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The Verge #2
Wretched Halo: A Romantasy of Magic and Adventure
Not yet published
Expected 26 Jul 26
Not all Fairytales end with happily ever after...
They saved their worlds. Now they must survive the paradise.
Kagan gave his duty. Tessa gave her passion. Lauren sacrificed herself to Danu. Together they repaired their worlds and restored the flow of magic, and Fae and mortals celebrate and rebuild.
Lauren takes up her duties as Lady of the Verge while Kagan and Tessa struggle to understand their destined love through Danu. Happily ever after should be theirs in this new paradise.
Yet a greater danger than the dual apocalypse lurks in the Void.
A darker evil, a patient evil. It waits. Strengthening. Plotting and planning. Watching for a crack in which to spill its darkness. Duty and sacrifice will not be enough. They must face their fears and stand together or fall to its corruption.
Its time is now.
Sacrifice restored magic. Fear will break it.
For fans Slow burn romanceShadow evilModerate spiceStrong heroinesMagic sabers and creaturesFae x HumanHe falls firstShe falls harderBuilding tension
They saved their worlds. Now they must survive the paradise.
Kagan gave his duty. Tessa gave her passion. Lauren sacrificed herself to Danu. Together they repaired their worlds and restored the flow of magic, and Fae and mortals celebrate and rebuild.
Lauren takes up her duties as Lady of the Verge while Kagan and Tessa struggle to understand their destined love through Danu. Happily ever after should be theirs in this new paradise.
Yet a greater danger than the dual apocalypse lurks in the Void.
A darker evil, a patient evil. It waits. Strengthening. Plotting and planning. Watching for a crack in which to spill its darkness. Duty and sacrifice will not be enough. They must face their fears and stand together or fall to its corruption.
Its time is now.
Sacrifice restored magic. Fear will break it.
For fans Slow burn romanceShadow evilModerate spiceStrong heroinesMagic sabers and creaturesFae x HumanHe falls firstShe falls harderBuilding tension
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
About the author
Jacqueline Patricks
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Welcome, dear reader, to my author page! I hope you enjoy reading mash ups and a touch of speculative fiction as much as I do. I'm not afraid of pushing boundaries. As such, sometimes my stories don't always fit in neat little industry boxes. I can promise fun, thrilling, interesting characters and HEA in my romances. I like to torture my characters and make them earn their HEA though, so be ready for some angst, pain, tears and cliff-hangers. If that's your style, please read on.
I've loved writing almost as long as I've loved reading. Stories in my mind burn to be told. I enjoy writing different genres and mixing genres, but my favorites are science fiction and fantasy with romance because who doesn't want romance in their life? I also write paramedic fiction based on my life experiences, and I'm a military veteran so I enjoy adding strong female and male characters to my stories.
YOU DON'T READ A JACQUELINE PATRICKS STORY, YOU EXPERIENCE IT!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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May 13, 2026"From the very first chapter, the story pulls you into a dark and beautifully crafted world...completely original in its own way... If you enjoy epic fantasy packed with suspense, dark secrets, power struggles, and immersive storytelling, this book deserves a spot at the top of your reading list. Strongly recommended for fantasy fans." - William Wilson - ARC REVIEWER
"I couldn't put it down! Unbelievable! The evil that came out...was mind-blowing! I can't wait for the next one! You can't leave me hanging like this!" - ARC Reader - Josie- May 2026
"I couldn't put it down! Unbelievable! The evil that came out...was mind-blowing! I can't wait for the next one! You can't leave me hanging like this!" - ARC Reader - Josie- May 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
There’s something incredibly satisfying about a sequel that doesn’t just continue the story… it expands it in every direction. Wretched Halo took everything I loved about book one and sharpened it into something darker, heavier, more emotional, and honestly? More addictive.
The transition from the first book into this one felt seamless. No awkward rehashing. No “trying to remember who everyone is.” You’re dropped right back into the aftermath of sacrifice, healing, and magic returning to the world except now the consequences are catching up to everyone in ways that feel dangerous and deeply personal.
