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The Feywild Job
Sparks fly when bitter exes are forced to team up for an elaborate Feywild heist, in this cozy fantasy romance by the bestselling author of the Kingston Cycle and Even Though I Knew the End.
Saeldian has sworn never to fall in love. That oath isn’t just a personal promise, but rather a magical pact, granting them powerful abilities. The only catch? They must never give their heart away—a deal that Saeldian is perfectly content with. They’ve seen firsthand how messy love can get.
Saeldian prefers their no-strings-attached life as a con artist, pulling off heists and leaving a trail of broken hearts behind them. But when a grift goes horribly wrong, they catch the eye of a mysterious patron with a job offer they can’t refuse.
The mission? Steal a gem called “The Kiss of Enduring Love” and return it to the Feywild. Simple enough, until Saeldian discovers their ex-partner, Kell—a charming bard—is part of the team.
The last time Saeldian saw Kell, things hardly ended on good terms. A kiss became a betrayal, leaving Kell hurt and confused for almost a decade. But Kell can’t just walk away—not when this job might finally be his ticket back to the Feywild.
Forced to work together again, their adventure takes them from high-society parties to Feywild couple’s therapy. But as Saeldian and Kell rekindle their chemistry, they realize the gem is much more than a fey bauble, and their simple heist has summoned powerful enemies. . . .
Saeldian has sworn never to fall in love. That oath isn’t just a personal promise, but rather a magical pact, granting them powerful abilities. The only catch? They must never give their heart away—a deal that Saeldian is perfectly content with. They’ve seen firsthand how messy love can get.
Saeldian prefers their no-strings-attached life as a con artist, pulling off heists and leaving a trail of broken hearts behind them. But when a grift goes horribly wrong, they catch the eye of a mysterious patron with a job offer they can’t refuse.
The mission? Steal a gem called “The Kiss of Enduring Love” and return it to the Feywild. Simple enough, until Saeldian discovers their ex-partner, Kell—a charming bard—is part of the team.
The last time Saeldian saw Kell, things hardly ended on good terms. A kiss became a betrayal, leaving Kell hurt and confused for almost a decade. But Kell can’t just walk away—not when this job might finally be his ticket back to the Feywild.
Forced to work together again, their adventure takes them from high-society parties to Feywild couple’s therapy. But as Saeldian and Kell rekindle their chemistry, they realize the gem is much more than a fey bauble, and their simple heist has summoned powerful enemies. . . .
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2026
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Did Not Finish
May 20, 2026DNF 24%! so bummed about this one. i love the idea of a cozy, magical heist romance, so i thought i’d love this, but this is not clicking. not the characters, the plot, the writing, or even the dialogue.
i’ve picked this up at least five different times this month trying to force myself to get into it, and nothing is hooking my interest. and i’d love to tell you ‘oh this is what’s wrong with it’ but there isn’t anything specifically wrong with it, i just don’t like it
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
i’ve picked this up at least five different times this month trying to force myself to get into it, and nothing is hooking my interest. and i’d love to tell you ‘oh this is what’s wrong with it’ but there isn’t anything specifically wrong with it, i just don’t like it
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🍃✨ The Feywild Job ✨🍃
Oh I’m so sad to not have loved this book. I was so excited to get approved for this ARC. But I really struggled with it.
The romance was the biggest let down, and I just had a hard time connecting to either character.
💫 What to Expect
• Exes to lovers
• Heist plot
• Feywild setting
• Con artist MC
• Magical pact
• Cozy fantasy
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Oh I’m so sad to not have loved this book. I was so excited to get approved for this ARC. But I really struggled with it.
The romance was the biggest let down, and I just had a hard time connecting to either character.
💫 What to Expect
• Exes to lovers
• Heist plot
• Feywild setting
• Con artist MC
• Magical pact
• Cozy fantasy
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 30, 2026
3.5
Let me preface this by saying I think I am the problem in this case, if you loved Emily Wilde and Bromantasy you will probably like this book, I'm just usually not a fan of this style of book.
The feywild job is a crazy fantasy set in a queer normative world where our nonbinary mc embarks in a heist with their ex best friend(and possibly more). It's fast paced and there's a lot of action and the side characters are great. There's a lot of banter between the main characters and it's a pretty funny book at times.
For me, it was just a little boring, something that seems to be a problem with most cozy fantasies but that I recognize is the genre and a lot of people like these books for that sole reason. It just wasn't for me.
Let me preface this by saying I think I am the problem in this case, if you loved Emily Wilde and Bromantasy you will probably like this book, I'm just usually not a fan of this style of book.
The feywild job is a crazy fantasy set in a queer normative world where our nonbinary mc embarks in a heist with their ex best friend(and possibly more). It's fast paced and there's a lot of action and the side characters are great. There's a lot of banter between the main characters and it's a pretty funny book at times.
For me, it was just a little boring, something that seems to be a problem with most cozy fantasies but that I recognize is the genre and a lot of people like these books for that sole reason. It just wasn't for me.
July 26, 2026
I was very impressed by C.L. Polk’s Kingston Cycle of novels, starting with
Witchmark
, and I absolutely adored
The Midnight Bargain
, so when I heard they had a new standalone fantasy novel, I was feral about it. I somehow missed that it was an IP novel. Oddly enough, while I have been D&D adjacent my entire life, I have never actually played D&D, and in general I don’t read tie-in novels. Occasionally, I make an exception—and I’m glad I did in this case. The Feywild Job is quite accessible for D&D outsiders, and it pretty much delivers what’s on the jacket: a cozy fantasy romance, a heist, a story of found family and redemption.
Saeldian Charmhand is an elf-human, and as a child they entered into a pact with an elf: magic in return for never falling in love. Whenever someone comes along who might threaten Saeldian’s end of that bargain, they GTFO. This happened ten years prior, with Kell Redsong, who was their partner in crime and nearly the love of their life. Now Saeldian and Kell have been unwillingly reunited to plan and pull off—in a single day—a reverse heist. Each brings an able partner to the company, and together these four embark on their quest. But Saeldian is afraid of hurting Kell again—or breaking their pact.
First, let’s talk genre. The Feywild Job is accurately labelled as fantasy romance, not romantasy, so the romance is very much integral to the plot of this story, and fans of romance will find plenty of tropes they might adore (only one bed, oh no!). The magical elements of the story don’t intersect with that romance, except insofar as Saeldian’s worry that allowing themself to love will renege on their deal. I, of course, am famously not a romance girlie—though my recent experience watching Bones for the first time has reminded me that I am, despite my grousing, “a romantic aromantic” at heart. (Just kiss, y’all. Just. Kiss.)
Anyway, all of that is to say, from my limited experience with this genre, I think Polk does a great job of using fantasy romance tropes and expectations (including the HEA). So if that is what draws you to the story, prepare to be at the very least whelmed.
Now, in addition to the author, I of course was enticed by the promise of a juicy heist dangled in front of my reading eyeballs. I love heist stories. I salivate over them. I will watch any heist movie, no matter how bad or ridiculous, and I will tolerate a lot of bad heist novels (though to be fair, bad heist movies are usually superior to bad heist novels because they tend to have ridiculous action stars hamming it up, and you can watch them with someone). The Feywild Job actually contains that rare and precious gem, the reverse heist! Alas, the actual heist scenes are overshadowed by the character work that is the main focus of this book (both the romantic plot and the other character development). The first heist scene is very well-written, with a fun trap our heroes must defeat; the reverse heist was less memorable for me (and it felt like the book was kind of over it too). I also enjoyed the overall mechanism by which Saeldian, Kell, Jubilee, and Lorsok are manipulated into doing the heist.
I think what will really be the deciding factor for most readers of The Feywild Job is vibes. Or to be slightly more academic about it, mood and atmosphere. “Cozy” isn’t a sufficient label (it’s so nebulous and vague). I’d classify this story as “take this plot armour; it’s dangerous to go alone!” This is ultimately a cheerful comedy, entirely in line with the tone and mood of the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves film. Though the feywild is portrayed as a mysterious, changeable, and even dangerous environment, the biggest jeopardy our heroes seem to face comes from their own fixations about failing their quest. The minor characters are almost all caricatures in exactly the style you should expect for a D&D novel (this is praise!).
