A Glass Darkly,

Finding Ever After #3

by K.E. Barden

‘Sometimes a monster can be the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.’

Snow’s curse has been broken and with it, her heart. The grotto has been destroyed, Hansel is missing and the blisters on her feet aren’t the only reminder of how powerless she is. With the Queen’s murders watching, the fog dragon loose and the rebellion in hiding, Snow’s only hope is to find allies. And fast.

When a mysterious stranger sends her to the kingdom of Perridorm, where the royals control an army of the dead, Snow must choose between the battle for her throne or her true heart’s desire.

But temptation is a dangerous game. Dark magic stirs, the dead rise, and the powerful secret hidden in the Queen’s Mines threatens to break everything. Thieving wood nymphs are the least of Snow’s problems as she faces a web of lost love, shattered friendships, and an impossible choice: how far would she go for her own happily ever after?

In this thrilling third installment of the Finding Ever After series, darkness spreads across the realm, and Snow must confront secrets that go deeper than she ever imagined.

Once Upon a Time meets Grimm’s original fairy tales in this gritty, heart-pounding YA fantasy retelling—where the path to happily ever after is anything but certain, and the cost may be your very soul.

Genres: Fantasy

508 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2025

About the author

K E Barden is an independent author based in Brisbane. Her first book, The Gilded Mirror was written entirely on a mobile phone and the dent in her pinkie finger proves it. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her spoiling her high maintenance cat, building fairy castles or comparing her real boyfriend with her book boyfriends.

Her books are a combination of fiction, romance and fantasy with the express intent of stealing you away from reality and creating characters that will become your entire personality.

You can find Kim on social media @ KEBardenAuthor

Reviews

[K.E. Barden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello Grimms!

I'm excited to release the newest addition to the Finding Ever Series! As you all know, this will be the last (re)publish before I release my first new book in four years.

I cannot wait to bring you books 4 and 5 in this series!

This series took me 6 years to write and once done will have been 8-9 years in being able to release the whole set. In that time, I lost my brother, who'll unfortunately never be able to read the rest of the series.

So this book is dedicated to him. Dante is dedicated to him. And every story he indulged in and shared with me, is dedicated to him.

I hope you love this new edition and I cannot for you to see the glow up.

To stay up to date, make sure to follow me on Social Media or sign up for my newsletter!
https://linktr.ee/kebardenauthor

[Amber (amberdevouredthis) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴. 𝘞𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘵 𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮.”

After reading six Romance books in a row, jumping into the third book of a Fantasy series was a challenge! 😅 Getting my brain to stop thinking about hot cowboys and remember characters/motives from a series I read back in October 2024 was a mission, but once I got back into the Finding Ever After realm, I was hooked 😌🙌

After some quick skimming of These Grimm Fates (book 2) I settled in for the story of what comes next after Hansel & Eve’s disappearance 👀

Now this review probably won’t mean much to people who haven’t read this series, so I’ll preface this with saying that A Glass Darkly was a fantastic sequel, filled with dangerous promises, daring escapes, and a war between man and the undead (oOoooOh)

This was one of the first books I’ve read where the story focuses on the POVs of the more minor characters, and although I dearly missed reading about Hansel and Eve, I was excited for more Snow and Malak 💚

To mention a few parts that I really loved:

🪞The Gilded/Magic Mirror 👀 the rhymes and riddles were so creative and creepy

🪾And talking about creepy, the wood nymphs??! Actual nightmares, but they also seemed kinda cute?? Probably how I’d die in this universe. I did absolutely adore that one scene with Florian and the nymph with the flute though 🥹🥹

🤧 On the topic of Florian, man it feels relatable to be allergic to fkn everything. I desperately need whatever was in the tea they were giving him 😩

🐺 I’m not sure if The Huntress was in the previous books, but I enjoyed her addition to the story! She was giving me major Victoria from Twilight vibes 👩🏻‍🦰

👫 Andanna & Odion! What a sick way to start and end the book!! I’m so excited to read more about these two 🤩
——-
Overall, these characters could all really do with some hot tea and a warm bed 😭 Although it took me a while to get into this book in the beginning, I could not put it down in the last half. Especially in the last few chapters 👀 I cannot wait to see what happens in the next couple of books! Thank you for this ARC 🫶🏽

A Glass Darkly is out on 17/06/2025 ✨

[Michele (michelethebookdragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness this was good!

