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: Dark, Fantasy, Audiobook

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

[Clémence CJPM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Français ⬇️
I eagerly listened to this duology on Audible and thoroughly enjoyed it! With @authorlivzander , it's impossible to escape the dark atmosphere of despair and ruin she creates. Even scenes where joy and laughter should prevail are shrouded in a veil of gray shadows and such a violent mood that they're almost palpable. You feel all the characters' emotions, from sadness to pride, lust, jealousy… Without being explicitly mentioned, the seven deadly sins are presented in these two books, from both the human and divine perspectives.
This isn't a "happy ending" story. No, it's about lust, revenge, what they believe they deserve and what they go after. And that's what we're all here for.
The downside of this dual narration is that, with a large portion of the book told from the heroine's point of view, you get used to the female narrator embodying the hero, only to then find yourself with a chapter from the hero's perspective, read by a male narrator, including the heroine.
There are numerous trigger warnings for these 2 books; I therefore strongly encourage you to consult the complete list on the author's website.
I give it 5 stars without hesitation!

J'ai écouté avidement cette duologie sur Audible et je lai appréciée énormément ! Avec Liv Zander, impossible d'échapper à l'atmosphère sombre de désespoir et de ruine qu'elle crée. Même certains tableaux où la joie et les rires devraient prévaloir sont enveloppées d'un voile d'ombres grises et d'humeur si violente qu'elles en sont palpables. On ressent toutes les humeurs des personnages, autant la tristesse que l'orgueil, le luxe, la jalousie… Sans être cité, les sept pêchés capitaux sont présentés dans ces deux livres, du côté humain comme du côté des dieux.

Cette histoire n'est pas une histoire « heureuse et où tout finit bien pour le monde». Non, c'est la luxure, la vengeance, ce qu'ils pensent mériter et qu'ils vont chercher qui est raconté ici. Et nous sommes tous là pour ça.

Le revers de la médaille de cette double narration, c'est qu'avec une grande partie du livre racontée du point de vue de l'héroïne, on s'habitue à la narratrice qui incarne le héros, pour ensuite se retrouver avec un chapitre du point de vue du héros lu par un narrateur masculin, l'héroïne compris.
Les avertissements concernant les éléments déclencheurs sont nombreux ; je vous encourage donc vivement à consulter la liste complète sur le site web de l'auteur.

Je lui donne sans hésiter 5 étoiles !

[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.

[Jo Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bit of a slow start, I didn't really enjoy the 1st bit when Ada ended up in the Pale Court but once the story took hold it was a bit of who dunnit and a love story.
The king of bones was a hurt God who thought everyone was against him and took Ada who was a very determined woman to convince him that she was truthful and break his barriers down.
It was a good ending.
The narration was ok. I found the female narration a bit hard to listen to when doing the male voices in the first book, but didn't notice it in the second book.

[Devon Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark. like dark, dark.
There was such an extent of utter frustration wanting to yell at the characters, but I could not stop reading and I am so glad that I did.
I don't want to give any spoilers, but if you like fantasy, dark romance with some spicy loving and a storyline that will hook you, drag you, and frustrate you. This is for you.

[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.

[Kriston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmmm…. It’s ok

The first book was a bit tough like he was almost forcing her, didn’t like that and then she was simpering for part of the book.

I like some enemies to lovers and dark romance but this wasn’t it.

Turned out ok but would not read again. So just ok in my eyes

[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.