Where The Feywild Job disappoints, in my opinion, is in how Polk handles the ending. They basically pull the curtain back with a flourish and have one or two characters explain who was behind the scenes, pulling the strings. And I don’t actually object to this plot twist itself—I think there had to be something deeper happening the entire time—but the reveal happens so fast and furious that you might blink and need to go back and reread it to disentangle what was going on. Once you get it, however, I fully credit Polk for connecting all the dots of the foreshadowing throughout the story.
I haven’t discussed character much, and there’s a reason: despite its romance plot, this book is not terribly deep or character-driven. Jubilee and Lorzok have kind of one-note personalities, and while they grow a little by the end, the story pretty aggressively tells them not to take centre stage. Kell and Saeldian are a little better, but their dynamic tends to steal away any focus from other character traits: Kell is pretty much a grumpy lil guy who gave up singing and wants to find his family; Saeldian is a charming yet wounded lil birdie determined to isolate themself, supposedly to avoid hurting others yet really to avoid hurting themself. I mean, it is what it is. I don’t think simple characterization is bad all the time, as long as that’s what you expect.
Finally, I will close by saying that this book helped me understand why it’s nice to spend time in the D&D universe. It’s definitely a rich world for storytelling, and there is something fun and even comforting about the idea that almost everyone you meet is a hero of some kind, wrapped up in their own magical adventures (Polk hangs a lampshade on this with Jubilee’s parents).
The Feywild Job is satisfying in that it delivers on what it promises. I doubt it will surprise or stun anyone—it’s a beautiful yet ultimately conventional work of art. But if you want a fun queer romance set in D&D land, complete with a heist/reverse heist plot, I mean … yeah. You won’t go wrong with this.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
Saeldian Charmhand is an elf-human, and as a child they entered into a pact with an elf: magic in return for never falling in love. Whenever someone comes along who might threaten Saeldian’s end of that bargain, they GTFO. This happened ten years prior, with Kell Redsong, who was their partner in crime and nearly the love of their life. Now Saeldian and Kell have been unwillingly reunited to plan and pull off—in a single day—a reverse heist. Each brings an able partner to the company, and together these four embark on their quest. But Saeldian is afraid of hurting Kell again—or breaking their pact.
First, let’s talk genre. The Feywild Job is accurately labelled as fantasy romance, not romantasy, so the romance is very much integral to the plot of this story, and fans of romance will find plenty of tropes they might adore (only one bed, oh no!). The magical elements of the story don’t intersect with that romance, except insofar as Saeldian’s worry that allowing themself to love will renege on their deal. I, of course, am famously not a romance girlie—though my recent experience watching Bones for the first time has reminded me that I am, despite my grousing, “a romantic aromantic” at heart. (Just kiss, y’all. Just. Kiss.)
Anyway, all of that is to say, from my limited experience with this genre, I think Polk does a great job of using fantasy romance tropes and expectations (including the HEA). So if that is what draws you to the story, prepare to be at the very least whelmed.
Now, in addition to the author, I of course was enticed by the promise of a juicy heist dangled in front of my reading eyeballs. I love heist stories. I salivate over them. I will watch any heist movie, no matter how bad or ridiculous, and I will tolerate a lot of bad heist novels (though to be fair, bad heist movies are usually superior to bad heist novels because they tend to have ridiculous action stars hamming it up, and you can watch them with someone). The Feywild Job actually contains that rare and precious gem, the reverse heist! Alas, the actual heist scenes are overshadowed by the character work that is the main focus of this book (both the romantic plot and the other character development). The first heist scene is very well-written, with a fun trap our heroes must defeat; the reverse heist was less memorable for me (and it felt like the book was kind of over it too). I also enjoyed the overall mechanism by which Saeldian, Kell, Jubilee, and Lorsok are manipulated into doing the heist.
I think what will really be the deciding factor for most readers of The Feywild Job is vibes. Or to be slightly more academic about it, mood and atmosphere. “Cozy” isn’t a sufficient label (it’s so nebulous and vague). I’d classify this story as “take this plot armour; it’s dangerous to go alone!” This is ultimately a cheerful comedy, entirely in line with the tone and mood of the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves film. Though the feywild is portrayed as a mysterious, changeable, and even dangerous environment, the biggest jeopardy our heroes seem to face comes from their own fixations about failing their quest. The minor characters are almost all caricatures in exactly the style you should expect for a D&D novel (this is praise!).
Where The Feywild Job disappoints, in my opinion, is in how Polk handles the ending. They basically pull the curtain back with a flourish and have one or two characters explain who was behind the scenes, pulling the strings. And I don’t actually object to this plot twist itself—I think there had to be something deeper happening the entire time—but the reveal happens so fast and furious that you might blink and need to go back and reread it to disentangle what was going on. Once you get it, however, I fully credit Polk for connecting all the dots of the foreshadowing throughout the story.
I haven’t discussed character much, and there’s a reason: despite its romance plot, this book is not terribly deep or character-driven. Jubilee and Lorzok have kind of one-note personalities, and while they grow a little by the end, the story pretty aggressively tells them not to take centre stage. Kell and Saeldian are a little better, but their dynamic tends to steal away any focus from other character traits: Kell is pretty much a grumpy lil guy who gave up singing and wants to find his family; Saeldian is a charming yet wounded lil birdie determined to isolate themself, supposedly to avoid hurting others yet really to avoid hurting themself. I mean, it is what it is. I don’t think simple characterization is bad all the time, as long as that’s what you expect.
Finally, I will close by saying that this book helped me understand why it’s nice to spend time in the D&D universe. It’s definitely a rich world for storytelling, and there is something fun and even comforting about the idea that almost everyone you meet is a hero of some kind, wrapped up in their own magical adventures (Polk hangs a lampshade on this with Jubilee’s parents).
The Feywild Job is satisfying in that it delivers on what it promises. I doubt it will surprise or stun anyone—it’s a beautiful yet ultimately conventional work of art. But if you want a fun queer romance set in D&D land, complete with a heist/reverse heist plot, I mean … yeah. You won’t go wrong with this.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
lost-interest
March 28, 2026This sounds right up my ally
Read
March 29, 2026Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
THE FEYWILD JOB was a tropey, fun, romantic romp of a cozy D&D campaign.
Polk brilliantly represented the Dungeons and Dragons franchise in this story. Tonally, it scratched the exact itch of the D&D movie, which I adore; and I found it incredibly impressive to translate that tone between mediums and even slightly pivoting genres (this was a bit more romantasy than the adventure quest of the movie).
And I think the D&D of it all really solved most of my issues with cozy fantasy. I find that cozy fantasy stories often either struggle to cobble a plot around a cozy aesthetic, or they have a flimsy plot that gets trampled to death by shoehorned-in conversations full of therapy speak. But as this took on the form of a D&D campaign, the cozy bits felt like organic parts of the story, as they would for real players. There are moments of necessary rest, there are characters whose job it is is to be the reflective emotional healers, etc. And like a DM curating a D&D campaign, the plot is also built around the character’s backstories and necessary developments. And though it at times seemed a little goofily on the nose, it made the story feel a lot more cohesive and the moments of character development and healing feel natural and earned.
The romance was also just so fun and tropey, which is exactly what I was yearning for when reading this. Nothing brings me more joy than a tropey queer romantasy, and this did the trick. I was giggling and kicking my feet so hard I actually had to stand up to read a whole chapter. And the tropeyness was so silly and tongue-in-cheek and self-aware, which made it all the better.
Again, like the D&D movie, and like any good D&D campaign, it wasn’t taking itself too seriously.
I think my only critique of this is that reading the end felt like walking into a spiderweb of plot points that I couldn’t really detangle or get a good understanding of. And maybe this was a me problem (maybe not paying enough attention) but also maybe it just was confusing.
