Breaking up with a Fae

by Tasha Creed

At ten years old, Lilah meets a strange boy in the woods near her village after fleeing her mother’s wrath. They share a meal together, but then he surprises her when he asks her to marry him when they are older. He makes a solemn promise that in the future, when he is older, he will return for her and whisk her away. But she has to agree.

Lilah accepts, but as the years pass, she never sees him again, causing her to believe that their promise was nothing more than a childhood fantasy. Twenty years after their initial promise, guards suddenly appear at the front door, informing her that their prince is waiting for her and they were sent to collect his wife.

Not only was that little boy a prince, but a fae prince in line for the throne.

Now, Lilah must confront the promise she made as a child and what it truly means. Sparks fly when they meet again, but with her doubts and his secrets, she wonders if she can break the deal, or will she lose herself to the charming yet dangerous man who claims she is his?

**This is a swoony closed door fantasy romance**

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae

217 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2025

About the author

I’m a book lover who took the obsession too far and now write books of my own. Paranormal romance is my favorite, though I write fantasy romance as well.

My books are all closed door with steam. I’m known as a big tease.

Come join me on my Facebook reader group, Tasha’s Wolf Pack.

Much love,
Tasha

Reviews

[BookishVibesClub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I LOVED this book. If you love shadow daddies, powerful fae princes, and court intrigue… this is your read! I loved this dark no spice Romantasy. You get all the best steamy feels of fated mate bonds, protective MMCs, and a slight love triangle. A little bit of dark Cinderella vibes and all the Romantasy feels we love. And that ending 🥹 Give me book two, now!!

❤️‍🔥 fated mates
❤️‍🔥 fae bargains
❤️‍🔥 human x fae
❤️‍🔥 charming princes
❤️‍🔥 court intrigue
❤️‍🔥 forbidden romance
❤️‍🔥 burn the world
❤️‍🔥 touch her and ☠️
❤️‍🔥 my wife
❤️‍🔥 morally grey MMC
❤️‍🔥 possessive MMC

🫑🫑 (steamy feeling, no spice)

[Danie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never leave bad reviews on books, even if I don't like them, but could the author of the prologue please write the rest of the book? That small section is the most interesting, and the whole reason I read the book, expecting more of that energy.

I went into this book knowing that it was a closed door/no spice, and therefore expected there to be a bunch of yearning, bonding, and playfulness between the characters, maybe the characters would be interesting or have some quirks. Then, I read the trigger warnings and 👀👀 I was somewhat excited to see what those would looks like without spice.

Instead, I got what seems to be a dollar store version of fated mates, with zero on the page emotional bonding, the trigger warnings were superfluous at best, and honestly, I read about way worse/more graphic things in third grade than what goes on in this story. Our characters are supposed to be about 30yo, and have gone through war and/or poverty, and yet they had more character at 10/11yo.

Additionally, our FMC is boring. She's got about two brain cells rattling around in there somewhere but she's very much a "poor me, I can't do anything and need to be saved" sort, and our MMC is the golden boy chosen one with " a darkness, a beast" inside, which is never shown.
It's supposed to be"slow-burn tension" but I swear there was more tension with those dang butterflies than with either of the MMCs.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Tasha Creed for this ARC!
•
I didn't really vibe with the writing style of this book. But the story, the relationships, the plot twists - this is the kind of book I eat up. And I did eat it up in one day. It's a really fun read and if you're a fan of fae and possessive morally grey mmcs and a twist on the marriage of convenience trope, I think you'll have a good time reading it. And it's dual pov which is always a plus in my book. If it were up to me, all romantasy books would be dual pov.

[Nancie Blume · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilah and Roth

This book kicks off a promising series with a juicy royal family drama, complete with a fae prince son who's all, 'Hey, Dad, I'm gonna marry this person I've been betrothed to since childhood, despite your hissy fits.' Cue the epic power struggles, twisted schemes, and angsty personal conflicts that'll keep you turning those pages. This isn't my usual genre but I absolutely loved it! Tasha Creed is an exceptional author and will definitely be checking out other books written by her!

[Alimay · Rating 4 out of 5]

BREAKING UP IS NEVER EASY TO DO

Tasha Creed brings a new world to life with Breaking up With a Fae. A world of deals, deceit, broken hearts and vengeance but also beauty and fated love. There are intricate relationships and a sense of longing with these characters, and while timelines within the story can be a mix of slow teasing and fast paced action, the overall narrative is highly enjoyable. A wonderful book allowing the reader to escape the real world and watch as the female character tries to break a deal with a fae despite the love brewing within.

[Alyssa Feliciano · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay props to an author who kept me guessing!
I thought this was going to be like in ACOTAR where she ends up with the other but wow!

such a great clean fantasy read!

[Janeandjerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking up with a Fae

This is a very interesting story and one that will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more...

[Stephanie Reicen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how this book was a short read. You got all the details from the characters themselves. A different take on the world of the far.

[Megan Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun fae romance

Lilah and Roth are a cute couple. I liked the balance of light and dark, the pull and longing and the potential for it all to go horribly wrong.
I look forward to book 2

[Brooke Adams · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - the idea of the story was intriguing enough for me to try. But at 12% I couldn’t continue, there was hardly any detail of world building. All of a sudden there’s a fae boy and human girl and they make a deal to marry when they are older after just meeting for 5 minutes, he then leaves and it flashes forward 20 years and he just comes to collect her? And what was with all the mini paragraphs? Eh.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story line but poor writing. It felt like a rough draft or a summary of a story.

[Adrianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking Up With a Fae is an enchanting closed-door fantasy romance that perfectly blends childhood promises with fae magic. Tasha Creed has crafted a delightful story that begins with a chance meeting between a ten-year-old human girl and a mysterious boy in the woods, only to blossom into something far more complex twenty years later.

The premise is absolutely charming - a childhood promise that comes back in the most unexpected way. When Lilah discovers that her childhood "friend" is actually a fae prince who intends to collect on their marriage agreement, the story takes off running. The author does an excellent job of building tension between Lilah's very natural skepticism and the undeniable attraction she feels toward the grown-up version of the boy from her memories.

What really makes this story shine is the balance between the fantastical elements and the very real emotions at play. Lilah is a relatable protagonist whose confusion and hesitation feel genuine, especially when faced with such a life-altering situation. The fae prince's character is well-developed, managing to be both otherworldly and endearing, with just the right amount of complexity to keep readers guessing about his true motivations.

The world-building is subtle but effective, giving us glimpses of fae culture without overwhelming the central romance. As a closed-door romance, the focus remains firmly on the emotional connection between the characters, which develops beautifully throughout the story.

Highlights:

- Strong character development and chemistry between the leads
- Beautiful blend of fantasy elements with romance
- Well-paced plot that keeps you engaged
- Perfect balance of sweet and swoony moments
- Satisfying exploration of themes around promises, trust, and growth

This first installment in the Court of Shadows series sets up what promises to be an enchanting series. Whether you're a fan of fantasy romance or just looking for a sweet, magical story, Breaking Up With a Fae delivers a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience that will leave you eager for more. 🧚🏽‍♂️

[Caylee Connelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC: Breaking Up with a Fae
by Tasha Creed
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book had a lot of potential to be a love for me, but I think my biggest hindrance was the MMC. I just didn’t like him 🫣 if you like morally gray, possessive MMCs he’s your guy. I liked his heart to protect her when they were children but felt like his love/attraction for Lilah was purely physical because of the “fated mate bond” and there was not enough intimacy, depth, and softness in regards to her specifically which I was longing for. On the other hand, his cousin 👀 he stole the show for me and I was admittedly rooting for him toward the end, even though we weren’t really supposed to. Apparently he is the star of book 2 of this series and my interest is totally peaked. Can’t wait to read his story.

I very much loved the dual POV, what a fun way to move the plot forward.

Main Tropes:
Unknown bargain with a Fae
Forced Marriage
Morally Gray MMC
Fated Mates
Angst/Tension
Forbidden
Fae x human
Cinderella Vibes

💖🫑 this is a closed door romance, the dialogue and interactions are PG, maybe PG-13 specifically with Roth’s desire for Lilah.

Thank you so much Tasha for the ARC of this book. This was my very first ARC read and I did enjoy the experience! What an honor to be able to read and review it. All opinions are my own.

[Annie May · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a sure to be great series. I could not put this down. Prepare for Intense rivalries and age old rules between a King and His son the Fae Prince (soon to be king) who battle over the ruling of the kingdom and the Prince determined to honor a childhood arranged marriage agreement made between him and a human girl which is extremely forbidden. Refusing to honor his father's wish of his marriage to another.The plots thicken and tempers flare The twists, schemes and power play is Intense and personal . I highly recommend this book. I loved it.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has everything you're looking for!

Fated Mates
Forced proximity
He falls first
Fae dealings
Shadow Daddy
Forbidden Love

I couldn't keep my jaw off of the floor with all the twists and surprises! Especially when you get to the last third of the book - pay attention! Or you'll miss some very important details. I had so many what?!? moments. Did that really happen? Reread and yep that really happened.

This is one of the best books I've read. I'd gladly read it again.

[Alex Winsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Tasha Creed for letting me read this ARC!

I enjoyed this book immensely. It’s not the kind of trope I usually go for with Callum and Roth but I loved how it was written! I wish the FMC grew a bit more in the book but I feel like she plays a vital role in book 2. Overall I can’t wait to see how the rest of this series turns out! I finished this book in a day because I could not put it down!!

[Rose Dinsmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lilah and Roth are a great couple, balancing each other out in a lot of ways. I liked their romance and how it led us into a bigger story that was filled with political intrigue and generational secrets. Going into book two, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Callum overall, but I was interested to learn more about him.

4 1/2 💜’s.

Closer to 4 than 5.

[Debbie Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my gosh!!

Oh I loved this story!!! It was so hard to put down. I think I read it in a day. Wow. I loved Lilah right away. I was so worried about Roth. I haven’t read a lot of fae stories. I’m go glad I got this one. My heart goes out to Callum too. So, on to book 2.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong start

This started as a hard to put down book. It slowed down when the real drama started. It felt dragged a little, but not enough to quit. I definitely can’t wait for Callum. Starting that right away.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Fantasy book

Such a great book! Such a great Fantasy storyline , great characters. It has all of the fantasy, adventure, sweet romance just enough spice to it, heartwarming. Can’t wait to read the next book.

[Merides · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd at 6%.
The writing is absolutely childish. Editors? What are those?

[Brooke Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

not going to lie I could not finish the book it was to boring for me,

[Samina · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

DNF at 20% I just couldn't do it anymore. Premise is good, but the writing is pretty horrible and needs a serious edit.