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Flame and Thorns #3
Court of Lies and Deceit
A desperate mission takes Selena and her friends to the Unseelie Court. But making deals with the cunning fae of that realm is dangerous. When the Unseelie King forces them into a bargain in exchange for the help they so sorely need, they are pulled into a lethal scheme. To survive it, they must beat the Unseelie King at his own game.
However, their chances of making it out alive are slim when the deck is stacked against them and their own strained relationships are causing turmoil within the group. Winning would mean that they are one step closer to taking down the Iceheart Dynasty. But if they lose, it could mean the end of life as they know it.
Secret agendas, hidden truths, and complicated feelings push Selena and her friends to the breaking point. Can they survive this dangerous scheme, or will their ambition cost them everything?
However, their chances of making it out alive are slim when the deck is stacked against them and their own strained relationships are causing turmoil within the group. Winning would mean that they are one step closer to taking down the Iceheart Dynasty. But if they lose, it could mean the end of life as they know it.
Secret agendas, hidden truths, and complicated feelings push Selena and her friends to the breaking point. Can they survive this dangerous scheme, or will their ambition cost them everything?
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2025
7411 people are currently reading
29163 people want to read
About the author
Marion Blackwood
29 books2,344 followersMarion Blackwood is the author of The Oncoming Storm series, the Court of Elves series, the Ruthless Villains series, the Ruthless Enemy trilogy, and the Flame and Thorns series. She has a Master's Degree in English and History Education, and she worked as a high school teacher before becoming a full-time author. When she's not busy writing fantasy books or traveling the world, she reads, binges shows, and loses at video games. Marion has previously lived in the US and China, but now she once again calls the beautiful country of Sweden home. To find out more, visit: www.marionblackwood.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,603 reviews
August 12, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up because I love this series, and this one feels like it’s setting the stage for an absolutely epic book 4. It was slow to start, but THE ENDING??? Draven continues to be the moment. This series is just such a good time from start to finish.
July 4, 2025
THIS FUCKING ENDING??? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?
how am i supposed to live until october? 😭
how am i supposed to live until october? 😭
June 27, 2025
how am I supposed to survive these 4 long months?
March 20, 2026
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ✦ . ⁺ . 1.25 ☆ . ⁺ . ✦
ㅤ ㅤ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗
ㅤ Mini-rant because I just can't
ㅤ At this point only God's will and my own self-induced masochism are probably the only things that keep me reading this series. But, I admit, up until now, it was bad enough to still be entertaining in a twisted way. Until this book; this book simply made me mad. I cannot, for the love of God, understand WHY IS THIS SERIES EVEN SO LONG WHEN ALL IT DOES IS REPEAT PLOTS AT THIS POINT???
ㅤ ㅤ “I’m supposed to be a good person.”and this was supposed to be a good book
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ You know what you can do in a 5-book series, where the first book focuses on trials? Yes, you can simply go back and write a third book for the said series that ONCE AGAIN FOCUSES ON TRIALS. Are we being serious right now? So after an entire first book built,supposedly, around trials, we are now doing… more trials? Again? Why are we going in circles here, love????
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ There is, however, one genuinely positive aspect: there is finally far less smut. Is it not almost comical? When they were not even a proper thing, we were served an impressive collection of… what, ten different scenes? And now, when the relationship is actually developing (i guess?..) and becoming serious, suddenly, restraint. I cannot deny, I did laugh a little.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I refuse to accept that out of the six people that are part of this group right now, none has even an ounce of brain in their head. I had absolutely no expectations from the FMC; I already had 2 books to convince myself of how dim-witted she is; but seriously? The others are just as bad?....
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I could not, for even a single moment, understand how everyone so readily accepted what Isera did. Watching them respond with “well, she suffered, so we should be understanding 🥺” was genuinely infuriating. This girl betrayed everyone in sight, and the collective response is… forgiveness? Immediate empathy? Absolutely not. Not on my watch. This alone dragged the rating down for me from the general 2-star rating every book in this series received so far. I was far too irritated to overlook it.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ At least the ending hints at some potential angst. But given that these characters often display the emotional depth of a four-year-old, I remain... unconvinced it will lead anywhere meaningful.
