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A Debt of Shattered Hope
I will not tame fate. I will force it to its knees.
Sóna Mac Raith has never been lucky a single day in her dumpster fire of a life. So, now, shackled and shuffling toward an auction block in the belly of the Fae slave market, she's unsurprised that her life is hitting another soul-crushing low.
The Raven of the Dawn, disgraced Fae prince of Árus Láigh, has a mass grave of sins on his soul and an unbreakable oath of vengeance to fulfill. Once duped by the foolishness of love, forever consumed by retribution. To diverge from his path means death, but his desire for proud, bitter Sóna may tear him limb from limb if he doesn't.
Tossed between her merciless new masters like the filthy plaything she has become, Sóna struggles to keep her head above the deadly waves of betrayal, cruelty, and bloodshed - even as she vows to strip the Fae world to its roots and burn it all to the ground.
But none of it will matter if Sóna can't survive the cutthroat court and the irresistible pull of the tortured, tempestuous Raven, the man who destroyed the House of Magic before she was born. Or how that very act has carved its consequences into the world around her.
A Debt of Shattered Hope is book one of a twisted enemies-to-lovers dark fantasy romance duet that will shove you headlong into a world of dizzying magic and political intrigue - and remind you why the Fae were always meant to be feared.
Sóna Mac Raith has never been lucky a single day in her dumpster fire of a life. So, now, shackled and shuffling toward an auction block in the belly of the Fae slave market, she's unsurprised that her life is hitting another soul-crushing low.
The Raven of the Dawn, disgraced Fae prince of Árus Láigh, has a mass grave of sins on his soul and an unbreakable oath of vengeance to fulfill. Once duped by the foolishness of love, forever consumed by retribution. To diverge from his path means death, but his desire for proud, bitter Sóna may tear him limb from limb if he doesn't.
Tossed between her merciless new masters like the filthy plaything she has become, Sóna struggles to keep her head above the deadly waves of betrayal, cruelty, and bloodshed - even as she vows to strip the Fae world to its roots and burn it all to the ground.
But none of it will matter if Sóna can't survive the cutthroat court and the irresistible pull of the tortured, tempestuous Raven, the man who destroyed the House of Magic before she was born. Or how that very act has carved its consequences into the world around her.
A Debt of Shattered Hope is book one of a twisted enemies-to-lovers dark fantasy romance duet that will shove you headlong into a world of dizzying magic and political intrigue - and remind you why the Fae were always meant to be feared.
500 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2025
39 people are currently reading
793 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
March 28, 2025
This book was insane. So insane it had me fighting for my life through a migraine because I didn't want to stop reading.
Sóna deserves literally everything. Her life is freaking awful from pretty much start to finish. She has a little meltdown and know she's just mad. The rage is so real you can just feel it as you read. She's burn the world down levels of rage and I'm here for absolutely every bit of it.
I have a real love hate relationship with Raven. On one hand that man is fiiiiine. On the other? He's a man. 😐
The TENSION. The YEARNING. I freaking eat it up. Thank you so much to the author for the arc so I could go feral for this book 🥹.
Sóna deserves literally everything. Her life is freaking awful from pretty much start to finish. She has a little meltdown and know she's just mad. The rage is so real you can just feel it as you read. She's burn the world down levels of rage and I'm here for absolutely every bit of it.
I have a real love hate relationship with Raven. On one hand that man is fiiiiine. On the other? He's a man. 😐
The TENSION. The YEARNING. I freaking eat it up. Thank you so much to the author for the arc so I could go feral for this book 🥹.
March 28, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This book was a wild ride in a fantastic way. This is certainly a DARK fantasy romance. The MMC is morally grey and our FMC undergoes sooo much adversity! This book is heartbreakingly beautiful. I loved the world the author created and the side characters create the best found family atmosphere! I am eagerly awaiting book 2 after that ending!!
Tropes:
🖤 Found Family
💜 Court Intrigue
🖤 Feminine Rage
💜 Morally Grey MMC
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
💜 Secret Affair
🖤 Fated Mates
💜 MFM moment
🖤 Secret Pining
There’s also my FAVORITE sub-trope moment where he washes her hair 🥹🖤
Please check your trigger warnings!
Huge thank you to Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for the electronic advanced readers copy!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This book was a wild ride in a fantastic way. This is certainly a DARK fantasy romance. The MMC is morally grey and our FMC undergoes sooo much adversity! This book is heartbreakingly beautiful. I loved the world the author created and the side characters create the best found family atmosphere! I am eagerly awaiting book 2 after that ending!!
Tropes:
🖤 Found Family
💜 Court Intrigue
🖤 Feminine Rage
💜 Morally Grey MMC
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
💜 Secret Affair
🖤 Fated Mates
💜 MFM moment
🖤 Secret Pining
There’s also my FAVORITE sub-trope moment where he washes her hair 🥹🖤
Please check your trigger warnings!
Huge thank you to Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for the electronic advanced readers copy!
March 9, 2025
This book was so insanely well written, fully fleshed out character development, and insane twists. First and foremost, I was completely taken with the dark twists on the fae in this book. The fae truly are dark, twisted, corrupt, tricky, etc., and I really liked that. I thought the magic of being able to completely alter another being’s body was so unique! Everything about this book screamed unique. It truly is unlike anything else I have ever read.
Cricket was such a badass FMC. Forever down on her luck, trafficked into the fae world, she still has the energy to claw a fae up and tell another to go fuck themselves. I really loved her as the FMC.
The Raven, what can I say, I was immediately besotted with him 😮💨🤣 like WYM he has an awful reputation, he’s tall and broody?!
🗡️ Grimdark fae romance
🗡️ Morally dark (very dark) grey love interest
🗡️ Enemies to lovers
🗡️ Feminine rage
🗡️ Secret affairs
🗡️ Soul mates
🗡️ Midsized badass FMC
This book does have very dark themes to check TW!
THAT ENDING MISS MAAM IM SCREAMING AND CRYING AND THROWING UP AND ROCKING BACK AND FORTH I CANT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO
Cricket was such a badass FMC. Forever down on her luck, trafficked into the fae world, she still has the energy to claw a fae up and tell another to go fuck themselves. I really loved her as the FMC.
The Raven, what can I say, I was immediately besotted with him 😮💨🤣 like WYM he has an awful reputation, he’s tall and broody?!
🗡️ Grimdark fae romance
🗡️ Morally dark (very dark) grey love interest
🗡️ Enemies to lovers
🗡️ Feminine rage
🗡️ Secret affairs
🗡️ Soul mates
🗡️ Midsized badass FMC
This book does have very dark themes to check TW!
THAT ENDING MISS MAAM IM SCREAMING AND CRYING AND THROWING UP AND ROCKING BACK AND FORTH I CANT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO
March 24, 2025
Thank you to Haus of Fables and N Cacares for the ARC of this INCREDIBLE book!!!
When I say I love and want dark fantasy--THIS is exactly what I'm talking about. Sona's life starts bad, gets worse, and somehow the trauma literally never ends. If there was ever a character who deserves a break on the beach for the rest of her life, it's her. Every time she DOES catch a break, life doubles down and things somehow get worse than if she hadn't. She's a SURVIVOR and I am so ready to see what she does in the next book, because she is MAD and she is READY.
And our MMC?? PHEW. He's morally dark gray, perhaps even black if you're not as insane as I am. If you're an "I can fix him! No really, I can!" You're going to have a great time here. You definitely can't fix him, but you're going to want to try.
The spice is spicing, the politics are game of thrones level, the darkness is..well..DARK. Definitely check the TWs before starting this, because it's not rainbows and butterflies here. I don't think we get even 2 pages of joy and happiness.
I am so ready for a like, 10 book series in this world following Cricket around as she extracts her revenge on everyone and everything. But I'll settle for the second book in the duology.
When I say I love and want dark fantasy--THIS is exactly what I'm talking about. Sona's life starts bad, gets worse, and somehow the trauma literally never ends. If there was ever a character who deserves a break on the beach for the rest of her life, it's her. Every time she DOES catch a break, life doubles down and things somehow get worse than if she hadn't. She's a SURVIVOR and I am so ready to see what she does in the next book, because she is MAD and she is READY.
And our MMC?? PHEW. He's morally dark gray, perhaps even black if you're not as insane as I am. If you're an "I can fix him! No really, I can!" You're going to have a great time here. You definitely can't fix him, but you're going to want to try.
The spice is spicing, the politics are game of thrones level, the darkness is..well..DARK. Definitely check the TWs before starting this, because it's not rainbows and butterflies here. I don't think we get even 2 pages of joy and happiness.
I am so ready for a like, 10 book series in this world following Cricket around as she extracts her revenge on everyone and everything. But I'll settle for the second book in the duology.
March 24, 2025
2.5⭐️ rounding up
Let me start out by saying, I can see how some people would really love this book. There were elements I found interesting & fun to read but overall, I don’t think this book was my vibe.
Honestly, I was confused 80% of the book & had no idea what was going on. But I don’t think it’s bc the world building was hard to grasp necessarily, I was just never sucked into the world. In the beginning I was excited to see where the story went, then the 30-50% mark completely lost me.
I did enjoy some of the magic systems in the book, and the morally grey part of the characters. The spice had me intrigued lol but other than that I wasn’t too interested.
I do think there’s people out there that would absolutely eat this up but sadly that just wasn’t me.
Thank you so much to Haus of Fables for the gifted ARC!
Let me start out by saying, I can see how some people would really love this book. There were elements I found interesting & fun to read but overall, I don’t think this book was my vibe.
Honestly, I was confused 80% of the book & had no idea what was going on. But I don’t think it’s bc the world building was hard to grasp necessarily, I was just never sucked into the world. In the beginning I was excited to see where the story went, then the 30-50% mark completely lost me.
I did enjoy some of the magic systems in the book, and the morally grey part of the characters. The spice had me intrigued lol but other than that I wasn’t too interested.
I do think there’s people out there that would absolutely eat this up but sadly that just wasn’t me.
Thank you so much to Haus of Fables for the gifted ARC!
March 25, 2025
Wow. Dark Romance Fans - are you looking to get into fantasy, because this. is. it.
This delivers everything I want from dark fantasy romance—and then some. It’s brutal, intoxicating, and filled with raw character growth and trauma that isn’t glossed over or romanticized. This is dark, with no pretenses otherwise. The writing is phenomenal, and it’s clear the author poured everything into this book.