I loved this storyline - it was pacier, it was full of action and amazing character growth.

We don't see Eve or Hansel at all this book. There is so much going on in Perridorm and Bellatore. Things are getting very dark and menacing and the tension has increased.

Brufell, Bronson and the pixie find themselves amongst trolls who constantly look on them as food. They end up on a quest for a dragon tooth to help save trolls that have become sick after the fog dragon went through. These dwarves may be small in stature but they prove to all and themselves that they are giants when it comes to being loyal and trustworthy.

Pip, Florian, Malak and Snow are headed towards Perridorm after meeting a mysterious stranger. They could never envision the obstacles they will encounter. Snow is gaining strength and determination despite feeling like a pawn in this situation. She is certainly getting tired of being a prisoner and wants control of her own destiny.

Meanwhile, Myrenna and her evil henchmen are gaining their own strength and are still wreaking havoc and inflicting terror on anyone in their path.

With a battle scene that had me totally engrossed, and Snow's involvement in that, I do wonder if Myrennas quest for Snows heart is now fruitless.

With two more books in the Ever After series to come, I am very excited to see where this is heading. Will the Evil Queen be overthrown? Will Snow rule her kingdom? Who will get their happy ever after?

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way these books are written is so clever!

This book follows characters that aren't our MC's, as the storyline is occurring simultaneously with These Grimm Fates (book 2). This means there are events that happened in book 2 that we get to experience from other POV's in this book, which I thought was really cool! I love multi POV's.

I feel like the books are progressively getting darker; A Glass Darkly felt a lot darker and heavier than the first two. As we delve deeper into this story, I feel the increasing darkness suits the plot progression, although it leaves me a bit nervous to see where we end up at the end of the series 😅

The new creatures we meet in this book range from slightly to extremely terrifying and I would like to never meet any of them. Except the dragons. Oh, did I mention there were dragons in this book? There are dragons. And I love them 😂

The plot of AGD gives us a deeper insight into the occurrences of book 2, and sets us up for the last two books with a list of questions about our favourite characters.

Thank you so much Kim for the eARC, and congratulations on your final re-release! I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book already 😍

[Krystal Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

'War is coming. Silly songs won't win battles. Weapons and well - trained soldiers will."

A glass darkly is written from the point of view of Princess Snow, Dread (a crow shapeshifter, who works with the queen, and is the head of her murder) and Bronson. This book is written at same time as These Grimm Fates, but is not recommended to be read as a tandem.

I found that while this book didn't have the same 'webb of fairytales' as I had described book 1 and 2, the story itself flowed a lot smoother. I loved the mayhem and quick introduction of the characters previously, it kept me engaged and on my toes the whole read. A Glass Darkly keeps you engaged by its character development, I felt like I was creating a bond with the characters and honestly Bronson is my new favourite character of this whole series!

I loved reading this book, I love a fairy-tale retelling and I loved that K E Barden puts her own twists on characters we have known for years.

Yes, this may be a Snow White retelling, but in the same instance it's not, it's her own story It's creative and it's engaging.

You will not be able to pick the path this story follows, which is why I have a deep love for this series

[Kelsbookreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure I read this arc, or if I absorbed it directly into my very being... A Glass Darkly, Book 3 in the Finding Ever After series and written by the incredible K.E. Barden completely ensnared me.

We are thrown right into the thick of it, picking up the threads from the first two books - but this time we are following Snow and her journey. There are many voices that tell their tale throughout this book and each and every one is just as important to the overarching plot than the next. There is not one POV that you want to rush or skip, and I think that's an impressive feat.

Although the first book starts on an almost whimsical and magical note, with book 2 exploring darker themes - book 3 is blacker, grittier, explosive and full of carnage. In other words, it's perfection and fits the narrative Kim is creating for us. Our heroes are falling and failing, escape is fraught with danger and terror, so death starts to seem like a reprieve. But always, there is a glimmer of hope, the smallest spark that keeps them moving forward all while making impossible choices.

