Violet Springwater is one of those infuriating people who has it all. She's got the looks, the brain, and her family is as close to fae nobility as one can be. They certainly have the riches, the feuds, and the patented superiority complex that comes with the territory.
Violet's biggest rival and main source of grief? Rowan Uphill. Just as beautiful, just as clever, and a little bit richer.
When they venture out into the human realm to amass riches of their own, a bad joke from the universe means Violet must travel with Rowan. Between failed campfires, the cat they both insist is theirs, and the incident, tension runs high.
Will their family's rivalry get the better of them or will the forced proximity spark something that neither are prepared for?
**** The Rebellious Fae And Her Irresistible Rival is a cozy sapphic travel fantasy romance with two stubborn fae, a cute cat, and a hint of steam and magic.
I received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
The Rebellious Fae's Guide to Family Rivalries is the first book in this new cozy fantasy romance series. I love cozy fantasy and was excited to read this one. This book has a fun adventurous vibe with a rivals to lovers romance. I enjoyed reading the book, but it did feel a bit incomplete and I don't really know what to expect from this series, whether it's a different couple in each book or whether previous couples will get more books. This one ends on a happy For Now, but only shows the beginning of their journey. The next book follows a different couple and guess we'll see what happens after that.
The Rebellious Fae's Guide to Family Rivalries is told from the point of view of Violet Springwater. The Springwaters and Uphills have had a long standing rivalry, but now Violet ends up teaming up with Rowan Uphill during the adventure all new adult fae go on. They end up being able to look beyond the rivalry and become lovers. I have to say I didn't really get the whole rivalry and didn't find it very interesting as it was a case of it has always been this way, but I did like seeing Violet and Rowan question these things and grow closer.
My favorite part of this book was probably the adventurous vibe it had, they set out on a journey to the human lands and have to survive in the wilds. there's a cute cat as well. And the banter between Violet and Rowan was fun. I liked seeing them grow closer and actually be vulnerable with one another and open up a bit. Like I mentioned their romance feels a bit incomplete and I hope there will be more of them later in the series.
The world building is pretty limited, we just know there are fae and humans. And for some reason I kept thinking they were elves instead of fae? I did like how so much of the story took place traveling and in the forest and how we got to see a bit of the world that way. I hope there will be more world building in future books so I can get a better feel for the world.
To summarize: This was a fun read about two rival families and two characters from each who fall in love despite their families long standing rivalry. I didn't really get the whole rivalry and didn't find that plot line very interesting , but I did like how Violet and Rowan questioned it and grew closer. There is some cute banter and a bit of steam, the romance ends with a Happy For Now ending. I am not sure if there will be more of this couple or not and that made the story feel a bit incomplete as I don't know what to expect from the series yet. I liked the adventurous vibe with the characters traveling to the human lands. The world building is pretty limited so far, but hopefully there will be more as the series progresses.
The first book in a new series, touted as a sapphic travel fantasy. This is a short novella starring two FMCs who are the two daughters (Violet Springwater and Rowan Uphill) from neighboring rival families. We don't know why the rivalry started but we and the rest of the town know these two families have issues with each other. Pointy ears and magic items abound as the young fae leave home on their first adventure to the human lands.
A cozy fantasy travel novelette featuring two young fae from rival families that set off into the world to find their own adventure.
Violet Springwater is ready to set off and forge her own path. With the Springtime ceremony about to commence, all of the of age fae finally get to venture to the human realm to try to strike big and acquire the wealth that it takes to be a successful fae. And Violet will finally be able to get away from the pesky Uphills that disrupt her family twenty-four-seven. That is, until an accident occurs that leaves her stuck with Rowan Uphill, her greatest rival. But as the two spend more time with one another away from the influence of their families, they realize that they may actually have a ton in common.
This is a short novelette that can certainly be read in a single sitting (though I must admit, I read it aloud to myself in two sittings, so consider me odd). It's a sweet story of learning to put asides one's differences, let go of family prejudices, and embrace the world and everything that it has to offer.