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ⊹ Selena — There is still absolutely no progress in what concerns her. Yes, she starts to better understand her magic, but that is pretty much the single thing that changes for her.
ㅤ ⊹ Draven — You had the potential to be great, yet you were forced to be utterly forgettable...I mourn you daily....
ㅤ ⊹ Orion — Now this...THIS is, at last, an actually intriguing addition — one that manages to spark a faint sense of curiosity for what is to come.
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ The answer is still the same: no. But who would I be to judge you if you look for something very easy to read and amusingly entertaining with its lack of common sense?....
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ᯓ ✿ pre-reading ⪼ ㅤ started ┆15-March-2026┆
ㅤ ㅤ ⤿ no thoughts; just here to see how much more this man can growl and smirk
ㅤ ㅤ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗
ㅤ Mini-rant because I just can't
ㅤ At this point only God's will and my own self-induced masochism are probably the only things that keep me reading this series. But, I admit, up until now, it was bad enough to still be entertaining in a twisted way. Until this book; this book simply made me mad. I cannot, for the love of God, understand WHY IS THIS SERIES EVEN SO LONG WHEN ALL IT DOES IS REPEAT PLOTS AT THIS POINT???
ㅤ ㅤ “I’m supposed to be a good person.”
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ You know what you can do in a 5-book series, where the first book focuses on trials? Yes, you can simply go back and write a third book for the said series that ONCE AGAIN FOCUSES ON TRIALS. Are we being serious right now? So after an entire first book built,
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ There is, however, one genuinely positive aspect: there is finally far less smut. Is it not almost comical? When they were not even a proper thing, we were served an impressive collection of… what, ten different scenes? And now, when the relationship is actually developing (i guess?..) and becoming serious, suddenly, restraint. I cannot deny, I did laugh a little.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I refuse to accept that out of the six people that are part of this group right now, none has even an ounce of brain in their head. I had absolutely no expectations from the FMC; I already had 2 books to convince myself of how dim-witted she is; but seriously? The others are just as bad?....
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I could not, for even a single moment, understand how everyone so readily accepted what Isera did. Watching them respond with “well, she suffered, so we should be understanding 🥺” was genuinely infuriating. This girl betrayed everyone in sight, and the collective response is… forgiveness? Immediate empathy? Absolutely not. Not on my watch. This alone dragged the rating down for me from the general 2-star rating every book in this series received so far. I was far too irritated to overlook it.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ At least the ending hints at some potential angst. But given that these characters often display the emotional depth of a four-year-old, I remain... unconvinced it will lead anywhere meaningful.
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ⊹ Selena — There is still absolutely no progress in what concerns her. Yes, she starts to better understand her magic, but that is pretty much the single thing that changes for her.
ㅤ ⊹ Draven — You had the potential to be great, yet you were forced to be utterly forgettable...I mourn you daily....
ㅤ ⊹ Orion — Now this...THIS is, at last, an actually intriguing addition — one that manages to spark a faint sense of curiosity for what is to come.
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ The answer is still the same: no. But who would I be to judge you if you look for something very easy to read and amusingly entertaining with its lack of common sense?....
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ᯓ ✿ pre-reading ⪼ ㅤ started ┆15-March-2026┆
ㅤ ㅤ ⤿ no thoughts; just here to see how much more this man can growl and smirk
January 3, 2026
5 🌟
Idcidc this series has me in a chokehold, I am having so much fun reading this! 🐉🖤
New characters unlocked ✔️
Draven being Draven ✔️
Plot was plotting ✔️
CIFFHANGER?!! ✔️✔️✔️
It was like the avengers assembled in this and I was living for it 👏🏼
I actually love Isera and I’m very interested to see if anything happens between her and Orion?? 👀
So freaking entertaining, the deals and games being played add so many twists and turns. Selena’s character development was something I really enjoyed seeing as well 🙂↕️
·˖✶𓆩 𓆪✶˖· “𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙄 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪?”
