aisling is intense and bittersweet. They grow from cautious allies to utterly devoted partners, and the way their bond develops feels natural, yet full of longing and tension. By the end, their connection is beautifully solidified, but not without its share of heartache and sacrifice.
The world-building is well-paced and integrated into the story without overwhelming the reader. Rather than info-dumping, the history, politics, and magic are teased out slowly, making the world feel both expansive and intimately detailed. I also loved how contemporary elements were woven in, making the story more grounded and accessible than many other high fantasies as it eases you in. It never loses its magical, otherworldly feel, but it also feels modern at times.
I can’t ignore the emotional punch this book packs, especially towards the end. I knew something major was coming, but it still managed to shock me, leaving me desperate for the next installment. Fix it, fix it, fix it! There’s an emotional depth here that caught me off guard, especially in the way the story explores fate, choice, and the personal cost for peace.
While some elements of the plot may feel familiar to readers of the genre, Fern A. Ellis brings her own unique style and flair, creating a story that feels both comforting and distinct. If you’re a fan of romantasy with rich world-building, intense relationships, and a sense of timeless magic, this one is definitely worth picking up. The ending will leave you craving more, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Thanks so much to R&R BookTours and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Aisling is such an endearing main character. I loved that she’s tough, yet so innately kind, even when thrust into a role she never asked for. She has no interest in being the “chosen one,” yet her childhood tales and glimpses into the world of the fae eventually catch up with her, forcing her to face her fate. Her reluctance and inner conflict add real depth to her character—she’s not just a hero with all the answers, but a woman trying to navigate an impossible situation with compassion and determination. Watching her embrace all aspects of her personality over time, including her darker aspects, was so fun to watch.
Kael, the Unseelie King, carries the emotional complexity you’d expect from a good enemies-to-lovers romance. He reminds me of Cardan from The Cruel Prince (but less of a bully)—someone who has never had anyone to depend on and as a result, has a lot of emotional growth to do. His relationship with Aisling is intense and bittersweet. They grow from cautious allies to utterly devoted partners, and the way their bond develops feels natural, yet full of longing and tension. By the end, their connection is beautifully solidified, but not without its share of heartache and sacrifice.
The world-building is well-paced and integrated into the story without overwhelming the reader. Rather than info-dumping, the history, politics, and magic are teased out slowly, making the world feel both expansive and intimately detailed. I also loved how contemporary elements were woven in, making the story more grounded and accessible than many other high fantasies as it eases you in. It never loses its magical, otherworldly feel, but it also feels modern at times.
I can’t ignore the emotional punch this book packs, especially towards the end. I knew something major was coming, but it still managed to shock me, leaving me desperate for the next installment. Fix it, fix it, fix it! There’s an emotional depth here that caught me off guard, especially in the way the story explores fate, choice, and the personal cost for peace.
While some elements of the plot may feel familiar to readers of the genre, Fern A. Ellis brings her own unique style and flair, creating a story that feels both comforting and distinct. If you’re a fan of romantasy with rich world-building, intense relationships, and a sense of timeless magic, this one is definitely worth picking up. The ending will leave you craving more, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Thanks so much to R&R BookTours and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
September 20, 2024
If you are, like me, one of those people who daydream of magical realms and find ways to get into them, The Red Woman and the White Bear by Fern Ellis is the right book for you. And Aisling is the right female character to follow.
Aisling, much like many of us, has grown up hearing stories her mother told her about the Fae. Once she is thrust into their world, everything she thought she knew will be questioned. Who are the good ones, and who are the bad ones? Or is everyone somewhere in between? We follow Aisling on her road to discover the depth of the prophecy of The Red Woman and the White Bear, the prophecy of a woman destined to finally bring peace to the entire Fae realm. But at what cost?
I loved Fern's storytelling and world-building; it was easy to follow and intriguing to read, and I wondered what would happen next. Aisling was a great character, and I loved seeing her immerse herself in the Fae world. Her and Kael's story was devastatingly beautiful and left me in shambles after that ending. I need to know what happens next, Fern!
Get ready to dive into the enchanting world of the Fae courts, prophecies, secrets, intrigue, and a love that knows no boundaries. The Red Woman and the White Bear is set to be unleashed on September 24th. Don't miss out!
The Red Woman and the White Bear will gift you:
- portal fantasy
- enemies to lovers
- slow burn
- simmering romance
- prophecies
- reluctant chosen one
- acknowledging your darkness
- he would burn the world for her
and a cliffhanger ending that will make you go feral for Book 2!
Aisling, much like many of us, has grown up hearing stories her mother told her about the Fae. Once she is thrust into their world, everything she thought she knew will be questioned. Who are the good ones, and who are the bad ones? Or is everyone somewhere in between? We follow Aisling on her road to discover the depth of the prophecy of The Red Woman and the White Bear, the prophecy of a woman destined to finally bring peace to the entire Fae realm. But at what cost?