I won't give anything away, because this is a series that must be experienced. But it's the fairytale we all craved when we thought that the stories we read as children were just...too easy...too happy - where the bad guys were bad and the good guys perfect. Morally grey is a colour that suits our childhood heros and I am front and centre for the next installment.

A Glass Darkly has:

- monsters and magic
- the chosen one
- reluctant heros
- mythical creatures
- torture and despair
- lost royals
- forced proximity
- a glimmer of hope
- deadly adventure

Side note - this is book 3 of 5, and there is still so much to happen and unfold. If you've not jumped on to this intense and phenomenal series yet - then please do. It's not what you think it's going to be - it's infinitely better.

[Samantha Steel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so eager for this next stretch of storyline after the last two books were soooo good and I really enjoyed them.
However this one was more of a miss for me sadly. There was no Eve and Hansel update- and they are favourites of mine and key characters so far to the story, but them missing and then having the story bounce around a lot- between characters like Snow (who is a bloody idiot and I cannot stand her. She's not a pure hearted one I think the Queen needs), the POV of Dread- whose the bad guy- I dont like trying to be convinced that his ambitions and horrible things he does for the obsessive creepy love of his queen means she should win the war.
I did enjoy the dwarves quest amd challenges and the dragons, oh thank you for dragons!
There is betrayal, hidden secrets- and redemption within the camp fighting against Myrenna but introduction of some new characters that I need to read more of!

Overall an enjoyable Retelling- just a very dark and twisted account which makes it even more of an interesting read. And I'm more eager for the next book and hopefully more Hansel and Eve.

[Nikki Minty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I love about K E Barden’s books is that they are absolutely bursting with action and excitement, and A Glass Darkly is no exception.
This may just so happen to be my favourite book of hers thus far.
There are many characters in the Finding Ever After series and they are packed full of personality. We get to meet some new characters in this side of the tale too, which I found exciting, and we also got to take on some dragons.
This story is written in the same timeline as These Grimm Fates, however, it follows Snow and her gang of misfits on a journey through a nymph infested forest.
I adore the dwarfs and their banter, and I quite liked getting to know Dread, evil though he may be.
The ending of this book is epic!
I look forward seeing what book 4 brings.

[Lauren Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 makes a sharp turn from the end of book 2 and absolutely threw me in a good way. More character back stories! More scenery development!
Getting to know Princess Snow as her adventure gets more intense, as she journeys on with Pip, Malak, and Florian. These 3 characters develop further as well, and it's brilliant wat to further the story arc.
We also get acquainted with more of the villains! Learning about Dread and the Crows Brothers was a highlight for me, similar to how I enjoyed getting Myrenna's back-story in book 2.
A Glass Darkly keeps building from the previous 2 books and sets us up for another torturous wait for the next instalment.

[shyandlonelywriter · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW


Missions, fights, secrets. It's a dark retelling that has everything honestly. This book has wonderful descriptions and amazing plot. The characters? Perfect, especially Flynn.
The revelation about Flynn's identity shocked me. I didn't expect it.

I'm sorry but I refuse to say more about this book. I can't accept what I read. I have two questions for the author. Why did the book end like this? How am I supposed to wait until the next book?




I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[C.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Yes! I loved this. The third book of the Finding Ever After series is a little different than you’d expect. It retells the same timeline as book 2, but from the POVs of all the characters you missed, giving you a much fuller view of the world at this pivotal time.

Whilst I did miss Eveline and Piccadilly in this instalment, I LOVED finally getting inside Snow’s head for some much anticipated character development. That girl has some edge, and it makes me so curious to know what where her story will end up.

This book also has new POV characters, such as the shapeshifter, Dread. I found his take on the world really interesting and a great chance to view things from the other side of the rebellion.

With no slow parts and zero downtime, A Glass Darkly is an action-packed ride from start to finish. The only downside? Now I REALLY need book 4.