This was not a ground-breaking book by any means, but it really was so fun, and is one of the only cozy fantasy books I’ve read that does a good job of integrating the coziness into the world! (Also one of the only cozy fantasy books that doesn’t do a fantasy prejudice or a botched-metaphor-that-becomes-problematic, which is unfortunately impressive, especially considering this is in an IP that famously deals with fantasy racism!)
CW: violence, injury detail, child abuse, abusive parent
THE FEYWILD JOB was a tropey, fun, romantic romp of a cozy D&D campaign.
Polk brilliantly represented the Dungeons and Dragons franchise in this story. Tonally, it scratched the exact itch of the D&D movie, which I adore; and I found it incredibly impressive to translate that tone between mediums and even slightly pivoting genres (this was a bit more romantasy than the adventure quest of the movie).
And I think the D&D of it all really solved most of my issues with cozy fantasy. I find that cozy fantasy stories often either struggle to cobble a plot around a cozy aesthetic, or they have a flimsy plot that gets trampled to death by shoehorned-in conversations full of therapy speak. But as this took on the form of a D&D campaign, the cozy bits felt like organic parts of the story, as they would for real players. There are moments of necessary rest, there are characters whose job it is is to be the reflective emotional healers, etc. And like a DM curating a D&D campaign, the plot is also built around the character’s backstories and necessary developments. And though it at times seemed a little goofily on the nose, it made the story feel a lot more cohesive and the moments of character development and healing feel natural and earned.
The romance was also just so fun and tropey, which is exactly what I was yearning for when reading this. Nothing brings me more joy than a tropey queer romantasy, and this did the trick. I was giggling and kicking my feet so hard I actually had to stand up to read a whole chapter. And the tropeyness was so silly and tongue-in-cheek and self-aware, which made it all the better.
Again, like the D&D movie, and like any good D&D campaign, it wasn’t taking itself too seriously.
I think my only critique of this is that reading the end felt like walking into a spiderweb of plot points that I couldn’t really detangle or get a good understanding of. And maybe this was a me problem (maybe not paying enough attention) but also maybe it just was confusing.
This was not a ground-breaking book by any means, but it really was so fun, and is one of the only cozy fantasy books I’ve read that does a good job of integrating the coziness into the world! (Also one of the only cozy fantasy books that doesn’t do a fantasy prejudice or a botched-metaphor-that-becomes-problematic, which is unfortunately impressive, especially considering this is in an IP that famously deals with fantasy racism!)
CW: violence, injury detail, child abuse, abusive parent
Read
May 1, 2026I fear I need to stop reading tie-in novelizations, because I have literally never read one that really worked for me. But the Feywild Job just sounded like such a sure bet! I may not be a big D&D fan, but I love whimsical fantasy, heists, and queer romance.
The whimsical fantasy vibes were admittedly excellent, and definitely carried the book for me. Every setting felt so vibrant and beautiful and alive - C. L. Polk has a real talent for lovely descriptions and scene-setting.
The actual heist plot felt much flimsier to me. It somehow managed to be hand-wavey and convoluted at the same time; there would be paragraphs and paragraphs overexplaining some mechanic or other, and then something would just miraculously work out in favor of our characters. I really struggled with the convenience and the breakneck pacing of events.
And, devastatingly, the romance was actually my least favorite part of this book. All of the characters and their relationships felt a bit juvenile, and I lost patience with the characters’ animosity quickly. Kell drove me up a wall. I think I actually kind of hate Kell.
Saeldian was a wonderful protagonist, though, and had a really fully realized character arc. So I do recommend this if you’re looking for fantasy books with really interesting, complex trans main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The whimsical fantasy vibes were admittedly excellent, and definitely carried the book for me. Every setting felt so vibrant and beautiful and alive - C. L. Polk has a real talent for lovely descriptions and scene-setting.
The actual heist plot felt much flimsier to me. It somehow managed to be hand-wavey and convoluted at the same time; there would be paragraphs and paragraphs overexplaining some mechanic or other, and then something would just miraculously work out in favor of our characters. I really struggled with the convenience and the breakneck pacing of events.
And, devastatingly, the romance was actually my least favorite part of this book. All of the characters and their relationships felt a bit juvenile, and I lost patience with the characters’ animosity quickly. Kell drove me up a wall. I think I actually kind of hate Kell.
Saeldian was a wonderful protagonist, though, and had a really fully realized character arc. So I do recommend this if you’re looking for fantasy books with really interesting, complex trans main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1645808644i/7494844._UX200_CR0,6,200,200_.jpg)
July 1, 2026
It was fun and enjoyable, but I'm just not a D&D fan, so missed a lot of the nuance and storyline and callbacks.
Plus, to me, it dragged on a little bit too long.
I did enjoy it though, even if it was far from being a favorite.
I received an ARC from the publisher
Plus, to me, it dragged on a little bit too long.
I did enjoy it though, even if it was far from being a favorite.
I received an ARC from the publisher
May 3, 2026
In this story we follow Saeldian and Kell, two exes who get put in the same heist to try and recover the “kiss of enduring love”. Will they be able to put the past aside and make it work? Will the truth behind their breakup come out?
I enjoyed this book, however the pacing didn’t convince me 100%. I also didn’t really connect with the two MCs, I was more interested in the two side characters. I did appreciate the representation and I did love Saeldian’s storyline. However something just didn’t click for me. I also don’t know much about d&d lore to talk on the references that might be here. Overall it was a cute heist story and I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for a cozy story with a bit of adventure.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, however the pacing didn’t convince me 100%. I also didn’t really connect with the two MCs, I was more interested in the two side characters. I did appreciate the representation and I did love Saeldian’s storyline. However something just didn’t click for me. I also don’t know much about d&d lore to talk on the references that might be here. Overall it was a cute heist story and I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for a cozy story with a bit of adventure.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2026
2,5 ⭐
I had a fun time but oh how I wish characterization had been stronger. Much, much stronger. And less going around in circular arguments. This could have been so good.
I had a fun time but oh how I wish characterization had been stronger. Much, much stronger. And less going around in circular arguments. This could have been so good.
April 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for a review!
This is the sort of book that I started talking about and recommending from only a chapter in. The Feywild Job is exactly what I would hope for in a DnD novel - fun and irreverent, fast-paced and tense, and in every page evoking the feeling of playing a campaign. I'm not an old hand at DnD and can't speak to some of the older tie ins, but if you enjoyed the Honour Among Thieves movie or Baldur's Gate 3, I think you will find plenty to love here.
Saeldian is a character who gripped me from the start- in fact, one of my few complaints is that the book strays from their POV- and had my heart aching throughout. Seeing them wrestle with their pact and their devotion to their patron, against the bonds they formed with the world was hard to read at times, evoking patterns of isolation in abusing relationships. I also enjoyed the largely subtle way their gender played but also didn't play into the story- Saeldian's struggle is more with self-perception than their gender identity, though not entirely divorced from it, as feels fitting for a queer-normative world.
In many ways, this book felt exactly like a heist movie in structure, and that worked well, though I found sometimes that the exact twists were a little tricky to follow or not able to be picked up by the reader, even when the twist had been revealed. I found myself rereading passages to try to see what I had missed the first time and not finding it on a few occasions, which is largely why I'm not going for a full 5⭐️ on this review. This is to some extent a limitation of the medium and I'm sure that it would make for a very fun movie, but I wished there had been a bit more to catch on the reread. That being said, the turn! turn! turn! of it all in the ending was very satisfying and had me grinning as each twist was revealed.
Loved the lore cameos throughout- I won't spoil any, but if you're familiar with your DnD lore then you'll enjoy the various call outs.
The romance felt sweet and earned, and I really enjoyed how long we spent with Kell and Saeldian as bitter exes before the dynamic shifted- this isn't a long book and I worried this would be rushed but it felt just right.
Overall, a really enjoyable read and one I'll be picking up physically once it's out- the cover art is gorgeous, come on!- because I'd love to pick this up later for a cosy summer evening read.
