A prophecy. A kingdom in chaos. A fairy hiding her magic.
I’m Aubriella. I’ve masked my powers behind a veil of indifference. Ethrin is my home, but whispers of a prophecy tear it apart. Accused of treachery, I flee, finding unlikely refuge with Roarke. He’s more than just a recluse. He's the King’s secret son, born of a peasant and a royal.
We start as wary allies. Our bond deepens into something fiery and undeniable. In a realm drenched in deceit, we uncover our true destinies. Dark forces and royal guards hunt us, pushing us toward ancient secrets.
Enemies within the court emerge. Our combined magic and love might be the kingdom’s only hope. Can we rise to claim our fated thrones, or will the shadows consume us?
Dive into a world where destiny, magic, and love clash in an epic battle for the crown.
There was so much covered that this felt like a full-length fantasy novel, not a novella! And yet the pacing did not seem rushed! I loved the world-building and the magic system. The romance between Aubriella and Roarke and the elements of suspense were really well-written. I am excited to continue reading this series!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reads more as a YA fantasy. Easy to read and the story was easy to follow. I loved the magic, intrigue and plot twists. The characters were likeable. The world building could’ve been expanded on a little more, but all in all, it was a great read.
This is the 1st Stella Smith book I've read and I must say I was impressed overall for the books itself. She is a talented author who has a lot of potential to go a long way in the future.
I would call this more of a YA Fantasy than anything honestly. This is not an New Adult or a Romantasy. I hate to say that, but this is just my opinion. It is easy to read and there are no difficult terms to learn. There are also no graphic scenes that would be inappropriate for young adult readers. Honestly the hardest word is actually a name in this book and that is of the FMC Aubriella.
Speaking of whom, the FMC Aubriella is a kind hearted, funny, sweet, loving, everything you want in a great FMC. I loved her to be honest. She had this unique power that she was trying to learn and control in her own way without understanding that she had more power than she really knows. She is the kind of character that anyone would love.
Roarke is everything you would expect in an MMC He is strong, protective, he can be pig headed at times I found, a leader. They typical YA, swoon worthy MMC. And I think Stella Smith does this character justice. She gives him the perfect arc to be a protector but have some much more to him that even he doesn't know he has. It makes him to be the perfect MMC and the perfect opposite to Aubriella.
Our main characters have the perfect arcs that battle each other for dominance and wanting to lead. These arcs play perfectly in the plots, sub-plots and the storyline. We look at the secondary characters and while we don't get to spend a lot of time with them, the little time we do get to spend with them, we see their limited arcs and they compliment the MCs arcs and help to move the plots, sub-plots and the storyline along as well.
The villain of this story is perfectly written where he is seen and yet he is also hidden away in the shadows. Stella Smith keeps us guessing and wondering who he is and who Aubriella can really trust. Often times we are left wondering who he is if we can trust the people around us and if he is going to pop up right next to us.
The world building in this book sadly seems to be very minimal. We know the name of the city the book is set in, we get a bit of a description of the forest and other areas but it tends to be minimal at times. Even when our MCs return to Erthrin, you don't really get a lot of details on the changes that have happened.
The plot, sub-plots, and the storyline. Now this is something that is done right and makes this book shine. With the main plot of this book leading right into the sub-plot and the combination turns into the storyline and by the end you have a beautiful end that leaves you with no questions that are not looking into the future. This book is perfectly balanced for a young adult audience.
I would say this book is one chili pepper hot in spice. It talks about kissing, yes there are inuendos about sex, but there is nothing graphic. Making this book generic in spice level. It can be refreshing for some who read a lot of spice. But, it is also good for a younger audience introducing them slowly to spice with limited spice.
Over all this is a good book. I enjoyed it. And it can be as I said refreshing to step away from high spice and read low spice fantasy. This book is part of a series, so you need to know that while this book does end with no questions asked, there is going to be a second book going forward into the future.
I recently read "Whispers in the Court: The Prophecy of Ethrin" by Stella Smith, and I have to say, it was an absolute page-turner! 🌟
The story is set in the magical kingdom of Ethrin, where a prophecy threatens to tear the realm apart. The protagonist, Aubriella, is a fairy who has hidden her powers behind a veil of indifference. When she's accused of treason, she flees and finds refuge with Roarke, the King's secret son. Their bond starts as wary allies but soon deepens into something fiery and undeniable.
The world-building in this book is incredible. I felt like I was in Ethrin, experiencing the magic and the danger alongside the characters. Have you ever read a book that made you feel like you were part of the story?
The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another secret was revealed, and I was left questioning everything I thought I knew. It's so satisfying when a book keeps you guessing like that.
Another quick, entertaining fantasy from Stella Smith!
Once again, we get a look into the imagination of Stella Smith. This time, we also have supernatural creatures and humans. There is also an evil mage that our hero and heroine have to defeat. The story moves at a good pace, the characters are all likeable, except for the bad guys and they are easy not to like. This is a typical fantasy—good versus evil with a quest.
Whispers in the Court-The Prophecy of Ethrin is a captivating introduction to a new series that precedes the realm of magical creatures. It is a concise and swift read, yet the narrative is thoroughly captivating and meticulously crafted. The dynamic between the primary characters, Aubriellia and Rourke, enthralls readers and compels them to root for their triumph in preserving the magical beings and their love. I strongly advise embarking on this new series.
OH WOW this was a marvelous story. It was page turner and the suspense was totally intense. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. It was action packed of emotion of drama with a hint of twists and turns of danger and romance. Dark side of revenge and chaos and pain. I definitely enjoyed and I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones
Perfect book to read if you’re looking for a Fae fantasy with a clean love interest. Not sure how Stella Smith does it but she weaves a complicated story and wraps it up in under 200 pages. A fun adventure filled read that won’t take up you’re whole weekend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love the story and the concept, but I felt it was rushed and could have been expanded more in depth. Overall it was a cute story. I just wish there was more.
This book is more of a YA fantasy but is a good book and moves at a good pace. It is not a high spicy read. it has action, drama, hint of danger, revenge, chaos and pain
A fantasy novel set in the kingdom of Ethrin. The story follows Aubriella, a fairy who has hidden her magical powers behind a veil of indifference. When whispers of a prophecy begin to tear the kingdom apart, Aubriella is accused of treachery and forced to flee1. She finds unlikely refuge with Roarke, the King's secret son, born of a peasant and a royal. As they start as wary allies, their bond deepens into something fiery and undeniable. Together, they uncover their true destinies and face dark forces and royal guards hunting them. The story is filled with intrigue, magic, and the struggle to claim their fated thrones while battling enemies within the court.
Merged review:
A fantasy novel set in the kingdom of Ethrin. The story follows Aubriella, a fairy who has hidden her magical powers behind a veil of indifference. When whispers of a prophecy begin to tear the kingdom apart, Aubriella is accused of treachery and forced to flee1. She finds unlikely refuge with Roarke, the King's secret son, born of a peasant and a royal. As they start as wary allies, their bond deepens into something fiery and undeniable. Together, they uncover their true destinies and face dark forces and royal guards hunting them. The story is filled with intrigue, magic, and the struggle to claim their fated thrones while battling enemies within the court.