Sóna is an absolute force and I adore her and all of her imperfections. She refuses to be tamed or broken, no matter how much suffering is thrown her way. She claws her way through hell and still does what’s best for her, even when it hurts. That last moment where she reclaims her power? Chef’s kiss. She doesn’t just fall into Raven’s arms because of some forced bond—she’s furious, she’s hurt, and she makes her own choices. And Raven? He’s soft in some moments, but he’s also terrifying, unpredictable, and absolutely not safe. Their dynamic is electric in a way that so many “enemies-to-lovers” stories fail to capture. The tension is real. The chemistry is undeniable. And yet, Sóna never loses sight of who he truly is.
The world itself is grim, bloody, and filled with corrupt, terrifying Fae. Cáceres doesn’t shy away from horror, whether it’s political intrigue, bodily autonomy, or psychological torment. The body dysmorphia rep is woven in brilliantly—Sóna’s struggle with seeing herself in a face and body that no longer feel like hers is gut-wrenching. Every compliment about her appearance is a knife twist rather than flattery, and that thread never gets dropped for the sake of romance.
This is not for the faint of heart—definitely check trigger warnings—but A Debt of Shattered Hope nails what so many dark romantasy books attempt. It doesn’t just say it’s dark; it IS dark. Twisted, brutal, and completely captivating. Hands down, one of the best enemies-to-lovers-but-still-enemies portrayals I’ve seen in dark fantasy.
Thanks so much to Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This delivers everything I want from dark fantasy romance—and then some. It’s brutal, intoxicating, and filled with raw character growth and trauma that isn’t glossed over or romanticized. This is dark, with no pretenses otherwise. The writing is phenomenal, and it’s clear the author poured everything into this book.
Sóna is an absolute force and I adore her and all of her imperfections. She refuses to be tamed or broken, no matter how much suffering is thrown her way. She claws her way through hell and still does what’s best for her, even when it hurts. That last moment where she reclaims her power? Chef’s kiss. She doesn’t just fall into Raven’s arms because of some forced bond—she’s furious, she’s hurt, and she makes her own choices. And Raven? He’s soft in some moments, but he’s also terrifying, unpredictable, and absolutely not safe. Their dynamic is electric in a way that so many “enemies-to-lovers” stories fail to capture. The tension is real. The chemistry is undeniable. And yet, Sóna never loses sight of who he truly is.
The world itself is grim, bloody, and filled with corrupt, terrifying Fae. Cáceres doesn’t shy away from horror, whether it’s political intrigue, bodily autonomy, or psychological torment. The body dysmorphia rep is woven in brilliantly—Sóna’s struggle with seeing herself in a face and body that no longer feel like hers is gut-wrenching. Every compliment about her appearance is a knife twist rather than flattery, and that thread never gets dropped for the sake of romance.
This is not for the faint of heart—definitely check trigger warnings—but A Debt of Shattered Hope nails what so many dark romantasy books attempt. It doesn’t just say it’s dark; it IS dark. Twisted, brutal, and completely captivating. Hands down, one of the best enemies-to-lovers-but-still-enemies portrayals I’ve seen in dark fantasy.
Thanks so much to Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
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July 11, 2025i'm on a fucking role with finishing books today.
N. Cáceres knocks it out of the park again with yet another great book. can't wait for the sequel!
N. Cáceres knocks it out of the park again with yet another great book. can't wait for the sequel!
March 12, 2025
You are telling me I have to wait a whole year to find out what happens next after that ending?! 🤯 A Debt of Shattered Hope is Book 1 in this slated duet.
If you are a fan of dark fantasy with Pan’s Labyrinth x Game of Thrones vibes, fae and humans, enemies to lovers, morally grey MMC, feminine rage, black cat x doberman, secret affairs, soul mates, a touch of MFM with kink and so much more then this book is for you!
In this story we follow Soná, a human, who has had bad luck following her around her whole life, and as her luck would have it she ends up stolen away and up for auction on the Fae market.
The Raven sets his sites on Soná as a gift for the Ard Ri, High King of the Fae. But he quickly learns he might have gotten more than he bargained for with her.
Soná is fierce and she is not afraid to say anything that comes to her mind, often to her detriment but she is determined to escape her captors. She is really put through the wringer in this new world. With the possible unfortunate side effects of a bargain and the help of her new friends Violet, Emerald and The Green Man she just might succeed but can she leave Raven behind?
Oh Raven, this cinnamon roll but only for her, who carries the weight of his past on his shoulders. Because he is bound he cannot take pleasure in Soná himself but he makes sure she is taken care of. For a feared male by all, this Fae man, takes the sweetest care of her by bathing her, braiding her hair and so many other swoon worthy moments but he has his darker side that likes to play 😏
There are so many secrets and scheming going around and I was constantly on the edge of my seat turning the page to see what would happen next. This world that N. Caneres has crafted has my mind reeling wondering all the details I missed because my mind was blown by the ending and I cannot wait to see what is in store for them next.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you are a fan of dark fantasy with Pan’s Labyrinth x Game of Thrones vibes, fae and humans, enemies to lovers, morally grey MMC, feminine rage, black cat x doberman, secret affairs, soul mates, a touch of MFM with kink and so much more then this book is for you!
In this story we follow Soná, a human, who has had bad luck following her around her whole life, and as her luck would have it she ends up stolen away and up for auction on the Fae market.
The Raven sets his sites on Soná as a gift for the Ard Ri, High King of the Fae. But he quickly learns he might have gotten more than he bargained for with her.
Soná is fierce and she is not afraid to say anything that comes to her mind, often to her detriment but she is determined to escape her captors. She is really put through the wringer in this new world. With the possible unfortunate side effects of a bargain and the help of her new friends Violet, Emerald and The Green Man she just might succeed but can she leave Raven behind?
Oh Raven, this cinnamon roll but only for her, who carries the weight of his past on his shoulders. Because he is bound he cannot take pleasure in Soná himself but he makes sure she is taken care of. For a feared male by all, this Fae man, takes the sweetest care of her by bathing her, braiding her hair and so many other swoon worthy moments but he has his darker side that likes to play 😏
There are so many secrets and scheming going around and I was constantly on the edge of my seat turning the page to see what would happen next. This world that N. Caneres has crafted has my mind reeling wondering all the details I missed because my mind was blown by the ending and I cannot wait to see what is in store for them next.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
March 26, 2025
⭐️3/10⭐️
Now, listen, this book had some really excelent ideas and the premise is really interesting. I liked the whole unlucky girl getting into a whole other world trope.
I'm just sorry to say the writing to me felt scrambled, meaning that something was happening at one moment, and suddenly it felt like a whole other scene. I also felt like throwing the vocabulary at the start of the book, expecting the readers to memorize it and not have the words explained when used in the story also added to the confusion. I don't really want to just keep going back and forth from the story to the vocabulary.
I was personally not a fan of the FMC's inner monologue, but I could see it being interesting for the right audience.
I'm sorry to say that at some point, I just couldn't keep on reading. I really wanted to love this book, because the summary was so intriguing to me, but I didn't feel like I would have a good time personally if I continued reading. This book was just not for me.
(I am also keeping the higher rating on for now, so the overall rating doesn't go down for this book, since it's yet to be published)
Thank you Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for providing me with an ARC of this book ❤️
Now, listen, this book had some really excelent ideas and the premise is really interesting. I liked the whole unlucky girl getting into a whole other world trope.
I'm just sorry to say the writing to me felt scrambled, meaning that something was happening at one moment, and suddenly it felt like a whole other scene. I also felt like throwing the vocabulary at the start of the book, expecting the readers to memorize it and not have the words explained when used in the story also added to the confusion. I don't really want to just keep going back and forth from the story to the vocabulary.
I was personally not a fan of the FMC's inner monologue, but I could see it being interesting for the right audience.
I'm sorry to say that at some point, I just couldn't keep on reading. I really wanted to love this book, because the summary was so intriguing to me, but I didn't feel like I would have a good time personally if I continued reading. This book was just not for me.
(I am also keeping the higher rating on for now, so the overall rating doesn't go down for this book, since it's yet to be published)
Thank you Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for providing me with an ARC of this book ❤️
April 2, 2025
I felt like this book had good bones and the premise was really interesting. However, the writing felt off to me. It felt like I was in a moment with everyone one sentence and then suddenly in an entirely different scene the next. There was like six pages of vocabulary at the start and it was a lot. At some point I just stopped pronouncing anything and knowing who was what. I didn’t like going back and forth every two pages.
I wasn’t a fan of the FMC and her inner monologue. I also didn’t like that her name was Cricket???? I feel like this book was written for a specific audience and it just wasn’t me.
I think I made it to the 60% mark and just couldn’t keep going. I was confused the whole time and somethings just rubbed me the wrong way. I tried to like it & I just didn’t have a good time.
Thank you Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for the ARC of this book 🖤
I wasn’t a fan of the FMC and her inner monologue. I also didn’t like that her name was Cricket???? I feel like this book was written for a specific audience and it just wasn’t me.
I think I made it to the 60% mark and just couldn’t keep going. I was confused the whole time and somethings just rubbed me the wrong way. I tried to like it & I just didn’t have a good time.
Thank you Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for the ARC of this book 🖤
May 10, 2025
Ok let me start with saying, I loved the world that Nemmy wove together in this book. You’ll find all the tropes we love in a dark romance & then some, like found family in this book.
I genuinely felt for Sona as I read this book. She has literally had a string of bad luck, when she comes across a job ad after losing her most recent job, she applies & ends up k!dn@pped & forced into servitude. And things just seems to get worse from there..
The ending left me staring into the void. Nemmy really knows how to deliver emotional damage. I cannot wait for the next one.
I genuinely felt for Sona as I read this book. She has literally had a string of bad luck, when she comes across a job ad after losing her most recent job, she applies & ends up k!dn@pped & forced into servitude. And things just seems to get worse from there..
The ending left me staring into the void. Nemmy really knows how to deliver emotional damage. I cannot wait for the next one.
March 17, 2025
A Debt of Shattered Hope is for my fellow DARK romantasy lovers. I lost sleep over this ARC because I could not put it down.