Violet and Rowan have some pretty awesome banter. Their families are like Montague and Capulet bad when it comes to constantly badgering and pestering one another, so it's no surprise that a forbidden romance forms between these two girls as soon as they are out of their parent's hair. I think they have a sweet growth arc in this short story in which they both realize a lot about themselves and each other. The romance may have heated up pretty quickly, but these two have known each other in one way or another forever now, so it didn't bother me too much.
The world that Jade sets up had me interested from the get-go. I tend to always enjoy things set in the Fae realm, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed the initial set up in this book. The magic system isn't overly explained in this short introduction to the series, but it is made well known that the fae have access to all sorts of magic items that can do a wide variety of things. I'm interested to learn more about the magic of this world in future installments of this series.
Overall, "The Rebellious Fae's Guide to Family Rivalries" was a great intro into the "Cozy Fae Guides" series that has me greatly intrigued to learn more. Violet and Rowan were pretty fun protagonists. I am interested in the magic system and the world, so I'm excited to check out what the rest of this series has in store!
I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I am a bit divided on how to rare this book. I ultimately decided on 4 stars because I think my main issues are absolutely “me” problems rather than the story itself. I would definitely recommend it to people who find it in their taste and I did indeed enjoy it!
So, let me get my issues out of the way so I can talk about what I did like, because there’s quite a bit. My biggest issue here is that the characters are Fae but they don’t feel like Fae. There’s nothing about their characterizations that tell me they’re Fae. Without the title, I’d have thought we were dealing with conflicting human families holding a grudge with some magical items tossed in. But…this may just be me projecting how I think Fae should be as opposed to this author’s version of them. So, take that with a grain of salt. But I was surprised how much this bothered me.
Now, onto the good stuff!
This definitely has a Romeo and Juliet feel to it, given the feuding families but I am happy to save our main couple is quite a bit smarter. They both also buy into some of their family’s grudge so it’s very much an enemies to lovers done right. Once they start to know one another, they rightly start questioning the feud itself while still recognizing it will complicate their relationship.
Our main characters are both fun, with sarcasm and intelligence in both of them but manifesting in different ways. It helps to show how they connect and complement one another.
I really love the descriptions here. We spend a lot of time outside, among the forest and that is one of my favorite settings. The author does a great job at using all the senses which really helps to pull you into the story!
I am always a fan of coming of age rituals and this one is fun to explore. It gives some weight to the story and the sense of family responsibility runs high here.
Definitely worth checking out to see if this version of Fae vibes with you.
The Rebellious Fae's Guide To Family Rivalries is a very short and cute sapphic romantic fantasy novella that falls into the YA genre as two main characters are young adults who go on a "go into this world, learn and grow but also collect riches" adventure that every fae does at a specific point in their life to become a fully-fledged adult.
The story is told from Violet Springwater's POV. The Springwaters have a long standing rivalry with the Uphills (their neighbours) but neither Violet or Rowan (Uphill) know why they are rivals to begin with. On their adventure, they are forced to team up to survive in a forest. During their few days together (I think three), they realise that they like each other. The spice is extremely mild: like half a chili, maybe? It is very much in the vein of "and then she reached between my legs" without being too explicit. I think the romance suffers a bit from the fact that it's a novella and I believe it would have been better to write a few more pages/scenes to develop it. Because the banter between them was cute but they really jumped into bed with each other right away.
The world building is very limited. We just know that humans and fae exist and that fae go on an adventure into the human world where they have to barter/trade/find ... riches. Upon their return to the fae forest, they are considered adults then. To cross into the human world, they have to cross an enchanted river that stops humans from going into the fae world. Why? No one knows. The humans just bet on when the first fae appear.
TL;DR: Short rivals-to-lovers sapphic novella that's a first in a series. Short, cute but limited world building and a romance that could've used some development.
It’s the Springtime ceremony, when young Fae venture from their forest to the human world for the first time. Violet Springwater is eager to escape her chaotic family and their family unending feud with neighbors, the Uphills. Unfortunately, she has a twin brother, Corbin, who insists on traveling with her. Also setting out is Rowan Uphill, Violet’s particular rival in the feud. While they start out on the journey in different groups, they meet up during a storm. Corbin is insistent that they not allow Rowan to join them, but Violet has compassion for the other group’s struggle. When Violet and Rowan get separated from the rest, they agree to work together to make it to the human village. Soon their attraction to each other becomes apparent. Can they build something real or will the family feud destroy their chances?
