Come What May: Tales of Forgotten Fae

by Lexy Night

After hundreds of years of peace, the echoes of war stir throughout Demir once more. Betrayal from within the southern kingdom of Artume creates a new and violent regime. Cress and the other members of the Imperi prepare to intervene, secretly embedding themselves amongst the traitor king’s inner circle.

The future of Cambria hinges on Cress controlling her newly discovered ability—but all power comes at a cost.
Can she master dark wielding, or will she be claimed by the very darkness she seeks to control?

Trace promises to atone for his betrayal, while Varro vows to remain by Cress’s side. A reckoning of the heart will come to pass, and lives hang in the balance.

Torn between the mating bond and a future she did not choose, Cress must decide if she will bend to the will of fate—or forge her own destiny.

What you'll find in this

This first-person POV romantasy is perfect for readers who enjoy a unique magic system, forbidden romance, and a captivating cast of characters bonded by a sacred oath.

For fans of authors Carissa Broadbent, Elise Kova, Olivia Wildenstein, S.M. Gaither and Helen Scheuerer

Tropes
- Fated Mates
- Secret Relationship
- Dark Magic
- Revenge
- Spice, Not A Slow Burn
- Will They or Won't They
- Political Intrigue
- Morally Grey vs Golden Retriever
- Espionage
- Bonus POV

Genres: Fantasy

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Corey McPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly Thank you to Lexy Night for allowing me to be a part of the ARC readers, i haven't ever read an ARC so it was a very fun experience. (Especially getting to know what the hell happens a bit early, yes i was impatiently waiting for this book!)


The next thing i wanted to mention is that I felt like I could see LN gain more confidence and trust in her own abilities of writing in this second book. To No End is the first installment of this series and LN's Debut novel just mere months before the second book of her first Duology. It's been incredibly cool to watch her process behind the scenes that brought us here!

Now for the actual review


"To No End..."

I absolutely adored this world LN created, I loved how the magic worked and getting to explore a bit darker side of magic while focusing on how to avoid "The Drift" - this specific element brought me back to "The Young Elites" by Marie Lu and how the shadow powers worked for their equivalent of a "Dark Wielder" which I loved. Having such massive amounts of untapped power that can do most anything but comes with the price of the users sanity. I loved the delicate balance created by this dynamic.


STOP READING IF YOU DONT WANT SPOILERS

The character arcs in this series were amazing and I really enjoyed watching them all mature and grow.

Nori - OH GOD MY SHAYLLLAAAA, LN you know this was evil and broke my heart lol.
Gia- I loved her from the minute we met her, i loved her tragic backstory (Sorry Gia, love ya girl) and how powerful she was not just in her magic but as a person
Cairis - At first i was fairly indifferent but by the end i couldn't have survived if we lost him
Trace - Book 1 made me love trace and then hate him, Come What May made me fall in love with him all over again. LEXYYYY, THE NOTEEEE?!?! Evil and you know it but so well written
Varro - I loved him in book one, I'm IN LOVE with him now (all i hear is A Man, A Man, A Ma-a-a-a-aaannn) His devotion to Cress is next level
Cress- Give the dark wielding to women always because they just do it so much better than a man ever could. I loved getting to see her grow and face harsh truths of reality but still holding onto her love for those she cares about.



Overall I think this series was devastatingly beautiful and I couldn't have asked for anything to be changed. I can't wait to see what's next for Lexy Night!

"...Come What May."

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duology is top tier. Absolutely phenomenal from start to finish. Lexy Night has officially ruined me in the best way possible.

I loved this second book even more than the first , it’s packed with action, emotion, and the kind of love triangle that keeps your heart torn in two (and you secretly love every minute of it). Cress is such a fantastic main character. She’s powerful, flawed, loyal, and just so easy to root for. Watching her navigate love, loyalty, and the weight of her magic was everything.

The writing pulls you right in, there’s grief, laughter, heartbreak, hope… basically every emotion under the sun. By the end, I was clutching the book like it owed me emotional damages.

If you love morally gray choices, found family, and stories that break your heart and stitch it back together, this duology is a must-read. Lexy Night has truly created something magical here. Thanks to the Realm Studios for the gifted ARC.