📖 ARC review 📖
Release date: March 28, 2025
What to expect:
🖤 1st person, dual POV
🖤 Grimdark fae fantasy romance
🖤 Humans vs wicked fae
🖤 Feminine rage
🖤 Morally grey & morally black characters
🖤 Found family
⚠️ PLEASE read the TW/CW⚠️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (slow burn)
This is probably one of the, if not THE darkest romantasy I have read—so I caution my fellow dark romantasy lovers to really comb through the TW/CW. I personally love dark romance, so I think this is the perfect blend between the two sub genres.
Even though this is a very dark book, the comedic relief is *chefs kiss.* I'm so glad the author chose to write the FMC, Sóna they way she did because I was invested in her character from chapter 1. She's witty, strong-willed, unfiltered and overall a complex character.
I also love Raven's character, but dang. The author has me questioning everything after that last chapter. ALSO THAT CLIFFHANGER? My heart is in pieces. I need book 2 immediately, please.
A sincere thank you to N. Cáceres and Haus of Fables for the gifted physical ARC ahead of its release.
📖 ARC review 📖
Release date: March 28, 2025
What to expect:
🖤 1st person, dual POV
🖤 Grimdark fae fantasy romance
🖤 Humans vs wicked fae
🖤 Feminine rage
🖤 Morally grey & morally black characters
🖤 Found family
⚠️ PLEASE read the TW/CW⚠️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (slow burn)
This is probably one of the, if not THE darkest romantasy I have read—so I caution my fellow dark romantasy lovers to really comb through the TW/CW. I personally love dark romance, so I think this is the perfect blend between the two sub genres.
Even though this is a very dark book, the comedic relief is *chefs kiss.* I'm so glad the author chose to write the FMC, Sóna they way she did because I was invested in her character from chapter 1. She's witty, strong-willed, unfiltered and overall a complex character.
I also love Raven's character, but dang. The author has me questioning everything after that last chapter. ALSO THAT CLIFFHANGER? My heart is in pieces. I need book 2 immediately, please.
A sincere thank you to N. Cáceres and Haus of Fables for the gifted physical ARC ahead of its release.
May 12, 2025
This was... a lot.
This was dark fantasy at its best (or worst, depending on your perspective). The fae were cruel, beautiful monsters who made no attempt to hide their depravities, and the abuse of the daoire knew no end. Suffering and misery ran rampant, but none were as awful as what Cricket endured.
Cricket and The Raven. The Raven and Cricket. A beautiful disaster written in the stars. Half of their issues could have been avoided if they'd just put their egos aside, sat down and had an honest conversation. Alas, there must be conflict. This was miscommunication trope on steroids and the push and pull got tiring very quickly. It didn't help that Cricket's internal monologues were unneccesarily verbose and borderline unhinged. This had very dense writing overstuffed with back to back metaphors, analogies, and personification. It was intriguing at first, but after 500 pages of it, I felt like I'd been beaten over the head with an English Language textbook.
This was dark fantasy at its best (or worst, depending on your perspective). The fae were cruel, beautiful monsters who made no attempt to hide their depravities, and the abuse of the daoire knew no end. Suffering and misery ran rampant, but none were as awful as what Cricket endured.
Cricket and The Raven. The Raven and Cricket. A beautiful disaster written in the stars. Half of their issues could have been avoided if they'd just put their egos aside, sat down and had an honest conversation. Alas, there must be conflict. This was miscommunication trope on steroids and the push and pull got tiring very quickly. It didn't help that Cricket's internal monologues were unneccesarily verbose and borderline unhinged. This had very dense writing overstuffed with back to back metaphors, analogies, and personification. It was intriguing at first, but after 500 pages of it, I felt like I'd been beaten over the head with an English Language textbook.
March 28, 2025
3.5 stars.
Babe, make sure you check your triggers before diving in because there’s plenty of DARK in this dark fantasy! The violent political and social system is reminiscent to Game of Thrones and the kink/spice is 100% in line with your favorite morally-black romance books.
I really enjoyed the pacing of the first half, it’s a super interesting and immersive plot that really focuses on the wicked side of fae’s. I did start to lose some steam the second half as our FMC lost a little bit of her unhinged personality and became more introspective and the pacing was starting to feel a little whiplashy.
If you want something that’s not your typical fae romantasy, check this out! Thanks to the Haus of Fables for the eARC!!
Babe, make sure you check your triggers before diving in because there’s plenty of DARK in this dark fantasy! The violent political and social system is reminiscent to Game of Thrones and the kink/spice is 100% in line with your favorite morally-black romance books.
I really enjoyed the pacing of the first half, it’s a super interesting and immersive plot that really focuses on the wicked side of fae’s. I did start to lose some steam the second half as our FMC lost a little bit of her unhinged personality and became more introspective and the pacing was starting to feel a little whiplashy.
If you want something that’s not your typical fae romantasy, check this out! Thanks to the Haus of Fables for the eARC!!
April 2, 2025
That ending!! I am unwell 😭
I cannot wait for book 2. I need it immediately.
I will start by saying when I first started this book I struggled a little with the pacing but when it picked up holy sh!t I couldn’t put it down!!
We have Sóna our human FMC whose terrible luck has landed her in the Fae Market where she is sold to the highest bidder. This book follows her story of adjusting to living in the fae realm and all of the horrible things that happen (to her) while there.
The Raven, our MMC, is a fae Captain and purchased Sonny as a gift to his King. He’s dark and broody, secretive and soft only for her.
Read if you are a fan of dark fantasy with Pan’s Labyrinth and Game of Thrones vibes, fae and human slaves, enemies to lovers, morally grey MMC, FEMININE RAGE, secret affairs, black cat and Doberman vibes, k!nk, törture and sooo many secrets.
The world building, character development and twists and turns of this story still have me reeling after finishing this book.
Thank you Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for the gifted arc 🖤
I cannot wait for book 2. I need it immediately.
I will start by saying when I first started this book I struggled a little with the pacing but when it picked up holy sh!t I couldn’t put it down!!
We have Sóna our human FMC whose terrible luck has landed her in the Fae Market where she is sold to the highest bidder. This book follows her story of adjusting to living in the fae realm and all of the horrible things that happen (to her) while there.
The Raven, our MMC, is a fae Captain and purchased Sonny as a gift to his King. He’s dark and broody, secretive and soft only for her.
Read if you are a fan of dark fantasy with Pan’s Labyrinth and Game of Thrones vibes, fae and human slaves, enemies to lovers, morally grey MMC, FEMININE RAGE, secret affairs, black cat and Doberman vibes, k!nk, törture and sooo many secrets.
The world building, character development and twists and turns of this story still have me reeling after finishing this book.
Thank you Haus of Fables and N. Cáceres for the gifted arc 🖤
April 11, 2025
This was such a great read! I loved the world building & the magic system. I loved the dark twist on fae in this. And the magic system was so unique, like being able to alter someone's body.
Our FMC goes through so much in this book. I loved how much she worked to overcome everything happening to her. Many secrets & twists I didn't see coming.
Our MMC is deliciously morally grey! I loved him but also didn't like him a times. And the spice was sooo good! Especially the MFM scene!
I can't get over the ending & can't wait for book 2!! I'm not sure i can wait a year. Make sure to check trigger warnings!
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Feminine rage
Fated mates
Court intrigue
Morally grey
Our FMC goes through so much in this book. I loved how much she worked to overcome everything happening to her. Many secrets & twists I didn't see coming.
Our MMC is deliciously morally grey! I loved him but also didn't like him a times. And the spice was sooo good! Especially the MFM scene!
I can't get over the ending & can't wait for book 2!! I'm not sure i can wait a year. Make sure to check trigger warnings!
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Feminine rage
Fated mates
Court intrigue
Morally grey
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2025
First and foremost, thank you to Haus of Fables and author N. Caceres for this gifted ARC. This book was a masterpiece. It was different than every other book I’ve read in the recent past. I went in blind without refreshing myself with the synopsis, and I’m so glad I did. The entire plot was a surprise, and the twists and turns kept me on my toes.
This book is DARK, and if you are sensitive to certain content, you should definitely review the (ample) trigger warnings before reading. This story was like a heart wrenching horror story. The author’s ability to make it feel beautiful and uplifting even through massive amounts of trauma showed her skill as a storyteller.
The FMC and MMC’s relationship was complex and twisted, but beautiful. Following along with them through the book left me wanting so much more.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the FMC’s resilience and her ability to make me laugh amidst all of the trauma. Her banter with the MMC and the interesting side characters added so much to the story. All in all, I thought this was an emotional and amazing read. I hope it is well-received and loved as much as I loved it!
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite lines in the book between the FMC and a side character- “We were no longer a daoire and her de facto captor but two women standing in a single space, sharing the burden of anguish.”
This book is DARK, and if you are sensitive to certain content, you should definitely review the (ample) trigger warnings before reading. This story was like a heart wrenching horror story. The author’s ability to make it feel beautiful and uplifting even through massive amounts of trauma showed her skill as a storyteller.
The FMC and MMC’s relationship was complex and twisted, but beautiful. Following along with them through the book left me wanting so much more.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the FMC’s resilience and her ability to make me laugh amidst all of the trauma. Her banter with the MMC and the interesting side characters added so much to the story. All in all, I thought this was an emotional and amazing read. I hope it is well-received and loved as much as I loved it!
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite lines in the book between the FMC and a side character- “We were no longer a daoire and her de facto captor but two women standing in a single space, sharing the burden of anguish.”
June 9, 2025
When the content warnings fill up an entire page and the dedication looks like this, I immediately know I’m gonna have a GREAT time 🤪❤️🔥
A Debt of Shattered Hopes is book one of a twisted enemies to lovers dark fantasy romance duet set in the magical, but terrifying world of the Fae!
And by terrifying, I mean 💀terrifying💀 like the Fae in this book are not your friend. They are literally what the nightmares are made of and what folklores have warned people about.
I truly enjoyed reading this book. It’s dark and gritty and I loved every second of it. The lore was soooo intriguing and I honestly want more.
The romance is equally as dark since there’s a huge power imbalance between them and well, the MMC is morally grey/black and truly unhinged, but he’s hot and says things like this—
“Do you not know it already, little bug? I would burn all of magic out of existence to keep you warm at night.” He sealed his oath with a kiss.
And when he tries to struggle from the bonds of his possession, he gently reminds her to you know, ✨don’t✨ with such sweet words—
“Hide all you want, little bug. I will always find you. I will always hunt what is mine down and return it to its rightful place.”