4⭐️
This is the sort of book that I started talking about and recommending from only a chapter in. The Feywild Job is exactly what I would hope for in a DnD novel - fun and irreverent, fast-paced and tense, and in every page evoking the feeling of playing a campaign. I'm not an old hand at DnD and can't speak to some of the older tie ins, but if you enjoyed the Honour Among Thieves movie or Baldur's Gate 3, I think you will find plenty to love here.
Saeldian is a character who gripped me from the start- in fact, one of my few complaints is that the book strays from their POV- and had my heart aching throughout. Seeing them wrestle with their pact and their devotion to their patron, against the bonds they formed with the world was hard to read at times, evoking patterns of isolation in abusing relationships. I also enjoyed the largely subtle way their gender played but also didn't play into the story- Saeldian's struggle is more with self-perception than their gender identity, though not entirely divorced from it, as feels fitting for a queer-normative world.
In many ways, this book felt exactly like a heist movie in structure, and that worked well, though I found sometimes that the exact twists were a little tricky to follow or not able to be picked up by the reader, even when the twist had been revealed. I found myself rereading passages to try to see what I had missed the first time and not finding it on a few occasions, which is largely why I'm not going for a full 5⭐️ on this review. This is to some extent a limitation of the medium and I'm sure that it would make for a very fun movie, but I wished there had been a bit more to catch on the reread. That being said, the turn! turn! turn! of it all in the ending was very satisfying and had me grinning as each twist was revealed.
Loved the lore cameos throughout- I won't spoil any, but if you're familiar with your DnD lore then you'll enjoy the various call outs.
The romance felt sweet and earned, and I really enjoyed how long we spent with Kell and Saeldian as bitter exes before the dynamic shifted- this isn't a long book and I worried this would be rushed but it felt just right.
Overall, a really enjoyable read and one I'll be picking up physically once it's out- the cover art is gorgeous, come on!- because I'd love to pick this up later for a cosy summer evening read.
4⭐️
May 16, 2026
I was all there for the romantic plot - exes with a big grudge who are forced to work together… and for the fairy heist!
But then the dynamic between the two MC was way too much bickering. Luckily the side characters were great and that saved the found family.
But what I struggled the most with was the narrative - it was so confusing. You know when you have to read ten times the last few lines because you just don’t get it?… just for it to be explained 2 lines later..? Well that happened a lot in this book and that got me very frustrated.
But then the dynamic between the two MC was way too much bickering. Luckily the side characters were great and that saved the found family.
But what I struggled the most with was the narrative - it was so confusing. You know when you have to read ten times the last few lines because you just don’t get it?… just for it to be explained 2 lines later..? Well that happened a lot in this book and that got me very frustrated.
September 30, 2026
2,5⭐
Perhaps I was simply the wrong reader for this book, even though the synopsis convinced me I would love it. D&D, fantasy, a heist involving magical gems and artefacts, romance, and a team of characters with diverse backgrounds? On paper, this book had everything going for it. I love heist stories, and the idea of combining that with the Feywild and a D&D-style adventure seemed perfect. Unfortunately, the execution failed to hook me the way I had hoped.
The main issue for me was the writing. At times, I simply didn't understand what the characters were trying to say to one another. The dialogue relies heavily on subtext, and often it felt like information was missing from the conversation. I would finish a scene without knowing exactly what had happened or what a specific character meant, forcing me to go back and reread passages to try to make sense of things. This happened so often that it really began to hinder the reading experience.
The problem wasn't simply the presence of mystery or characters withholding information—I enjoy that. The issue arises when the narrative fails to provide enough information for the reader to follow the plot. With so many twists, plans within plans, and shifting character dynamics, I often ended up feeling more confused than intrigued.
I felt this regarding the heist storyline as well. The premise was a major draw for me, but as the book progressed, the focus seemed to drift further and further away from what had originally excited me. The adventure had the potential to be much more entertaining, yet some parts felt like they existed solely to move the characters to the next plot point, rather than feeling like a cohesive, well-constructed mission.
And the romance was, unfortunately, one of the biggest issues for me.
I really enjoy "second-chance romance" stories when I can understand why the characters fell in love in the first place, why they split up, and—most importantly—why they still make sense together after so much time. Here, I just didn't get that feeling. The relationship between Saeldian and Kell was supposed to be a central part of the story, but their dynamic left me feeling more frustrated than invested. I understand that there was resentment, hurt, and a lot of unresolved baggage between them. The problem is that, for the most part, I wasn't actually rooting for them to reconcile. I just wanted them to talk and sort out what was going on. For me, the story lacked a convincing buildup to their reconciliation and the feelings that supposedly still lingered between them.
At times, I found Kell’s behaviour particularly hard to tolerate. That would have been less of an issue for me if the story had clearly acknowledged how problematic some of his actions were, or if there had been stronger character development following those moments. But I didn't feel there was enough change to make the final relationship feel truly earned. On top of that, I liked Jubilee and Lorzok much more than the protagonists. The team had the potential to be a really fun part of the story—since each character has unique skills and personalities—but I felt they were increasingly sidelined as the romance took centre stage. I would have loved more interactions among the four of them and more moments where they actually functioned as a team. I think that was another missed opportunity. The supporting characters were very charismatic and could have made the adventure much more interesting.
That said, I don't think the book is without merit. The premise remains very strong; there are interesting characters, and the concepts of the pact, the magic, and the heist are very promising; I can clearly see why this story works for other people. The problem is that, for me, everything seemed better on paper than in execution.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Perhaps I was simply the wrong reader for this book, even though the synopsis convinced me I would love it. D&D, fantasy, a heist involving magical gems and artefacts, romance, and a team of characters with diverse backgrounds? On paper, this book had everything going for it. I love heist stories, and the idea of combining that with the Feywild and a D&D-style adventure seemed perfect. Unfortunately, the execution failed to hook me the way I had hoped.
The main issue for me was the writing. At times, I simply didn't understand what the characters were trying to say to one another. The dialogue relies heavily on subtext, and often it felt like information was missing from the conversation. I would finish a scene without knowing exactly what had happened or what a specific character meant, forcing me to go back and reread passages to try to make sense of things. This happened so often that it really began to hinder the reading experience.
The problem wasn't simply the presence of mystery or characters withholding information—I enjoy that. The issue arises when the narrative fails to provide enough information for the reader to follow the plot. With so many twists, plans within plans, and shifting character dynamics, I often ended up feeling more confused than intrigued.
I felt this regarding the heist storyline as well. The premise was a major draw for me, but as the book progressed, the focus seemed to drift further and further away from what had originally excited me. The adventure had the potential to be much more entertaining, yet some parts felt like they existed solely to move the characters to the next plot point, rather than feeling like a cohesive, well-constructed mission.
And the romance was, unfortunately, one of the biggest issues for me.
I really enjoy "second-chance romance" stories when I can understand why the characters fell in love in the first place, why they split up, and—most importantly—why they still make sense together after so much time. Here, I just didn't get that feeling. The relationship between Saeldian and Kell was supposed to be a central part of the story, but their dynamic left me feeling more frustrated than invested. I understand that there was resentment, hurt, and a lot of unresolved baggage between them. The problem is that, for the most part, I wasn't actually rooting for them to reconcile. I just wanted them to talk and sort out what was going on. For me, the story lacked a convincing buildup to their reconciliation and the feelings that supposedly still lingered between them.
At times, I found Kell’s behaviour particularly hard to tolerate. That would have been less of an issue for me if the story had clearly acknowledged how problematic some of his actions were, or if there had been stronger character development following those moments. But I didn't feel there was enough change to make the final relationship feel truly earned. On top of that, I liked Jubilee and Lorzok much more than the protagonists. The team had the potential to be a really fun part of the story—since each character has unique skills and personalities—but I felt they were increasingly sidelined as the romance took centre stage. I would have loved more interactions among the four of them and more moments where they actually functioned as a team. I think that was another missed opportunity. The supporting characters were very charismatic and could have made the adventure much more interesting.
