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The Fatebound Duology #1
Beyond the Aching Door
A mortal journalist. A mysterious series of drownings. An exiled Fey king. A forgotten Fatesong. A single, desperate chance to save magic from extinction.All Raegan Maeve Overhill wants is to survive another October. It's the anniversary of the worst thing that ever happened to the unsolved disappearance of her father nearly two decades ago. But when mysterious drownings grip the city of Philadelphia, Raegan sets her mourning rituals aside for a career-making opportunity to lead her newspaper's investigation.
Her hunt for answers takes her to the city's shadowy places where magical beings appear in puddles, the Fair Folk offer bargains, and magic is very, very real. When Raegan uncovers a startling connection to her father’s disappearance, she knows she can’t just return to her normal life without uncovering the truth. To get it, though, she’ll need to make a deal with the dark, deadly and alluring Unseelie Fae King—and do her best to ignore their dangerous attraction to one another.Inspired by Welsh mythology, Slavic folklore and Arthurian legend, Beyond the Aching Door is an adult urban fantasy romance for fans of A Discovery of Witches and Dark Night, Golden Dawn. This spicy fae romantic fantasy is intended for readers 18+.
Her hunt for answers takes her to the city's shadowy places where magical beings appear in puddles, the Fair Folk offer bargains, and magic is very, very real. When Raegan uncovers a startling connection to her father’s disappearance, she knows she can’t just return to her normal life without uncovering the truth. To get it, though, she’ll need to make a deal with the dark, deadly and alluring Unseelie Fae King—and do her best to ignore their dangerous attraction to one another.Inspired by Welsh mythology, Slavic folklore and Arthurian legend, Beyond the Aching Door is an adult urban fantasy romance for fans of A Discovery of Witches and Dark Night, Golden Dawn. This spicy fae romantic fantasy is intended for readers 18+.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published June 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
December 27, 2024
I'm not done with this, but I already rated it five stars because it's so good.
It's rare for me to find fantasy on Kindle Unlimited that:
A) Holds my attention
B) Has a heroine who isn't a complete nitwit (she's also in her 30s, and I'm here for that, really! I'm tired of 18-year-olds conquering eons old evil forces)
C) has world-building that doesn't make me cringe and/or get lost entirely.
The world-building in The Fatebound Duology gives me the same vibes as when I read The Allsouls Trilogy! I just really enjoyed the depth and darkness of the characters and plot in that series and this one feels much the same.
The slow burn is *slow-burning* - but we'll see how it ends up. I'm at 47% and there hasn't been anything more than a lingering look.
-- Still slow burning at 77% -- BUT the relationship is beautiful in it's ebb and flow. An eon of love in one book. Tear my heart out!!
It's rare for me to find fantasy on Kindle Unlimited that:
A) Holds my attention
B) Has a heroine who isn't a complete nitwit (she's also in her 30s, and I'm here for that, really! I'm tired of 18-year-olds conquering eons old evil forces)
C) has world-building that doesn't make me cringe and/or get lost entirely.
The world-building in The Fatebound Duology gives me the same vibes as when I read The Allsouls Trilogy! I just really enjoyed the depth and darkness of the characters and plot in that series and this one feels much the same.
The slow burn is *slow-burning* - but we'll see how it ends up. I'm at 47% and there hasn't been anything more than a lingering look.
-- Still slow burning at 77% -- BUT the relationship is beautiful in it's ebb and flow. An eon of love in one book. Tear my heart out!!
December 21, 2024
This book gave me everything I wanted… & needed!
It was so unique, the characters relatable & full to the brim with stunning writing. The constant but not overt references to aching (longing) & things hidden behind doors was so well done! It was like finding hidden gems throughout the story.
Ultimately this is a love story and a story about finding yourself, but it also immaculately explores what is it like to live with grief on your shoulder. A story for all the people who have tragically lost someone in their lives & wished with their entire being there was some magical fix or reason behind it all. This is a story for you. A story you would dream about.
If you like any of the below… then read this book immediately!
🚪Magical realism
🚪Folklore inspired
🚪Beautiful prose with hidden gems
🚪Character driven plot
🚪Mystery + Prophecies
🚪Relatable characters
🚪Feminine rage 🤌🏽
🚪Neuro-diverse, bisexual 30yr FMC
🚪Emotionally intelligent mmc (Shadow daddy)
🚪Angst + Longing
🚪Slow burn romance (with 2 🌶️) + a love that spans the ages
I am BEYOND excited for book 2 to be released & will continue to read anything this author writes.
It was so unique, the characters relatable & full to the brim with stunning writing. The constant but not overt references to aching (longing) & things hidden behind doors was so well done! It was like finding hidden gems throughout the story.
Ultimately this is a love story and a story about finding yourself, but it also immaculately explores what is it like to live with grief on your shoulder. A story for all the people who have tragically lost someone in their lives & wished with their entire being there was some magical fix or reason behind it all. This is a story for you. A story you would dream about.
If you like any of the below… then read this book immediately!
🚪Magical realism
🚪Folklore inspired
🚪Beautiful prose with hidden gems
🚪Character driven plot
🚪Mystery + Prophecies
🚪Relatable characters
🚪Feminine rage 🤌🏽
🚪Neuro-diverse, bisexual 30yr FMC
🚪Emotionally intelligent mmc (Shadow daddy)
🚪Angst + Longing
🚪Slow burn romance (with 2 🌶️) + a love that spans the ages
I am BEYOND excited for book 2 to be released & will continue to read anything this author writes.
