The Sacred and the Tormented

Fae of Alastríona #4

by J.E. Reed

A kingdom in turmoil. A sister lost.
Arianna's story continues in the third installment of the #1 bestselling Fae of Alastríona series by J.E. Reed.

Ruadhán has fallen. Her sister is missing. Dark Fae are wreaking havoc across the land. And somehow, everyone is still looking to Arianna for answers. But she has none—only a single, unshakable find Ellie and bring her home.

But fate has other plans. A brutal attack leaves Arianna gravely injured and she awakens in the care of a rebel faction that claims to know the truth about their world—and about Rion.

They offer their help in rescuing Ellie, but their true aim is something far the downfall of Ashling, Pádraigín's capital city. Trusting them could be a mistake, but Arianna is willing to risk everything to save her sister.

Their mission takes them deep into enemy territory, where illusion blurs the line between truth and lies. And when everything falls apart, the cost of failure may be more than any of them can bear.

The third book in the #1 bestselling Fae of Alastríona series is a heart-stopping tale of love, survival, and a destiny that refuses to be denied.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Young Adult, Fae, Forced Proximity

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

J.E. Reed lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and two cats. She’s always had an interest in writing, but didn’t explore that talent fully until 2015. Reed works as a Licensed Massage Therapist in the quiet town of Anderson. She graduated massage school in 2009 and has spent the last three years building her small business. She enjoys swimming, yoga and the occasional mud run with friends.

Reviews

[Kai's Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cliffhanger? Pause🥲I was not prepared.

This is an amazing read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Almost enough to leave me on a book hangover. Almost.

World-building ✅
Pace ✅️
Plot ✅️
Tension ✅️
Amnesia trope ✅️✅️✅️✅️✅️ 😔😫

After finishing it, I was staring into the darkness, lost. But sleep eventually took over. And I'm glad it did. Other wise I'd have gone crazy🤪 well... more than I already am.

Definitely recommend

Happy reading

[Shauna Kenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️2.5 it’s the same storyline with a slight rehashing… it got a little bit tiresome. In the 400 something pages, we’re back to the same scenes and plot lines as book 2 and I’m exhausted by how little anything has progressed and how little the characters have learned. Leave the bond alone ffs.

[Kirsten Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is the BEST!! Fated mates, slow burn, low spice, it’s fantastic. This book is the perfect next installment of the series. Action, intrigue, mystery, suspense, heartbreak… it’s a page turner from the very first chapter. My only complaint is now I have to wait for the final book of the series to know how it ends!!

[Juliana Varroni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series, the powers, plot twists… but this book felt like a filler to me. It took me very long to finish it, some plots stretching out to get nowhere… I thought this was gonna be the final book, so I was a bit disappointed to have read so much and not a lot at the same time.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**
The final part - the entirety of them in Vairik’s castle was sooooo damn long. I like details, but it was too much explaining, too much running… I found myself skimming through several parts.
Even the rebels camp part was longer than necessary, several times felt like they were running around in circles.
Breaking Ellie was the highest point of the book - her killing Kirian was excruciating! She’s gonna have a hard time forgiving herself.
And yes, erasing Rion from Arianna’s mind was very clever as well… and heartbreaking. Every time they are close to being good together, something happens!
Not sorry to say I’m not gonna mourn Conall… never really cared for him.
Onto the questions to be answered in the next book (coming up only on March 2026):
- is Avalon still alive after the destruction of Levea? What about Rion’s mom? I hope so, otherwise she would’ve been a very misused character…
- can Ellie be fixed/saved? Or will she just be the one who sacrifices herself in the end for the greater good?
- how will they fix Arianna, can she get her memories of Rion back or will they have to fall in love all over again (AGAIN)?
- still on Arianna’s memory: how does she know (and apparently trust) Saoirse but doesn’t know she’s Rion’s sister?
- how could she so easily assume Talon was a traitor? Felt a bit out of character considering they were so close.
- is the rebel camp still up? Has anyone survived?
- where is Vairik now? I’m assuming he went to find his army after the destruction of Levea.
- how can they defeat Vairik if he so easily screwed with all of their minds?