What I loved most is that this book understands that “saving the world” doesn’t magically fix people. The emotional fallout matters here. Trauma matters. Trust matters. The relationships feel strained in believable ways while still keeping that underlying thread of devotion that made me root for these characters in the first place.
Kagan and Tessa absolutely carried this story for me. Their connection feels raw and earned, especially because neither of them is magically healed emotionally just because they survived the first catastrophe. The tension between destiny, fear, love, and responsibility is woven through almost every interaction.
And the atmosphere? SO good.
Dark magic. Political manipulation. Corruption spreading beneath the surface. The constant feeling that something terrible is quietly moving into place. This book has that creeping dread that keeps you saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 2 AM.
I also really appreciated that the fantasy elements stayed immersive without becoming overwhelming. The worldbuilding grows naturally from the first book instead of dumping information on the reader. The stakes feel larger now, but the story never loses its emotional core.
This definitely reads like the middle installment of a trilogy in the best way possible everything is unraveling, alliances are cracking, truths are surfacing, and you can feel the storm building for whatever devastation is coming next.
And honestly? That ending left me emotionally unwell in the exact way I want fantasy books to.
The transition from the first book into this one felt seamless. No awkward rehashing. No “trying to remember who everyone is.” You’re dropped right back into the aftermath of sacrifice, healing, and magic returning to the world except now the consequences are catching up to everyone in ways that feel dangerous and deeply personal.
What I loved most is that this book understands that “saving the world” doesn’t magically fix people. The emotional fallout matters here. Trauma matters. Trust matters. The relationships feel strained in believable ways while still keeping that underlying thread of devotion that made me root for these characters in the first place.
Kagan and Tessa absolutely carried this story for me. Their connection feels raw and earned, especially because neither of them is magically healed emotionally just because they survived the first catastrophe. The tension between destiny, fear, love, and responsibility is woven through almost every interaction.
And the atmosphere? SO good.
Dark magic. Political manipulation. Corruption spreading beneath the surface. The constant feeling that something terrible is quietly moving into place. This book has that creeping dread that keeps you saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 2 AM.
I also really appreciated that the fantasy elements stayed immersive without becoming overwhelming. The worldbuilding grows naturally from the first book instead of dumping information on the reader. The stakes feel larger now, but the story never loses its emotional core.
This definitely reads like the middle installment of a trilogy in the best way possible everything is unraveling, alliances are cracking, truths are surfacing, and you can feel the storm building for whatever devastation is coming next.
And honestly? That ending left me emotionally unwell in the exact way I want fantasy books to.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of Advance Copy received from Author
This book feels like stepping into the aftermath of a fairytale and realizing the real battle begins after the crown is won. Jacqueline Patricks takes the “happily ever after” trope, cracks it open like fragile glass, and fills the fractures with grief, destiny, sacrifice, and a creeping darkness that never stops breathing down the characters’ necks.
This book has that rare kind of fantasy tension where every victory tastes bittersweet. The worlds may have been saved, but peace feels delicate… like a candle flickering in a storm corridor. The Void lurking in the background gave the entire story this slow, suffocating pressure that kept me turning pages way too late into the night.
Kagan and Tessa absolutely owned my heart in this installment. Their connection burns with that aching destined-love energy, but it never feels easy or overly perfect. It’s messy, emotional, and layered with duty and fear. And Lauren stepping into her role as Lady of the Verge added such a powerful emotional backbone to the story. The women in this series are not ornaments in the narrative. They are the pulse of it.
The atmosphere deserves its own standing ovation. Shadowy magic, ancient danger, fae politics, sacrifice, and tension woven together with lyrical writing that feels almost enchanted. Even the quieter moments hum with unease, like the world itself is holding its breath.
And that slow burn? Exquisite torture. The kind that drips instead of explodes. Every glance, every emotional collision, every moment of vulnerability lands harder because the build-up is so carefully crafted.
If you love:
✨ Dark fae fantasy
✨ Soul-deep romance
✨ Strong heroines
✨ Shadowy evil lurking at the edges
✨ “He falls first, she falls harder” energy
✨ High stakes with emotional devastation
…then Wretched Halo will wrap its thorny vines around your heart and refuse to let go. This series feels like magic carved into stone: beautiful, dangerous, and impossible to forget.