I loved Fern's storytelling and world-building; it was easy to follow and intriguing to read, and I wondered what would happen next. Aisling was a great character, and I loved seeing her immerse herself in the Fae world. Her and Kael's story was devastatingly beautiful and left me in shambles after that ending. I need to know what happens next, Fern!
Get ready to dive into the enchanting world of the Fae courts, prophecies, secrets, intrigue, and a love that knows no boundaries. The Red Woman and the White Bear is set to be unleashed on September 24th. Don't miss out!
The Red Woman and the White Bear will gift you:
- portal fantasy
- enemies to lovers
- slow burn
- simmering romance
- prophecies
- reluctant chosen one
- acknowledging your darkness
- he would burn the world for her
and a cliffhanger ending that will make you go feral for Book 2!
February 10, 2025
I should have dnf-ed this book I was so bored
June 19, 2025
"Our fates are immutable. We never ask for these things. The futures we are destined for find us, no matter what we do. You cannot escape yours any more than I can mine."
Aisling is a regular human in her thirties with a dog by her side and some quirky friends. She is thrown into the world of the Fae because of a prophecy that deems her the Red Woman, chosen to influence the war in the realm of Wyldraíocht.
We have such a cool mix of contemporary and woodsy vibes, where the story can shift from a group of friends drinking beer around a campfire to a sentient wood with fairies, sprites, and a sassy Shadowood Mother.
The FMC is mature, has good intuition, and follows it! To me Aisling is more soft than tough, but in a good way that is full of heart and healing. Our MMC, Kael, is dark and complex. I enjoyed his character development so much! There is only a little spice here, but the tension is what really makes the relationship. I also adored Rodney, Aisling's best friend who's a bit of a troublemaker.
The aspects I loved the most about this book though were the fae lore and the descriptive atmospheric writing. Sometimes illustrative writing can slow pacing, but here it added to the magic and beauty, making me feel like I was there. The world was brought to life so vividly and was still full of action. After the ending, I am definitely in suspense for the next book!
Many thanks to the author for an eARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
Aisling is a regular human in her thirties with a dog by her side and some quirky friends. She is thrown into the world of the Fae because of a prophecy that deems her the Red Woman, chosen to influence the war in the realm of Wyldraíocht.
We have such a cool mix of contemporary and woodsy vibes, where the story can shift from a group of friends drinking beer around a campfire to a sentient wood with fairies, sprites, and a sassy Shadowood Mother.
The FMC is mature, has good intuition, and follows it! To me Aisling is more soft than tough, but in a good way that is full of heart and healing. Our MMC, Kael, is dark and complex. I enjoyed his character development so much! There is only a little spice here, but the tension is what really makes the relationship. I also adored Rodney, Aisling's best friend who's a bit of a troublemaker.
The aspects I loved the most about this book though were the fae lore and the descriptive atmospheric writing. Sometimes illustrative writing can slow pacing, but here it added to the magic and beauty, making me feel like I was there. The world was brought to life so vividly and was still full of action. After the ending, I am definitely in suspense for the next book!
Many thanks to the author for an eARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
September 4, 2024
Thank you to the author and Nerd fam for the free earc in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this story immensely. It had whimsy and faeries, enemies to lovers, prophecies and the like. I even cried at the end...and it takes a lot to make me cry in a book.
I enjoyed the persistence and determination of the FMC, I thought she was nicely rounded, but I would have liked to see a firmer arc for her. I loved our morally grey MMC. His brooding anger was awesome, and I really enjoyed his character arc.
I would have liked to see more of the slow burn romance. I felt it went from not much to scorching too quickly...a bit more banter would have been nice.
Other than that I really enjoyed this story and am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
I enjoyed this story immensely. It had whimsy and faeries, enemies to lovers, prophecies and the like. I even cried at the end...and it takes a lot to make me cry in a book.
I enjoyed the persistence and determination of the FMC, I thought she was nicely rounded, but I would have liked to see a firmer arc for her. I loved our morally grey MMC. His brooding anger was awesome, and I really enjoyed his character arc.
I would have liked to see more of the slow burn romance. I felt it went from not much to scorching too quickly...a bit more banter would have been nice.
Other than that I really enjoyed this story and am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
November 7, 2024
Insert obvious woman choosing bear joke here
The red woman and the white bear is a solid fantasy/ romance adventure. I definitely would recommend this for someone looking to get into the genre.
Some things I liked 🧚
There’s a dog!
I’m a sucker for some enemies to lovers and the lovers phase in this was so tender and gentle.
Big fan of Aislinne. She wasn’t naive and she asked hard hitting questions. She also didn’t blindly put her trust in others and had a good understanding of the fae.
Unique and descriptive writing. Smaller actions such as a character tying up her hair or piercing someone’s ears, were described. One could think these would be unnecessary things to note, but they all helped to flush out each scene and add depth to the characters.
The world was so eerie and mystical. There’s a few scenes that has humans in the Fae world that reminded me of “The Cruel Prince”. Very unsettling.
Things I wished for/didn’t like as much. 🩸
I wish Aislinne stood up to Kael a little bit more in terms of his choices as a ruler and person. Such as all the MURDER and human(fae?) sacrifices he was committing. I felt like that was brushed over a bit too much.