And I kinda liked Jocasta? Idk but when she inflicted lust on Selena and Draven I was dying laughing 🤣
⁺‧₊˚ ཐི “𝖡𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖨 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗐𝖺𝗒. 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽, 𝗇𝗈 𝗎𝗇𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖾, 𝗇𝗈 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖨 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇’𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎. 𝖨 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌. 𝖢𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗌𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎.” ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺
Safe to say with that ending, I’m already opening the next book 👌🏼📖
(Decided to wait until book 5 is almost out in Feb to read book 4 🥰)
Idcidc this series has me in a chokehold, I am having so much fun reading this! 🐉🖤
New characters unlocked ✔️
Draven being Draven ✔️
Plot was plotting ✔️
CIFFHANGER?!! ✔️✔️✔️
It was like the avengers assembled in this and I was living for it 👏🏼
I actually love Isera and I’m very interested to see if anything happens between her and Orion?? 👀
So freaking entertaining, the deals and games being played add so many twists and turns. Selena’s character development was something I really enjoyed seeing as well 🙂↕️
·˖✶𓆩 𓆪✶˖· “𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙄 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪?”
And I kinda liked Jocasta? Idk but when she inflicted lust on Selena and Draven I was dying laughing 🤣
⁺‧₊˚ ཐི “𝖡𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖨 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗐𝖺𝗒. 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽, 𝗇𝗈 𝗎𝗇𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖾, 𝗇𝗈 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖨 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇’𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎. 𝖨 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌. 𝖢𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗌𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎.” ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺
Safe to say with that ending, I’m already opening the next book 👌🏼📖
(Decided to wait until book 5 is almost out in Feb to read book 4 🥰)
March 10, 2026
“You’d be surprised how easy it is to rewrite history. If enough people repeat the same thing, spreading it far and wide and for long enough, it eventually becomes fact. Regardless of how blatant the lie was when it began.”
I’m very conflicted with this book. On one hand, I enjoyed reading it and finished it in one sitting. On the other, I had so many issues with it.
For one, the pacing is way too fast, making the book feel messy and chaotic. This made it very binge-able, but also made it very anticlimactic and disappointing when every issue was created and solved in an instant. Too much content was shoved into this book in too little time. The writing is less than mediocre, but in a way that’s why I was able to binge it so fast.
The one thing that really saved it was how much I love the characters—all except Selena. At first I hated Draven, but I’ll admit, he’s really grown on me. The side characters who I once hated are now my favorite characters in the book.
The romance is cliché and cringe most of the time, so all that’s really keeping me here is the plot. Regardless, this series is very easy to read, I’ll give it that.
I’m very conflicted with this book. On one hand, I enjoyed reading it and finished it in one sitting. On the other, I had so many issues with it.
For one, the pacing is way too fast, making the book feel messy and chaotic. This made it very binge-able, but also made it very anticlimactic and disappointing when every issue was created and solved in an instant. Too much content was shoved into this book in too little time. The writing is less than mediocre, but in a way that’s why I was able to binge it so fast.
The one thing that really saved it was how much I love the characters—all except Selena. At first I hated Draven, but I’ll admit, he’s really grown on me. The side characters who I once hated are now my favorite characters in the book.
The romance is cliché and cringe most of the time, so all that’s really keeping me here is the plot. Regardless, this series is very easy to read, I’ll give it that.
August 8, 2025
WHAT WAS THAT ENDING MISS MA'AM??? Blackwood really said "I'm going to make both my characters and my readers suffer mhm".
That was so unnecessary!!! We could've had a nice mini cliffhanger ending with but instead we got this. AAAA.
Speaking of, Selena why are you so . And I don't believe for a second that they couldn't have .
On a lighter note, in the first book we had the trials, so I didn't think we'd get something similar in the rest of the series, but lo and behold...here we have fairy games instead.
I wouldn't say it felt repetitive though, but I am mad they had to go through that final game because of everything that happened.
There was some relationship development for the side couples, and we got to learn more about emotion magic, while Selena got better at using hers. The writing improved also, and I enjoyed this one as much as the other two. But did it kinda feel like a filler book? Yeah. Still excited for the fourth one, but unfortunately I can't read it back to back with the rest of these because it's not out yet...