That said, I don't think the book is without merit. The premise remains very strong; there are interesting characters, and the concepts of the pact, the magic, and the heist are very promising; I can clearly see why this story works for other people. The problem is that, for me, everything seemed better on paper than in execution.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book well surpassed my expectations. To preface, I usually hate Romantasy as a genre. Since I order a lot of Fantasy and Romance books for the library, I signed up for a review copy of this book just to see if it would be worth ordering. While I missed the publishing window for this review by about a month, I still wanted to give it a shot, and I was surprised to say the least.
First and foremost, I would say that this book is about 85% fantasy and 15% romance. Really, this is more of a "heist book" before anything else. The book leans heavily on the Toril/Faerûn setting from Dungeons & Dragons, and I think that incorporated well and does the book a lot of favors. My only gripe was maybe overexplaining some magic, (I feel like I was told that prestidigitation was a cantrip like 5 times in the same chapter) but I get that may have been more for unfamiliar readers rather than someone who DMs regularly.
I also don't know what the other reviews are talking about how they didn't really like or connect with the characters. I'm baffled by this, because I thought the characters were really well written and felt like they actually lived in the world. (As opposed to being player-insert characters, this is NOT a LitRPG in any sense) I was particularly fond of Lorzok, the druid, as he was usually the voice of reason in the group. (Repping that high wisdom stat) I also had a lot of fun once the group made it into the actual Feywild. I would recommend this to anyone who is burnt out on Romantasy and just wants a really good, zero spice, fantasy heist.
This book well surpassed my expectations. To preface, I usually hate Romantasy as a genre. Since I order a lot of Fantasy and Romance books for the library, I signed up for a review copy of this book just to see if it would be worth ordering. While I missed the publishing window for this review by about a month, I still wanted to give it a shot, and I was surprised to say the least.
First and foremost, I would say that this book is about 85% fantasy and 15% romance. Really, this is more of a "heist book" before anything else. The book leans heavily on the Toril/Faerûn setting from Dungeons & Dragons, and I think that incorporated well and does the book a lot of favors. My only gripe was maybe overexplaining some magic, (I feel like I was told that prestidigitation was a cantrip like 5 times in the same chapter) but I get that may have been more for unfamiliar readers rather than someone who DMs regularly.
I also don't know what the other reviews are talking about how they didn't really like or connect with the characters. I'm baffled by this, because I thought the characters were really well written and felt like they actually lived in the world. (As opposed to being player-insert characters, this is NOT a LitRPG in any sense) I was particularly fond of Lorzok, the druid, as he was usually the voice of reason in the group. (Repping that high wisdom stat) I also had a lot of fun once the group made it into the actual Feywild. I would recommend this to anyone who is burnt out on Romantasy and just wants a really good, zero spice, fantasy heist.
June 27, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ | 1 🌶️
"We all win, or nobody does."
The Feywild Job turned out to be a very different reading experience than I expected. While I struggled to connect with the story during the first half, the second half won me over and delivered an emotionally satisfying conclusion.
One of the book's strengths is its worldbuilding. The Feywild itself is intriguing and atmospheric, filled with magic, fae bargains, different fantasy races, and mysterious locations such as Hearthaven's Repose. Once the story fully enters the Feywild, the atmosphere truly comes alive, and the plot becomes more interesting.
I also really appreciated the found family dynamic between Saeldian, Kell, Jubilee, and Lorzok. Their loyalty to one another became one of my favorite aspects of the novel.
However, I found the first half difficult to get into. The pacing felt uneven, and I often had to reread passages to fully understand what was happening. Because readers are thrown directly into the story, it took me some time to fully grasp the world and become emotionally invested in the characters and their journey. The writing style sometimes felt unclear, which made it harder to stay immersed in the story.
What saved the book for me was the relationship between Kell and Saeldian. Their shared history, past heartbreak, and the revelation surrounding Saeldian's bargain gradually revealed a much more emotional story than I initially expected. I enjoyed the themes of forgiveness, healing, second chances, and reclaiming one's own heart. The romance remains subtle throughout much of the novel, making this feel more like a fantasy with romantic elements rather than a traditional romantasy. Readers looking for a romance-heavy story may not fully connect with this one.
The final portion of the book delivered several satisfying twists, tied together many earlier details, and offered a heartfelt and hopeful ending that left me genuinely happy for the characters.
Overall, while I struggled with the pacing and writing style, I am glad I stayed with this story. The emotional payoff, found family, and the Feywild made the journey worthwhile.
My ratings: overall 3.75 ⭐️
Emotional impact: 4
Character connection: 3.75
Worldbuilding: 4
Plot: 3.75
Writing: 3.5
Romance: 4
I received an advance review copy from Penguin Random House Worlds / Del Rey through NetGalley, and I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
"We all win, or nobody does."
The Feywild Job turned out to be a very different reading experience than I expected. While I struggled to connect with the story during the first half, the second half won me over and delivered an emotionally satisfying conclusion.
One of the book's strengths is its worldbuilding. The Feywild itself is intriguing and atmospheric, filled with magic, fae bargains, different fantasy races, and mysterious locations such as Hearthaven's Repose. Once the story fully enters the Feywild, the atmosphere truly comes alive, and the plot becomes more interesting.
I also really appreciated the found family dynamic between Saeldian, Kell, Jubilee, and Lorzok. Their loyalty to one another became one of my favorite aspects of the novel.
However, I found the first half difficult to get into. The pacing felt uneven, and I often had to reread passages to fully understand what was happening. Because readers are thrown directly into the story, it took me some time to fully grasp the world and become emotionally invested in the characters and their journey. The writing style sometimes felt unclear, which made it harder to stay immersed in the story.
What saved the book for me was the relationship between Kell and Saeldian. Their shared history, past heartbreak, and the revelation surrounding Saeldian's bargain gradually revealed a much more emotional story than I initially expected. I enjoyed the themes of forgiveness, healing, second chances, and reclaiming one's own heart. The romance remains subtle throughout much of the novel, making this feel more like a fantasy with romantic elements rather than a traditional romantasy. Readers looking for a romance-heavy story may not fully connect with this one.
The final portion of the book delivered several satisfying twists, tied together many earlier details, and offered a heartfelt and hopeful ending that left me genuinely happy for the characters.
Overall, while I struggled with the pacing and writing style, I am glad I stayed with this story. The emotional payoff, found family, and the Feywild made the journey worthwhile.
My ratings: overall 3.75 ⭐️
Emotional impact: 4
Character connection: 3.75
Worldbuilding: 4
Plot: 3.75
Writing: 3.5
Romance: 4
I received an advance review copy from Penguin Random House Worlds / Del Rey through NetGalley, and I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Did Not Finish
October 9, 2026Dnf at 40%
I don’t feel connected to this story or characters and I find I am struggling with wanting to keep picking it up and keep going.
I don’t feel connected to this story or characters and I find I am struggling with wanting to keep picking it up and keep going.
Did Not Finish
June 27, 2026Today is #review day!
Unfortunately, The Feywild Job by C.L.Polk is a #dnf for me. 🥲
First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a honest review!
General info: a cozyish fantasy romance set into the Forgotten Realms campaign from Dungeons & Dragons; an action-packed adventure in a queer normative world with a central enemies to lovers story; a heist with a romantic twist perfect for fans of the game that also appreciate trans rep in their #books.
CW: mentions of child/domestic abuse (these might be incomplete due to me not finishing the story!)
BOOK THOUGHTS
As I said…this was a dnf 😖…I managed to #read until 40%, when my complains became way too many for me to comfortably review this despite not knowing anything about the game lore it's so obviously inspired by.🥹
So, please don't shove this one into the 'books not worth reading' pile because it doesn't belong there!
As a story, it was perfectly fine if you are a DnD fan…but anyone else will need to access DnD beyond to know what race everyone is, what abilities they have and how they work, where are we, and how stuff generally works in this place.😅
I really did try to ignore these things and focus on the characters, but getting more info on the number of steps for a dance over how our characters look became too much.🫠
So yeah…those of you loving a good ol' world building will be disappointed.😅
On the flip side…I think those already knowing all these would be perfectly at home🤷♀️…the narrative simply name drops places/races and treats them like common knowledge…there's no handholding here!😅
As a little bit of extra info👀…I noticed that some characters have a specific way of talking and thinking…that might also be a part of DnD 🤷♀️…it did make me a little intrigued ( especially the Harengon and the Druid), so I decided to mention it here.