The red woman and the white bear is a solid fantasy/ romance adventure. I definitely would recommend this for someone looking to get into the genre.
Some things I liked 🧚
There’s a dog!
I’m a sucker for some enemies to lovers and the lovers phase in this was so tender and gentle.
Big fan of Aislinne. She wasn’t naive and she asked hard hitting questions. She also didn’t blindly put her trust in others and had a good understanding of the fae.
Unique and descriptive writing. Smaller actions such as a character tying up her hair or piercing someone’s ears, were described. One could think these would be unnecessary things to note, but they all helped to flush out each scene and add depth to the characters.
The world was so eerie and mystical. There’s a few scenes that has humans in the Fae world that reminded me of “The Cruel Prince”. Very unsettling.
Things I wished for/didn’t like as much. 🩸
I wish Aislinne stood up to Kael a little bit more in terms of his choices as a ruler and person. Such as all the MURDER and human(fae?) sacrifices he was committing. I felt like that was brushed over a bit too much.
September 6, 2024
A Hesitant Love Story
I was lucky enough to receive this as a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this, it really captured all of our dreams of what if I accidentally fell into the realm of the Fae. The world building is great and I loved that we got to see both the Unseelie and Seelie courts from our FMC's eyes. I enjoyed this wasn't a romanticized view of the Fae but portrayed them as they are in fairy tales and we got to see the darker side.
I loved Aisling and Kael's interactions and story, especially how hesitant they were to kind of go for each other. I really love the slow burn where you're mentally screaming at them to finally get together.
I cannot wait for the second book :)
I was lucky enough to receive this as a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this, it really captured all of our dreams of what if I accidentally fell into the realm of the Fae. The world building is great and I loved that we got to see both the Unseelie and Seelie courts from our FMC's eyes. I enjoyed this wasn't a romanticized view of the Fae but portrayed them as they are in fairy tales and we got to see the darker side.
I loved Aisling and Kael's interactions and story, especially how hesitant they were to kind of go for each other. I really love the slow burn where you're mentally screaming at them to finally get together.
I cannot wait for the second book :)
September 24, 2024
4.25🌟 1.5/2🌶️
I went into this book pretty blind, picking it up mainly because of the cover. It didn't disappoint! It's an epic beginning to a new fantasy series with a Shadow Daddy MMC and headstrong FMC. The way their relationship unfolds is really interesting and I'm very excited to see where it goes. Everyone in this story is some kind of shade of morally gray and, when I am reading an epic fantasy with fae, that is exactly what I want.
Do be aware that this one ends on a cliffhanger. Hopefully the next one won't be long because I'll just be sitting here waiting 😥😥
I went into this book pretty blind, picking it up mainly because of the cover. It didn't disappoint! It's an epic beginning to a new fantasy series with a Shadow Daddy MMC and headstrong FMC. The way their relationship unfolds is really interesting and I'm very excited to see where it goes. Everyone in this story is some kind of shade of morally gray and, when I am reading an epic fantasy with fae, that is exactly what I want.
Do be aware that this one ends on a cliffhanger. Hopefully the next one won't be long because I'll just be sitting here waiting 😥😥
September 28, 2024
The Red Woman and the White Bear is an absolute must-read, full of fae magic, wild twists, and some serious enemies-to-lovers tension. The world-building is so vivid—you can almost feel the icy wind and magic in the air as Aisling’s story unfolds.
Aisling is fierce and stubborn, but her journey through the Seelie and Unseelie courts shows a side of her you can’t help but root for. And then there’s Kael Ardhen, the brooding Unseelie king. He’s dangerous, morally grey, and completely magnetic—every scene with him and Aisling is pure fire.
The story starts a bit slow, but once it picks up, it’s non-stop action, court politics, and plot twists. Plus, the cliffhanger at the end? It’ll leave you begging for book two. If you're into fae, magic, and a sizzling enemies-to-lovers vibe, this one should definitely be on your TBR!
Aisling is fierce and stubborn, but her journey through the Seelie and Unseelie courts shows a side of her you can’t help but root for. And then there’s Kael Ardhen, the brooding Unseelie king. He’s dangerous, morally grey, and completely magnetic—every scene with him and Aisling is pure fire.
The story starts a bit slow, but once it picks up, it’s non-stop action, court politics, and plot twists. Plus, the cliffhanger at the end? It’ll leave you begging for book two. If you're into fae, magic, and a sizzling enemies-to-lovers vibe, this one should definitely be on your TBR!
September 21, 2024
Enchanted! This was so refreshing. I want to start off by saying how grateful I am for being given the opportunity to read this as an ARC reader.
⭐️ 4.7/5 – I love this book, but I’m gonna be honest and say, that it’s not my type of book, which is why I feel hesitant giving it 5 stars. But even though it’s not my type of book, I most likely would’ve finished it in one day, had I not been so busy this week.