The Rebellious Fae’s Guide To Family Rivalries is a companion story to Ariana Jade’s newest series. The world building sets the scene quite well and the overall premise is quite original. Violet and Rowan are both capable and likable characters, and both seem more annoyed than committed to the family feud. The attraction between them is palpable and the build up of the relationship is nicely paced within the short story format. The bickering between them, especially over the cat keeps things from feeling too sweet. The touch of spice adds to the reality of their relationship as they move from rivals to lovers. As the main series is set to focus on other characters, I hope we still see more development in Violet and Rowan’s relationship.
Thanks you for the arc of this. This is my first read of LGBTQ and it did not disappoint.
It was sweet, cute and coming of ages of two young woman from rivaling family who have been feuding for decades. They start by going on separate group journeys ( spring awakening ) violet with her twin brother and Rowan with two girls from school and they meet up on the way of the adventure and they both get trapped and have to rely on the other. They were looking for the stray cat what they both feed and adore.
Will they able to cooperate and be able to to help the other to survive or will their family rivalry be too much or will sparks fly and they explore what they want and not want they should not do.
Published June 3rd ( I was so busy and sorry this is late )
I’ve been a fan of fairies since before I could read (at age four). Arizona Tape (aka Ariana Jade) has written a sweet novella in The Rebellious Fae’s Guide to Family Rivalries, part of the Cozy Fae Guides. It can be read anywhere and will whet your appetite for the future exploits of the representatives of the warring families, sweet Violet and more competitive Rowan. I confess I liked Violet a bit better, perhaps because I’m not exceptionally coordinated or sportif. Due to the short length of the novella Violet and Rowan quickly learned the need to work together to survive in the wilderness. I liked what happened to our daring (?) duo once they left the forest. I realize the next book follows a different main character, but I hope we will get updates on Violet and Rowan! I received an advance review copy of the book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A taste of adulthood I’ve always thought that rites of passage are an integral part of growing up. They provide our youth with: *something to look forward to and to prepare for *a sense of pride and belonging to something bigger than themselves *an opportunity to accomplish something that society deems important (usually crucial to survival)
I really enjoyed this light tale about coming of age with *actual* enemies-to-lovers. When generations of both families hate each other, it’s no mere snarky banter. Both sides in this feud can certainly boast of well-earned battle scars.
Next in series (‘The Unlucky Fae's Guide To Unfair Heirlooms’) takes us along on the adventures braved by one of the other Springtime fae we met in this book.
I really enjoyed this novel, I really liked the dynamics between Violet and Rowan. The family feud provided a backstory that is perfect for the classic "enemies to lovers" trope. I loved them together and I can't wait to see how they progress. I really enjoyed the set up of them all having to go out to the human world whilst defending for themselves. The foraging etc was interesting to see play out and I loved the descriptions, the not so stray cat, the way the characters all developed and the storyline progressed. I got swept away and I was eager to read more and bam there's the ending. I need more, I'm really looking forward to seeing where this series goes. It was a fantastic introduction to a new series.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and really enjoyed the playful dynamic between Violet and Rowan, their rivalry and banter made for a fun and engaging read.
The mix of fae magic, family drama, and a reluctant travel adventure gave it a cozy, whimsical feel. Also, Silver the cat? Total scene-stealer.
The pacing was a bit quick at times, but overall it was a light, charming story that kept me smiling. If you're in the mood for a sapphic fantasy romance with sass, magic, and a hint of slow-burn tension, this one’s worth picking up!
4 stars. Slight rivals to lovers but it’s mainly a family feud which was fun. I liked Violet and Rowan a lot. They’re both so snarky and fun and I enjoyed the banter between them. Very sharp and quick witted. I liked the fantasy aspects and the world building was really intriguing. This was a quick read and I’m so excited to read more of this world because this was pretty great.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Violet Springwater and Rowan Uphill are both young Fae about to experience their first Springtime, where they go out on a quest to prove their independence. Their families have a long-held rivalry, so the girls have been competitors their whole lives, and on this quest is no exception. They both take a risk and trade their coins for magical artefacts that may assist them on their journey, and then Violet and her twin brother Corbin go one way, and Rowan goes another. Later, during the journey, the parties get split, and Violet and Rowan are thrown together looking for the land of the humans. Can they put their differences aside and work together? This is a quick read, with adorable characters, and a whimsical fantasy plot.