[Brea Maylett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gutted me. Hasn’t rion given enough?

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang I did not expect that cliffhanger! That was pretty gut-wrenching - and maybe worse is that I have to wait who knows how long for the next installment 😅

More than any other in the series, this book was intense and action-packed from start to finish - it felt like high-stakes battle scenes all the way through. I had a very hard time putting this down, and I am picking my jaw up off the floor and craving the next!

[Nicola Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 This was another good book in the series it was action packed and the plot really picks up there is a lot of character growth which was good to see I would recommend this series but I did have higher expectations so it didn’t hit like I thought it would the author writes well I just wanted more plot and more banter between the characters

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe how this ended! I'm shook, like what the hell!

I actually enjoyed the first half of this book more than I normally would, the continuous world building and explanations this series provides are unmatched. The intro of the rebels was an interesting development and it really brought into context how much had been manipulated.

We then go into *the plan* which obviously goes to shit straight away. I wonder if there is a traitor in their midst but I don't know who since I truly believe Gavin is genuine, especially after this book.

Now for the ending, of course Ellie's chapters, I was like ooh good, she's fine. Then all of the sudden she's like the winter soldier and doesn't know who is in front of her. The last scene with Kiaran was devastating!

Then you have Arianna's memories of Iron being removed and the bond being removed. Like have they not gone through enough?! My poor Rion just cannot seem to catch a bloody break.

I need the next book like tomorrow...

[Izzy be reading📜📚📖 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damn I loved this first book but this series lots it… the characters became dumber with each book.
I don’t understand how they just like how?! Whatever man. If you fall for the same trick twice at that point you have it coming. The ending was not the best we didn’t love this one at all.
(Just in case on this one the high lord erased her memories of her mate and she was losing her shit and I mean i get it but she was so rude about it)

[【K】 · Rating 2 out of 5]

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ❝ɪᴛ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴍᴇ ᴄʀᴀᴢʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ.❞୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅
→ 2/5 stars
〈 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 〉

I DID IT. I'M OUT. I'M FREE 🗣.

This book was single-handedly the worst and most sleep-inducing of the entire series (even though it isn't finished).

And here I thought Fate so Cruel was BAD.

Rion was out here growling and roaring every other second, and Ellie.. what was even going on with her? Arianna was being the most dry fmc and we're not even gonna talk about how we were introduced to a bunch of other characters I couldn't care less for. Not to mention the random POV switches where we would read about another character and their romantic relationship. Like I don't want to be reading about other couples when Rion and Arianna barely had any scenes at all. This is supposed to a romantasy but like where was the romance? It was basically non-existent. Might as well make the main couple TalonRaveina or SaoriseZylah.

Arianna and Rion already had a rocky relationship at the end of the second book and they had absolutely no time to heal and rebuild their relationship and now they have to go battle, infiltrate a castle, and rescue Ellie.

*ೃ༄ 𝕻𝖑𝖔𝖙 *ೃ༄ ↴
- 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨 -

After four months of waiting... I thought this would be good. But nope. It was just a repetition of the previous books.

Tbh this book was doomed from the start, especially with Rion waking up screaming from a nightmare and running out in the rain with his grippers out.

❝Rion fled into the rain outside, closing the door behind him. Arianna padded to the window and watched her mate break into a sprint, ignoring the downpour that soaked through his clothes in seconds. He hadn't even bothered with shoes.❞

The plot was HORRENDOUS. Little to nothing made sense and we were thrown into two big battles at the beginning and at the end of the book. It was souless and boring, we learned nothing new about any of the characters besides that Talon is a weaver.

Ima be a bit bold and say Onyx Storm had a better plot than this.