[Kathleen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this preception of snow white i loves the book highly recommend her books. the action of the book never let's u get bored and gets u off ur guard . love the povs that there is in here . loved it so much

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim, you are truly the queen of fairytale retellings! I had been patiently (okay, maybe not so patiently) waiting for the next instalment in the Finding Ever After series—and it was pure magic.

This time, the story unfolds through the perspectives of Princess Snow, Bronson (one of the Seven Dwarves), and Dread (a shape-shifting crow loyal to the Queen). I absolutely loved the multi-POV format. Each character felt so distinct, yet seamlessly connected, offering a rich and layered view of the world.

What stood out most to me was how Kim masterfully reimagines these classic characters. They're familiar... but not. She twists the fairytales with such precision and creativity that you’re completely hooked, page after page.

I already admired Kim’s storytelling, but this book truly blew me away. The writing, the pacing, the emotional depth—everything hit just right. I need more. Immediately.

[Maeghan Bonner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Glass Darkly is book 3 of the Finding Ever After series by K.E. Barden

While book 2 focused on Eve, Hansel and the Queen. Book 3 follows Bronson and Brufell, Snow, Pip, Florian and Malak.

We even get to learn about some of the minor characters and see their POVs.

This book is full of action and was fast paced, which was great! The characters again were all really well written and had amazing development.

I do not like Snow. Kudos to Barden for creating a main character who is kinda despicable. This is of course my opinion, others may disagree and love her. I find her to be a simpering girl who is quick to anger, spiteful and very naive. She let's her jealousy control her when it comes to Eve and Hansel.

Bronson and Brufell find themselves in the company of trolls who are trying to save their own who have fallen sick after the deadly fog.

Pip, Snow, Malak and Florian are searching for allies and the rebellion. They encounter obstacles they never thought would befall them. Snow continues to feel like a pawn in a larger game and only wants to be control of her own fate and actions for once.

The Evil Queen and her minions continue to dig deeper in the mountains searching for whatever it is the Queen is looking for.

I did not want to put this one down! I can't wait for the next installment!

[the_bookishbee_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
It’s so freaking good to be back in this world! We’ve got chaos and despair from every angle. Initially, it took me a hot minute to realise we were on the same timeline as These Grimm Fates, but once that clicked, the layering worked so well. While I did miss Eveline and of course little Porchid, the tension is rising and you can tell the storylines are inching toward collision, time will tell if it’s beautiful or violent, probs a bit of both I reckon!

Following Snow in the first half was... a test of patience for me. She’s frustrating, naive, and stubborn-maybe I just didn’t like her hating on my girl Eveline! But you gotta give her some credit, given her sheltered life it’s really no surprise. I was definitely glad to see her start scraping her way toward courage and becoming the royalty she was born to be. It’s messy and gritty…she doesn’t just step into power, she literally claws her way toward it. I can see her being an absolute force when she has to face Myrenna, which we all know is coming. The stronger she gets, the more I feel (and hope!) her heart is out of Myrenna’s reach.

The introduction of yet more mythical creatures (baby dragon, yay!) is the perfect counterbalance to some of the darker parts. The nymphs were another standout, I loved their fierce, elemental fighting, not just for their lives but for the very soul of their little piece of the world. This felt very symbolic of the larger war at play.

Meanwhile, we’re also following the journey of one of Myrenna’s crow shifters, Dread. Seriously, this guy. The obsession he has with Myrenna is borderline unhinged. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for the fall out of the century 🤣

With so many POVs, you really get full exposure to the world in detail. All the storylines are gripping and every character is so well written, by the end of this book even Snow had won me over. The fate of the world is at stake, no one is getting out unscathed and every decision, every moment, is vital. I’m nervous for all my fave characters.

This book has set the scene for absolute heartbreak and destruction in the next instalments and I can’t wait to see the characters next moves. Bring on the ruin, heartbreak and maybe, just maybe… a happily ever after?!

Massive thank you to K. E. Barden for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved books one and two in this series so much.

This one was a huge miss for me personally. The first books, while having multiple POVs, follows Eve mainly and I really enjoyed her character.