This book feels like stepping into the aftermath of a fairytale and realizing the real battle begins after the crown is won. Jacqueline Patricks takes the “happily ever after” trope, cracks it open like fragile glass, and fills the fractures with grief, destiny, sacrifice, and a creeping darkness that never stops breathing down the characters’ necks.
This book has that rare kind of fantasy tension where every victory tastes bittersweet. The worlds may have been saved, but peace feels delicate… like a candle flickering in a storm corridor. The Void lurking in the background gave the entire story this slow, suffocating pressure that kept me turning pages way too late into the night.
Kagan and Tessa absolutely owned my heart in this installment. Their connection burns with that aching destined-love energy, but it never feels easy or overly perfect. It’s messy, emotional, and layered with duty and fear. And Lauren stepping into her role as Lady of the Verge added such a powerful emotional backbone to the story. The women in this series are not ornaments in the narrative. They are the pulse of it.
The atmosphere deserves its own standing ovation. Shadowy magic, ancient danger, fae politics, sacrifice, and tension woven together with lyrical writing that feels almost enchanted. Even the quieter moments hum with unease, like the world itself is holding its breath.
And that slow burn? Exquisite torture. The kind that drips instead of explodes. Every glance, every emotional collision, every moment of vulnerability lands harder because the build-up is so carefully crafted.
If you love:
✨ Dark fae fantasy
✨ Soul-deep romance
✨ Strong heroines
✨ Shadowy evil lurking at the edges
✨ “He falls first, she falls harder” energy
✨ High stakes with emotional devastation
…then Wretched Halo will wrap its thorny vines around your heart and refuse to let go. This series feels like magic carved into stone: beautiful, dangerous, and impossible to forget.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This sequel to "Fairytale Apocalypse" is the middle book of a (planned) trilogy. It felt somewhat darker than the first book, but that's to be expected as the story unfolds and conflict builds. I really enjoyed the world building here with the separation of the two worlds, etc. The evil characters are suitably creepy, and the protagonists are somewhat complicated (a positive thing).
The story here begins a few years after the previous volume, and I was immediately surprised by the turn of events since then. As things move along, the "problem" keeps seeming larger, and the two sisters (Lauren and Tessa) change remarkably in relation to the male protagonist (Kagan).
Full disclosure: I requested and received an ARC of "Wretched Halo" directly from the author as soon as I heard it was in the works. I was eager to read this, having read "Fairytale Apocalypse" some years ago when it was still in draft form. Before reading this, I did re-read that.
The story here begins a few years after the previous volume, and I was immediately surprised by the turn of events since then. As things move along, the "problem" keeps seeming larger, and the two sisters (Lauren and Tessa) change remarkably in relation to the male protagonist (Kagan).
Full disclosure: I requested and received an ARC of "Wretched Halo" directly from the author as soon as I heard it was in the works. I was eager to read this, having read "Fairytale Apocalypse" some years ago when it was still in draft form. Before reading this, I did re-read that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The ending of Fairytale Apocalypse made me immediately want to pick up Wretched Halo, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next for Tessa, Kagan, and Lauren.
What kept me invested most was seeing how the characters handled the consequences of everything that happened in book one. Tessa has a lot to navigate throughout the story. Between her growing relationship with Kagan, her connection with Lauren, and the responsibilities that come with being destined for magic, she is constantly being pulled in different directions as the world around her continues to change.
The dark magic storyline kept me invested throughout the book. There is always a feeling that something dangerous is building in the background, and I liked seeing how the threat from the end of book one continued to grow and shape the story.
Between the character relationships, the growing threat of the dark magic, and the questions still left unanswered, this kept me turning pages and left me excited for the next book.
What kept me invested most was seeing how the characters handled the consequences of everything that happened in book one. Tessa has a lot to navigate throughout the story. Between her growing relationship with Kagan, her connection with Lauren, and the responsibilities that come with being destined for magic, she is constantly being pulled in different directions as the world around her continues to change.
The dark magic storyline kept me invested throughout the book. There is always a feeling that something dangerous is building in the background, and I liked seeing how the threat from the end of book one continued to grow and shape the story.