That was so unnecessary!!! We could've had a nice mini cliffhanger ending with but instead we got this. AAAA.
Speaking of, Selena why are you so . And I don't believe for a second that they couldn't have .
On a lighter note, in the first book we had the trials, so I didn't think we'd get something similar in the rest of the series, but lo and behold...here we have fairy games instead.
I wouldn't say it felt repetitive though, but I am mad they had to go through that final game because of everything that happened.
There was some relationship development for the side couples, and we got to learn more about emotion magic, while Selena got better at using hers. The writing improved also, and I enjoyed this one as much as the other two. But did it kinda feel like a filler book? Yeah. Still excited for the fourth one, but unfortunately I can't read it back to back with the rest of these because it's not out yet...
August 30, 2025
The ending broke me heart. That was horrible. I urge everyone to wait to read the third book until the fourth is out. Please I wish someone saved me from this. I’m doing you a favor
January 17, 2026
Boringly repetitive, but I really liked the last chapter.
(SPOILERS)
3 trials in 3 books are too many, also it’s not realistic that they always manage to win. I loved Jocasta, but where was she during the last trial? I don’t like Orion and Isera as a couple. Also, “little rebel” was already cringe, was it necessary to make him call her “little viper”?
The ending tho was so good, I’m super ready for Selena’s villain era!! I’ve also read the bonus chapter (you can find it for free on the author’s website) and it was interesting, useful to understand how Selena’s magic works and how also her parents probably feel about her
(SPOILERS)
3 trials in 3 books are too many, also it’s not realistic that they always manage to win. I loved Jocasta, but where was she during the last trial? I don’t like Orion and Isera as a couple. Also, “little rebel” was already cringe, was it necessary to make him call her “little viper”?
The ending tho was so good, I’m super ready for Selena’s villain era!! I’ve also read the bonus chapter (you can find it for free on the author’s website) and it was interesting, useful to understand how Selena’s magic works and how also her parents probably feel about her
June 24, 2025
The book was not bad but comparing to other two this felt like a filler to me ......just the last chapter where she breaks the mate bond from draven's side with the anger take us back to the story where we started it with....but this whole great games and then extended games just for orion to join them was not even worth it tbh....and in the end they are still waiting for the help from dyrads...so then what was the point here...but again the only thing I liked here was the character development...especially selena's development as a character...even though she's still a people pleaser but she is more stronger now.....other than that I think we should have got some parts back in seelie court about what was going on while the group was here....ummm not disappointed I like the dynamics of the group but still....somewhere I expected more ig😬😬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2026
The book was good. The ending was EPIC. Isera and Jocasta are the stars of this one. Yes Draven is still top 5 MMCs but Selena...not sure on my feelings about her character arch. Let's see where book 4 goes.
Oh and look out for the cliff again 😉
4🌟
3🌶
Fated Mates / Forced Proximity / Political Intrigue / Trials / Touch her and ☠️
Oh and look out for the cliff again 😉
4🌟
3🌶
Fated Mates / Forced Proximity / Political Intrigue / Trials / Touch her and ☠️
September 16, 2025
Žinojau, kad pabaigoj bus blogai. Buvo.😭😭😭
Selenos augimas per 3 knygas puikus, šiol daly ji parodė daug ryškėjančios asmenybės, kuri buvo daug metų užspausta noro visiems įtikt. Ir ji man labai patiko.
Gal ir nėra super profesonaliai parašyta knyga su puikiu worldbuilding’u ir detalėm, bet visko tikrai užteko. + dalis buvo kinda filleris, bet reikalingas. Ir išdavysčių ir plotwistų ir besiformuojančio inner circle / found family. Kiekvienas side veikėjas įdomus ir iškankintas savaip, dėl ko gali tapatintis.
Man taip sužaidė emociškai, kad gale ir pyktis ir liūdesys aplankė ir … this is how villains are made.
Kai randi prasmę gyventi, svajoti, bet viską prarandi, kad pasiektum pergalę. Ar buvo verta?
Išsiaiškinsim su 4 knyga, kuri laukia spalio gale 😭😭
O kur dar bonus😭….