This book mostly follows Snow (whom I loathe) and a few others (who I also didn't care for). It did give a well rounded feel to the series as you can really see everything happening, but it made this book a bit of a slog for me. I found myself skimming most of it, unfortunately.

That doesn't mean it wasn't well written. I love the world this is in and I am still very invested in the plot line to see what happens in the rest of the series.

Read if you love:
-Fairytale retellings
-Unrequited love
-Villain stories
-Monsters and magic
-Lost royals


Thank you to the author for the eARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Glass Darkly is the third book of the Finding Ever After series, which is a dark fantasy mash-up of multiple fairytales with vibes of Once Upon a Time.

It took me a while to get into this one because I was hanging out to see what Eve and Hansel were up to. Spoiler alert (actually this is important to know from the start), they are not in this book. That's because this book picks up from just after Eve and Hansel disappear at the beginning of book 2, but gives us the perspectives of the other characters. So the timeline is roughly concurrent with book 2 (though this is not a tandem read situation). There's a lot of characters to keep track of! I was a bit bummed to not be reading about Eve and Hansel, but getting so many perspectives of other characters really served to flesh out this fantasy world with depth and complexity.

Snow, Malak, Pip and Florian are on a quest to unite Snow with the rebellion army. Along the way they meet a mysterious stranger who suggests they enlist the help of the magical twins of Perridorm, who command an army of the dead and who are currently holding off Myrenna's forces. I found Snow annoying and petulant in the first half of the book, but she grows and develops as the story progresses.

Brufell, Bronson and the pixie are captured by trolls who they end up making a deal with to ensure the trolls help in the way against Myrenna. They go one a quest for a dragon's tooth to heal the trolls who fell sick when the fog dragon swept through the forest. I loved the dynamic between these two dwarves with such distinct personalities.

We also got a new perspective, that of Dread, a shapeshifting crow in service of Myrenna, and commander of her murders. It was interesting having his perspective and seeing a bit more of what's going on in the mines, but I found his head a bit disturbing to be in.

This book felt darker and grittier than its predecessors, with less fairytale backbone and more of Barden making this story her own, expanding from that base and letting it fly. It is a fast-paced, high-stakes fight for survival for these characters, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next two books.

Tropes:
*Grimms inspired dark fantasy
*third in series
*unrequited love
*lost royals
*monsters & magic
*secrets
*forced proximity
*multiple 3rd person POV

Content warning: fantasy violence, death, torture, dead reanimated
Romance level: 0, 3, 6? (This was hard to label. On one hand, there is no romance plotline, though unrequited love is present. There is a kiss with a moan between two non-POV villains, no romantic lead-up. And one vaguely described intimate scene witnessed and mentioned very briefly in a character's memory)

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anna Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in the Finding Ever After series and it delivered!

Barden’s work is both engaging and thought provoking. The emotions tug at the reader, sucking them into a story woven together with beautiful imagery, villainous villains, downtrodden but hopeful heroes, kind of scary trees (you’ll see what I mean), and some pretty cool magic!

While I missed Eve and Hansel, it was fascinating to see where Snow, Malak, Florian and Pip’s path took them. I enjoyed how Barden gave us POVs from the minor characters, not just the leads. This provided a unique insight, as well as endearing them to the reader more by giving us a glimpse into their thoughts.
Can’t forget the dwarves and the adventures they're having too! Brufell and Bronson get up to some cool things!

We also get to meet some new characters who are all very intriguing, especially Andanna and Odion. I look forward to reading more about them.

The crows were also introduced and they're a nice touch! We have a nasty brother, a REALLY nasty (thought loyal) brother, and a conflicted brother. In the interest of not spoiling anything, that’s all I’ll say on that trio!

This is a darkly enchanting, fantastical and epic addition to the series, with monsters, magic, torture, mythical creatures, multiple POVs, heroes to root for and villains to get mad at!

Again, as with the previous books, this does contain some dark elements, such as torture, so I would advise caution for younger readers, or parental pre-reading to check suitability.

I was fortunate enough to receive this as an ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Disney & Fantasy Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚: Book 3 in the Ever After series
📚: Ebook ~ available for preorder on KU
📚: Fairytale retelling
📚: Book is released on the 17th of June

⭐: 4.25

~ Thoughts ~
This book has an overlapping timeline with book 2, so I would recommend either tandem reading or reading book 2 and than reading book 3.