April 2, 2024
4.5⭐️ This book is everything I wanted, and more. Atmospheric urban fantasy set in Philly(!!), a 30 year old FMC who is a journalist. A dark and broody Unseelie King. Stares and touches full of longing. Welsh Mythology, Slavic folklore. Raegan is full of feminine rage and I loved it. She could be infuriating at times, and a little mean. The woman has been through some shit, so it does make sense. I cannot wait to see how the rest of this story unfolds in the conclusion!
February 1, 2025
summoning a kelpie just to suggest it eat the rich is iconic behavior and so is telling the unseelie king he’s pathetic & weak for yearning after you — despite knowing you are the love of his life reincarnated for an entire millennia
but lowkey oberon deserved to be taken down a peg okay?
Bookstagram | Blog
but lowkey oberon deserved to be taken down a peg okay?
Bookstagram | Blog
October 1, 2024
541 pages but half the dialogue is our FMC just saying “fuck you!!” I’d be meeting Jesus drunk and flat on my back if I took a shot every time she said it.
February 4, 2025
THE YEARNING!!!
This was an entirely unique book from start to finish. Kelpies? Sexy Fae King? Unseelie Court? All set in modern America? Tick, tick, tick and tick. Not to mention our FMC is 30? This book has SO much going for it.
This was an entirely unique book from start to finish. Kelpies? Sexy Fae King? Unseelie Court? All set in modern America? Tick, tick, tick and tick. Not to mention our FMC is 30? This book has SO much going for it.
Want to read
March 26, 2024A mortal journalist. A mysterious series of drownings. An exiled Fey king. A forgotten Fatesong. A single, desperate chance to save magic from extinction
May 19, 2024
3 🌟
This book gave me Karen Marie Moning level vibes. Everything from the rich world-building, the stoic, unrelenting and cruel MMC, the strong FMC filled with rage and injustice, to the grittiness of Urban Fantasy that I think the genre lost for a while. It felt like coming home again and reading the Fever series, Jane Yellowrock and Kate Daniel’s - all the great UFs of the 2010s.
The story started out well - we have Raegan Maeve Overhill, a 30-something award winning investigative journalist who tragically lost her father when she was 10. One day, he simply disappeared never to be found again. When men start turning up dead in puddles on the street, and bargaining with an exiled Fey King, Raegan starts to wonder if her father is really dead or not.
The one thing that ruined the story for me was Raegan. At times I felt sorry for her, but her nasty, cruel and feral attitude to every single person she laid eyes on was simply too much. She reminded me A LOT of Diana in the Book of Azrael Series - never knowing when to keep her mouth shut; mouthing off at the wrong people and spitting venomous barbs at any who saw her for what she was. She was a deeply wounded character but her constant defensiveness and method of attack drained any enjoyment I got out of 3/4 of the book.
Once we get into the first part of the story around the 20% mark, things started to slow down and became quite boring. It was more or less Raegan being her sunny self for about 200 pages, with the same irate attitude to everything. I ended up skimming 200 pages to get to the good shit.
Around the 70% is where the plot picks back up. She makes her bargain with Oberon, the High King of the UnSeelie and their back and forth wounding each other was kind of addicting to read about, the tension between them was as tight as a bow string and when it snapped, it SNAPPED.
Oberon, as he goes by now, is a reclusive, darkly seductive Fey King. He is a man honed by a millennium of loss, grief and rage - very much like Raegan. He is as inhuman as they come; he does not have much in the way of emotions, he is very much a blood thirsty beast, who feeds on people’s misery. He is a good king to his people and he does care for his closest subjects, so he is kind of an enigma in that sense. His true emotions or rather his only emotions bleed for Raegan and Raegan only. Although, he does his best not to show this as he feels she is a weakness that has destroyed his life time and again.
Their devotion and dedication to the other was something to be treasured near the end as they had to go through so much hurt to get to where they are at the end of book one. Although, the ending for this one is bittersweet, I cannot wait to read the next book to see where Nyneve and Mordred’s story ends.
Verdict: this would’ve been an easy 5 🌟 read if it had not been for the FMC very nearly ruining the story. I can see why many put this in their DNF pile, but if you stick with the story, it will get better and it will surprise you.
This book gave me Karen Marie Moning level vibes. Everything from the rich world-building, the stoic, unrelenting and cruel MMC, the strong FMC filled with rage and injustice, to the grittiness of Urban Fantasy that I think the genre lost for a while. It felt like coming home again and reading the Fever series, Jane Yellowrock and Kate Daniel’s - all the great UFs of the 2010s.
The story started out well - we have Raegan Maeve Overhill, a 30-something award winning investigative journalist who tragically lost her father when she was 10. One day, he simply disappeared never to be found again. When men start turning up dead in puddles on the street, and bargaining with an exiled Fey King, Raegan starts to wonder if her father is really dead or not.
The one thing that ruined the story for me was Raegan. At times I felt sorry for her, but her nasty, cruel and feral attitude to every single person she laid eyes on was simply too much. She reminded me A LOT of Diana in the Book of Azrael Series - never knowing when to keep her mouth shut; mouthing off at the wrong people and spitting venomous barbs at any who saw her for what she was. She was a deeply wounded character but her constant defensiveness and method of attack drained any enjoyment I got out of 3/4 of the book.