Between the character relationships, the growing threat of the dark magic, and the questions still left unanswered, this kept me turning pages and left me excited for the next book.
June 2, 2026
Review of advanced copy from author! ✍️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5
I really enjoyed Wretched Halo! This book pulled me in right away, and once I got invested in the characters, I couldn’t stop reading. Jacqueline Patrick did a great job creating characters who felt real and easy to connect with, flaws and all.
The emotional moments definitely hit, and I found myself rooting for the characters throughout the story. The relationships felt genuine, and the chemistry was one of my favorite parts of the book. There was plenty of tension, drama, and heartfelt moments to keep me turning the page!
If you’re looking for an emotional, character-driven read with plenty of heart, I’d definitely recommend giving Wretched Halo a try! ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5
I really enjoyed Wretched Halo! This book pulled me in right away, and once I got invested in the characters, I couldn’t stop reading. Jacqueline Patrick did a great job creating characters who felt real and easy to connect with, flaws and all.
The emotional moments definitely hit, and I found myself rooting for the characters throughout the story. The relationships felt genuine, and the chemistry was one of my favorite parts of the book. There was plenty of tension, drama, and heartfelt moments to keep me turning the page!
If you’re looking for an emotional, character-driven read with plenty of heart, I’d definitely recommend giving Wretched Halo a try! ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Is book three released yet? Because what do you mean I have to wait? I loved the first book in this series and I had high hopes for the second book. Let me just say that it did not disappoint at all. The characters are so real, the worlds are incredibly crafted, the plot keeps you guessing on what is going to happen next and how they are going to save the world, who is going to betray who and why, and what consequences will there be? The ending will have you kicking your feet and demanding more. You will fall in love with some characters and absolutely hate some of the others. Jacqueline, respectfully, I am ready for book number three, please and thank you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh wow… was great to see some of the characters from the first book returned. Such a great story and the backdrop’s of the ‘Waste and the Verge’ are fantastic settings for the story. Character development was on point and good to see a few others emerging victorious while some crash and burn. Can’t wait to see what more is brought to the table in the next instalment of this saga. I have my fingers crossed for Kagan and Tessa that they will save us all 🫶🏻🫶🏻
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5
This book continues to follow the adventures and mishaps of Kagan, Tessa and Lauren as they try to figure out their roles in the newly saved fae and mortal worlds and encounter a "big evil". Unfortunate events, thought control/manipulation, mythical creatures, whimsical figures, nightmarish monsters and good vs evil make this a gripping story that was difficult to put down!
This book continues to follow the adventures and mishaps of Kagan, Tessa and Lauren as they try to figure out their roles in the newly saved fae and mortal worlds and encounter a "big evil". Unfortunate events, thought control/manipulation, mythical creatures, whimsical figures, nightmarish monsters and good vs evil make this a gripping story that was difficult to put down!
July 5, 2026
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this story, it is my opinion.
This book pulled me in with the very first chapter. It is a dark and beautiful crafted world. If you are into fantasy that’s packed with suspense, power struggles, storytelling and secrets then you need to read this book. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in 24 hrs. I was blown out of the water.
This book pulled me in with the very first chapter. It is a dark and beautiful crafted world. If you are into fantasy that’s packed with suspense, power struggles, storytelling and secrets then you need to read this book. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in 24 hrs. I was blown out of the water.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I'm so happy it continues from book one. Lauren is second guessing herself being the lady of the verge. And her sister really needs to grow up some. We have a demon who wants everything and will do whatever it takes to get it. I'm looking forward to book 3 to see how it all goes down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for this amazing arc read! I thought the first book was good, but this one was even better! I loved the story line and the characters. I can’t wait to read more books by this talented author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved it
Review of advance copy received from Author
The mortal twins find a way to heal the land of the Fae and also the Mortal lands. Dark magic results in the murder of the king, magic sabers and a magic bird fight against dark magic. One of the twins becomes overwhelmed by dark magic. Will dark magic succeed in overwhelming Fae Magic, that’s the cliffhanger what happens next ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Review of advance copy
This is amazing 🤩
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews