The Pale Court Duet

The Pale Court Duet #1-2

by Liv Zander, Auri Alden (Narrator), Gregory Salinas (Narrator)

This 2-in-1 box set collects both installments in Liv Zander's Pale Court King of Flesh and Bone and Queen of Rot and Pain. This duology is a dark-fantasy romance featuring a ruthless man, a woman who can't escape his love, and a Happily Ever After.

This world contains dark themes, violence, loss, and elements of horror some may find disturbing. What this book doesn't contain is a hero—because villains do it better.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Dark

Audible Audio

Published March 12, 2024

Reviews

[mangotango · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pale Court Duet by Liv Zander

Original DNF at page 76 (29%) about 2.5 years ago. I wanted to see if I could figure out why I stopped reading.

I think I was just a little bored because it felt more like erotica and I wanted more story. I decided to keep reading and listening. I thought it might be like book 1 of the Married to Magic series which I also DNF’d a few years ago but later found got much better.

I did regret my decision to try this book again a few times while listening to the audiobook and I can definitely see why it has negative reviews. However I am glad I finished it because overall it was an interesting story and I did enjoy it.

Ada ended up growing on me despite all the frustrating BBS she suffered in the first book. She really improved in the second one. She went through so much and I was pleased with her development toward the end. This is why I struggle with books where the heroine is human and the hero is supernatural or godlike especially when he is an AH. It often ends up with him either saving her constantly or treating her horribly.

As for the hero I already forgot his name. He was a prick. He does improve but honestly he mostly sucked and I do not forgive him. The last half of the second book was full of remorse but his actions went too far and made him irredeemable in my eyes. So I do not care.

Overall it was an interesting story that was fast paced and enjoyable. I am unlikely to read it again but I want to be fair since it was a fun experience but the "hero" was terrible.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 Stars

[TenshiMari · Rating 1 out of 5]

You ever read a book that's so painfully mediocre and boring you can't even really form any strong feelings or opinion about it? That's me with these books. I'm just.. indifferent. There were some interesting tidbits here and there, I liked how the love interest was not a morally grey hero with a golden heart, but someone rotten to the core. There were some interesting moments in the plot, but they happened so sporadically, every time your interest was piqued for a second they went back to fucking and you were bored again. There was just so little actually happening it was like 90% filler, 10% plot. If you like copious amount of smut with a villain as a love interest, you might like this more than I did.

[Shae Niehus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I gave both books 3 stars each. It was an interesting enough premise to keep me listening, and I enjoyed the book for the most part. There was one particular theme throughout the book that gave me the ick the whole time, but I just tried to ignore it.

[Stacey Levin-Esar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely like the spice, and I definitely do not like the raping. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Gregory Salinas’ voice is perfect for doing your kegels, acceleration of your heartbeats, quickening of your breath, and shivers down your spine.

[sarah weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very different from what I am used to reading. I found it to be a very dark rendition of Beauty and the Beast... but jam packed with gas lighting and abuse.

[Madison Tuggle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yep, definitely the weirdest book I’ve ever read

[Amy Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

all a bit too much for me, too much fantasy, too unrealistic, too rough, 'love' story too unbelievable, just all too much.