But the FMC is not so easily frightened. She’s basically got nothing to lose so she consistently fights for whatever freedom she could manage.
Honestly she is perfect for him because she’s just as unhinged in her (rightful) rage.
“I told you to leave me alone several times. One of us refused to take the advice, and it wasn’t me.”
The ending was insane but having to wait a year for the next book was even more BRUTAL 😩
-ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀʀᴄ, ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ-
A Debt of Shattered Hopes is book one of a twisted enemies to lovers dark fantasy romance duet set in the magical, but terrifying world of the Fae!
And by terrifying, I mean 💀terrifying💀 like the Fae in this book are not your friend. They are literally what the nightmares are made of and what folklores have warned people about.
I truly enjoyed reading this book. It’s dark and gritty and I loved every second of it. The lore was soooo intriguing and I honestly want more.
The romance is equally as dark since there’s a huge power imbalance between them and well, the MMC is morally grey/black and truly unhinged, but he’s hot and says things like this—
“Do you not know it already, little bug? I would burn all of magic out of existence to keep you warm at night.” He sealed his oath with a kiss.
And when he tries to struggle from the bonds of his possession, he gently reminds her to you know, ✨don’t✨ with such sweet words—
“Hide all you want, little bug. I will always find you. I will always hunt what is mine down and return it to its rightful place.”
But the FMC is not so easily frightened. She’s basically got nothing to lose so she consistently fights for whatever freedom she could manage.
Honestly she is perfect for him because she’s just as unhinged in her (rightful) rage.
“I told you to leave me alone several times. One of us refused to take the advice, and it wasn’t me.”
The ending was insane but having to wait a year for the next book was even more BRUTAL 😩
-ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀʀᴄ, ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ-
March 19, 2025
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author and Haus of Fables in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!
Set in a world inspired by medieval Irish folklore, this book has totally blown me away. It is dark, unhinged, brutal, sexy plot twist after plot twist. I wasn’t exactly sure where it would go until about 40% in and then I realized. This a throwback to the old school fae. The jaded, cruel, horrifying fae that used to dominate fantasy books. Gone are the sexy cinnamon rolls and golden retriever MMCs you see in a lot of recent Romantasy. The MMC Raven is a true villain that has done unspeakable things and is down bad for the FMC in the darkest way. He wants to be the romantic who woos her and we get just enough glimpses to scratch that itch before it’s yanked away once more. And just when you think they’ve turned a corner and the sweet love he wants to show will appear, we’re surprised yet again by his actions—but also not because, hello. He’s fae.
The FMC Sóna goes through absolute hell at nightmarish levels from beginning to end. Again and again and again. But she does so with the most fantastic biting wit and cynicism and comes back up swinging every time. Her smart-mouthed remarks should have been cheesy but they were often hilarious and brought some well deserved levity to the very dark parts of this book. She is a vicious hellcat who has had the world’s worst luck and yet she still perseveres, even through physical abuse, betrayals, and more. She chooses the name Cricket for herself and it is so perfect. She is somehow the cricket from Mulan—things are going horribly at every turn but she comes out the other side not necessarily unscathed but still there.
This book reminded me of a lot of my favorites but with a fresh spin. It’s like Amelia Hutchins’ fae series and Legacy of the Nine Realms level of spice and brutality but better written and plotted; with a touch of Sarah Hawley’s Servant of Earth world building, political machinations, and FMC tenacity; and a sprinkle of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away ghost bathhouse that Chihiro/Sen stumbled upon and can’t leave—but this house is a cursed palace filled with abominable cruelty and a horrifying monarch. At times, Sóna reminded me of Aefe from War of Lost Hearts trilogy by Carissa Broadbent—specifically her cruel and tragic fate and fetch. And finally, parts were also similar but better than Gild by Raven Kennedy—especially Sóna’s continued suffering and betrayals.
I feel like Caceres took everything rad from these books and movies and upped the ante on every level. Sóna SUFFERS in this book. Trigger warnings abound BUT Caceres wasn’t gratuitous; rather she dug into the events and made them relevant to the plot but part of the characters’ development without being trite. For example, Sóna’s physical appearance is altered by magic against her will. This has been done before in many ways throughout YA such as the Hunger Games and various Romantasy. But Caceres points out the horror of no longer recognizing yourself and how Sóna tried to stay true to herself when her face and body is literally not her own. She doesn’t abandon this throughout the book. Every time Sóna is told she is stunning or gorgeous is yet another cut for her since the compliments are false and not actually for her.
Also, Sóna makes mistakes but not in stupid and stubborn ways; rather her mistakes only endear her more because she always approaches what she’s about to do with the basic premise that it’s going to go poorly—everything for her does—so let’s see how horrific it’s going to be together. And it just worked so well. She was just so fun to follow as she never lost sight of her goal of getting the hell out of the fae world she didn’t want to be in to begin with.
I could go on and on. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a dark romantasy on every level. But it’s also a wild ride that you won’t want to put down and I can’t believe I now have to wait a year for its sequel. The ending was one of the most intense cliffhangers I’ve read in some time.
Set in a world inspired by medieval Irish folklore, this book has totally blown me away. It is dark, unhinged, brutal, sexy plot twist after plot twist. I wasn’t exactly sure where it would go until about 40% in and then I realized. This a throwback to the old school fae. The jaded, cruel, horrifying fae that used to dominate fantasy books. Gone are the sexy cinnamon rolls and golden retriever MMCs you see in a lot of recent Romantasy. The MMC Raven is a true villain that has done unspeakable things and is down bad for the FMC in the darkest way. He wants to be the romantic who woos her and we get just enough glimpses to scratch that itch before it’s yanked away once more. And just when you think they’ve turned a corner and the sweet love he wants to show will appear, we’re surprised yet again by his actions—but also not because, hello. He’s fae.
The FMC Sóna goes through absolute hell at nightmarish levels from beginning to end. Again and again and again. But she does so with the most fantastic biting wit and cynicism and comes back up swinging every time. Her smart-mouthed remarks should have been cheesy but they were often hilarious and brought some well deserved levity to the very dark parts of this book. She is a vicious hellcat who has had the world’s worst luck and yet she still perseveres, even through physical abuse, betrayals, and more. She chooses the name Cricket for herself and it is so perfect. She is somehow the cricket from Mulan—things are going horribly at every turn but she comes out the other side not necessarily unscathed but still there.
This book reminded me of a lot of my favorites but with a fresh spin. It’s like Amelia Hutchins’ fae series and Legacy of the Nine Realms level of spice and brutality but better written and plotted; with a touch of Sarah Hawley’s Servant of Earth world building, political machinations, and FMC tenacity; and a sprinkle of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away ghost bathhouse that Chihiro/Sen stumbled upon and can’t leave—but this house is a cursed palace filled with abominable cruelty and a horrifying monarch. At times, Sóna reminded me of Aefe from War of Lost Hearts trilogy by Carissa Broadbent—specifically her cruel and tragic fate and fetch. And finally, parts were also similar but better than Gild by Raven Kennedy—especially Sóna’s continued suffering and betrayals.
I feel like Caceres took everything rad from these books and movies and upped the ante on every level. Sóna SUFFERS in this book. Trigger warnings abound BUT Caceres wasn’t gratuitous; rather she dug into the events and made them relevant to the plot but part of the characters’ development without being trite. For example, Sóna’s physical appearance is altered by magic against her will. This has been done before in many ways throughout YA such as the Hunger Games and various Romantasy. But Caceres points out the horror of no longer recognizing yourself and how Sóna tried to stay true to herself when her face and body is literally not her own. She doesn’t abandon this throughout the book. Every time Sóna is told she is stunning or gorgeous is yet another cut for her since the compliments are false and not actually for her.
Also, Sóna makes mistakes but not in stupid and stubborn ways; rather her mistakes only endear her more because she always approaches what she’s about to do with the basic premise that it’s going to go poorly—everything for her does—so let’s see how horrific it’s going to be together. And it just worked so well. She was just so fun to follow as she never lost sight of her goal of getting the hell out of the fae world she didn’t want to be in to begin with.
I could go on and on. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a dark romantasy on every level. But it’s also a wild ride that you won’t want to put down and I can’t believe I now have to wait a year for its sequel. The ending was one of the most intense cliffhangers I’ve read in some time.
March 10, 2025
I can now say I understand the title.....and regret that I have to wait a year until the next book.
A Debt of Shattered Hope is gritty, holds no punches and in your face, honest depiction of a woman getting kidnapped and trafficked against her will to the Fae world. Not even the realization of being in a different world was enough to prepare our main character, Cricket, for the world she was now a part of. Crazed royal Fae, the power of magical pacts, a directionless castle and a powerful, brooding killer (The Raven) who is obsessed with her and tracks her every move and breath. Some deals are made and broken. And the murky details of a Fae war begin to unravel, drawing Cricket further into the heart of Magh Meall secrets and politics. However, the stronger her will the more attention she draws towards herself.
I was not sure of what to expect with the book because the Fae universe is still new to me and because our main character, Cricket, seemed to often let her impulsive thoughts take over lol. And at times, I was challenged with liking Cricket because she was so focused on escaping that she didn't think through her actions. I just wanted to shake her 🤷🏾♀️
In the human world, she represented a relatable woman who had a rough life growing up and was still just trying to survive--which I totally understood. Fast forward to the Fae realm and seeing how she was struggling with what was expected of her and her given personality, I began to realize that just like Cricket, I was judging the Fae world like I would against the construct of our human world. Once I was able to wrap my head around that, I began to feel differently about Cricket.
Her character did have questionable choices but she began to play the "Fae game" well. And I loved that Cricket keeps trying against all odds to survive just like in the human world. Sure, readers may be angry and annoyed with her at times--so was I--but she remains an active and consistent voice for her freedom. She is always keeping her goal at the forefront of her mind and uses opportunities to plan an escape.
This book is very much character driven and there isn't too much I can say without spoiling things, but I did want to talk a bit about The Raven. As much as an open book Cricket's character is, The Raven is the polar opposite. Readers will pick up on his interest and obsession with her but it won't make predicting his actions any easier. The Raven holds a lot of secrets close to his chest and his relationship to the royal run deeper than duty and oath bond promises. The Raven uses Cricket at times to justify his own agenda one second and is pandering at her feet the next. He's such a complex and layered character; I need to know more about him!