Selenos augimas per 3 knygas puikus, šiol daly ji parodė daug ryškėjančios asmenybės, kuri buvo daug metų užspausta noro visiems įtikt. Ir ji man labai patiko.
Gal ir nėra super profesonaliai parašyta knyga su puikiu worldbuilding’u ir detalėm, bet visko tikrai užteko. + dalis buvo kinda filleris, bet reikalingas. Ir išdavysčių ir plotwistų ir besiformuojančio inner circle / found family. Kiekvienas side veikėjas įdomus ir iškankintas savaip, dėl ko gali tapatintis.
Man taip sužaidė emociškai, kad gale ir pyktis ir liūdesys aplankė ir … this is how villains are made.
Kai randi prasmę gyventi, svajoti, bet viską prarandi, kad pasiektum pergalę. Ar buvo verta?
Išsiaiškinsim su 4 knyga, kuri laukia spalio gale 😭😭
O kur dar bonus😭….
November 21, 2025
Knygos viduryje būtų buvusios 4 ⭐️ Nu bet pabaiga…. Ta prasme 💥🧨🤯 Tai pakilo iki 4.5 ⭐️
“Only a villain can take down another villain.” ⚔️
“Only a villain can take down another villain.” ⚔️
June 24, 2025
okay. So. Draven will always have my heart but this book actually enraged me so much. Like that was not necessary. First with the Isera incident and then with the ending. Like I just need the instructor to teach her how to undo it so that I don’t have to deal with the whole getting back together shit. I was really excited for this book, and I did like it, but I thought it was going to take a different path instead of more trials and games. I don’t know, I guess a lot of things just got me mad about this book. It was alright. 3/5 I will still be reading the next one for my sanity’s sake.
December 17, 2025
На данний момент це моя найулюбленіша частина циклу, яка отримала від мене заслужені 4 зірочки. Мені сподобалось як було прописано Двір Неблагих, і показано наскільки вони відрізняються (і при цьому багато в чому схожі) на Айсхартів. Король Оріон однозначно став причиною чому ця книжка стала цікавішою за попередню. Кліффенгер хоча і неоригінальний, але гарно прописаний.
Вдвічі цікаво було прочитати додатковий епілог з перспекиви Дрейвена.
Вдвічі цікаво було прочитати додатковий епілог з перспекиви Дрейвена.
March 17, 2026
My Rating: 3 and a half stars
Soooo due to how this book ended, I kinda sorta disliked it as a whole? Bear with me for a second. This book started out with my ALL TIME FAVORITE book trope: hurt/comfort. I really, really, really wished the author had not resolved that one as quickly as she did, but that's a personal qualm. I can move on from that one, no problem.
My actual issue starts as soon as the main plot kicks off. Things are difficult but a tad bit too convenient in terms of everyone making it through and accomplishing their goals. Sure, there's a betrayal of sorts, but everyone gets over it really fast, which was a choice. The straw that broke the camel's back, you ask? It just sucks. I'll give the next book a few hours, and if that dreaded plotline doesn't have a resolution on the horizon fast enough for my liking, I'll probably DNF. It's unfortunate, but I have hope that the author can turn it around fast enough so my ick doesn't enter the equation. Fingers crossed!
Soooo due to how this book ended, I kinda sorta disliked it as a whole? Bear with me for a second. This book started out with my ALL TIME FAVORITE book trope: hurt/comfort. I really, really, really wished the author had not resolved that one as quickly as she did, but that's a personal qualm. I can move on from that one, no problem.
My actual issue starts as soon as the main plot kicks off. Things are difficult but a tad bit too convenient in terms of everyone making it through and accomplishing their goals. Sure, there's a betrayal of sorts, but everyone gets over it really fast, which was a choice. The straw that broke the camel's back, you ask? It just sucks. I'll give the next book a few hours, and if that dreaded plotline doesn't have a resolution on the horizon fast enough for my liking, I'll probably DNF. It's unfortunate, but I have hope that the author can turn it around fast enough so my ick doesn't enter the equation. Fingers crossed!