[Kina Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a particular pacing in book 1, and it's equally present in book 2, which occasionally almost seems to work against the drive that the narrative seems to strive for. Despite that, the story is a wild ride from start to finish and it gets very dark at certain turns. Not everyone gets plot armor and I'm still processing those scenes days later.

The placement of foreshadowing hints was absolutely delightful and I loved seeing if my guesses were accurate or not as I plunged further into story, each one just vague or subtle enough to make me feel smart for picking them out.

There are also Easter eggs hinting that there may be more to this world in the future, despite this being a dualogy, and I would LOVE for more stories in this world.

There are small things that I felt were left unanswered around the conclusion, but a lot of it is my own curiosity of events outside the single first-person POV of Cress and I acknowledge the limitations of that perspective. This is about the only thing that dropped off any points for me; I inhaled this book in two days and I'm left wanting more!

[Kayleigh Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you so much to Lexy for letting me be an ARC reader of this book. I have been sitting impatiently waiting for this since I finished To No End.

Lexy girl you done did it again!

Come What May was everything I wanted and more. I had such emotional whiplash thinking I knew what was going to happen and then …Chapter 26. Ifykyk. Pause while I just rearrange my whole heart.

Varro the man that you are!! 🫢I’ve been rooting for you since day one. So I’m so damn happy my guy got his. I’m not always a fan of love triangle situations but Lexy writes the connections between Cress and Trace and Cress and Varro so well that even I found myself questioning. The story of Trace and Cress is so bittersweet🥺. I understand the why and the how… but after trying to recover from earlier chapters, it tore me up.


I’m crossing all ten fingers and ten toes that this series will continue. The ending is very open I’d say. I’d really like to deep dive more into Cress’s dark magic and the drift, how she and Varro navigate it alongside being mated and part of the order. Suffice to say I shall be watching out online and at the newsletters for even a small inclination for book three.

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chilli Pepperinos :🌶️🌶️

Big sad emotions:🤕🤕🤕

[Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very late on my ARC review due to moving, but here it is.

For Lexy- HOW COULD YOU???

Now for the review. This is book 2 of the Tales of the Forgotten Fae with book one being To No End. Absolutely amazing book. Beautifully written. This book will most definitely break your heart more than once, so be prepared.

Thank you to Lexy for allowing me to be an ARC reader and many apologies for the super late review!!

[Tay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, I really liked that first book in this series, I was so pleasantly surprised by it. This book was more of a let down for me, which did not seem to be the general consensus, so I may just be wrong. However, I loved following Cress and Varro's relationship after the end of the last book. I am obsessed with Varro and how he handled everything with Cress. I also love (and loved in the first book) the writing in this book. The author is so descriptive and writes so beautifully. You will be reading paragraphs of just descriptions and be so immersed in the writing because of the author's writing style. I also enjoyed the mission and some of the plot twists. I was so so sad by the loss of one of the members of the team. However, there was many things I did not like. There was often too much anticipation of an event and too much explanation in my eyes. Sometimes, it felt like we were about to get to something important, and the book would just fall flat. I feel that this book may have succumbed to second book syndrome and perhaps the third will be even better. I wish we got some more action and did not have to wait so long for snippets of action packed scenes or scenes between Cress and Varro. I also liked the end and felt so conflicted about Trace. In general, I just did not love this book. I had to make myself pick it up and finish it, which shows me my feelings before I am even done. I am willing to give the next book a chance, but was semi disappointed with this after the great first book.

[Arianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally have no words to describe how much I loved CWM! I was so incredibly honored to receive an ARC of Book 2 for The Tale of Forgotten Fae and it did not disappoint!

I have been so impatiently waiting since January to pick my jaw up off the floor after the cliff hanger of To No End.

Now that we have our badasses trained up we jump right into our mission in the southern kingdom of Artume and man oh man.. on the edge of my seat! This is full of political intrigue and anxiety as we are taken through missions, learning more about Cress, her powers and the rest of the gang!

The found family with this group literally just has my heart and I want to know them in real life.

As expected, and even though I mentally prepared myself - Lexy tore my heart out, put me back together, made me laugh, gasp, cry.. you know all the things you want in a book!!