This book answered some of the questions I had reading book 2 and I look forward to continuing on with the series to be able to get the rest of those answers.

This book had me hooked on seeing different events from different POV’s

I believe I said this in the review for book 1, but nothing is as it seems and not to always trust everyone and I believe this to be the case in this book as well. And I think the end of the jaw dropping plot twists (which we have seen in the first three books) are not stopping anytime soon.

Again I loved diving into the backstories of old and new characters and understanding what their role is and what their motivations may be. As well as gaining a further indepth understanding of some particular characters who have peaked my interest.

I love with KE Barden’s writing that she is able to build the world, have multiple characters (their POV, development, plots and backstories) and the over-arching plot and write everything in a way which is enjoyable to understand and keeps you hooked wanting to know what happens next.

📚: Dates Read: 8th of June to 9th of June

[Dierdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I would like to state how in love I am with the dazzling cover🥰 and secondly, thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to be the reviewer for the third book of the Findinf Ever After series.

As always, I've enjoyed my adventure with the dwarves, the dragons, the elf, princes and princesses, the trolls, and other fairy-tale creatures in this book. A Glass Darkly was mainly from Snow's point of view and we were left hanging, wondering what had happened to the Huntsman and the Seeker. I couldn't help but to feel a little sympathy towards the antagonists in this one and I really appreciate the writer's talent in succeeding to make me feel that way🥺

For those who have been reading the previous two books of the Finding Ever After series, this is the time to get your hands on A Glass Darkly. It is as colorful as a fairy-tale could be, but at the same time, it could be grimm and dark, but the characters made me felt there will always be hope for them in finding peace. I bet there will be more interesting characters coming up in book four😉

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one but really missed Hansel and Eve.

It did take me a little while to get back into the universe and remember what had happened in the previous books, since it had been quite a while since I had read the first two.

I loved Bronson and Bufell’s story and how much Bronson had grown as a character.

While it was interesting to learn more about Snow, I struggled a little with her parts because I really didn't like her character. For most of the book, I found her quite insufferable and whiny, but she did grow on me a little bit by the end.

Dread’s POV was nice addition. Although it was a little difficult to keep track of the timeline of this one with all of the overlapping POVs.

I really liked the last 10% or so of the book where the action picked up and it finally felt like everything was coming together.

It will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Glass Darkly is a gripping and atmospheric read that pulls you into a world of intrigue, suspense, and complex characters. K.E. Barden masterfully balances tension and character development, creating a story that is as emotionally engaging as it is thrilling. The writing is sharp, the pacing mostly smooth, and the plot twists kept me on my toes.

The main characters are compelling, with motivations and flaws that make them feel real, and the relationships in the story add depth and emotional resonance. The only small drawback is that certain plot threads could have been explored a bit more fully, but this doesn’t significantly detract from the overall impact of the book.

Overall, A Glass Darkly is a captivating dark fantasy that combines mystery, magic, and suspense in a way that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Definitely a solid start to what promises to be an intriguing series.

[Sarah Cole]

Ohhhh this one starts off with a bang! Again I am fully immersed in Barden's fairytale world. Pixies, dwarfs and trolls it feels so magical all the way through.

Alternating chapters following different characters Barden successfully interweaves their stories in a balanced, clear way - while still holding readers interest.

Barden is so clever in her writing with the hilarious bickering between the characters. You really get to know each character and their personality by Book 3.

There's definitely the right amount of love, hate, action and humour. I feel this series could actually go on forever!

Finally, if you are at all unsure about whether this is for you...I have one word.... DRAGONS!!!!

A must read!

Thank -you Shawline Publishing books for sending me this copy to read and review.

[Leaha Hosking · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the same timeline as These Grimm Fates, but from the perspective of Snow and her companions. We are also introduced to some of the Evil Queens supporters and I particularly enjoyed Dread, the shapeshifter. He is a bad character, but I couldn't hate him entirely.
Prince Florian is another character you get to know much better. I love that he is not your typical sword-welding hero type, but an academic who is prone to allergies. This is one of the great appeals of these books, the characters are not your typical heroes or villains.