I will give you a point for having a gorgeous cover though.

︼

The writing was so horrible I feel bad for anybody reading this. One second we were on a bed the next we were on a table. Rion made some sort of animal sound at least 10 times. I was honestly cringing so hard 😭. We're not even gonna talk about how I was skimming some paragraphs and even a few CHAPTERS. The amount of info dumping in this book was straight up illegal. None of their plans made sense alongside the scenic descriptions.

𝜗𝜚 ּ ּ ֶָ֢.𝓡𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 ּ ֶָ֢.𝜗𝜚
〖 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 〗
❝ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴏᴠᴇʀ. ᴡᴇ'ʟʟ ɢᴏ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴜꜱ.❞ →
Sorry to pop your bubble but Rion and Arianna's relationship was so bland and tasteless I thought that Talon and Rion had the best bond of the entire series as well as Saorise and Rion.

Their romance was PAINFULLY DULL. Nothing happened. Don't get me wrong the scene in the hot spring was cute but the others? Lifeless and flat.

And *drumroll*
THE AMNESIA TROPE.

As if we couldn't damage their relationship more. J.E Reeds I gotta give you credit because you caught me off guard with that one but that was the worst card you could've pulled for an ending. Also, there was like no romance in this book in the first place. Could've just called this book a fantasy at this point.

✦ 𝕽𝖎𝖔𝖓 ꒰ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 ⚔️ ꒱ ✦
❝ɪ'ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ɪᴍᴍᴜɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʟʟᴜʀᴇ.❞ →
I liked Rion but he went DOWNHILL. He felt so out of character in this book, I couldn't connect to him like I did in the previous.

Would you believe me if I said his POV was boring? Most of the time I enjoy the mmc's POV but that was not the case this time.

His character development- Wait Rion has character development? His personality was interesting in the first and second book but now it's like the author mixed a bunch of traits from popular fae fantasy mmcs and called it a day. What happened to liking sketching and sculpting? It's like J.E Reeds forgot about it.

I know I already mentioned this... BUT THE ANIMAL SOUNDS TICKED ME OFF.

New and interesting things we learned about Rion:





























‗


˙ ͜ʟ˙ 𝔄𝔯𝔦𝔞𝔫𝔫𝔞 ꒰ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 ♕꒱ ˙ ͜ʟ˙
❝ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ.❞
❝ᴀᴍ ɪ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴍʏ ᴍᴀᴛᴇ?❞ →
Someone here needs to get a grip and it's not me or you (It's Arianna).

That's all I have to say.

𝚂𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜

Ellie - Also needs to get a grip.
Varik - Boi ur not tuff.
Niall - The only type of king you are is a Drama King and not in a good way.
Raevina - THIS BADDIE>>>
Talon - <3
Saorise and Zylah - I love them ;>
Conall - Oh yeah, you exist.
Sive - I'm excited to learn more about her

To the other side characters- I probably didn't deem you important enough to have an opinion on you so yeah.


Well this is the end of my review, loves!
Please read my other reviews. I love you guys ;)
🎀

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still just adore this series. I actually stumbled up this 4th one by surprise. I kind of wish I had re-read the 3rd simply because it had been so long but I was able to piece most of it together. Once again, this author immersed me in their story right off the bat. I can see everything and feel everything immediately. I love the world and the characters. This book was the aftermath of Ellie, Ariannas sister, getting taken. A battle takes place at yhe beginning of the book and Arianna gets badly injured so Rion runs away from battle with her. They are met in the woods by a new group of fae. These fae have been trying to disrupt and get rid of the evil high lord. We learn he has been alive for ten thousand years and has also begun experiments on the fae and turning them into dark creatures. They all plan to go to the castle to free Ellie and as many slaves as they can but things quickly turn south. The ending of the book shows the group free from the destruction of the castle but there are still a lot of loose ends to be tied up in the final book. Can Arianna remember and restore her bond with Rion? Did the evil high lord and Niall survive the fall of his castle? Did Ariannas father and lands survive the recent attack? How will Ellie feel and overcome the fact that she killed the only man she had ever loved? Lots of questions that should lead to a great finale. Clean language and 0🌶

[Melanie Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book four of the Fae of Alastriona series delivers everything fans have come to expect—high stakes, intense emotions, and a romance that burns through every page. Rion and Arianna finally get a moment to embrace their mate bond, giving readers the payoff we’ve been waiting for… only for it to be torn apart in a brutal cliffhanger that will leave you desperate for the next book.