Once we get into the first part of the story around the 20% mark, things started to slow down and became quite boring. It was more or less Raegan being her sunny self for about 200 pages, with the same irate attitude to everything. I ended up skimming 200 pages to get to the good shit.
Around the 70% is where the plot picks back up. She makes her bargain with Oberon, the High King of the UnSeelie and their back and forth wounding each other was kind of addicting to read about, the tension between them was as tight as a bow string and when it snapped, it SNAPPED.
Oberon, as he goes by now, is a reclusive, darkly seductive Fey King. He is a man honed by a millennium of loss, grief and rage - very much like Raegan. He is as inhuman as they come; he does not have much in the way of emotions, he is very much a blood thirsty beast, who feeds on people’s misery. He is a good king to his people and he does care for his closest subjects, so he is kind of an enigma in that sense. His true emotions or rather his only emotions bleed for Raegan and Raegan only. Although, he does his best not to show this as he feels she is a weakness that has destroyed his life time and again.
Their devotion and dedication to the other was something to be treasured near the end as they had to go through so much hurt to get to where they are at the end of book one. Although, the ending for this one is bittersweet, I cannot wait to read the next book to see where Nyneve and Mordred’s story ends.
Verdict: this would’ve been an easy 5 🌟 read if it had not been for the FMC very nearly ruining the story. I can see why many put this in their DNF pile, but if you stick with the story, it will get better and it will surprise you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2024
hey addie la rue, manacled + peaches & honey fans. meet your next read.
it’s not the same but it is so so similar thematically.
mental illness, time, fate, rage, yearning, aching vibes, if you get me?
i will do a full review soon
but i wanted to make one very important note to anyone who has ever been to a psych ward and has questioned their reality due to mental illness - please please please go into this with care for yourself. as someone who has been in that position, i did have a mild freak out and served as a good reminder to read content warnings before hand because i am gods toughest soldier but I am not always a tough soldier lmao
it’s not the same but it is so so similar thematically.
mental illness, time, fate, rage, yearning, aching vibes, if you get me?
i will do a full review soon
but i wanted to make one very important note to anyone who has ever been to a psych ward and has questioned their reality due to mental illness - please please please go into this with care for yourself. as someone who has been in that position, i did have a mild freak out and served as a good reminder to read content warnings before hand because i am gods toughest soldier but I am not always a tough soldier lmao
September 29, 2024
I…don’t get it. This book was over 500 pages long (on Kindle) and it felt like nothing happened at some times. It’s was incredibly slow with one of the slowest burn romances I’ve encountered, the latter of which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This book was bogged down by chapters early on and a bunch of which that could have been condensed. I also think this book needed a professional editor. So much flowery language, repetitive words and phrasing, scenes that sort of didn’t make sense… I don’t know.
This book wasn’t for me, though I can definitely see the appeal for some. I liked that we had a fierce FMC who didn’t take anyone’s shit but also kind of ruined her own story with her actions. Her romance with the King was just sort of…there. I can appreciate a good romance across the spans of time, but I feel like that was barely touched. I enjoyed the weaving of mythology though. I also felt like there wasn’t really a main plot—just a bunch thrown together. I thought this was about Raegan finding her dad, but that was sort of…put on the back burner like a lot of other subplots.
I don’t think I could stand reading the second book, especially since it’s equally long. I’ll just read an in-depth synopsis or something.
This book wasn’t for me, though I can definitely see the appeal for some. I liked that we had a fierce FMC who didn’t take anyone’s shit but also kind of ruined her own story with her actions. Her romance with the King was just sort of…there. I can appreciate a good romance across the spans of time, but I feel like that was barely touched. I enjoyed the weaving of mythology though. I also felt like there wasn’t really a main plot—just a bunch thrown together. I thought this was about Raegan finding her dad, but that was sort of…put on the back burner like a lot of other subplots.
I don’t think I could stand reading the second book, especially since it’s equally long. I’ll just read an in-depth synopsis or something.
Read
November 5, 2024DNF at 68% 🥲
June 30, 2025
4.5 ★— This book has everything I adore: a dark and mysterious atmosphere, a heroine grappling with a haunting past, a compelling mystery that kicks off the story, and, of course, a heartbreakingly beautiful, gloomy faerie king.
Reagan is a journalist investigating a string of mysterious drownings — clearly isolated, she is someone who keeps others at a distance, still haunted by her father’s unexplained disappearance in childhood. She sees things she can’t explain, has strange dreams she brushes off as trauma-induced, and is haunted (or perhaps hunted?) by a dark-haired stranger she can’t shake.
The eerie, grimy atmosphere of this story is perfectly set from the first page, and Reagan’s emotional detachment and quiet confusion with the world around her felt convincingly real.
She’s conditioned herself not to react to the strange things she sometimes sees, believing them to be from lingering childhood trauma. But as the story goes on, she slowly begins to understand how all these elements — and her case — connect. And I really can’t overstate how much I enjoyed the cloying, grimy atmosphere the story is steeped in as it unfolds!