Hands down this has been one of best portrayals of enemies to lovers in dark fantasy books I've read. I don't say that to be facetious or over dramatic--Cricket can't stand him most of the time and I LOVED their chemistry.
I am highly anticipating the next book in this duology. And recommend A Debt of Shattered Hope to other dark romantasy readers who enjoy enemies to lovers and dangerously powerful Fae.
*TW: One that may I think will be most impactful to those who have surgeries on their legs, those who struggle with mobility and legs like me. There is a scene focused on recovery, muscle atrophy and learning to walk again.
Content Warnings:
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Slavery, and War
A Debt of Shattered Hope is gritty, holds no punches and in your face, honest depiction of a woman getting kidnapped and trafficked against her will to the Fae world. Not even the realization of being in a different world was enough to prepare our main character, Cricket, for the world she was now a part of. Crazed royal Fae, the power of magical pacts, a directionless castle and a powerful, brooding killer (The Raven) who is obsessed with her and tracks her every move and breath. Some deals are made and broken. And the murky details of a Fae war begin to unravel, drawing Cricket further into the heart of Magh Meall secrets and politics. However, the stronger her will the more attention she draws towards herself.
I was not sure of what to expect with the book because the Fae universe is still new to me and because our main character, Cricket, seemed to often let her impulsive thoughts take over lol. And at times, I was challenged with liking Cricket because she was so focused on escaping that she didn't think through her actions. I just wanted to shake her 🤷🏾♀️
In the human world, she represented a relatable woman who had a rough life growing up and was still just trying to survive--which I totally understood. Fast forward to the Fae realm and seeing how she was struggling with what was expected of her and her given personality, I began to realize that just like Cricket, I was judging the Fae world like I would against the construct of our human world. Once I was able to wrap my head around that, I began to feel differently about Cricket.
Her character did have questionable choices but she began to play the "Fae game" well. And I loved that Cricket keeps trying against all odds to survive just like in the human world. Sure, readers may be angry and annoyed with her at times--so was I--but she remains an active and consistent voice for her freedom. She is always keeping her goal at the forefront of her mind and uses opportunities to plan an escape.
This book is very much character driven and there isn't too much I can say without spoiling things, but I did want to talk a bit about The Raven. As much as an open book Cricket's character is, The Raven is the polar opposite. Readers will pick up on his interest and obsession with her but it won't make predicting his actions any easier. The Raven holds a lot of secrets close to his chest and his relationship to the royal run deeper than duty and oath bond promises. The Raven uses Cricket at times to justify his own agenda one second and is pandering at her feet the next. He's such a complex and layered character; I need to know more about him!
Hands down this has been one of best portrayals of enemies to lovers in dark fantasy books I've read. I don't say that to be facetious or over dramatic--Cricket can't stand him most of the time and I LOVED their chemistry.
I am highly anticipating the next book in this duology. And recommend A Debt of Shattered Hope to other dark romantasy readers who enjoy enemies to lovers and dangerously powerful Fae.
*TW: One that may I think will be most impactful to those who have surgeries on their legs, those who struggle with mobility and legs like me. There is a scene focused on recovery, muscle atrophy and learning to walk again.
Content Warnings:
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Slavery, and War
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March 28, 2025RATING: 4 out of 5 Enchanted Roses
ONE-WORD REVIEW: Haunting
TAGLINE: I will not tame fate. I will force it to its knees.
OPENING LINE: “You’re Late,” came the familiar greeting to the background of the door chime.
REVIEW:
Huge thanks to N. Cáceres, Haus of Fables, and Dark Hearts for the opportunity to read 𝒜 𝒟𝑒𝒷𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑜𝓅𝑒 early—this one was an emotional gut punch in the best way possible.
I’ve been a HUGE fan of N. Cáceres since 𝒪𝒷𝓈𝒾𝒹𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝐹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈—still my favorite book of hers to date—and she just keeps delivering masterpieces.
From the first page, N. Cáceres pulls you into a world where hope is a fragile thing, easily broken and rarely mended. The story is raw, beautifully written, and filled with so much aching tension that I found myself holding my breath more than once. Human Sóna Mac Raith’s journey is one of resilience, pain, and the kind of hope that flickers like a dying candle but refuses to go out completely. That girl is a fierce, tenacious SURVIVOR! And so full of rightful rage.
The writing? Stunning. The prose is lyrical but never overdone, weaving an atmosphere so heavy with emotion that you feel every moment. The characters are deeply layered, flawed, and utterly real—making their struggles hit even harder. And let’s talk about the pacing! Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, Cáceres threw in a twist that left me reeling.
Oh, the romance in 𝒜 𝒟𝑒𝒷𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑜𝓅𝑒—it’s the kind that seeps into your bones, slow-burning yet utterly devastating. Cáceres doesn’t hand us a love story wrapped in a neat little bow. Instead, it’s tangled in pain, longing, reluctance, and the twisty, wicked nature of the fae.
Because, baby, Raven is no hero. He is villainous fae through and through—even when he wants to be Sóna’s cinnamon roll. One minute, he’s obsessed and worshipping, and the next, he’s using her to suit his twisted schemes.
There’s tension—so much tension—between Sóna Mac Raith and her morally blackish Raven, and it’s not just from external forces keeping them apart. Their own demons, their secrets, their own agendas—it all stands between them. But that’s what makes it hit. The push and pull between tender and terrifying, the almost-moments, the intoxicating blend of devotion and deception—it’s all so beautifully, devastatingly done.
And when those walls do come down? It’s messy, desperate, and earned. No insta-love here. This romance is built on broken pieces, stitched together with whispered confessions and shattered promises. If you love romance that hurts in the best way, this one will have you feeling every single page.
𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:
🖤 ɢʀɪᴍᴅᴀʀᴋ ғᴀᴇ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🖤 ʜᴜᴍᴀɴs ᴠs ᴡɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ғᴀᴇ
🖤 ғᴇᴍɪɴɪɴᴇ ʀᴀɢᴇ
🖤 ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴇʏ & ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs
🖤 ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ
🖤 ʟʏʀɪᴄᴀʟ ᴘʀᴏsᴇ
🖤 ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴡɪsᴛs
🖤 ʜɪɢʜ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ
🖤 ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs-ᴛᴏ-ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
🖤 sᴏᴜʟᴍᴀᴛᴇs—ʙᴜᴛ ᴜɴᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴏɴᴇs
⚠️ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡ/ᴄᴡ⚠️
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉: If you love books that break your heart and piece it back together with beautifully crafted words, 𝒜 𝒟𝑒𝒷𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑜𝓅𝑒 is for you. It’s gripping, devastating, and unforgettable. But nothing can prepare you for that cliffhanger of an ending . . .
Happy Reading!
Ashley
ONE-WORD REVIEW: Haunting
TAGLINE: I will not tame fate. I will force it to its knees.
OPENING LINE: “You’re Late,” came the familiar greeting to the background of the door chime.
REVIEW:
Huge thanks to N. Cáceres, Haus of Fables, and Dark Hearts for the opportunity to read 𝒜 𝒟𝑒𝒷𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑜𝓅𝑒 early—this one was an emotional gut punch in the best way possible.
I’ve been a HUGE fan of N. Cáceres since 𝒪𝒷𝓈𝒾𝒹𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝐹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈—still my favorite book of hers to date—and she just keeps delivering masterpieces.
From the first page, N. Cáceres pulls you into a world where hope is a fragile thing, easily broken and rarely mended. The story is raw, beautifully written, and filled with so much aching tension that I found myself holding my breath more than once. Human Sóna Mac Raith’s journey is one of resilience, pain, and the kind of hope that flickers like a dying candle but refuses to go out completely. That girl is a fierce, tenacious SURVIVOR! And so full of rightful rage.
The writing? Stunning. The prose is lyrical but never overdone, weaving an atmosphere so heavy with emotion that you feel every moment. The characters are deeply layered, flawed, and utterly real—making their struggles hit even harder. And let’s talk about the pacing! Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, Cáceres threw in a twist that left me reeling.
Oh, the romance in 𝒜 𝒟𝑒𝒷𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑜𝓅𝑒—it’s the kind that seeps into your bones, slow-burning yet utterly devastating. Cáceres doesn’t hand us a love story wrapped in a neat little bow. Instead, it’s tangled in pain, longing, reluctance, and the twisty, wicked nature of the fae.
Because, baby, Raven is no hero. He is villainous fae through and through—even when he wants to be Sóna’s cinnamon roll. One minute, he’s obsessed and worshipping, and the next, he’s using her to suit his twisted schemes.
There’s tension—so much tension—between Sóna Mac Raith and her morally blackish Raven, and it’s not just from external forces keeping them apart. Their own demons, their secrets, their own agendas—it all stands between them. But that’s what makes it hit. The push and pull between tender and terrifying, the almost-moments, the intoxicating blend of devotion and deception—it’s all so beautifully, devastatingly done.
And when those walls do come down? It’s messy, desperate, and earned. No insta-love here. This romance is built on broken pieces, stitched together with whispered confessions and shattered promises. If you love romance that hurts in the best way, this one will have you feeling every single page.
𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:
🖤 ɢʀɪᴍᴅᴀʀᴋ ғᴀᴇ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🖤 ʜᴜᴍᴀɴs ᴠs ᴡɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ғᴀᴇ
🖤 ғᴇᴍɪɴɪɴᴇ ʀᴀɢᴇ
🖤 ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴇʏ & ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs
🖤 ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ
🖤 ʟʏʀɪᴄᴀʟ ᴘʀᴏsᴇ
🖤 ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴡɪsᴛs
🖤 ʜɪɢʜ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ
🖤 ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs-ᴛᴏ-ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
🖤 sᴏᴜʟᴍᴀᴛᴇs—ʙᴜᴛ ᴜɴᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴏɴᴇs
⚠️ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡ/ᴄᴡ⚠️
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉: If you love books that break your heart and piece it back together with beautifully crafted words, 𝒜 𝒟𝑒𝒷𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑜𝓅𝑒 is for you. It’s gripping, devastating, and unforgettable. But nothing can prepare you for that cliffhanger of an ending . . .
Happy Reading!
Ashley
March 29, 2025
** Thanks to a House of Fable for the ARC **
“A debt of Shattered Hope” was my introduction to N. Cáceres world, and it was a very enjoyable read. The novel has distinct elements that add some depth to it, such as the Gods and the overall court.