Like I said earlier, this book was so refreshing. It’s bringing back the old fae. The faeries from the old Irish lore. These are different beings than the fae bookstagram and booktok has become accustomed to. These don’t have batwings – some have butterfly-like wings – they aren’t completely obsessed with sex and finding their mate. They are the sirens of nature, who prey on gullible humans.
In this book, the unseelie and the seelie court goes to war. These are the fae much like we meet them in the cruel prince. Power is everything to them.
- Prophecies
- True enemies to lovers
- Court politics
- Rituals
- He hates everyone but her
- One’s name holds power
- Dual POV
This was a very illustrative read. It’s very heavy in the descriptions. I love it, and the wording and word-choice is so unique and fits right into the genre with faeries, however it will be a bit difficult if you’re trying to dig yourself out of a reading slump. But the language is truly beautiful.
As far as the romance go, this was yet again refreshing. Lately when trying to find a fae romantasy I’ve ended up digging myself into a hole filled with more lust than love. This isn’t like that. Even though we follow a third person narrator, the characters are well depicted and have a certain depth in their insecurities, which evolves and grows with their relationship. I wouldn’t call this book spicy, but there’s a lot of tension, mostly focused on the emotional connection rather than the physical one.
Mini-ratings:
- World-building 🏞🏞🏞/5
- FMC 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️/5
- Fantasy level 🧝♀️🧝♀️🧝♀️🧝♀️/5
- Romance ❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
- Language and wording ✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️/5 – I fell in love with every word on the page.
⭐️ 4.7/5 – I love this book, but I’m gonna be honest and say, that it’s not my type of book, which is why I feel hesitant giving it 5 stars. But even though it’s not my type of book, I most likely would’ve finished it in one day, had I not been so busy this week.
Like I said earlier, this book was so refreshing. It’s bringing back the old fae. The faeries from the old Irish lore. These are different beings than the fae bookstagram and booktok has become accustomed to. These don’t have batwings – some have butterfly-like wings – they aren’t completely obsessed with sex and finding their mate. They are the sirens of nature, who prey on gullible humans.
In this book, the unseelie and the seelie court goes to war. These are the fae much like we meet them in the cruel prince. Power is everything to them.
- Prophecies
- True enemies to lovers
- Court politics
- Rituals
- He hates everyone but her
- One’s name holds power
- Dual POV
This was a very illustrative read. It’s very heavy in the descriptions. I love it, and the wording and word-choice is so unique and fits right into the genre with faeries, however it will be a bit difficult if you’re trying to dig yourself out of a reading slump. But the language is truly beautiful.
As far as the romance go, this was yet again refreshing. Lately when trying to find a fae romantasy I’ve ended up digging myself into a hole filled with more lust than love. This isn’t like that. Even though we follow a third person narrator, the characters are well depicted and have a certain depth in their insecurities, which evolves and grows with their relationship. I wouldn’t call this book spicy, but there’s a lot of tension, mostly focused on the emotional connection rather than the physical one.
Mini-ratings:
- World-building 🏞🏞🏞/5
- FMC 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️/5
- Fantasy level 🧝♀️🧝♀️🧝♀️🧝♀️/5
- Romance ❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
- Language and wording ✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️/5 – I fell in love with every word on the page.
September 29, 2025
Overall good. Am I obsessed? Not really. Do I need to find out what happens next? 100%. Great story. I knew I’d love Kael from the start. Looking forward to see what happens next….otherwise I’m gonna be mad.
September 3, 2024
Oh man this book!
Ferns writing was done so beautifully, that I was in awe. The story itself flowed together seamlessly and kept me hooked from start to finish. I felt the characters emotions and could see everything as if I was there myself. This was such a refreshing read for me as it was just so unique. I definitely recommend everyone to pick this book up and dive head first into the world of The red woman and the white bear. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC and I can't wait for the next one!
Ferns writing was done so beautifully, that I was in awe. The story itself flowed together seamlessly and kept me hooked from start to finish. I felt the characters emotions and could see everything as if I was there myself. This was such a refreshing read for me as it was just so unique. I definitely recommend everyone to pick this book up and dive head first into the world of The red woman and the white bear. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC and I can't wait for the next one!
September 24, 2024
I would like thank Fern A. Ellis and Nerdfam for sending this ARC
The Red Woman prophecy is something that all the Fae believe to end their never ending war.
Aisling is a normal woman who has been through alot bad luck. But she still believes in magic because of the stories her mom told her. The plot revolves around Aisling discovering the fae realms and trying to learn about the prophecy that includes her and her dog (super cute). She goes to the Unseelie Court meets the King to decieve and she starts developing an interest in him.
This book was entertaining and i really enjoyed all the court intrigue. She is not a bad ass but that adds to her charm. Kael is grumpy and moody MMC that i always like in a book. It is a fantasy romance but i really liked how the story progressed.
Highly recommend if like a romance heavy fantasy
The Red Woman prophecy is something that all the Fae believe to end their never ending war.