Plot: the story is a little bit strange in this department 😅…I've always perceived this to be high paced, but some scenes are dropped directly from a cozy fantasy 🙁. I think they fit the narrative somewhat as they present extra info on our protagonists and add to the atmosphere, but they felt a little weird 🤔…I can't explain this better : it's like our MCs needed to do or say specific things before the heist, and this was the only way.😕
About the heist…at 40% I said: no more! This was my biggest issue…we are presented with a very difficult task and really, REALLY high risks…only to end up solving the problem in THAT way 🫠…I don't care if your character had the ability all along because game stuff… I DIDN'T KNOW!😩
And yeah…I think I know where everything is going plotwise… but I honestly don't care to see it through 😔.
Anyways…that's for this part😅.
Characters : I think the cast is well done. I really liked Saeldian and Lorzok. Our MC is full of secrets and remorse, but VERY prideful and closed off👀. His strange relationship with Osalor had me hooked until that faithful moment in the heist.😆 I believe many will like them!🤭 Lorzok, on the other hand, is just wholesome for how little we get from him 🥹.
Kell, our love interest and second POV…is very angry…spiteful even!... and more than hurt and betrayed 😖…it's like he cannot control his actions sometimes!😩 He's very petty, and really childish in some moments, although he realizes that's not OK.🤷♀️
Sooo…if you like a drama queen that's somewhat entitled to his actions…he's your guy.🤭
As for Jubilee…she was just there 😅…I liked her family more than herself 🫣…not to mention I think they had a bigger impact on our protagonists than her.😖
I think this is all that I wanted to say 🧐…the story will definitely work well for those readers wanting characters over world building, especially those liking a messy love interest that needs a shaking.👀🤭..and, once again, those into DnD.😆
I really hope this book will find its audience, because I'm sure many will love it!☺️
Unfortunately, The Feywild Job by C.L.Polk is a #dnf for me. 🥲
First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a honest review!
General info: a cozyish fantasy romance set into the Forgotten Realms campaign from Dungeons & Dragons; an action-packed adventure in a queer normative world with a central enemies to lovers story; a heist with a romantic twist perfect for fans of the game that also appreciate trans rep in their #books.
CW: mentions of child/domestic abuse (these might be incomplete due to me not finishing the story!)
BOOK THOUGHTS
As I said…this was a dnf 😖…I managed to #read until 40%, when my complains became way too many for me to comfortably review this despite not knowing anything about the game lore it's so obviously inspired by.🥹
So, please don't shove this one into the 'books not worth reading' pile because it doesn't belong there!
As a story, it was perfectly fine if you are a DnD fan…but anyone else will need to access DnD beyond to know what race everyone is, what abilities they have and how they work, where are we, and how stuff generally works in this place.😅
I really did try to ignore these things and focus on the characters, but getting more info on the number of steps for a dance over how our characters look became too much.🫠
So yeah…those of you loving a good ol' world building will be disappointed.😅
On the flip side…I think those already knowing all these would be perfectly at home🤷♀️…the narrative simply name drops places/races and treats them like common knowledge…there's no handholding here!😅
As a little bit of extra info👀…I noticed that some characters have a specific way of talking and thinking…that might also be a part of DnD 🤷♀️…it did make me a little intrigued ( especially the Harengon and the Druid), so I decided to mention it here.
Plot: the story is a little bit strange in this department 😅…I've always perceived this to be high paced, but some scenes are dropped directly from a cozy fantasy 🙁. I think they fit the narrative somewhat as they present extra info on our protagonists and add to the atmosphere, but they felt a little weird 🤔…I can't explain this better : it's like our MCs needed to do or say specific things before the heist, and this was the only way.😕
About the heist…at 40% I said: no more! This was my biggest issue…we are presented with a very difficult task and really, REALLY high risks…only to end up solving the problem in THAT way 🫠…I don't care if your character had the ability all along because game stuff… I DIDN'T KNOW!😩
And yeah…I think I know where everything is going plotwise… but I honestly don't care to see it through 😔.
Anyways…that's for this part😅.
Characters : I think the cast is well done. I really liked Saeldian and Lorzok. Our MC is full of secrets and remorse, but VERY prideful and closed off👀. His strange relationship with Osalor had me hooked until that faithful moment in the heist.😆 I believe many will like them!🤭 Lorzok, on the other hand, is just wholesome for how little we get from him 🥹.
Kell, our love interest and second POV…is very angry…spiteful even!... and more than hurt and betrayed 😖…it's like he cannot control his actions sometimes!😩 He's very petty, and really childish in some moments, although he realizes that's not OK.🤷♀️
Sooo…if you like a drama queen that's somewhat entitled to his actions…he's your guy.🤭
As for Jubilee…she was just there 😅…I liked her family more than herself 🫣…not to mention I think they had a bigger impact on our protagonists than her.😖
I think this is all that I wanted to say 🧐…the story will definitely work well for those readers wanting characters over world building, especially those liking a messy love interest that needs a shaking.👀🤭..and, once again, those into DnD.😆
I really hope this book will find its audience, because I'm sure many will love it!☺️
June 30, 2026
I've never played Dungeons and Dragons and do not know the universe at all, so perhaps that would have helped me have more nostalgia for this book, and I've been in too dark of a mood to truly enjoy the escape that cozy fantasy offers, so perhaps this one is on me. But I loved C.L. Polk's Witchmark books so I thought I'd give this one a try.
Saeldian and Kell, bitter enemies after Saeldian abandoned and betrayed Kell after a con job gone wrong, are thrown together once again on a heist into the realms of the fey. Their assignment is to swap a fake Kiss of Enduring Love gemstone with the real one, and they must work together without animosity to reach this realm. The problem being Saeldian has made a pact with his fey mentor to give him his magical powers, an impossible pact that means trading something he didn't think he'd miss when he was young, but dooms any hope for Kell and Saeldian.
I do think this author's writing style is very descriptive, which is one reason I usually love their books, and I loved Saeldian's nonbinary representation. Many parts were cute and made me smile. However this missed the mark for me because I felt the romance had no chemistry.
These two spent most of the book engaged in bickering that was hateful, childish and petty, and it made it hard for me to like either of them together. Then it seems like a switch is flipped, they have sex in a dream, and now they're in love. I didn't really buy that they truly cared about each other. There were some acts of care but almost too little, too late. The sexual tension was missing the sexual energy entirely and was just miserable tension. It felt like being in a room with a bitter old married straight couple who should have divorced years ago. I liked the two of them as characters, just not together as a couple.
The quests were fun though, and they had just enough stakes to keep me interested, but the romance in this just wasn't for me. C.L. Polk is still one of my favorite authors, though, and I'll read anything they write.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Saeldian and Kell, bitter enemies after Saeldian abandoned and betrayed Kell after a con job gone wrong, are thrown together once again on a heist into the realms of the fey. Their assignment is to swap a fake Kiss of Enduring Love gemstone with the real one, and they must work together without animosity to reach this realm. The problem being Saeldian has made a pact with his fey mentor to give him his magical powers, an impossible pact that means trading something he didn't think he'd miss when he was young, but dooms any hope for Kell and Saeldian.
I do think this author's writing style is very descriptive, which is one reason I usually love their books, and I loved Saeldian's nonbinary representation. Many parts were cute and made me smile. However this missed the mark for me because I felt the romance had no chemistry.
These two spent most of the book engaged in bickering that was hateful, childish and petty, and it made it hard for me to like either of them together. Then it seems like a switch is flipped, they have sex in a dream, and now they're in love. I didn't really buy that they truly cared about each other. There were some acts of care but almost too little, too late. The sexual tension was missing the sexual energy entirely and was just miserable tension. It felt like being in a room with a bitter old married straight couple who should have divorced years ago. I liked the two of them as characters, just not together as a couple.