I think this wrapped up so beautifully with the potential to have some more stories explored… please and thank you! lol!! Will always want more of this story and these characters!

Lexy is an auto support auto buy author for me and I am absolutely so stoked to see what she comes up with next!!

[Whitley Munns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexy count your freaking days.

It’s rare that a book sends me through all the stages of grief, has me laughing out loud, giggling and kicking my feet, and then bawling my eyes out again.

My heart is in pieces. Does my heart even exist anymore?? Idk.

This book was phenomenal and I’m so grateful to once again be an ARC reader for sweet Lexy.

The writing style is pretty formal, and it took me a minute to get into the flow of words, but the story is immersive and I felt a legitimate attachment to each character.
The story does a GREAT job of making you question the authenticity of some characters. Are they good? Are they bad?? Are they bad bad or just doing what they think is right?

For the Imperi, life isn’t fair. They have to make sacrifices. They live and breathe for the cause.
No mercy.
To no end, Come what may.
Pray to the Gods for a swift death and chance at another life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Read it ❤️

[Victoria Mariconda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and let me tell you….

This book picks up exactly where book one leaves off, and weaves a tale of adventure, love, friendship, and political intrigue.

We dive further into El’s magic, and the weight she bears because of it.

I am excited to see where the next book will pick up!!

[Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had a much more epic feel than Book 1 but there are still plenty of surprises and heartbreak to go around. Desperately needing a Book 3 now! This can't be just a duology!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

[Kati Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely fell in love with this author’s debut book, so I had high hopes going into her second—and she completely exceeded them. From the very first page, I was pulled back into this world and found myself falling even deeper in love with the characters. My heart broke several times throughout the story, but in the best possible way.

The growth and power in Cress’s journey as she learns to embrace her role as a dark wielder was incredible to witness. The emotional depth, the twists, and the stunning character development kept me captivated until the very end.

I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. It’s a story that will stay with me for a long time—and I already can’t wait to see what this amazing author creates next!

[Rebecca]

I've decided to put this back at 32%.

This book is just not for me. There were a lot of things that I just wasn't connecting with and struggled with understanding.

I felt like the writing for this book was really rushed. To me it felt like I was being told the story, not being shown. It didn't feel like there was anything being described at all. There was little to no emotion attached to any of the characters actions which made them hard to connect with. One of the last lines I read was a character speaking and it was something along the lines of "he said, his voice raising as he became more animated." I was paused and asked myself what does this even mean? Is he pacing as he talks? Running his hands through his hair? Frowning, smiling with wide eyes? Whats happening here?

At the end of the first book we find out that someone else in the crew is actually our FMC's mate and the actions that happened in this book didn't make sense to me. All of a sudden now that she has a mate all she can think about is making out with him and getting him undressed but the week before she was cool with just being his friend? It felt like that the only reason she had any connection with him was because of the mate bond and i really struggled with that. I was hoping to see more of a slow burn in this book, letting them explore the new meaning of their relationship and seeing a natural progression of their relationship outside of the influence of their mate bond.

I also struggled with the pacing of this book. The first book was slow to begin but once things picked up they started really moving. The end of the first book made it seem like things were going to continue to move at a quicker pace in terms of the overall plot of the book. It did not. The first 32% of this book, nothing happens that I didn't already know from the first book. It felt like we were re-hashing all of the same stuff that we learned from the first book and it made it difficult for me to keep going.

I've decided to put this one back, as I don't feel like its what I'm looking for in the types of books I'm reading now. I think I've outgrown some tropes and the ones in this book include those.

[Hanna Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow.

Come What May pickes up right where To No End left off. Second books always give me a little anxiety because I fear they wont live up to the set up from book 1 but that anxiety was gone around chapter 2! Book 2 of the Tales of Forgotten Fae surpassed all expectations and was PHENOMENAL!!

This book is paced in a way that you feel like youre moving through the espionage and missions nicely without missing all the little moments in between. This story built up to the beautiful ending. Although I cannot tell if the story is finished, it could have a spin off for Gia and Cairis and there are potentials for more answers to Cress's story.

The relationships, the heartbreaks, the betrayals, are all thought out and while foreshadowing attempted to prepare you, you still get hit with all the emotions and feelings as you read this books.