Sóna is a very unlucky person and when she’s kidnapped to the world of fae, her lac of luck just keeps on coming. She’s sold to the market as a slave to the king of the Fae and he would do with her what he wishes. The Raven, head of the Guard, is a dark character who is hiding a lot of secrets, but he is, overall, a glimpse of hope and kindness in the middle of a world of evil.
The thing with “A debt of Shattered Hope” was that I loved each element individually. I loved Sona’s sharp tongue, and I loved the Raven protectiveness towards her. I loved the fae court and how twisted they are. There are dark elements and spicy scenes that will leave the reader amazed. The first encounter with the fae king is powerful and the Raven POV is very welcoming. I felt like we needed more of his side of the story, his memories and how everything was before the war.
Sóna is a good FMC, she’s feisty and I’m glad that not everyone likes her. She needs to learn how to navigate a different society in mere months and she starts to do that. She’s naïve and makes mistakes, but that is understandable since she’s new to that society. The way the Raven is both cruel and kind to her and cannot touch her is one of the best scenes from the book. Their relationship is mostly hot and cold and there is a constant yearning for the Raven, but even clouded in mystery the Raven is definitely someone dark and dangerous, especially for Sóna.
Throughout reading the different elements and combining them, I had the feeling the author was withdrawing information for the next novel. This will be my only critique, but I had a feeling that there was an aura of mystery, but those things needed to be there as to glue the different aspects of the novel. We never know why the fae king hates Sona and I feel that would be of great importance. Sona plays a role, and the twists did not surprise me, but those twists would lead somewhere, right? I missed the information that the next book left out.
“A debt of Shattered Hope” is a grimdark romantasy novel and the first of a series and it is especially good for those readers who enjoy a darker atmosphere with some spice and a lot of political intrigue. I am very curious about the next book, because while it is true that I’m usually bothered by the feeling of being “hidden” things, I am overall a curious reader and I want answers goddamit! I am already invested in this relationship and in this world!
“A debt of Shattered Hope” was my introduction to N. Cáceres world, and it was a very enjoyable read. The novel has distinct elements that add some depth to it, such as the Gods and the overall court.
Sóna is a very unlucky person and when she’s kidnapped to the world of fae, her lac of luck just keeps on coming. She’s sold to the market as a slave to the king of the Fae and he would do with her what he wishes. The Raven, head of the Guard, is a dark character who is hiding a lot of secrets, but he is, overall, a glimpse of hope and kindness in the middle of a world of evil.
The thing with “A debt of Shattered Hope” was that I loved each element individually. I loved Sona’s sharp tongue, and I loved the Raven protectiveness towards her. I loved the fae court and how twisted they are. There are dark elements and spicy scenes that will leave the reader amazed. The first encounter with the fae king is powerful and the Raven POV is very welcoming. I felt like we needed more of his side of the story, his memories and how everything was before the war.
Sóna is a good FMC, she’s feisty and I’m glad that not everyone likes her. She needs to learn how to navigate a different society in mere months and she starts to do that. She’s naïve and makes mistakes, but that is understandable since she’s new to that society. The way the Raven is both cruel and kind to her and cannot touch her is one of the best scenes from the book. Their relationship is mostly hot and cold and there is a constant yearning for the Raven, but even clouded in mystery the Raven is definitely someone dark and dangerous, especially for Sóna.
Throughout reading the different elements and combining them, I had the feeling the author was withdrawing information for the next novel. This will be my only critique, but I had a feeling that there was an aura of mystery, but those things needed to be there as to glue the different aspects of the novel. We never know why the fae king hates Sona and I feel that would be of great importance. Sona plays a role, and the twists did not surprise me, but those twists would lead somewhere, right? I missed the information that the next book left out.
“A debt of Shattered Hope” is a grimdark romantasy novel and the first of a series and it is especially good for those readers who enjoy a darker atmosphere with some spice and a lot of political intrigue. I am very curious about the next book, because while it is true that I’m usually bothered by the feeling of being “hidden” things, I am overall a curious reader and I want answers goddamit! I am already invested in this relationship and in this world!
April 9, 2025
This book was a ROLLER COASTER from start from start to finish and left me feeling like I was coming out of a fever dream. It didn’t start out the way I would have expected a dark fantasy like this to start, which threw me for a loop even more once it really got going. At no point did I know what was going to happen next, I was constantly on the edge of my seat and gasping and literally clutching my pearls for dear life.
This isn’t just another dark fantasy. It’s an emotional plunge into a realm absolutely dripping with deceptive beauty and malice where hope is dangerous—and debt is lethal—and it doesn’t just tell a story, it claims a little piece of your soul along with it.
There is some truly dense world-building in this book, I’m not often intimidated by a glossary but damn, this one feels complex and I found myself going back to it a lot. You’re not spoon-fed information; instead, you’re thrust into a brutal landscape right along with Sóna and have to adapt just the same. The character and place names (which were one of my favorite parts tbh) the court connections and personal vendettas, the magic system, everything felt so unique and authentic and immersive. The amount of lore was so intense it almost felt a bit overwhelming at times, but overall for me it just added to the foreboding atmosphere of this world and reinforced that there’s nothing soft or safe about it despite how dangerously beautiful it can be.
The romance (term used loosely iykyk) is interlaced with a sharp edge that was constantly bursting the little bubbles of love and lust. It’s never fluffy or surface-level — it’s aching, messy, and bittersweet. I could never quite get a handle on how I felt about Emrys and got whiplash from how many times I went from thinking he was the hottest man alive to wanting to beat him with a frying pan. But at the end of the day I’m still a simple slow-burn-enemies-to-lovers-forbidden-romance-possessive-MMC sl*t and their torturous edging had me gnawing on the bars of my enclosure for the entire book.
The emotional depth in this book is staggering. Caceres writes grief, trauma, guilt, and longing with an unflinching honesty that sometimes makes it hard to breathe. The raw and gritty way she manages to weave in even the most mundane grimness of reality with fantasy is immaculately done. There are moments of quiet pain, screaming rage, and devastating passion and there’s so much beauty buried in all of it. I found myself ugly crying more than once, and hoping against all my better judgement for a happy ending for these characters I grew such a soft spot for.
If you’re a fan of morally very gray characters, dark worlds with high stakes and big lore (and spiiiiice) and stories that challenge your perceptions of good and evil, A Debt of Shattered Hope delivers all that and more. This one was absolutely unforgettable.
This isn’t just another dark fantasy. It’s an emotional plunge into a realm absolutely dripping with deceptive beauty and malice where hope is dangerous—and debt is lethal—and it doesn’t just tell a story, it claims a little piece of your soul along with it.
There is some truly dense world-building in this book, I’m not often intimidated by a glossary but damn, this one feels complex and I found myself going back to it a lot. You’re not spoon-fed information; instead, you’re thrust into a brutal landscape right along with Sóna and have to adapt just the same. The character and place names (which were one of my favorite parts tbh) the court connections and personal vendettas, the magic system, everything felt so unique and authentic and immersive. The amount of lore was so intense it almost felt a bit overwhelming at times, but overall for me it just added to the foreboding atmosphere of this world and reinforced that there’s nothing soft or safe about it despite how dangerously beautiful it can be.
The romance (term used loosely iykyk) is interlaced with a sharp edge that was constantly bursting the little bubbles of love and lust. It’s never fluffy or surface-level — it’s aching, messy, and bittersweet. I could never quite get a handle on how I felt about Emrys and got whiplash from how many times I went from thinking he was the hottest man alive to wanting to beat him with a frying pan. But at the end of the day I’m still a simple slow-burn-enemies-to-lovers-forbidden-romance-possessive-MMC sl*t and their torturous edging had me gnawing on the bars of my enclosure for the entire book.
The emotional depth in this book is staggering. Caceres writes grief, trauma, guilt, and longing with an unflinching honesty that sometimes makes it hard to breathe. The raw and gritty way she manages to weave in even the most mundane grimness of reality with fantasy is immaculately done. There are moments of quiet pain, screaming rage, and devastating passion and there’s so much beauty buried in all of it. I found myself ugly crying more than once, and hoping against all my better judgement for a happy ending for these characters I grew such a soft spot for.
If you’re a fan of morally very gray characters, dark worlds with high stakes and big lore (and spiiiiice) and stories that challenge your perceptions of good and evil, A Debt of Shattered Hope delivers all that and more. This one was absolutely unforgettable.
March 24, 2025
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to Expect:
💜Enemies to Lovers
🖤Found Family
💜Politics
🖤Morally DARK Grey MMC
💜Feminine Rage
🖤Mid-Size/Curvy FMC
💜Forbidden/Secret Affair
🖤Fated Mates
💜Pining
🖤Dark Romance
I just finished A Debt of Shattered Hope by N. Cáceres, and I don’t even know how to fully process life right now. This book was an absolutely brutal, dark, and breathtakingly beautiful ride. Set in a world inspired by medieval Irish folklore, it throws you headfirst into a tale of sheer survival, power, and impossible decisions to make. Our FMC, Sóna—who renames herself Cricket—is stolen from the human world and thrown into a fae court filled with all the political scheming, terrifying bargains, and a high king who sees her as nothing more than a tool to use as his desire wills. But standing in her way (or maybe by her side?) is The Raven, a feared and ruthless warrior with a reputation as dark as his name comes. He’s cold, dangerous, and completely obsessed with her in a way that is both swoon-worthy and utterly terrifying (especially for anyone looking to harm her).
Cricket is everything I love in a FMC—sassy, defiant, and impossible to break, even when the world does everything in its power to completely shatter everything about her. She endures things no one should ever have to, but she keeps on fighting, keeps on surviving, and her inner fire never starts to dim. And The Raven? Whew. He’s morally DARK GREY… or basically black at this point, and yet we as the audience are made to crave every moment between him and Cricket. There’s an agonizing slow-burn tension, a secret affair that should absolutely not be happening, and those rare, tender moments (a good ole hair washing scene… enough to make you swoon over this bad boy!) that make you forget—just for a second—how dangerous he truly is. But make no mistake, this book is DARK. Please check the trigger warnings because N. Cáceres does not hold back in the slightest. This book destroyed me in the ways we love to be wrecked, and I think I’ll just go cry because having to wait for a full year for book 2… seems utterly despicable.