The quests were fun though, and they had just enough stakes to keep me interested, but the romance in this just wasn't for me. C.L. Polk is still one of my favorite authors, though, and I'll read anything they write.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 24, 2026
Unfortunately this was a miss for me. I felt it was lacking in the characterization and detailed plot I expected from C.L. Polk. It read more like a campaign than a novel and relied a lot on the reader knowing a lot about D&D to fill in the gaps in the plot. And the characters felt like they had whole detailed backgrounds that never got explored so I didn’t have much connection with any of them.
June 25, 2026
Thank you Random House Worlds via NetGalley and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
I’m sad to say this book didn’t hit the way I was hoping it would. I love D&D, and I was so excited to be approved for this ARC because a romance set in the Feywild sounded like exactly my kind of book. Unfortunately, it just didn’t quite land for me.
The pacing was really slow, and at times it felt more like reading someone’s campaign notes than a fully immersive story. The frequent mentions of cantrips and other game mechanics pulled me out of the narrative instead of making the world feel richer.
The romance had some enjoyable moments, but for an enemies-to-lovers story, I just didn't feel the tension as much as I wanted to. Their history had potential, but I wanted more emotional push-and-pull before they found their way back to each other.
🎧 I started with the audiobook but found myself struggling to connect, so I switched over to the print edition. In the end, I think it was more the story than Vico Ortiz's narration that wasn't clicking for me.
I’m sad to say this book didn’t hit the way I was hoping it would. I love D&D, and I was so excited to be approved for this ARC because a romance set in the Feywild sounded like exactly my kind of book. Unfortunately, it just didn’t quite land for me.
The pacing was really slow, and at times it felt more like reading someone’s campaign notes than a fully immersive story. The frequent mentions of cantrips and other game mechanics pulled me out of the narrative instead of making the world feel richer.
The romance had some enjoyable moments, but for an enemies-to-lovers story, I just didn't feel the tension as much as I wanted to. Their history had potential, but I wanted more emotional push-and-pull before they found their way back to each other.
🎧 I started with the audiobook but found myself struggling to connect, so I switched over to the print edition. In the end, I think it was more the story than Vico Ortiz's narration that wasn't clicking for me.
July 18, 2026
This writing feels very focused on the reader knowing it's a D&D novel. I don't love these characters, and I felt that for a heist novel, it lacked any stakes until the last 30ish pages.
Want to Read
August 15, 2026Reminding myself to read this from the library, but only after I've finished what's currently at my house.
April 4, 2026
I received a free copy from Random House Worlds via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date June 30th, 2026.
I’ve read a few of the author’s fantasy romances, and I was excited to get a copy of their latest novel. In The Feywild Job, Saeldian has traded their heart in exchange for powerful illusion magic. When a con goes wrong, Saeldian is tricked into a job to retrieve a stolen jewel—only to find that they’re working with Kell, the ex-partner they dumped on bad terms years ago.
This is a light, fun heist romance centered around Saeldian and Kell slowly revealing their respective version of what happened ten years ago. The central relationship was a bit more contentious than I prefer—Kell resents Saeldian deeply and holds them responsible for ending up in jail after Saeldian left in the middle of the heist. In consequence, they spend the majority of the novel sniping at each other, which doesn’t do much to convince me that they were once friends. While the plot effectively revolves around a misunderstanding, Polk plays it well. Kell’s angry about ending up in jail, and Saeldian is understandably reluctant to admit to running away from an embarrassing crush while Kell is monologuing about how they’re a stone-cold evil mastermind. Even if the romance wasn’t a hundred percent to my taste, the jewel heist and fancy party infiltration and pulpy monster fights were entertaining.
I don’t think I realized when I first saw the premise that The Feywild Job is a Dungeons and Dragons tie-in novel, but it very much is a branded title with heavy Franchise References. Maybe I’m a snob, but I judge books that feel too much like “DnD” as a sign of sloppy worldbuilding. Polk is doing a tie-in novel, exactly as advertised, but I still winced a bit at the formulaic, game-based aspects of the plot. Long rests and spell slots look a bit odd wedged into a fantasy book. Not to mention the choice of treating a fey bargain as a “warlock patron pact.” Still, artificiality aside, The Feywild Job is a breath of fresh air compared to the beloved but fatally hackneyed Hickman and Weiss era of tie-in novels. Clark has an excellent touch with characterization—the characters may have classes, but they’re never reduced to to caricature. Honestly, I think that Polk writing fantasy novels in a predetermined franchise setting rather than in worldbuilding of their own invention is a bit of a waste.
A light and fun heist-based closed door romance. It went a bit heavier on the gory dungeons and dragons dice-flinging details for my taste, but the story still felt fresh and original without leaning too heavily on fantasy cliches.
I’ve read a few of the author’s fantasy romances, and I was excited to get a copy of their latest novel. In The Feywild Job, Saeldian has traded their heart in exchange for powerful illusion magic. When a con goes wrong, Saeldian is tricked into a job to retrieve a stolen jewel—only to find that they’re working with Kell, the ex-partner they dumped on bad terms years ago.
This is a light, fun heist romance centered around Saeldian and Kell slowly revealing their respective version of what happened ten years ago. The central relationship was a bit more contentious than I prefer—Kell resents Saeldian deeply and holds them responsible for ending up in jail after Saeldian left in the middle of the heist. In consequence, they spend the majority of the novel sniping at each other, which doesn’t do much to convince me that they were once friends. While the plot effectively revolves around a misunderstanding, Polk plays it well. Kell’s angry about ending up in jail, and Saeldian is understandably reluctant to admit to running away from an embarrassing crush while Kell is monologuing about how they’re a stone-cold evil mastermind. Even if the romance wasn’t a hundred percent to my taste, the jewel heist and fancy party infiltration and pulpy monster fights were entertaining.
I don’t think I realized when I first saw the premise that The Feywild Job is a Dungeons and Dragons tie-in novel, but it very much is a branded title with heavy Franchise References. Maybe I’m a snob, but I judge books that feel too much like “DnD” as a sign of sloppy worldbuilding. Polk is doing a tie-in novel, exactly as advertised, but I still winced a bit at the formulaic, game-based aspects of the plot. Long rests and spell slots look a bit odd wedged into a fantasy book. Not to mention the choice of treating a fey bargain as a “warlock patron pact.” Still, artificiality aside, The Feywild Job is a breath of fresh air compared to the beloved but fatally hackneyed Hickman and Weiss era of tie-in novels. Clark has an excellent touch with characterization—the characters may have classes, but they’re never reduced to to caricature. Honestly, I think that Polk writing fantasy novels in a predetermined franchise setting rather than in worldbuilding of their own invention is a bit of a waste.
A light and fun heist-based closed door romance. It went a bit heavier on the gory dungeons and dragons dice-flinging details for my taste, but the story still felt fresh and original without leaning too heavily on fantasy cliches.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Feywild Job is a lighthearted adventure with appropriate stakes, compelling characters and a magical romance. Our motley crew of characters embark on a heist to retrieve a stolen gem and return it to its rightful owner, and things go awry as our characters enter the Feywild to return it.
Our story is a dual point of view between Saeldian, a con artist under a faerie bargain, and Kell, their reformed partner in crime. Saeldian, Kell, Saeldian’s current partner Jubilee, and Kell’s partner Lorzok the Orc all must go on a series of quests—first to steal a stolen gem, then journey through the Feywild to return it. Our characters face danger, but also are forced to face the complicated feelings inside of themselves.
The story is being marketed as a Dungeons and Dragons story, which feels like an appropriate descriptor. The story does not have the large stakes of a world-ending epic fantasy, but has real danger beyond what is often experienced in cozy fantasy. Our characters are forced to grow and change and reconcile, while encountering monsters and traps and magical enchantments.
The pacing in this book was good, with a blend of high-intensity action sequences and slower paced character moments. There are lots of small, delightful moments—our characters being transformed into toads, or becoming elderly women sneaking around, or heartwarming reunions. The book hit the adventurous aspects without being overwhelming or world-shattering, though the stakes are higher than many cozy fantasies.