There’s nothing like a good forbidden romance to soothe the soul. This was well done. The chemistry amongst the two was there, the open honesty that happened at just the right times, and the unique adventure that was the key to get it all there was honesty refreshing. I did find the magic system a little lacking I kept hoping for the characters to pop up with abilities but I don’t think it made it any less enjoyable to be a part of. It was super fun and easy to get lost in.
Violet and her twin brother Corbin are finally old enough to go to the Springtime Ceremony where they go off onto the woods to find and cross the Misty river and enter the human world. Rowan is from a neighbouring family who are in a feud with Violets and do they are mortal enemies. Until they’re not. A really fun book about survival, overcoming family prejudices and how not to fall for a cunning cat. Looking forward to reading more in this world.
What if Romeo and Juliet were Amish? And sapphic? Then you'd have this cute novella!
Granted there's also the world's most unlucky girl, her cousin, and Juliet's twin brother are all along for their Fae Rumspringa/treasure seeking journeys. The cutest, fluffiest stray cat that answers to three different names.
This is just the start of a new series, and I for one cannot wait to find out what experiences these Fae come across while being among the humans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Short, sweet, and to the point. I wish we knew why the family rivalry was happening. Violet and Rowan are both snarky and quick with the comebacks which is entertaining. My favorite character is Silver/Ghost/Billybob. The cat is a whole ham and scammer, getting everyone to feed them in true cat fashion. I wish the story was longer and more detailed. It was a fine short read, but honestly I think it could make a good novel with the right effort put into it.
I could read an entire book just exploring Rowan and Violet’s family feud—it’s such a classic and effective way to build an enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and it works beautifully with these characters.
This LGBTQ+ novella is a short, unputdownable read! The mild spice level is just right, and I absolutely loved this fresh take on fae lore—less court politics, more grounded, relatable magic. And of course… don’t overlook that cat, Silver!
This story, although short, was quite interesting and follows Violet Springwater and Rowan Uphill, who are from rival families. While out on an experience to the human realm, they get separated from the rest of their group and are forced to spend time together. This was a quirky and enjoyable short read with an interesting plot.
Delightful - a short, young adult romantasy, that is a fantastic "flip" of any other fae-type world I've read. If you're looking for something easy to read, fun, and just a little bit different, I definitely recommend this. Personally, I will be reading the rest of the series, too! I received this story as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'm voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy. On the journey for coming of age to earn their own riches. Violet and Rowan end up travelling together. I like how they admit the family feud is pointless and act on their attraction for each other. I'm glad they decide to continue on together.
Fun and enjoyable read that marks the beginning of a series about Fae that I'm looking forward to. It's time for the next group of young fae to venture out into the human world. Two of the group, Violet and Rowan, are from rival families and end up having to work together to make the journey despite their distrust of each other.
In this first installment, we meet Violet Springwater and Rowan Underhill. The feud between the two families is a long and difficult one. During the coming of age, Springtime Adventure, they must band together to survive the unknown. But can they survive each other? A sweet story of developing love, changing enemies to lovers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved the quirky fun theme to this book the characters were great and the storylines are good wasn't long enough but it makes you want to read the next book to get more info on the family feud 5 stars
This was a wonderful read with great characters and an enjoyable plot. The opening was just hilarious to read about, not so great to have to live with, which is a nicely realistic touch for a fantasy.
Well a great beginning. Short story with some soul searching to go with it. I liked that they decided to try and see were things would go. They don't have to take in to consecration what there family's will say or do.
Went in to this completely blind as to what to expect when i received an ARC copy of this book, but was drawn in to the cosiest world and adored the chemistry between the main characters. Absolutely cannot wait for the next chance to adventure with Rowan and Violet!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.