Where the book slightly lost me was with her developing relationship with the faerie king. I’m not a fan of FMCs being overly lustful and horny around MMCs, and while the author does provide reasons for why Reagan reacts to him the way she does, I often found myself annoyed by HOW MANY times she was thirsting over this man and how her body seemed in an almost constant state of arousal in his presence. I understand that this was purposeful, to highlight the type of connection she shared with him, but, man, I just prefer my heroines with more of a cool head on their shoulders.
Now let me get to the MMC, the faerie king — the resident resigned sad boi.
His connection to Reagan and its importance were immediately apparent from the moment he appeared, and I loved how earth-shattering it felt — how much their meeting seemed like something she needed and had been deeply deprived of. The author portrayed this gorgeously and their yearning for each other was palpable! I loved the tension, the slow burn, and how layered their relationship felt.
I also really enjoyed how the faerie aspects of the world were described. The inhumanity and ancient tone of the fae was just beautifully captured. It was all rooted in a mix of Welsh mythology and hints of Slavic mythology that were naturally integrated, and even though I’ve read many faerie books, I still found this portrayal of the fae lore fascinating.
My one other gripe with this book was Reagan’s rashness at times. Aside from the near-constant thirsting over the MMC (which luckily lessened as the story progressed), there were several moments where her hot-headedness and anger just irritated me.
The MMC was setting clear boundaries and communicating openly, and she had no problem trampling all over them multiple times, and then whining about it.
But, really, these complaints didn’t deter me enough from loving the overall story, which sucked me in enough that I’m now looking forward to see how this all unfolds in its sequel!
Reagan is a journalist investigating a string of mysterious drownings — clearly isolated, she is someone who keeps others at a distance, still haunted by her father’s unexplained disappearance in childhood. She sees things she can’t explain, has strange dreams she brushes off as trauma-induced, and is haunted (or perhaps hunted?) by a dark-haired stranger she can’t shake.
The eerie, grimy atmosphere of this story is perfectly set from the first page, and Reagan’s emotional detachment and quiet confusion with the world around her felt convincingly real.
She’s conditioned herself not to react to the strange things she sometimes sees, believing them to be from lingering childhood trauma. But as the story goes on, she slowly begins to understand how all these elements — and her case — connect. And I really can’t overstate how much I enjoyed the cloying, grimy atmosphere the story is steeped in as it unfolds!
Where the book slightly lost me was with her developing relationship with the faerie king. I’m not a fan of FMCs being overly lustful and horny around MMCs, and while the author does provide reasons for why Reagan reacts to him the way she does, I often found myself annoyed by HOW MANY times she was thirsting over this man and how her body seemed in an almost constant state of arousal in his presence. I understand that this was purposeful, to highlight the type of connection she shared with him, but, man, I just prefer my heroines with more of a cool head on their shoulders.
Now let me get to the MMC, the faerie king — the resident resigned sad boi.
His connection to Reagan and its importance were immediately apparent from the moment he appeared, and I loved how earth-shattering it felt — how much their meeting seemed like something she needed and had been deeply deprived of. The author portrayed this gorgeously and their yearning for each other was palpable! I loved the tension, the slow burn, and how layered their relationship felt.
I also really enjoyed how the faerie aspects of the world were described. The inhumanity and ancient tone of the fae was just beautifully captured. It was all rooted in a mix of Welsh mythology and hints of Slavic mythology that were naturally integrated, and even though I’ve read many faerie books, I still found this portrayal of the fae lore fascinating.
My one other gripe with this book was Reagan’s rashness at times. Aside from the near-constant thirsting over the MMC (which luckily lessened as the story progressed), there were several moments where her hot-headedness and anger just irritated me.
The MMC was setting clear boundaries and communicating openly, and she had no problem trampling all over them multiple times, and then whining about it.
But, really, these complaints didn’t deter me enough from loving the overall story, which sucked me in enough that I’m now looking forward to see how this all unfolds in its sequel!
November 6, 2024
This book. THIS BOOK.
“…But we have done this a thousand times, and I never like the ending.”
“…But we have done this a thousand times, and I never like the ending.”
March 15, 2024
If ever “aching” was a perfect description for a book, it is for this one. The whole thing is beautiful, simmering tension. You can feel the ache and loss and anger in Reagan. You can feel the dark shadows and leashed emotion that is the King. Honestly, the whole book just makes you feel.
Beyond the Aching Door is a story of folklore and legend, playing out in urban fantasy. It gives us Reagan, trying to find herself and figure out how to live in the world when she knows that something is missing. And when Reagan meets the King - a fae that holds more knowledge about her past than she can even imagine - she plunges headlong into a journey that both breaks her down and breaks her open.
There is a cliffhanger, and I am anxious for Book 2. I don’t want the story to end, but I want to see where Reagan goes. I loved ❤️ this book and this world and the magic that it wove around my heart.
I read this book as an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
Beyond the Aching Door is a story of folklore and legend, playing out in urban fantasy. It gives us Reagan, trying to find herself and figure out how to live in the world when she knows that something is missing. And when Reagan meets the King - a fae that holds more knowledge about her past than she can even imagine - she plunges headlong into a journey that both breaks her down and breaks her open.
There is a cliffhanger, and I am anxious for Book 2. I don’t want the story to end, but I want to see where Reagan goes. I loved ❤️ this book and this world and the magic that it wove around my heart.
I read this book as an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
April 1, 2024
This is dragging and it’s gotten so boring I’m gonna have to dnf at 50%.