I highly recommend picking up the Tales of Forgotten Fae series if you havent already! It had an interesting class system, unique magic, a beautiful world, mystery, intrigue and incredible characters!

[Morgan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lexy knight has done it again and this time she is ripping our hearts out and stomping on it. I had high hopes for the second book and she overpassed all expectations! This book broke me. Without giving too much away, I have been team Varro since the beginning… but to say this didn’t hurt a lot would be a lie. 😭 Lexy’s writing is phenomenal in the aspect that even if you think you have an idea where the story is going, it never plays out exactly how you expect. The way she writes the characters you find yourself constantly asking “do I like this person or not?” Which I absolutely love in a book. Saryn might be one of my favorite characters ever in a book. Thank you Lexy for allowing me to be apart of the journey by being an ARC reading. I can’t wait for what’s next!

[Kim Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute perfect finish to the duology. All of the feelings when your heart it ton out of your chest, put back together then pulled out again. Such a beautifully written story that will keep you captured and routing for characters. Or in my case one I wanted to reach in and unalive myself 😂!


Truly exactly what you need after To No End and even more than I could have ever hoped for. The revenge had me on my toes and the twists had me gasping. This is what everyone wants from a story if you are a reader and a fan of all things Fae!!

There is no better feeling than finding a new author that you instantly fall in love with from the very beginning! I cannot wait to see where Lexy goes next as all of her readers are sure to follow myself included! Yes, you are stuck with me 😂

🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this second book, has been absolutely amazing. This books has it all, love, action, found family, revenge, all of it. Cress is such a wonderful fmc who is strong, powerful and will not stand for anything. Plus having her heart turn between the two man who she loved, but so happy the one and only got to keep her (won't give you spoilers). I was so excited for this book to come but wow it was beyond what I thought. I was definitely not disappointed. Will always recommend it, because it's an amazing duology♡ Lexy you did amazing, your writing is beautiful, and your characters make you feel all the emotions. It's an amazing experience to read yours books♡

[Morgan Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟 I was not prepared for the emotional damage of this book!! We pick up where we left off at Basdie and the team is setting off for their first real mission! I loved the espionage of this series and the complexities of the magic it definitely brought some freshness to Fae stories! The things I loved most about this series are spoilers so let's just say I did not expect the author to go to some of the places she did! While this duology is complete Lexy definitely leaves room to continue in this world which I really hope she does!

Read if you love
☆Fated Mates
☆Found Family
☆Political Intrigue
☆Espionage

Thank you to the author and Realm studios for this arc opportunity!

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so ready to jump back into Cress’s story, and this sequel did not hold back! I went through every emotion possible stress, swoons, rage, and that unhinged reader energy when you’re yelling at fictional characters like they can hear you.

I’m a sucker for a fated mates and this one had me kicking my feet. The tension and build up!! And that twist?! Lexy, you and these cliffhangers girrrrrllll. How dare you… and also, thank you. 😭

Now begins the torture of patiently (not really) waiting for Book 3.

Thank you Lexy Night & Realm Studies for this ARC!

[Mackenzie M.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I was provided an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for a fair review.

I was so excited to receive this ARC for the second book in this series! I absolutely loved To No End and was anxiously anticipating what came next.

New locations, expanding powers, spy missions, developing love, heartbreak. This book literally had everything I wanted and still kept me surprised with the twists and turns along the way.

I am really excited to see where this adventure takes us next! I’m absolutely in love with all these characters.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It comes as no surprise that I loved this book.
Once again I was hooked from page 1. Book 2 comes with darker themes and vibes.
I can’t stress enough how much I love this world and these characters. Lexy builds the world so perfectly you feel like you are in this desert with them. In this kingdom of betrayal and murderrrrr.
Cress is a top FMC for me. We see so much character growth with her. She is one of the most relatable characters ever written. Ya know. Besides the super hot fae mate.
Come What May blends real life situations and feelings into this beautifully broken fantasy world.
Cress fresh off heartbreak and discovering she has a mate has to deal with her instinct and draw towards Varro vs protection and healing from Trace’s betrayal.
BUT that is actually the least of their problems after true evil has taken the throne.
How far will they go to destroy the evil regime? 🤔
We see the Imperi truly break. Lexy may have gotten an emotional voice note 😅
A scene that will be hard to top.
Varro shines in his unending patience and care for Cress. Like honestly. My reoccurring note is “the man you are” 🍊🍊
Gia truly the baddest 🤌🏻🤌🏻 I’m hoping we get… well, read it and find out.
My feelings for Trace are complicated. I love him but also he pissed me off. I am a sucker for a tortured soul. Writing this makes my eyes water. He’s great I could never hold a grudge towards him actually. I SAID WHAT I SAID. I love Trace too.
This book will get your heart racing and your eyes crying.
I’m not kidding. I’m crying writing this review and making these graphics. 😅