The world-building continues to shine, weaving fae politics, danger, and magic into a story that feels both enchanting and perilous. Rion’s fierce devotion and Arianna’s strength make them a couple you can’t help but root for, even when everything seems stacked against them.

If there’s any drawback, it’s that the cliffhanger might feel a bit too sharp after such an emotional buildup—but it absolutely guarantees you’ll be counting down to book five. A thrilling, emotional installment that keeps this series as addictive as ever.

[Sabrina Nowak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth installment of the Fae of Alastriona is full of revelations, self forgiveness, and heartbreak. Arianna and Rion face many challenges together and strengthen their bond as a result. They work together with family and new found friends to launch a rescue to bring Ellie home. I was pulled in and took my time because I wanted to absorb the entire tale. At the end of this book, I immediately preordered the finally book because there is no way I’m accepting any ending where Arianna and Rion aren’t endgame. Vairik and Niall need to die brutal and fiery deaths.
If you enjoy stories of family and loss, and overcoming outside adversities, this is the series for you. Just remember, there is heartbreak and pain throughout. There is also self-acceptance and healing from past trauma. Your mental health matters and this is definitely represented.

[Natalie Anagnostopoulos · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a romantasy, there wasn't a lot of romance. Rion and Arianna's relationship was already rocky at the end of book 2 and I felt that there wasn't enough healing time for them both to properly rebuild their relationship again before they were thrown into multiple battles and missions. I didn't love that there were two big battles in this book (one at the start and one at the end). It felt very tedious and had very little payoff where we really didn't learn anything new and there was no time for character or relationship progression for any of our POV characters. If anything, I feel this book should've only been a Rion and Arianna POV book. If you compare the endings of book 2 & 3, we're basically in the same spot in terms of what we know and a lot of character relationships.

[Ruth Benner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just could not get into this book; I almost DNF'd it, which is sad cause I really love this series. I just felt like nothing happened in this book. 12 hours later and only by the end we were essentially back where we were in the second book. We do learn some new lore but not much more than we learned in the previous book. There was hardly any character development for anyone, especially Arianna, who continues to make rash decisions that other people have to pay the price for. Ultimately, this book feels like it's only intended to set for the final book and doesn't really stand up on its own.

[Chloe Gurr · Rating 5 out of 5]

pure anger at the ending. however, it's the anger that keeps me enticed and the only thing giving me hope is J.E Reed telling me it is gonna be okay.
I loved the pacing of the book. a lot of action with a few moments for breathing, which trust me, the characters and the readers both needed it. so much happens that I was constantly on the edge if my seat reading this book.
I loved the continuance of no spice and still so much romance. the trust being rebuilt between Rion and Arianna is beautiful and makes the end even more heart crushing.

I will say this again, please read this series so it becomes popular and so I don't have to suffer alone.

[Meredith C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish it was longer

Honestly my biggest complaint is that it wasn’t longer! It did feel a little like a bridge between book 2 and the next one, but it was still needed. I really like that we get to see how the trauma affects the characters and how they try to overcome it.

This book made me fall more in love with Rion. And while yes, I did get annoyed with Arianna at one point, it just means the author is doing her job. It ends on a cliff hanger so I can’t wait for the last one.