April 9, 2026
This was a soup of fourth wing, maze runner, the hunger games and divergent. Tbh it started getting dull in the middle but really picked up in the last 20%. Whole thing was around spectator games. Take that as you will.
April 9, 2026
I'm so glad I read this! I almost didn't since book 2 was fine but not to the level of book one for me. This one felt like it was going back to it's roots and had a very similar feel to the first while not being copy and paste. We got a couple of new characters I really enjoyed, and the plot never slowed down. I can see people being big mad about how it ended but....I liked it. It felt like there were consequences and I'm excited to see how things play out.
September 16, 2025
YALL THIS BOOK! honestly i wasnt expecting games and trials again but I LOVED FOR IT! and the ENDING!!! i was alone at the pool while reading the end of this and ACUTALLY GASPED out loud! Such a good book, I cant wait for the last!!
March 6, 2026
3.5 🌟 this definitely felt kind of like a filler book, but I’m still so invested in the plot/characters and am having such a great time with this series! Having another round of trials felt repetitive so this is my least favorite in the series so far. But still addicting, bingeable, and fun
January 5, 2026
4.25 stars
April 26, 2026
Court of Lies and Deceit was such an entertaining read.
Draven, of course, continues to be the perfect specimen of man—no surprises there. But what I really loved in this book was seeing Selena’s growth. She is finally starting to understand the extent of her powers and it’s nice to finally see her come into her own.
We’re also introduced to some new characters in the Unseelie court. We meet Orion, the Unseelie king and Jocasta. Jocasta, in particular, was… something else. I won’t spoil anything but what she uses her magic to make Selena and Draven do had me cringing and laughing at the same time—I seriously could not stop.
And, true to form, the book ends on a diabolical cliffhanger that will absolutely have you reaching for book four immediately.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date (Trad): August 18, 2026
Tropes ✨:
Dragon Shifters x Fae
Fated mates
Touch her and 💀
Political intrigue
Deadly games
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Draven, of course, continues to be the perfect specimen of man—no surprises there. But what I really loved in this book was seeing Selena’s growth. She is finally starting to understand the extent of her powers and it’s nice to finally see her come into her own.
We’re also introduced to some new characters in the Unseelie court. We meet Orion, the Unseelie king and Jocasta. Jocasta, in particular, was… something else. I won’t spoil anything but what she uses her magic to make Selena and Draven do had me cringing and laughing at the same time—I seriously could not stop.
And, true to form, the book ends on a diabolical cliffhanger that will absolutely have you reaching for book four immediately.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date (Trad): August 18, 2026
Tropes ✨:
Dragon Shifters x Fae
Fated mates
Touch her and 💀
Political intrigue
Deadly games
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
January 27, 2026
I enjoyed the book so much the second time round! probably because I inhaled all 3 in three days when I first read them last year 😂
I started with the audio, which I HIGHLY recommend, then I kept switching to my paperback, I couldn't get enough.
Of course Marion got picked up!! she is incredibly talented and ai can't wait for the last 2 books!
I started with the audio, which I HIGHLY recommend, then I kept switching to my paperback, I couldn't get enough.
Of course Marion got picked up!! she is incredibly talented and ai can't wait for the last 2 books!
April 14, 2026
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 stars) rounded up to 4 stars!
Court of Lies and Deceit by Marion Blackwood
This one sits in that frustrating-but-addictive middle ground for me.
Blackwood absolutely knows how to raise the stakes—throwing Selena and the crew into the Unseelie Court, deadly bargains, and brutal Games where survival is never guaranteed. The atmosphere? Dark, tense, and dripping with political manipulation and emotional damage. I was hooked on the premise alone.
The biggest standout continues to be the emotion magic. It’s such a cool, morally messy concept—especially once you realize those emotions are permanent and come with real consequences. That added a layer of psychological weight that kept me invested.
I also really appreciated what Blackwood did with Isera and the Unseelie King. Isera adds this sharp, unpredictable energy to the court—she’s not just a side player, she moves pieces. There’s an underlying tension to her character where you’re never quite sure whose side she’s on, which made every scene with her feel charged.