Aisling is a normal woman who has been through alot bad luck. But she still believes in magic because of the stories her mom told her. The plot revolves around Aisling discovering the fae realms and trying to learn about the prophecy that includes her and her dog (super cute). She goes to the Unseelie Court meets the King to decieve and she starts developing an interest in him.
This book was entertaining and i really enjoyed all the court intrigue. She is not a bad ass but that adds to her charm. Kael is grumpy and moody MMC that i always like in a book. It is a fantasy romance but i really liked how the story progressed.
Highly recommend if like a romance heavy fantasy
September 24, 2024
oh my god??? OH MY GOD!! I will be thinking about this book for weeks—I can feel it in my bones.
The characters are all great, including the antagonists. The world is eerie yet beautiful, and I really felt transported there. The tension between Kael and Aisling was superb, this had some of the best hurt/comfort scenes I’ve ever read (and it’s one of my fav tropes, so I was a puddle during the salve scene—GOD!) As a person who loves morally grey MMCs, Kael was perfectly crafted for me 🖤🙏
I do not say this lightly—I am so very eager for the next book! I mean, no rush, take your time crafting that work of art, but just know I am waiting eagerly in the gutter like the clown from IT to get my grubby hands on it the moment it is out 🦝🙌
This was a great slow burn romance, and the spice scenes were minimal and tame. I think this can be a excellent intro to spicy romantasy books! 💖🔥
Thank you Fern A. Ellis for the ARC!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥
The characters are all great, including the antagonists. The world is eerie yet beautiful, and I really felt transported there. The tension between Kael and Aisling was superb, this had some of the best hurt/comfort scenes I’ve ever read (and it’s one of my fav tropes, so I was a puddle during the salve scene—GOD!) As a person who loves morally grey MMCs, Kael was perfectly crafted for me 🖤🙏
I do not say this lightly—I am so very eager for the next book! I mean, no rush, take your time crafting that work of art, but just know I am waiting eagerly in the gutter like the clown from IT to get my grubby hands on it the moment it is out 🦝🙌
This was a great slow burn romance, and the spice scenes were minimal and tame. I think this can be a excellent intro to spicy romantasy books! 💖🔥
Thank you Fern A. Ellis for the ARC!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥
September 23, 2024
✨ARC Review ✨
“The Red Woman and the White Bear is an angst-ridden, tension-filled, enemies-to-lovers romantasy with high stakes and a touch of darkness. It has a bit of everything—fae, forbidden romance, dark magic, gods, prophecies.”
With a blurb like that, I couldn't help but feel excited to jump into the story of The Red Woman & The White Bear by Fern A. Ellis, especially since I have a soft spot for female main characters closer to my age. Throw in some Fae, magic, and court politics, and my anticipation grew! That being said, my thoughts on this book are a bit mixed, largely due to my personal reading preferences.
Did I enjoy the premise and the setting? Absolutely! A big chunk of this story immerses you in a vivid world where our characters wander. I really appreciated the descriptive style of the author’s writing, which made it easy for me to visualize the world our characters inhabit. There were certain scenes that were so well-crafted they stole the show for me; I could visualize them as if I were watching a movie!
On a personal note, I felt there was a bit of a tradeoff between the time spent on world-building and character development. For me, there were moments when I wished the world-building had taken a backseat to allow more time for connecting with the characters. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the characters and ultimately feel for their plight.
One thing I really enjoyed was how the author included less commonly featured fantasy species (like sprites, sylphs, and púcas) throughout the narrative. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the usual array of fantasy creatures we often see.
This story is definitely a slow burn, angst-filled romance that does feature some spicy moments. For me, those scenes were just right—neither too over-the-top nor too heavy. I do wish there had been a bit more banter between the FMC and MMC to enhance their romance, but that’s just my personal taste.
I found it a bit puzzling that the pronunciation guide was placed at the end of the ARC; after realizing that I had been mispronouncing a few character names throughout the story, I thought it was a little odd. It didn’t really hurt the story, though!
Be prepared for a cliffhanger ending, but it’s one that I thought was well-executed. I appreciate what the author did—and didn’t do—with the ending. Despite my mixed feelings about earlier parts of the book, it certainly elicited an emotional response about what might happen next for the characters.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this author’s debut book. Would I recommend The Red Woman and the White Bear? Yes, but I would suggest it to specific readers who would appreciate this unique storytelling and writing style! Would I read the second book? Probably, because now that the world is established, I’m hopeful I’d have more opportunities to connect with the characters, and I’m curious about where this story will lead us.
Big thank you to Fern A. Ellis for the ARC copy!
Release Date: 09/24/2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice rating - 🌶️/5
“The Red Woman and the White Bear is an angst-ridden, tension-filled, enemies-to-lovers romantasy with high stakes and a touch of darkness. It has a bit of everything—fae, forbidden romance, dark magic, gods, prophecies.”
With a blurb like that, I couldn't help but feel excited to jump into the story of The Red Woman & The White Bear by Fern A. Ellis, especially since I have a soft spot for female main characters closer to my age. Throw in some Fae, magic, and court politics, and my anticipation grew! That being said, my thoughts on this book are a bit mixed, largely due to my personal reading preferences.