[Mrs. Cross · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is becoming highly repetitive and redundant. At this point in the story we are supposed to see the tide turning and visible change. What is the point of this story where a guy is hung up on someone for millennium. That is the flimsiest reason or background for the villain. It’s just going round and round. Failure after failure, loss after loss, no new plot, no new powers. And the villain is winning for a millennium and the 70% of the story. There is no balance or structure to the storyline.

[Ghostyy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok

The beginning was great but as it progressed it felt repetitive and I started losing interest. The next book is march 2026 and im intrested how she will wrap up the series especially after Arianna got the bond severed and all memories are lost :/ I feel like the development between the 2 that formed at the start of the book was just gone and the part with the Highlord severing the bond was very very rushed. Overall good series just not the best book

[Mary H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I still enjoy the story and characters, however this book was very slow moving and the plot was all over the place. Plus Arianna’s character has become the most annoying. You would think as the divine you wouldn’t be so foolish to fall for silly tricks like chasing a shadow of your missing sister??? The only saving grace in this book is Rion. I hope in the next book he actually catches a break and gets some happiness.

[Alisha Crane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man holds a grudge for 10,000 years (not an exaggeration) even though he murdered the two people he was angry with. So this book is about what??

Give my man Rion a win. He held up an entire city like two minutes ago but is now barely capable in combat.

And what’s with ridiculous amounts of torture being in every book I’ve read lately. Is it a requirement in the fantasy genre? Is no one capable of getting anything done without it??

[Tammy Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was the last book of the series so I was willing to let it keep going and muddle my way through. But I was mistaken. I like the characters, but it is too much chaos and insurmountable odds and never any pleasant parts. It’s just war and death and battles again and again. It is ok for a series not to drag on and for the main characters to be happy sometimes.

Not gonna make it to the last book.

[Emily Kothmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

No no no!!! You do not get to leave me on that cliffhanger Ms. Reed!! I’m dying!! This book was so good, and all the action in the last half kept me up all night reading. And now I have to wait a year?!? I’m making up my own ending in my head: the bad guys all die and they live happily ever after the end.

[Mappy BookGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is one of my favorites, that being said - I am dying right now. Do not read this book without tissues cause omg...my poor heart. I devoured this book, and I swear each book in this series gets better than the one before. I can't get enough, but Rion better get a HEA or I'm going to riot.

[Trey U · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

This book is wayyy better than the rest of the series thus far. There’s some frustrations for me like how animal forms aren’t used, the Fairy Folk not being involved at all, and the amount of grammatical errors in the book. The book needs a massive proofread. But the events were intense, there were emotional scenes, and this book took a twist I was not expecting at all.

[Birgit Siim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What? What! And what!? I mean.. what? The story is griping and chilling and thrilling and so unpredictable on so many levels! I love it! Don’t even miss the butterflies here. It’s gruesome and not at all a childrens story, even though its missing the spice. It’s, ah.. I’m si glad that I stumbled upon this read. Thank you, J. E. Reed!

Also the horror of discovering the last vook

[Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

“when you wake from this nightmare.. know i forgive you” okay pack it up.

i do love how this progressed especially the pacing. i am so annoyed though that they did just rush into that mission. i am just so heartbroken because of the ending and i was so hoping for their win.

i also just hate how Rion’s reputation keeps coming back to him. FREE MY BOY!!

[Nic Sosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting this book with so much hope…. It completly desapointed me….

Why WHY they have to split on the most horrible circustances??? Why?
Rion has not suffer enough? Hate it ….. pointlessssssss

[butterfly_reading_effect · Rating 5 out of 5]

now i am tormented with waiting for the next book

Amazing series, good world building, it does break your heart a little bit, chapter 37 😭 and also my heart shatters for Rion, cannot wait for next book!

[Ellia Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

No because what do you mean I have to wait until MARCH for the next one??!???

Also there’s that one thing that happened that made me very nearly shed a tear but I didn’t because I WAS AT WORK girl you are making me nearly cry while I’m on the clock!!