It was really intriguing at the start, I liked that it was completely different to any fantasy I’d read in a while.. but I’m half way through and nothing has really happened? Nothing about the story is holding my attention, the fmc is a frustrating wanna be tough girl who I just want to be quiet for like 5 mins. The mc is bland. I’m bored of him.
I can also see where the story is going and have no desire to torment myself any longer so.. I’m giving up.
I think the story has potential, it’s just needs I don’t know, tidied up? Cut down?
It’s on kindle unlimited if anyone is interested💫
It was really intriguing at the start, I liked that it was completely different to any fantasy I’d read in a while.. but I’m half way through and nothing has really happened? Nothing about the story is holding my attention, the fmc is a frustrating wanna be tough girl who I just want to be quiet for like 5 mins. The mc is bland. I’m bored of him.
I can also see where the story is going and have no desire to torment myself any longer so.. I’m giving up.
I think the story has potential, it’s just needs I don’t know, tidied up? Cut down?
It’s on kindle unlimited if anyone is interested💫
August 10, 2024
For a debut, this is a great book. The writing was lovely and I enjoyed the more traditional take on the lore. I think for me, this book was just too long. Too many unimportant and unnecessary things were detailed at length. I would have preferred if the journalism/murder investigation angle continued throughout the story instead of being dropped at 15% in never to be seen again.
August 25, 2024
3.5. i picked this up because the synopsis sounded October Daye - esque lol. i think it could have used some editing/tightening up of the story, but the bones are there and i enjoyed it. it was just a little messy (and the beginning had a LOT of adjectives...describing literally everything). i will read the sequel though, and would be interested to see what this author does in the future.
REP: bisexual main character
REP: bisexual main character
October 7, 2024
If you love:
- absolutely amazing & magical stories
- beautiful writing
- Welsh mythology
- to feel a thousand years worth of Yearning™
- to cry,
go read this book. Right now.
I am SO glad I waited for the conclusion to this duology to come out before I started reading it, because I'm pretty sure the waiting would have killed me otherwise 🙌🏻
- absolutely amazing & magical stories
- beautiful writing
- Welsh mythology
- to feel a thousand years worth of Yearning™
- to cry,
go read this book. Right now.
I am SO glad I waited for the conclusion to this duology to come out before I started reading it, because I'm pretty sure the waiting would have killed me otherwise 🙌🏻
March 29, 2024
I am SPEECHLESS. This is one of the best fantasy books ever written. I'm actually in tears.
December 10, 2024
2.75⭐️ Tell me why this grown ass woman is having temper tantrums at the drop of a hat? Emotional maturity - we don’t even know her.
March 30, 2025
Beyond the Aching Door zaczyna sie jako miły twist na typowym nurcie detektywa noir, z tym że detektywem jest queerowa kobieta pełniąca rolę dziennikarki śledczej, która ma na pieńku ze swoją byłą, jest trudna w obejściu i ma walijskie pochodzenie. Raegan trafia się bardzo podejrzana sprawa, w której ludzie zaczynają tonąć na środku rucjliwej ulicy. Na drugim planie rozwiązuje sprawę zaginięcia swojego ojca sprzed osiemnastu lat, co odbije się echem na aktualnej sprawie, jednak w sposób, którego nie była w stanie przewidzieć.
Gdyby powieść Mier pozostała tą mieszanką kryminału, urban fantasy i późniejszych intryg w świecie magicznych, byłaby to bardzo silna fabuła. Autorka daje się ponieść, czerpie żywo z legend Wysp Brytyjskich, jednocześnie grając z oczekiwaniami czytelnika. Król Fey, który okazuje się niebinarny? Cały ten twist ze śledztwem? Kolejne warstwy intryg, które Raegen odkrywa? Jadłam jej z ręki. Może i tempo akcji oraz styl są stonowane, jednak nie można oprzeć się tej charyzmie bijącej z każdej strony. Wszystko ze sobą współgra.
Natomiast potem bierzemy ostry zakręt i okazuje się, że to wszystko było ledwie przystawką, jako że głównym daniem będzie romans. Nie zrozumcie mnie źle, w momencie pojawienia się Króla wiedziałam, że do tego dążymy – natomiast czego się nie spodziewałam, to tropu, który został wybrany. Nagle okazało się, że głównym celem historii nie jest Kelpie nawiedzające Filadelfię, nie jest rozwiązywanie zagadek Protektoratu i ojca Raegen, ba, nie jest nawet szukanie go. Tylko romans. Który gdy zaczyna buhać, przesyaje interesować. Jasne, jest tu mocna gra, że te dwie postaci mogą skończyć tylko w ten sposób, w który już wielokrotnie kończyli, czyli tragicznie. Ale to nie wystarcza, nie, kiedy wcześniej została nabudowana tak duża warstwa światotwórstwa. Trochę jakby Mier odrzuciła wszystko na bok i zaczęła pisać tę historię na nowo.
Czy sprawiło to, że inaczej oceniam tę historię? Tak. Może nie drastycznie gorzej, natomiast przeszła mi ochota na drugi tom. Wciąż uważam, że jest tu dużo ciekawej narracji i potencjału, jednak jeśli mam brnąć przez kolejne setki stron, gdy Raegan i Król się ze sobą cackają, a narracja odjeżdża drugim torem, to wolę pozostać przy wspomnieniach z początku tego tomu.