And the Unseelie King? Easily one of the more compelling presences in the book. He brings that cold, calculated, almost inhuman authority that makes the entire court feel dangerous. Every interaction with him carries weight—like one wrong move could end everything. I just wish we got slightly more depth or page time with him, because what was there was incredibly intriguing.
But… this is where my rating lands in the middle.
The pacing felt uneven—some sections flew (especially the Games and twists), while others dragged or circled the same emotional beats a little too long. There’s a lot happening—alliances, betrayals, magic lore, relationship tension—and at times it felt like the story was juggling more than it could fully develop.
Selena and Draven still have that push-pull tension that works, but it’s not doing anything wildly new at this point. I liked them, I cared about them—but I wasn’t wrecked by them the way I wanted to be.
That said, the side characters and court dynamics added depth across the board. Orion as a villain remains a standout—manipulative, theatrical, and always five steps ahead. And the twists kept coming, even if not all of them hit as hard as intended.
Overall:
This is a solid continuation with strong ideas, high stakes, and a dark, immersive vibe—but it could have benefited from tighter pacing and a bit more refinement in execution.
Read if you like:
Dark fae courts & deadly games
Morally grey magic systems
Enemies-to-lovers tension (with angst)
Political intrigue with dangerous power players
Final thought:
I was entertained, intrigued, and occasionally frustrated—but still invested enough to keep going in the series. Give me book 4 ASAP!
Court of Lies and Deceit by Marion Blackwood
This one sits in that frustrating-but-addictive middle ground for me.
Blackwood absolutely knows how to raise the stakes—throwing Selena and the crew into the Unseelie Court, deadly bargains, and brutal Games where survival is never guaranteed. The atmosphere? Dark, tense, and dripping with political manipulation and emotional damage. I was hooked on the premise alone.
The biggest standout continues to be the emotion magic. It’s such a cool, morally messy concept—especially once you realize those emotions are permanent and come with real consequences. That added a layer of psychological weight that kept me invested.
I also really appreciated what Blackwood did with Isera and the Unseelie King. Isera adds this sharp, unpredictable energy to the court—she’s not just a side player, she moves pieces. There’s an underlying tension to her character where you’re never quite sure whose side she’s on, which made every scene with her feel charged.
And the Unseelie King? Easily one of the more compelling presences in the book. He brings that cold, calculated, almost inhuman authority that makes the entire court feel dangerous. Every interaction with him carries weight—like one wrong move could end everything. I just wish we got slightly more depth or page time with him, because what was there was incredibly intriguing.
But… this is where my rating lands in the middle.
The pacing felt uneven—some sections flew (especially the Games and twists), while others dragged or circled the same emotional beats a little too long. There’s a lot happening—alliances, betrayals, magic lore, relationship tension—and at times it felt like the story was juggling more than it could fully develop.
Selena and Draven still have that push-pull tension that works, but it’s not doing anything wildly new at this point. I liked them, I cared about them—but I wasn’t wrecked by them the way I wanted to be.
That said, the side characters and court dynamics added depth across the board. Orion as a villain remains a standout—manipulative, theatrical, and always five steps ahead. And the twists kept coming, even if not all of them hit as hard as intended.
Overall:
This is a solid continuation with strong ideas, high stakes, and a dark, immersive vibe—but it could have benefited from tighter pacing and a bit more refinement in execution.
Read if you like:
Dark fae courts & deadly games
Morally grey magic systems
Enemies-to-lovers tension (with angst)
Political intrigue with dangerous power players
Final thought:
I was entertained, intrigued, and occasionally frustrated—but still invested enough to keep going in the series. Give me book 4 ASAP!
March 16, 2026
i tried i really tried to like this but the more books i read the more i can’t stand selena…
(SPOILER)
im SORRY but its soo predictable and repetitive… wdym another trial?! 3 trials in three books is just so unrealistic- especially since they win each one. and the nicknames? i dunno i guess it’s not just for
me…
(and yes i did read the whole book in one day cuz i didn’t have anything else downloaded on my kindle but if anyone read the rest… does it get better?)