As the story continues, it provides more surprises as it weaves many of our favorites together to form a bigger tale. I enjoyed the fact that one character is part of more than one tale.

I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Cas · Rating 4 out of 5]

** ARC review **

Book one: great
Book two: great
Book three: ALSO great.

Being able to write three books that are all three of the same amazing quality is a skill I haven't seen for many authors. A Glass Darkly is just as good as the first two.
The fact that it now follows Snow's story is really fun to read. This book is also quite a bit darker in my opinion and I love how full of action, mystery and fantasy it is. While it follows the same timeline as the second book, it is unique in its own way. We're introduced to new characters and creatures, from wood nymphs to shapeshifters. Similar to the first two books it has unique and dark retellings of fairytales.

I really enjoyed this book and am sure the next book will be just as good.
(Also, that cover is stunning.)

[Lyndsey Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! I love reading this series because of all the fairytale retelling that interest weave and combine.

I found Snow a very difficult character in this book! She is spoilt and selfish and a pain in the arse for her friends and kingdom.

There is so much unrequited love in this from many different parts of the story and characters! I loved reading each piece of the journey from different characters and can’t wait to see what is going to happen in the next one!

I did miss reading about Hansel and Eve side of the story but look forward to the next part of this!

[Ashley M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in this series was amazing!

This one is definitely darker than the first two books. Our gang is split up in this story, with Hansel and Eve nowhere to be found after the events of book two. Even without them, I was engrossed in this story and the characters' journeys.

This one has multiple POVs, and I loved all of them! Even the evil Dread, who is actually a pretty cool character, even if he loves the evil queen. There is a lot more character development on all sides here. I actually love that Hansel and Eve don't make an appearance in this one, because it gives you the opportunity to dive more into the minds of all of the side characters in the story.

Each group of characters is on a separate quest, and I really enjoyed each storyline. Especially the one with Brufell and Bronson.

The ending of this one was riveting, and I am on the edge of my seat to see what happens next!

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

’Sometimes a monster can be the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.’

It’s the RELEASE month for A Glass Darkly and I’m so excited for everyone to read this Grimm beauty that weaves together the old fairytale stories with a fresh voice that Barden does so well 💜🪾⚔️🌟

I had the privilege of reading this book very early on and it’s my favourite book in the FEA series so far! It’s fast paced, with clever twists and a gothic fairytale setting that pulls you in immediately 🩶

We follow Princess Snow and her renegade crew through a nymph infested forest, where the true colours of our ‘darling’ princess starts to shine through. Make no mistake, Snow is anything but pristine (and she’s very attached to her slippers 🩰)

There’s a side quest with a dragon 🐉 where they team up with a troll 🧌 with boundary issues. Hands down my fave dwarf is Bronson and his trusty eyeliner.

Darkly also introduces the devious Crow Bros 🐦‍⬛ a murderously complicated brotherhood who would do anything for love, no matter how toxic (IYKYK 😏)

The showstopper of this book is definitely THAT ENDING. Foes clash in an epic battle and we get to see the growth of these characters as they fight back, stand up and defend the realm with the stubborn spark of hope.

A Glass Darkly is a whirlwind of charming wit mixed with addictive slow burn 🔥 and delicious morally grey characters in a gothic fairytale that questions: How far would you go for your Happy Ever After?

Call out quotes are:

‘For music healed better than any medicine in the world.’

‘Far be it for me to get in between a lady and her axe.’

‘They would burn. And she would be the one to strike the match.’

🌟 A Glass Darkly is book three in the Finding Ever After series and available 17 June 🌟

[H.E. Hristov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous read. I was surprised to find this is now my favourite in the series. This book has several POVs, a dark take on fairy tales, trolls, pixies, witches, dwarves, magic and more! I love the mix matched friendships and the funny dialogue between different species. Kim has made her own mark within fairy-telling, and I love the modern characters she has created from the old classics.

I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to read book 4. Well done Kim on another great read.