Gdyby powieść Mier pozostała tą mieszanką kryminału, urban fantasy i późniejszych intryg w świecie magicznych, byłaby to bardzo silna fabuła. Autorka daje się ponieść, czerpie żywo z legend Wysp Brytyjskich, jednocześnie grając z oczekiwaniami czytelnika. Król Fey, który okazuje się niebinarny? Cały ten twist ze śledztwem? Kolejne warstwy intryg, które Raegen odkrywa? Jadłam jej z ręki. Może i tempo akcji oraz styl są stonowane, jednak nie można oprzeć się tej charyzmie bijącej z każdej strony. Wszystko ze sobą współgra.
Natomiast potem bierzemy ostry zakręt i okazuje się, że to wszystko było ledwie przystawką, jako że głównym daniem będzie romans. Nie zrozumcie mnie źle, w momencie pojawienia się Króla wiedziałam, że do tego dążymy – natomiast czego się nie spodziewałam, to tropu, który został wybrany. Nagle okazało się, że głównym celem historii nie jest Kelpie nawiedzające Filadelfię, nie jest rozwiązywanie zagadek Protektoratu i ojca Raegen, ba, nie jest nawet szukanie go. Tylko romans. Który gdy zaczyna buhać, przesyaje interesować. Jasne, jest tu mocna gra, że te dwie postaci mogą skończyć tylko w ten sposób, w który już wielokrotnie kończyli, czyli tragicznie. Ale to nie wystarcza, nie, kiedy wcześniej została nabudowana tak duża warstwa światotwórstwa. Trochę jakby Mier odrzuciła wszystko na bok i zaczęła pisać tę historię na nowo.
Czy sprawiło to, że inaczej oceniam tę historię? Tak. Może nie drastycznie gorzej, natomiast przeszła mi ochota na drugi tom. Wciąż uważam, że jest tu dużo ciekawej narracji i potencjału, jednak jeśli mam brnąć przez kolejne setki stron, gdy Raegan i Król się ze sobą cackają, a narracja odjeżdża drugim torem, to wolę pozostać przy wspomnieniach z początku tego tomu.
March 29, 2024
This deserves so much more time and careful words for a proper review, which I’m committed to coming back and leaving when it’s not already far past my bedtime. I can’t go to bed without saying SOMETHING about this though. I’ve been awaiting this story for months (years, actually) and it did not disappoint. THANK YOU to the author for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this story. All views are my own.
This is a story that sinks it’s teeth into you and doesn’t let go. It’s comfort and terrors of the shadows of night, and the warmth of the first dawn. Raegan and The King’s story is a haunting depth and an aching greeting.
“A peculiar feeling hung in the air: Threads were plucked and pulled, and Fate sang a very old song, soft as a lullaby and treacherous as the jaws of a wolf.
As it did whenever Fate sang this particular tune, time slid its scales out of order, a snake latching fangs onto its own tail, a river flowing backward and sideways and not at all.”
Mier weaves a story of lyrical prose, folktale and myths, the urban mundane, quick wit, and gutting expressions of love and grief. This story is all encompassing, a body of water to sink to the depths of, a river to follow, a forest to get lost in.
If there’s a single book you pick up this year, make it this one.
This is a story that sinks it’s teeth into you and doesn’t let go. It’s comfort and terrors of the shadows of night, and the warmth of the first dawn. Raegan and The King’s story is a haunting depth and an aching greeting.
“A peculiar feeling hung in the air: Threads were plucked and pulled, and Fate sang a very old song, soft as a lullaby and treacherous as the jaws of a wolf.
As it did whenever Fate sang this particular tune, time slid its scales out of order, a snake latching fangs onto its own tail, a river flowing backward and sideways and not at all.”
Mier weaves a story of lyrical prose, folktale and myths, the urban mundane, quick wit, and gutting expressions of love and grief. This story is all encompassing, a body of water to sink to the depths of, a river to follow, a forest to get lost in.
If there’s a single book you pick up this year, make it this one.
May 7, 2025
i once said to two of my closest friends in the group chat, "i wish there was an app that gave you the option to rate a book six stars but only like 5 times a calendar year"
this would be one of my six star ratings
this would be one of my six star ratings
August 19, 2025
3 stars is generous. This book desperately needed a few rounds of editing. The fmc was the worst part of this story. Why was she a journalist? She could've just been a barista or a bike courier or something non-specific and had the same convo with the homeless dude. By making her a journalist she became completely incompetent...she asked NO important questions of anyone until halfway through the story! And then proceeded to have tantrums if she didn't like the answer.
Anyway I wasn't familiar with Welsh mythology to know that this was going to Camelot/Round Table territory. I'll just read some spoilers for the 2nd book because I can't continue the series.
Anyway I wasn't familiar with Welsh mythology to know that this was going to Camelot/Round Table territory. I'll just read some spoilers for the 2nd book because I can't continue the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2024
If you’re looking for
-Slow burn
-Heavy world building focus
-Urban fantasy romance
-Welsh mythology and lore
-Fae history and myth
-Bi rep
-Kelpies
-A murder mystery
And if you’re fans of things like The Folk of the Air series and Fae/Unseelie lore, then I simply must recommend you give this book a try.