(SPOILER)
im SORRY but its soo predictable and repetitive… wdym another trial?! 3 trials in three books is just so unrealistic- especially since they win each one. and the nicknames? i dunno i guess it’s not just for
me…
(and yes i did read the whole book in one day cuz i didn’t have anything else downloaded on my kindle but if anyone read the rest… does it get better?)
June 25, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️ banger of a book but this ending got me FUCKED up because what was that!!!!!!
January 3, 2026
Can confirm the ending still hurts as a re-read…I’m glad I did a whole read through of this series again so I can finally read book 4, but I forgot how terrible that cliffhanger really was.
March 31, 2026
**ℜ𝔈𝔙ℑ𝔈𝔚** ℭ𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔏𝔦𝔢𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔇𝔢𝔠𝔢𝔦𝔱 𝔟𝔶 𝔐𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔨𝔴𝔬𝔬𝔡 (𝔉𝔩𝔞𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔗𝔥𝔬𝔯𝔫𝔰 #3)
Release Date: June 23, 2025
4⭐️4🌶
The third book in this series continues to be just as action packed. With Selena being mortally wounded at the end of the last book, Draven must plead and beg with whoever he can to get her the care that she needs to leave. But in doing so, he lands their little cadre in a similar boiling pot of water they were in last time.
Minor Spoilers Ahead:
They are now held captive in the Unseelie Court by the Unseelie King in exchange for his healer's services to save Selena's life. He first makes them a deal that seems too good to be true in exchange for their safe passage out of the Unseelie court, but upon completing the task, he immediately sets them another task.
This other task is competing in the Unseelie's Court yearly "Games" where their most powerful Fae complete in teams to earn everyone's favor for money and prestige.
Will Selena and Draven's group be able to get out of this court? Or will they have to kill a whole bunch of people in order to get out?
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Enemies to Lovers
🍁Dragon Riders
🍁Physical Trials
🍁Emotional Manipulation Magic
🍁Shifters and Fae world
🍁Ruling class and slaves
🍁One bed trope
TW:
✨Disownment by parents
✨Violence
✨Violence with magic
✨Dismemberment
✨Sexual content
Release Date: June 23, 2025
4⭐️4🌶
The third book in this series continues to be just as action packed. With Selena being mortally wounded at the end of the last book, Draven must plead and beg with whoever he can to get her the care that she needs to leave. But in doing so, he lands their little cadre in a similar boiling pot of water they were in last time.
Minor Spoilers Ahead:
They are now held captive in the Unseelie Court by the Unseelie King in exchange for his healer's services to save Selena's life. He first makes them a deal that seems too good to be true in exchange for their safe passage out of the Unseelie court, but upon completing the task, he immediately sets them another task.
This other task is competing in the Unseelie's Court yearly "Games" where their most powerful Fae complete in teams to earn everyone's favor for money and prestige.
Will Selena and Draven's group be able to get out of this court? Or will they have to kill a whole bunch of people in order to get out?
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Enemies to Lovers
🍁Dragon Riders
🍁Physical Trials
🍁Emotional Manipulation Magic
🍁Shifters and Fae world
🍁Ruling class and slaves
🍁One bed trope
TW:
✨Disownment by parents
✨Violence
✨Violence with magic
✨Dismemberment
✨Sexual content
July 22, 2025
Rtc when I’m more mentally and emotionally stable.✌️☺️
December 14, 2025
What a bummer, I suddenly find myself completely bored and not interested in continuing the series. Not ideal when you have invested so much time in this, book three of a saga.
When you begin a Romantasy saga, you want the momentum to continue once the two main characters have finally fallen in love/lust. This book has my most hated troupe where they are 'fated mates', yet one of the couple hates the concept of 'fated mates'. Nonsense, how does that even make sense... it's nonsense.
This started the decline for me... I've persisted for the characters (whom I really enjoy) sadly, the momentum has slowed beyond repair.
When you begin a Romantasy saga, you want the momentum to continue once the two main characters have finally fallen in love/lust. This book has my most hated troupe where they are 'fated mates', yet one of the couple hates the concept of 'fated mates'. Nonsense, how does that even make sense... it's nonsense.
This started the decline for me... I've persisted for the characters (whom I really enjoy) sadly, the momentum has slowed beyond repair.
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