[Andy Cuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great part 2! I love this cast of characters and only wish there was more. Lexy Night make this is a whole series please! There’s so much the world of Demir has to give, and that’s a testament to writing and world building. All the emotional turmoil of book 1 but with even higher stakes and bigger shocks. I’ll be reading every book Lexy puts out, as I know it’ll be a fun ride.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, this was a beautiful story.

This book wrecked me in the most amazing way. My heart was not ready for the feelings that I had while reading. What these characters experience is raw unfiltered and real. The inner turmoil, worries, thrills, hope, love was relatable in every way. My heart has never been so torn between two male characters before. I dreaded but loved every moment of the unknown. Amazing writing!

Tears were shed, laughs were had, and I am so happy that Lexy shared this with the world.

Thank you for the ugly cries! Absolutely loved this duology!

[Sara Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duology will stay with me forever. What an incredible story, a breathtaking blend of found family, true love, haunted pasts, and uncertain futures. It pulls you into a world unlike any other and makes you fall for every character, flaws and all. Come What May and To No End are masterpieces I’ll recommend for the rest of my life. A solid 5/5 duology.

[Julie Burdick · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️’s.. I can’t get enough of this series and this second book did not disappoint. It had everything.. fated mates, found family, spy assassins, court politics, fae magic, a love triangle, surprising twists, espionage, action packed, hidden secrets revealed, and epic battle scenes.

I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I need it like yesterday!!

[lenytte.eliane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so hooked by To No End when it came out that I knew I had to read Come What May. I was an ARC reader for this book and ugh I loved Cress and was freaking out all through book 1 and book 2 had me feeling the same way. I felt so much throughout book 2. I cried and laughed, I kicked my feet and giggled. I cried again. I am so grateful I got to read this but also I’m so sad it’s over. A 10/10 duology, loved every second of it.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I struggled putting this book down. Not only did we get answers from the first book, there were a few scenes that had me looking at the book like 😱 ”did that just happen?!”. It was an action packed, emotional rollercoaster all the way through. I laughed, I cried, I cringed (but in a good way, chapter 27 😳), I fell in love (the boat scene IYKYK 😉), and my heart broke for more than one reason. This was an absolute perfect end to this story!

I’m so sad this duology has come to an end but I’m so happy that I got to experience both books! This duology here will forever be one of my favorites. Lexy Nights writing just has a way of bringing you right into the world of Demir. She does such an excellent job of making you question each character and their motives. I spent so many “are they actually the bad guy?” moments which added to the overall experience. It was so fun making my own theories and seeing if they played out! Through both books I felt like I was actually part of the action! It was like a movie in my head!

Thank you again Lexy Night and The Realm Studios for including me in your ARC team!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure how we have a cliffhanger at the end of a duology, but here we are! I just need MORE!

I love the Imperi cast of characters. I love the world of Demir. Lexy Night has masterfully crafted a unique world with action, spice, found family and high stakes.

Already planning my series reread to tide me over until her next book release!

[Allison Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up- I really loved book one so I had high hopes. While this was good, I felt it was a bit rushed and I needed more. I think this could easily have been a trilogy and I’m a bit disappointed. Overall, I enjoyed the duet.

[Sydney Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Thank you Lexy for letting me be a part of this journey!!! I love these characters and this world. If you're wondering if you should read these books, the answer is yes. Just do it.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review forthcoming, I need a moment or ten first.

Do I recommend this book though? - 10000% I do.