I adored Raegan, her brashness, her tenacity, and snark. And her relationship with the Fae King EEEEE. I don’t want to say too much to give anything away. But I love them so so much! I honestly love their story and how they are connected. And I love that Victoria can write this whole book from Raegan's POV, but you can just FEEL what the King is going through still.
And UGHHHHH the longing and the pining and the subtleties to the language being that the King is Fae. It’s one of the things I love most about the Fae mythology - no lying, no thank yous, you must be very very clear in what you are bargaining and offering, and no faerie fruit lol
If you’re looking to escape to the Fae realm, pick up this book and just enjoy!
The author sent me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.
-Slow burn
-Heavy world building focus
-Urban fantasy romance
-Welsh mythology and lore
-Fae history and myth
-Bi rep
-Kelpies
-A murder mystery
And if you’re fans of things like The Folk of the Air series and Fae/Unseelie lore, then I simply must recommend you give this book a try.
I adored Raegan, her brashness, her tenacity, and snark. And her relationship with the Fae King EEEEE. I don’t want to say too much to give anything away. But I love them so so much! I honestly love their story and how they are connected. And I love that Victoria can write this whole book from Raegan's POV, but you can just FEEL what the King is going through still.
And UGHHHHH the longing and the pining and the subtleties to the language being that the King is Fae. It’s one of the things I love most about the Fae mythology - no lying, no thank yous, you must be very very clear in what you are bargaining and offering, and no faerie fruit lol
If you’re looking to escape to the Fae realm, pick up this book and just enjoy!
The author sent me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.
July 2, 2025
DID I READ A DIFFERENT BOOK?
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
After a few friends raved about this one I gave it a go and I’m so sad that it ended up not working for me.
Once again I have been plagued by another URBAN fantasy book masquerading as a true fantasy. If the modern world is present, it’s not FULL FANTASY (for my interpretation). And I really struggled with that. The first 200 pages were drawn out and had a repetitive quality to it that made reading tough.
The love interest does not have a personality. I wanted to love him (he gave me wannabe Rhys vibes), and it felt like we never got to KNOW him. The connection between him and Raegan was stilted even if I was loving the fated romance aspects.
I truly thought this was an interesting premise and many good bones were in place. Some of the execution lacked for me and these 550 pages felt longer than necessary.
Overall audience notes:
- Urban fantasy romance
- Language: moderate
- Romance: one open door
- Violence: moderate
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
After a few friends raved about this one I gave it a go and I’m so sad that it ended up not working for me.
Once again I have been plagued by another URBAN fantasy book masquerading as a true fantasy. If the modern world is present, it’s not FULL FANTASY (for my interpretation). And I really struggled with that. The first 200 pages were drawn out and had a repetitive quality to it that made reading tough.
The love interest does not have a personality. I wanted to love him (he gave me wannabe Rhys vibes), and it felt like we never got to KNOW him. The connection between him and Raegan was stilted even if I was loving the fated romance aspects.
I truly thought this was an interesting premise and many good bones were in place. Some of the execution lacked for me and these 550 pages felt longer than necessary.
Overall audience notes:
- Urban fantasy romance
- Language: moderate
- Romance: one open door
- Violence: moderate
March 11, 2025
I liked it at first, but the more I got into it, the more exhausting it got.
The FMC is unlikeable and annoying, she is rude to everyone for no reason and always angry. I felt sorry for Oberon, he tried his best to help her and was polite, but Raegan kept throwing "Fuck you!" at him. She constantly tried to hurt him with her words, and I couldn’t understand why Oberon loved her.
I also struggled with the pacing, the story took forever and ultimately went nowhere exciting.
The concept of this book was so promising! But oh well.
The FMC is unlikeable and annoying, she is rude to everyone for no reason and always angry. I felt sorry for Oberon, he tried his best to help her and was polite, but Raegan kept throwing "Fuck you!" at him. She constantly tried to hurt him with her words, and I couldn’t understand why Oberon loved her.
I also struggled with the pacing, the story took forever and ultimately went nowhere exciting.
The concept of this book was so promising! But oh well.
February 20, 2025
”It is your choice. Know that I will follow you to the ends of the Earth,” the King murmured, head tilted as his eyes searched hers. “But we have done this a thousand times, and I never like the ending.”
“Is this not beauty?” the King asked, his tone genuine, at least as far as she could tell. “Old roots were cut to the bone here, and yet they reemerge, defiant. Is there anything more beautiful than defiance, than survival? It is the most ancient song and perhaps the sweetest.”
“You are my deepest wound,” Oberon murmured, his eyes searching hers. “And yet I cannot live without the taste of blood in my mouth.”
“Instead of your sorrow,” the King continued, his gaze boring into hers, “no matter how righteous it may be, I want something else from you. I want your rage.”
💭 My thoughts
Why yes I am using several quotes from this book because there are so many good ones.
Does a story ever resonate so deeply in your soul that it changes you? It's rare for me to read something that touches me and yet this story did that and more. It's been on my TBR for awhile; something about the colors and the title called to me honestly, it felt special. I’m so glad that it lived up to my expectations and more. While I teared up a few times and didn't outright sob, the longing and the sorrow I felt for the characters hit a deeper, more internal emotion.