Did I enjoy the premise and the setting? Absolutely! A big chunk of this story immerses you in a vivid world where our characters wander. I really appreciated the descriptive style of the author’s writing, which made it easy for me to visualize the world our characters inhabit. There were certain scenes that were so well-crafted they stole the show for me; I could visualize them as if I were watching a movie!
On a personal note, I felt there was a bit of a tradeoff between the time spent on world-building and character development. For me, there were moments when I wished the world-building had taken a backseat to allow more time for connecting with the characters. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the characters and ultimately feel for their plight.
One thing I really enjoyed was how the author included less commonly featured fantasy species (like sprites, sylphs, and púcas) throughout the narrative. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the usual array of fantasy creatures we often see.
This story is definitely a slow burn, angst-filled romance that does feature some spicy moments. For me, those scenes were just right—neither too over-the-top nor too heavy. I do wish there had been a bit more banter between the FMC and MMC to enhance their romance, but that’s just my personal taste.
I found it a bit puzzling that the pronunciation guide was placed at the end of the ARC; after realizing that I had been mispronouncing a few character names throughout the story, I thought it was a little odd. It didn’t really hurt the story, though!
Be prepared for a cliffhanger ending, but it’s one that I thought was well-executed. I appreciate what the author did—and didn’t do—with the ending. Despite my mixed feelings about earlier parts of the book, it certainly elicited an emotional response about what might happen next for the characters.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this author’s debut book. Would I recommend The Red Woman and the White Bear? Yes, but I would suggest it to specific readers who would appreciate this unique storytelling and writing style! Would I read the second book? Probably, because now that the world is established, I’m hopeful I’d have more opportunities to connect with the characters, and I’m curious about where this story will lead us.
Big thank you to Fern A. Ellis for the ARC copy!
Release Date: 09/24/2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice rating - 🌶️/5
September 12, 2024
I was fortunate enough to be selected by Fern and Nerd Fam to receive an eARC in exchange for an honest review, and I’m so glad I was!
This story had all the charm and whimsy of the fae, as well as their trickery and deceit, taking us back to the old tales of the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Each realm was immersive and starkly different from one another; I felt like I was there with the FMC. It wasn’t overloaded with trope after trope yet we still get a morally grey MMC I fell for (even at his dark moments).
And those last few chapters and then end on a cliffhanger?? I’ll impatiently be waiting for book 2!
This story had all the charm and whimsy of the fae, as well as their trickery and deceit, taking us back to the old tales of the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Each realm was immersive and starkly different from one another; I felt like I was there with the FMC. It wasn’t overloaded with trope after trope yet we still get a morally grey MMC I fell for (even at his dark moments).
And those last few chapters and then end on a cliffhanger?? I’ll impatiently be waiting for book 2!
September 5, 2024
The Red Woman and the White Bear
Series: book #1
Rating⭐️: 4
Spice🌶️: 1
POV🗣️: Dual POV, 3rd person
Read this series if you like -
✔️Dual POV
✔️Beautiful, Descriptive Writing Style
✔️Seelie vs Unseelie Fae
✔️True Enemies to Lovers
✔️He’s Soft Only for Her
✔️Captor/Captive
✔️Prophecy
✔️Slow-Burn Romance
✔️Character Growth
✔️Hurt/Comfort
✔️Hidden Identity
✔️Opposing Magical Religions
TRW&TWB mixes a fae fantasy realm with the real world through what are essentially portals. Driven by a prophecy, the FMC, Aisling, throws herself into the midst of the unseelie realm, where she attempts to find her role in ending a war between the fae in order to protect the human realm. The writing was beautiful and descriptive, almost poetic. It gave the book a very earthy, cottage-core vibe. There’s tons of magical creatures and lush, magical lands.
The romance between the FMC and MMC was a true enemies to lovers romance. He is truly the dark fae king he is painted to be throughout much of the story, but he has a fantastic character redemption arc. The spice is open-door but not overly descriptive, with more of a sweet romance vibe.
Have a tissue ready for the end and prepare to yearn for the next book to soothe your aching heart.
Thank you Fern Ellis for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review! I immensely enjoyed your work and can’t wait for the next one!
🗣️ A deep flush of shame spread across Aisling’s cheeks. “Fuck you,” she threw back.
“You should have.” The smirk faded from Kael’s face until he wore a neutral, expressionless mask. “You won’t get another chance.”
🗣️ “He wanted to worship her as much as he wanted to shatter her into pieces. He would burn every broken shard of her and scatter the ashes, and the place where her remains settled would be his new altar.”
Series: book #1
Rating⭐️: 4
Spice🌶️: 1
POV🗣️: Dual POV, 3rd person
Read this series if you like -
✔️Dual POV
✔️Beautiful, Descriptive Writing Style
✔️Seelie vs Unseelie Fae
✔️True Enemies to Lovers
✔️He’s Soft Only for Her
✔️Captor/Captive
✔️Prophecy
✔️Slow-Burn Romance
✔️Character Growth
✔️Hurt/Comfort
✔️Hidden Identity
✔️Opposing Magical Religions
TRW&TWB mixes a fae fantasy realm with the real world through what are essentially portals. Driven by a prophecy, the FMC, Aisling, throws herself into the midst of the unseelie realm, where she attempts to find her role in ending a war between the fae in order to protect the human realm. The writing was beautiful and descriptive, almost poetic. It gave the book a very earthy, cottage-core vibe. There’s tons of magical creatures and lush, magical lands.
The romance between the FMC and MMC was a true enemies to lovers romance. He is truly the dark fae king he is painted to be throughout much of the story, but he has a fantastic character redemption arc. The spice is open-door but not overly descriptive, with more of a sweet romance vibe.
Have a tissue ready for the end and prepare to yearn for the next book to soothe your aching heart.
Thank you Fern Ellis for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review! I immensely enjoyed your work and can’t wait for the next one!
🗣️ A deep flush of shame spread across Aisling’s cheeks. “Fuck you,” she threw back.
“You should have.” The smirk faded from Kael’s face until he wore a neutral, expressionless mask. “You won’t get another chance.”
🗣️ “He wanted to worship her as much as he wanted to shatter her into pieces. He would burn every broken shard of her and scatter the ashes, and the place where her remains settled would be his new altar.”
November 23, 2024
TLDR: Overall, this was a fun fantasy read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. The cover art is what really drew me in.
🌶️/5
The spice is low - not quite closed door but definitely not explicit like I'm used to 😂 The connections and yearning is well written and lovely.
Aisling is a human who finds herself entangled with the Unseelie and Seelie fae, which she always thought were just stories from her mother. She becomes the center of a prophecy about a red woman and white bear, and has to figure out which side she will take before a war destroys all in the fae lands.
Her good friend and sidekick, Rodney, is a fun character, but seems to have a big back story that I want to learn more about. I'm hoping we get more of him in book 2.
Kaen is the Unseelie King, and essentially a morally black Shadow Daddy that everyone fears; except when it comes to Aisling. I liked the on-page violence he exhibits. It's always annoying to me when a character is described as being evil and feared but the reader never actually gets to witness it. Not the case with Kaen. Although he does turn into a bit of a softie, which threw me off a little.
A couple disappointments (some spoilers ahead):
The final battle was a bit anticlimactic and rushed. I figured there would be much more of a struggle, but the deaths were quick and easy. I'm also a bit sad that there's not actually a bear in the story. I was hoping Aisling's dog, Briar, would turn into a bear while in the fae lands. I'm not sure what his role is other than being her pet. Maybe he'll have a bigger contribution in book 2. I kept expecting the dog to come and save Aisling, and it never happened. I also don't understand where Aisling's human friends come into the story. They're introduced at the very beginning and then never again.
I want to thank Fern Ellis for gifting me an early copy of this book.
🌶️/5
The spice is low - not quite closed door but definitely not explicit like I'm used to 😂 The connections and yearning is well written and lovely.
Aisling is a human who finds herself entangled with the Unseelie and Seelie fae, which she always thought were just stories from her mother. She becomes the center of a prophecy about a red woman and white bear, and has to figure out which side she will take before a war destroys all in the fae lands.
Her good friend and sidekick, Rodney, is a fun character, but seems to have a big back story that I want to learn more about. I'm hoping we get more of him in book 2.
Kaen is the Unseelie King, and essentially a morally black Shadow Daddy that everyone fears; except when it comes to Aisling. I liked the on-page violence he exhibits. It's always annoying to me when a character is described as being evil and feared but the reader never actually gets to witness it. Not the case with Kaen. Although he does turn into a bit of a softie, which threw me off a little.
A couple disappointments (some spoilers ahead):
The final battle was a bit anticlimactic and rushed. I figured there would be much more of a struggle, but the deaths were quick and easy. I'm also a bit sad that there's not actually a bear in the story. I was hoping Aisling's dog, Briar, would turn into a bear while in the fae lands. I'm not sure what his role is other than being her pet. Maybe he'll have a bigger contribution in book 2. I kept expecting the dog to come and save Aisling, and it never happened. I also don't understand where Aisling's human friends come into the story. They're introduced at the very beginning and then never again.
I want to thank Fern Ellis for gifting me an early copy of this book.
September 24, 2024
If you're in the mood for a wild adventure with fae magic, prophecy drama, and a vengeful (but secretly swoon-worthy) Unseelie King, this book’s got you covered! Aisling Morrow didn’t ask to be the Red Woman, but here she is, smack in the middle of a fae war she’s supposed to end—no pressure, right?
With dark magic, twisted politics, and King Kael Ardhen throwing all kinds of broody vibes her way, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions. The stakes are high, the twists keep coming, and if you love a story where the hero might also be the villain, this is a must-read.
With dark magic, twisted politics, and King Kael Ardhen throwing all kinds of broody vibes her way, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions. The stakes are high, the twists keep coming, and if you love a story where the hero might also be the villain, this is a must-read.