3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to Expect:
💜Enemies to Lovers
🖤Found Family
💜Politics
🖤Morally DARK Grey MMC
💜Feminine Rage
🖤Mid-Size/Curvy FMC
💜Forbidden/Secret Affair
🖤Fated Mates
💜Pining
🖤Dark Romance
I just finished A Debt of Shattered Hope by N. Cáceres, and I don’t even know how to fully process life right now. This book was an absolutely brutal, dark, and breathtakingly beautiful ride. Set in a world inspired by medieval Irish folklore, it throws you headfirst into a tale of sheer survival, power, and impossible decisions to make. Our FMC, Sóna—who renames herself Cricket—is stolen from the human world and thrown into a fae court filled with all the political scheming, terrifying bargains, and a high king who sees her as nothing more than a tool to use as his desire wills. But standing in her way (or maybe by her side?) is The Raven, a feared and ruthless warrior with a reputation as dark as his name comes. He’s cold, dangerous, and completely obsessed with her in a way that is both swoon-worthy and utterly terrifying (especially for anyone looking to harm her).
Cricket is everything I love in a FMC—sassy, defiant, and impossible to break, even when the world does everything in its power to completely shatter everything about her. She endures things no one should ever have to, but she keeps on fighting, keeps on surviving, and her inner fire never starts to dim. And The Raven? Whew. He’s morally DARK GREY… or basically black at this point, and yet we as the audience are made to crave every moment between him and Cricket. There’s an agonizing slow-burn tension, a secret affair that should absolutely not be happening, and those rare, tender moments (a good ole hair washing scene… enough to make you swoon over this bad boy!) that make you forget—just for a second—how dangerous he truly is. But make no mistake, this book is DARK. Please check the trigger warnings because N. Cáceres does not hold back in the slightest. This book destroyed me in the ways we love to be wrecked, and I think I’ll just go cry because having to wait for a full year for book 2… seems utterly despicable.
March 27, 2025
🌟Dark Romantasy
🌟Humans x Fae
🌟Morally Black & Grey
🌟Feminine Rage
🌟Magic
🌟Torture
🌟Found Family
🌟Betrayals & Lies
🌟Soul Mates
🌟Dual POV
🌟Slow Burn
🌟🌶️🌶️🌶️
Oh. My. God. A Debt of Shattered Hope obliterated my expectations. It’s unapologetically dark, brutal, and vicious in a way that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. From the first page, I was utterly captivated, unable to put it down.
This story is a relentless emotional wrecking ball. Cricket endures horror after horror, and every moment of her suffering carved a wound in my heart. The past she carries is painful enough, but what she faces now? It’s soul-crushing. She is torn apart—physically, mentally, emotionally—and rebuilt in ways that test the very core of who she is. In a world drenched with deception and betrayal, even finding someone to trust feels impossible.
Enter Raven. His presence is inescapable, his obsession undeniable. The pull between him and Cricket is dangerous, intoxicating, and impossibly sharp-edged. Their connection is a jagged blade of pleasure and pain, mirroring the ruthless world around them. Yet they also share fleeting moments that feel tender, gentle, and almost loving. And somehow, those intimate moments cut just as deep as the cruelty that surrounds them.
This book tore emotions out of me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. I absolutely loved Goose, The Green Man, Violet, and Emerald—each one adding to the story in ways I won’t soon forget. The layers of lies, the betrayals that cut deep, the twists that had my heart pounding—it was all masterfully done. And that ending? It stole my breath, ripped out my heart, and left me desperate for the next book.
If you crave a dark slow burn that is scorching hot, a story dripping with tension and raw emotion, and morally black and grey characters that will haunt you long after the last page… you need this book in your life.
Special Thanks to Haus of Fables and the author for the gifted copy 🖤
🌟Humans x Fae
🌟Morally Black & Grey
🌟Feminine Rage
🌟Magic
🌟Torture
🌟Found Family
🌟Betrayals & Lies
🌟Soul Mates
🌟Dual POV
🌟Slow Burn
🌟🌶️🌶️🌶️
Oh. My. God. A Debt of Shattered Hope obliterated my expectations. It’s unapologetically dark, brutal, and vicious in a way that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. From the first page, I was utterly captivated, unable to put it down.
This story is a relentless emotional wrecking ball. Cricket endures horror after horror, and every moment of her suffering carved a wound in my heart. The past she carries is painful enough, but what she faces now? It’s soul-crushing. She is torn apart—physically, mentally, emotionally—and rebuilt in ways that test the very core of who she is. In a world drenched with deception and betrayal, even finding someone to trust feels impossible.
Enter Raven. His presence is inescapable, his obsession undeniable. The pull between him and Cricket is dangerous, intoxicating, and impossibly sharp-edged. Their connection is a jagged blade of pleasure and pain, mirroring the ruthless world around them. Yet they also share fleeting moments that feel tender, gentle, and almost loving. And somehow, those intimate moments cut just as deep as the cruelty that surrounds them.
This book tore emotions out of me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. I absolutely loved Goose, The Green Man, Violet, and Emerald—each one adding to the story in ways I won’t soon forget. The layers of lies, the betrayals that cut deep, the twists that had my heart pounding—it was all masterfully done. And that ending? It stole my breath, ripped out my heart, and left me desperate for the next book.
If you crave a dark slow burn that is scorching hot, a story dripping with tension and raw emotion, and morally black and grey characters that will haunt you long after the last page… you need this book in your life.
Special Thanks to Haus of Fables and the author for the gifted copy 🖤
April 4, 2025
{Fantasy Romance; M/F; gory}
Trigger warning: Torture!
I had so much hope for this novel, but ultimately don’t think I will get past page 574. It’s perfect for someone like me who loves a dark romance, with the main character from the lower classes who is deliberately tortured or unable to cross the class lines at first. I love the idea of a character overcoming situations that are so over-the-top-depraved that I feel better about my own life. I love seeing an underdog succeed and conquer without being a snarky wonder woman.
...And boy, does she get physically mangled by a slaver who believes: “a true artist destroys his magnum opus as quickly as possible.” Since I also love the idea of a human brought to the dark underhill fae market where you might find both baubles and body parts, the idea of Sona turning into a doll made to attract the unseelie king is delicious.
But....this romantic fantasy lingers too long. After a straight week of reading, I only reached 50%. My interest lags after a week, so don’t consider this a fault of the writing. What killed it for me, though, was the male’s POV. Suddenly I was seeing his viewpoint on why he was complicit in the torture, and I thought it added nothing plot-wise or character-wise. His thoughts were formulaic, like most dark romances, looking backwards at the previous scenes. We already had read hints of his obsession and fascination with her; I didn’t need it spelled out for me.
The ROMANCE ❤️:
--slow-burn
--steam missing in the first 50%; I don’t know if you clean-romance readers would find a gotcha later.
“. I didn’t want to be sucked into his orbit. I didn’t want him sucked into mine. He stood as an immovable object in the path of Rule #21, and I could not afford to allow that.” (Sigh) I did like Sóna.
Trigger warning: Torture!
I had so much hope for this novel, but ultimately don’t think I will get past page 574. It’s perfect for someone like me who loves a dark romance, with the main character from the lower classes who is deliberately tortured or unable to cross the class lines at first. I love the idea of a character overcoming situations that are so over-the-top-depraved that I feel better about my own life. I love seeing an underdog succeed and conquer without being a snarky wonder woman.
...And boy, does she get physically mangled by a slaver who believes: “a true artist destroys his magnum opus as quickly as possible.” Since I also love the idea of a human brought to the dark underhill fae market where you might find both baubles and body parts, the idea of Sona turning into a doll made to attract the unseelie king is delicious.
But....this romantic fantasy lingers too long. After a straight week of reading, I only reached 50%. My interest lags after a week, so don’t consider this a fault of the writing. What killed it for me, though, was the male’s POV. Suddenly I was seeing his viewpoint on why he was complicit in the torture, and I thought it added nothing plot-wise or character-wise. His thoughts were formulaic, like most dark romances, looking backwards at the previous scenes. We already had read hints of his obsession and fascination with her; I didn’t need it spelled out for me.
The ROMANCE ❤️:
--slow-burn
--steam missing in the first 50%; I don’t know if you clean-romance readers would find a gotcha later.
“. I didn’t want to be sucked into his orbit. I didn’t want him sucked into mine. He stood as an immovable object in the path of Rule #21, and I could not afford to allow that.” (Sigh) I did like Sóna.
March 11, 2025
A Debt of Shattered Hope
By N. Cáceres
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5
🕷MFM
🥀Secret Affair
🕷Enemies to Lovers
🥀Morally Dark Grey MMC
🕷Soul Mates
🥀Fae Magic Mythology
🕷Feminine Rage
🥀Feisty Mid Size FMC
🕷Political Intrigue
🥀Found Family
🕷Sprinkling of Spice
🥀Post War Fae Society
🕷A Grim Dark Fae Fantasy Romance
I am absolutely shook with just how incredible this work of art was!
This was the first book I have read by N. Cáceres and lemme just say I was absolutely captivated from the get go, and when I finished I have never moved so fast to order her other books!
This grimdark fae Romantasy follows the story of Sóna the unluckiest girl in the world, who immediately loses her job and goes back to her dump of an apartment to apply for more jobs so that she and her snake cricket don't starve.
She weirdly stumbles across a job ad that seems too good to be true and applies only to immediately recieve a response with an offer for an interview the next day, so off she goes the next morning.
But as the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is...
She is snatched and thrust into a whole new world those of us here can only read about. The world of fae, but it's definately not like it is in most of our books.
She comes across all kinds, uncovers so many secrets, finds her soul morally dark grey soulmate The Raven (or rather he found her first) but alas he is bound by an oath he keeps secret and boy does that explode 🤯 💥 there are so many twists and turns within the pages of this delicately written masterpiece it will keep you on the edge of your seat, or maybe that was the spiciness 🥵🥵🥵 I honestly could NOT get enough!
I cannot wait for book two already 😍
A Debt of Shattered Hope releases March 28th 😘🖤
By N. Cáceres
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5
🕷MFM
🥀Secret Affair
🕷Enemies to Lovers
🥀Morally Dark Grey MMC
🕷Soul Mates
🥀Fae Magic Mythology
🕷Feminine Rage
🥀Feisty Mid Size FMC
🕷Political Intrigue
🥀Found Family
🕷Sprinkling of Spice
🥀Post War Fae Society
🕷A Grim Dark Fae Fantasy Romance
I am absolutely shook with just how incredible this work of art was!
This was the first book I have read by N. Cáceres and lemme just say I was absolutely captivated from the get go, and when I finished I have never moved so fast to order her other books!
This grimdark fae Romantasy follows the story of Sóna the unluckiest girl in the world, who immediately loses her job and goes back to her dump of an apartment to apply for more jobs so that she and her snake cricket don't starve.
She weirdly stumbles across a job ad that seems too good to be true and applies only to immediately recieve a response with an offer for an interview the next day, so off she goes the next morning.
But as the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is...
She is snatched and thrust into a whole new world those of us here can only read about. The world of fae, but it's definately not like it is in most of our books.
She comes across all kinds, uncovers so many secrets, finds her soul morally dark grey soulmate The Raven (or rather he found her first) but alas he is bound by an oath he keeps secret and boy does that explode 🤯 💥 there are so many twists and turns within the pages of this delicately written masterpiece it will keep you on the edge of your seat, or maybe that was the spiciness 🥵🥵🥵 I honestly could NOT get enough!
I cannot wait for book two already 😍
A Debt of Shattered Hope releases March 28th 😘🖤
April 10, 2025
RULE 15: ALWAYS CHOOSE YOU
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“I’m not a fucking child,” I yelled to his retreating back.
He paused, turned sharply on his heel, and was right in my face again.
“No, what you are is a beautiful little fucking liar. Or at least you had better be.”
-Mortal FMC x Fae MMC
-Enemies to… kinda lovers?
-Political intrigue/Court politics
-Morally black MMC
-Feminine rage
What I LOVED:
🖤 This story was dark and twisted AF. Like we literally start with a 27 year old woman being kidnapped from the mortal realm and sold at a fae slave auction.
🖤 The MMC is borderline morally black. I know he’s pitched as dark morally grey, but he does pretty fucked up shit, which I’m here for 👀
🖤 The Pan’s Labyrinth feels is STRONG in this one! The different magical creatures and monsters, and the tunnels that our FMC journeys through. IT’S EPIC AND CREEPY!
🖤 I thought the world building, magic system, politics and character dynamics were all really interesting and there were aspects that felt super unique.
🖤 I was kept guessing throughout the majority of this book! I’ve read a lot of romantasy and fantasy romance so it’s refreshing to actually be kept on one’s toes!
What I DIDN’T love:
💔 The FMC lol. She felt unnecessarily vulgar at times and was giving “not like other girls” energy.
💔 Pacing was a bit off and confusing at times, like I genuinely don’t know the timeline of when everything has happened / unfolded.
💔 This is more of a me problem, but the name/word pronunciations took me out of the story because I had to keep going back to the glossary.
WOULD I STILL RECOMMEND? Yes ✅
WILL I CONTINUE THE SERIES? Yes ✅
[Thank you to the author and the Haus of Fables team for the gifted copy]
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“I’m not a fucking child,” I yelled to his retreating back.
He paused, turned sharply on his heel, and was right in my face again.
“No, what you are is a beautiful little fucking liar. Or at least you had better be.”
-Mortal FMC x Fae MMC
-Enemies to… kinda lovers?
-Political intrigue/Court politics
-Morally black MMC
-Feminine rage
What I LOVED:
🖤 This story was dark and twisted AF. Like we literally start with a 27 year old woman being kidnapped from the mortal realm and sold at a fae slave auction.
🖤 The MMC is borderline morally black. I know he’s pitched as dark morally grey, but he does pretty fucked up shit, which I’m here for 👀
🖤 The Pan’s Labyrinth feels is STRONG in this one! The different magical creatures and monsters, and the tunnels that our FMC journeys through. IT’S EPIC AND CREEPY!
🖤 I thought the world building, magic system, politics and character dynamics were all really interesting and there were aspects that felt super unique.
🖤 I was kept guessing throughout the majority of this book! I’ve read a lot of romantasy and fantasy romance so it’s refreshing to actually be kept on one’s toes!
What I DIDN’T love:
💔 The FMC lol. She felt unnecessarily vulgar at times and was giving “not like other girls” energy.
💔 Pacing was a bit off and confusing at times, like I genuinely don’t know the timeline of when everything has happened / unfolded.
💔 This is more of a me problem, but the name/word pronunciations took me out of the story because I had to keep going back to the glossary.
WOULD I STILL RECOMMEND? Yes ✅
WILL I CONTINUE THE SERIES? Yes ✅
[Thank you to the author and the Haus of Fables team for the gifted copy]
March 22, 2025
Soná, a woman weighed down by a lifetime of bad luck, finds herself snatched up and tossed into the Fae market like yesterday's leftovers.
The Raven has a grand plan: snag Soná as a shiny gift for the Ard Ri, the High King of the Fae. But plot twist! He soon realizes she’s got a few more tricks up her sleeve than he bargained for.
The Fae? Oh, they're a delightfully wicked bunch—dark, devious, and oh-so-clever. Seriously, the magic that can morph someone into a whole new being? Talk about a makeover with a twist! With secrets swirling and schemes unraveling, I was glued to the pages, chomping at the bit to see what wild ride was coming next!
Things to know
Body dysmorphia, extreme bodily harm, foster system trauma, genital trauma, gore, graphic violence, human trafficking, incest, incontinence, medical trauma, mental torture, non-consensual body modification, non-consensual digital penetration, physical assault, self-harm, sexual assault, slave labor, spiders, suicidal ideation, and violent attempted murder. Social: Assisted suicide, brief mentions of child abuse (no activities on page), extreme poverty, irresponsible animal ownership, kidnapping, medical fraud, racism against humans, slave auction, slavery, and unstable employment. Romance: Bondage, digital penetration, dub-con sharing, dubious consent, forced proximity, glove kink, graphic sex, graphic sexual content, grinding, imbalanced power dynamics, interrogation kink, knife play, leashes, lying, manipulation, non-con, gags, orgasm control and denial, Other Woman Drama (MMC is not emotionally waffling), restraints, and sexualized torture.
The Raven has a grand plan: snag Soná as a shiny gift for the Ard Ri, the High King of the Fae. But plot twist! He soon realizes she’s got a few more tricks up her sleeve than he bargained for.
The Fae? Oh, they're a delightfully wicked bunch—dark, devious, and oh-so-clever. Seriously, the magic that can morph someone into a whole new being? Talk about a makeover with a twist! With secrets swirling and schemes unraveling, I was glued to the pages, chomping at the bit to see what wild ride was coming next!
Things to know
Body dysmorphia, extreme bodily harm, foster system trauma, genital trauma, gore, graphic violence, human trafficking, incest, incontinence, medical trauma, mental torture, non-consensual body modification, non-consensual digital penetration, physical assault, self-harm, sexual assault, slave labor, spiders, suicidal ideation, and violent attempted murder. Social: Assisted suicide, brief mentions of child abuse (no activities on page), extreme poverty, irresponsible animal ownership, kidnapping, medical fraud, racism against humans, slave auction, slavery, and unstable employment. Romance: Bondage, digital penetration, dub-con sharing, dubious consent, forced proximity, glove kink, graphic sex, graphic sexual content, grinding, imbalanced power dynamics, interrogation kink, knife play, leashes, lying, manipulation, non-con, gags, orgasm control and denial, Other Woman Drama (MMC is not emotionally waffling), restraints, and sexualized torture.
March 28, 2025
4.25⭐️
3 🌶️
This book threw me in a bag, shook me around, then dumped me into dark chasm of emotional turmoil ☠️☠️☠️
A Debt of Shattered Hope is a dark romantasy full of morally (dark) grey characters, malicious fae, slow burn tension with kink and so much emotional whiplash you won’t know which way is up.
Sona (aka Cricket) is a down on her luck, ex-foster kid who ends up tricked into becoming a human slave in the Fae realm she didn’t even know existed. These fae are cruel, the king is a deranged monster and Cricket is sold and gifted to him by the king’s captain, The Raven. Despite his intention to gift Cricket to the king, however, Raven feels a pull to Cricket that might just ruin all his plans 👀
First, this book is dark so definitely check trigger warnings! It’s delightfully unhinged and I enjoyed the journey, wanting to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed Cricket’s character, her take no 💩 attitude and snark. She had me laughing out loud. But she has it rough and there were many moments my heart was breaking for her. Raven is the possessive and obsessive morally grey MMC I love - though he also made me absolutely enraged at him at times. Honestly, both Raven and Cricket needed to just stop with the secrets 😅
Overall this book is perfect for dark romantasy fans who enjoy a lot of angst and tension. I am unwell after that ending and I need book 2! Thankfully this is a duet so I’m praying for a HEA!! Do you hear that?!?!? Cricket needs some happy!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thank you to MTMC tours and the author for a gifted copy to read and review!
3 🌶️
This book threw me in a bag, shook me around, then dumped me into dark chasm of emotional turmoil ☠️☠️☠️
A Debt of Shattered Hope is a dark romantasy full of morally (dark) grey characters, malicious fae, slow burn tension with kink and so much emotional whiplash you won’t know which way is up.
Sona (aka Cricket) is a down on her luck, ex-foster kid who ends up tricked into becoming a human slave in the Fae realm she didn’t even know existed. These fae are cruel, the king is a deranged monster and Cricket is sold and gifted to him by the king’s captain, The Raven. Despite his intention to gift Cricket to the king, however, Raven feels a pull to Cricket that might just ruin all his plans 👀
First, this book is dark so definitely check trigger warnings! It’s delightfully unhinged and I enjoyed the journey, wanting to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed Cricket’s character, her take no 💩 attitude and snark. She had me laughing out loud. But she has it rough and there were many moments my heart was breaking for her. Raven is the possessive and obsessive morally grey MMC I love - though he also made me absolutely enraged at him at times. Honestly, both Raven and Cricket needed to just stop with the secrets 😅
Overall this book is perfect for dark romantasy fans who enjoy a lot of angst and tension. I am unwell after that ending and I need book 2! Thankfully this is a duet so I’m praying for a HEA!! Do you hear that?!?!? Cricket needs some happy!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thank you to MTMC tours and the author for a gifted copy to read and review!
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