Victoria's writing is quite mesmerizing, leaving you in a trance quite similar to our FMC. There is nothing spectacular about Raegan, she doesn't have infinite powers, or incredible fighting skills. She is simply a mortal, living in modern times, and yet something deep within is calling to her. She can't quite figure out if it's her grief, depression, anxiety, or maybe something else entirely. But she feels wholly and vividly. The journey you take with her is spectacular on its own.
The King, so expected in a story like this and yet so unexpected at the time. If a sword could be a living thing, it would be The King. He’s not a being with a lot to say but you will be hanging on to his every word when he does and it might just cut you. The intelligence and sorrow he invokes with his scarce words makes you feel the gravity of his long existence. I love him and Raegan so much.
Alongside the amazing characters, I love Victoria's ability to write in vivid detail the setting in this story. I love when a setting comes to life in my mind and I feel as if I can taste, smell, feel what the characters are experiencing. Truly amazing. The ending was perfectly mysterious and heart-wrenching that I must and will continue this series! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a slow-burn romance filled with longing and ache and can appreciate an urban setting with heavy folklore.
⚠️ Trigger warnings
- Graphic: Mental illness, Confinement, Death
- Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, War
- Minor: Medical content
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March 30, 2024
How does one start a message to a new favorite author? I just finished staring at the train door. Honestly, the edges around my phone where my Kindle app resides are still fuzzy because I don't want to come up from this world yet. When I finish a book, I go to the links provided by the author, and usually after signing up for the newsletter, I find myself perusing their social media. I know you just released it on what, Tuesday? Forgive my delay, but I came across it on Thursday and it consumed all my free time till now. I feel like I want to tell you five things at once, all layered on top of each other, just to get it all out. It was so…rich. You packed such detail within the world and the characters. Dense and decadent. I was immersed. And I didn't know what journey you were leading me on. That is one of the best feelings of a reader, you know? To be swept up. Not just relatability, because oh my God, her rage is delicious. Absolute perfection in its breadth. No, you took me to Philadelphia and to Camelot and to the inpatient ward. Only one of those was I intimately familiar with before Thursday. It was so delicate but also it had strength and bite. You thread the lines and layers together to somehow weave a result rich like tapestries and gritty like graffiti both. I often felt tears at the back of my eyes. I punched my pillow and the floor at multiple chapter endings depending on where I was laying reading at the time. And one thing I loved so much was how you immediately strung one to the next. I think I only saw one chapter where there was a bit of time passed after the last one. It was wonderful to go from one moment, turn the page and pick right back up at the next moment. No delay. Very satisfying continuum. Let's just say I read, well, often, and I have never highlighted as many passages as I have in your book. It's almost as much pink as it is black and white. Your book, out of the hundreds I've read, holds that honor now for me. I am simultaneously joyous that I found this only 48 hours after its release into the world, ecstatic to find a new name to truly pine for and champion, and also intensely ticked off that I have to wait with other mortals until December. So, thanks for that. Sincerely though, your dedication and your effort through this story, the magnitude of it… Well, we see the evidence of the craftsman in the finished piece. You, and this, are why Readers read.
July 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️ 2.5/5 stars | 🌶️ 1/5 chili peppers
Beyond the Aching Door by Victoria Mier felt like an adult Percy Jackson and the Olympians—a folklore-rich, quest-based journey tangled in Slavic myth and fae intrigue. I’m always drawn to a good adventure, and the quest element of Raegan searching for her long-missing father kept me turning pages, even when I wasn’t exactly connected to the characters.
Raegan, our FMC, is sharply acerbic—which isn’t a dealbreaker for me—but I struggled to connect with her emotionally. While her backstory includes a stay in an inpatient mental health facility, the details around it were vague, and it felt like a missed opportunity for deeper character development and more meaningful representation.
Then there’s King, the exiled fae monarch and supposed romantic interest. Unfortunately, the chemistry between him and Raegan didn’t land for me. The tension felt forced, and their dynamic lacked the build-up and emotional spark that makes even a “forbidden romance” believable. The one spicy scene was… fine. Just fine. He’s stoic and closed-off, and while the author tried to give him layers, I never felt like I knew him or rooted for him.
While the world-building and quest aspects were interesting enough to finish the book, they weren’t strong enough to make me care about continuing the duology. I came for the folklore and fantasy, but left feeling a little underwhelmed.
Beyond the Aching Door by Victoria Mier felt like an adult Percy Jackson and the Olympians—a folklore-rich, quest-based journey tangled in Slavic myth and fae intrigue. I’m always drawn to a good adventure, and the quest element of Raegan searching for her long-missing father kept me turning pages, even when I wasn’t exactly connected to the characters.
Raegan, our FMC, is sharply acerbic—which isn’t a dealbreaker for me—but I struggled to connect with her emotionally. While her backstory includes a stay in an inpatient mental health facility, the details around it were vague, and it felt like a missed opportunity for deeper character development and more meaningful representation.
Then there’s King, the exiled fae monarch and supposed romantic interest. Unfortunately, the chemistry between him and Raegan didn’t land for me. The tension felt forced, and their dynamic lacked the build-up and emotional spark that makes even a “forbidden romance” believable. The one spicy scene was… fine. Just fine. He’s stoic and closed-off, and while the author tried to give him layers, I never felt like I knew him or rooted for him.
While the world-building and quest aspects were interesting enough to finish the book, they weren’t strong enough to make me care about continuing the duology. I came for the folklore and fantasy, but left feeling a little underwhelmed.
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