January 17, 2025
2.5, this felt very YA even though it’s more than “fade to black”, and the pacing was somehow sluggish but too fast at the same time. Like chapter 2 CHOSEN ONE PROPHESY and then the rest of the book crawled along but the climax was too fast. Also the choices everyone made seemed very uncharacteristic to what we were told and shown. The dog is the only character with any sense.
September 6, 2024
The Red Woman and the White Bear. Where do I Start? First, I’d like to thank Fern A. Ellis for an ARC copy of RWATWB. Secondly, I’d like to thank the algorithm for bringing both book and author to into my life. If you are a fan of the ACOTAR series, I implore you to give the RWATWB a read!
31-year-old Aisling Morrow has spent her whole life avoiding all things fae. That is until a chance encounter with a wood sprite brings her to the Shadow Mother and changes her life with prophecy. In an attempt to gain a better understanding of her role as the Red Woman, Aisling infiltrates the Unseelie court pretending to be someone she isn’t. It doesn’t take long for the Unseelie King, Kael, to see through her glamour and take her prisoner. During her time in captivity both Aisling and the King realize there is more to Aisling than meets the eye. Acting as a tether for the King’s unpredictable cruelty, Aisling learns that she can calm the wild shadows that lurk within him. Kael and Aisling begin to form a relationship and trust that is suddenly shattered once Aisling reveals her true identity as the Red Woman.
Fleeing the Unseelie Court, Aisling returns to the human world and then ventures willingly into the Seelie Court with her faithful companions, Briar (the White Bear) and Rodney (Changeling). But things at the Seelie Court are not as pleasant as they are portrayed to be. Hoping to learn more about her role and of her own mother’s time in the Fae world, Aisling and Rodney embark on a quest of knowledge. What they discover leaves them both questioning the Seelie Court. The Seelie Queen wishes to destroy Kael and the Unseelie Court. She will stop at nothing to see it happen. Aisling’s growing discomfort leads her to leave the Seelie Court, but leaving that court is not as easy as entering it.
Back in the human realm, Rodney and Aisling have but a moment to feel safe before a knock comes to their door, dragging them back to the Unseelie Court….
This book is so many things but the biggest thing is that it is captivating. The descriptions and world building transport you to Brooke Island and both realms. A slow burn read, this book offers a few open-door scenes and a small amount of strong language. I appreciate the author leaving some things to the imagination. I also appreciate the female main character being my own age. It’s refreshing to have a character not easily swayed by appearances. Aisling is someone who has a back bone and can make up her own mind. This book ends on a cliffhanger but no worries, book 2 is in the works!
Be prepared to ugly cry while reading this.
This book has mentions of violence, forced captivity, blood, graphic death, grief, parental suicide and coarse language.
The Red Woman and the White Bear- available on 9.24.2024. Pre-order now on Amazon. You won't regret it.
31-year-old Aisling Morrow has spent her whole life avoiding all things fae. That is until a chance encounter with a wood sprite brings her to the Shadow Mother and changes her life with prophecy. In an attempt to gain a better understanding of her role as the Red Woman, Aisling infiltrates the Unseelie court pretending to be someone she isn’t. It doesn’t take long for the Unseelie King, Kael, to see through her glamour and take her prisoner. During her time in captivity both Aisling and the King realize there is more to Aisling than meets the eye. Acting as a tether for the King’s unpredictable cruelty, Aisling learns that she can calm the wild shadows that lurk within him. Kael and Aisling begin to form a relationship and trust that is suddenly shattered once Aisling reveals her true identity as the Red Woman.
Fleeing the Unseelie Court, Aisling returns to the human world and then ventures willingly into the Seelie Court with her faithful companions, Briar (the White Bear) and Rodney (Changeling). But things at the Seelie Court are not as pleasant as they are portrayed to be. Hoping to learn more about her role and of her own mother’s time in the Fae world, Aisling and Rodney embark on a quest of knowledge. What they discover leaves them both questioning the Seelie Court. The Seelie Queen wishes to destroy Kael and the Unseelie Court. She will stop at nothing to see it happen. Aisling’s growing discomfort leads her to leave the Seelie Court, but leaving that court is not as easy as entering it.
Back in the human realm, Rodney and Aisling have but a moment to feel safe before a knock comes to their door, dragging them back to the Unseelie Court….
This book is so many things but the biggest thing is that it is captivating. The descriptions and world building transport you to Brooke Island and both realms. A slow burn read, this book offers a few open-door scenes and a small amount of strong language. I appreciate the author leaving some things to the imagination. I also appreciate the female main character being my own age. It’s refreshing to have a character not easily swayed by appearances. Aisling is someone who has a back bone and can make up her own mind. This book ends on a cliffhanger but no worries, book 2 is in the works!
Be prepared to ugly cry while reading this.
This book has mentions of violence, forced captivity, blood, graphic death, grief, parental suicide and coarse language.
The Red Woman and the White Bear- available on 9.24.2024. Pre-order now on Amazon. You won't regret it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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