The character work is prevalent, with extensive detail given to our characters growing and changing. There is a little bit of confusion about the characters’ initial conflict that I didn’t feel like had been explained within our characters as much as I would have liked, given the limitations of Saeldian’s faerie bargain; there are also loose ends within their backstory that I had hoped would be addressed in our climax. I do think that Jubilee in particular felt underdeveloped and I would like to see more from her in a future story.
I did appreciate the author’s commitment to the nonbinary characterization, which was addressed well throughout the story without being stigmatized or penalized.
Altogether, this was an engaging story that tried to balance an adventure plotline with character development. The characters are fun, the heists are engaging and the pacing was solid. I had a fun time reading this book, and would probably continue the series, but personally I don’t see myself rereading this.
Thank you to Del Rey for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Feywild Job is a lighthearted adventure with appropriate stakes, compelling characters and a magical romance. Our motley crew of characters embark on a heist to retrieve a stolen gem and return it to its rightful owner, and things go awry as our characters enter the Feywild to return it.
Our story is a dual point of view between Saeldian, a con artist under a faerie bargain, and Kell, their reformed partner in crime. Saeldian, Kell, Saeldian’s current partner Jubilee, and Kell’s partner Lorzok the Orc all must go on a series of quests—first to steal a stolen gem, then journey through the Feywild to return it. Our characters face danger, but also are forced to face the complicated feelings inside of themselves.
The story is being marketed as a Dungeons and Dragons story, which feels like an appropriate descriptor. The story does not have the large stakes of a world-ending epic fantasy, but has real danger beyond what is often experienced in cozy fantasy. Our characters are forced to grow and change and reconcile, while encountering monsters and traps and magical enchantments.
The pacing in this book was good, with a blend of high-intensity action sequences and slower paced character moments. There are lots of small, delightful moments—our characters being transformed into toads, or becoming elderly women sneaking around, or heartwarming reunions. The book hit the adventurous aspects without being overwhelming or world-shattering, though the stakes are higher than many cozy fantasies.
The character work is prevalent, with extensive detail given to our characters growing and changing. There is a little bit of confusion about the characters’ initial conflict that I didn’t feel like had been explained within our characters as much as I would have liked, given the limitations of Saeldian’s faerie bargain; there are also loose ends within their backstory that I had hoped would be addressed in our climax. I do think that Jubilee in particular felt underdeveloped and I would like to see more from her in a future story.
I did appreciate the author’s commitment to the nonbinary characterization, which was addressed well throughout the story without being stigmatized or penalized.
Altogether, this was an engaging story that tried to balance an adventure plotline with character development. The characters are fun, the heists are engaging and the pacing was solid. I had a fun time reading this book, and would probably continue the series, but personally I don’t see myself rereading this.
Thank you to Del Rey for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 3, 2026
Wie immer bei Polks Werken: Liebe!
Ever since I read "Even though I knew the end" I'm a fan of Polks unique writing.
And "The Feywild Job" was exactly what I hoped for and even more.
Saeldian's backstory is beautifully introduced and so we know from the first page on that they are a very tender spirit full of hope and want of recognition. So it is understandable and hurtfull that he gets into the hands of a wild Fey lord.
Kell is also hurt but differently. He is so wonderfully strong while being also tender and both connect the strong urge to protect those they love - even if it means to realize that they (still) love each other.
I loved how everything got connected in the end. And how on the way there so many colorful and interesting characters showed up. That both think they are playing their part while being in even a bigger play was something quiote surprising to me. It made this story so much more multilayered - and I should have expected something like that from Polk.
What I also loved was the second chance slow burn between Saeldian and Kell. Both are stubborn but got such great friends that always got their back even as they were stupidly stubborn =D I love it when I get the possibility to read an unexpected "find your own family" trope and I very appreciated the way it was handled in "The Feywild Job"!
As I already got a copy for my shelves I think it is fair to give this book five stars.
Ever since I read "Even though I knew the end" I'm a fan of Polks unique writing.
And "The Feywild Job" was exactly what I hoped for and even more.
Saeldian's backstory is beautifully introduced and so we know from the first page on that they are a very tender spirit full of hope and want of recognition. So it is understandable and hurtfull that he gets into the hands of a wild Fey lord.
Kell is also hurt but differently. He is so wonderfully strong while being also tender and both connect the strong urge to protect those they love - even if it means to realize that they (still) love each other.
I loved how everything got connected in the end. And how on the way there so many colorful and interesting characters showed up. That both think they are playing their part while being in even a bigger play was something quiote surprising to me. It made this story so much more multilayered - and I should have expected something like that from Polk.
What I also loved was the second chance slow burn between Saeldian and Kell. Both are stubborn but got such great friends that always got their back even as they were stupidly stubborn =D I love it when I get the possibility to read an unexpected "find your own family" trope and I very appreciated the way it was handled in "The Feywild Job"!
As I already got a copy for my shelves I think it is fair to give this book five stars.
Did Not Finish
March 16, 2026I really wanted to like this, I like Polk's other work. I couldn't quite get into the setting. I think this is more on me than it is Polk's writing. I'm not a huge fan of second chance romances where it starts out as enemies to lovers, but I was hoping the fantasy setting and the author would be enough to win me over. I might give it another try, but I bounced off of it four chapters in.
July 16, 2026
Thank you to Random House Worlds for this amazing gifted PR box!
The Feywild Job by C.L. Polk
Cozy fantasy romance
Dual POV
Nonbinary main character
Dungeons & Dragons world
Forced proximity
Found family
Heist
Bargain
Warlock x bard
One room/one bed
Saeldian is a con artist who ends up in a situation being bound to carry out a heist. And they are bound to work with their old partner who hates them and thinks they betrayed him. But what Kell doesn't know is Saeldian made a vow not to fall in love in order to get their magic when they were young. As they go about their heist and the ensuing chaos, Kell starts piecing together the truth. Will they all make it through the quest and will Saeldian get free to be able to finally love?
What a cozy, cute book! I'm a huge fan of D&D and role playing games, so I was so very excited for this adventure! The D&D world is so fun and full of details that fans will appreciate, but I think still enjoyable for those not familiar! They use spells and beg for short periods of rest and there are fun name drops! Beyond the fun world, we have an action packed (and comedically disastrous) quest that is still cozy and has a great crew of characters. The slower pace of the beginning of the book turns into twists and reveals towards the end that kept me awake too late! I had a great time and will be looking up this author's other books!
The Feywild Job by C.L. Polk
Cozy fantasy romance
Dual POV
Nonbinary main character
Dungeons & Dragons world
Forced proximity
Found family
Heist
Bargain
Warlock x bard
One room/one bed
Saeldian is a con artist who ends up in a situation being bound to carry out a heist. And they are bound to work with their old partner who hates them and thinks they betrayed him. But what Kell doesn't know is Saeldian made a vow not to fall in love in order to get their magic when they were young. As they go about their heist and the ensuing chaos, Kell starts piecing together the truth. Will they all make it through the quest and will Saeldian get free to be able to finally love?
What a cozy, cute book! I'm a huge fan of D&D and role playing games, so I was so very excited for this adventure! The D&D world is so fun and full of details that fans will appreciate, but I think still enjoyable for those not familiar! They use spells and beg for short periods of rest and there are fun name drops! Beyond the fun world, we have an action packed (and comedically disastrous) quest that is still cozy and has a great crew of characters. The slower pace of the beginning of the book turns into twists and reveals towards the end that kept me awake too late! I had a great time and will be looking up this author's other books!
July 17, 2026
Look, I love D&D and my first D&D character was a shapeshifting thief from the feywild. Of course I had to read this! It's a little more cozy than what I typically enjoy but it was cute and fun.
I think people familiar with D&D will enjoy this a lot more than others who might miss the references. It really does read like a D&D adventure with all the more gamey aspects, like characters being aware of their class and the logistics of adventuring.
Overall, I enjoyed it but I didn't love it. It started a little slow and took a while to hook me, though I did love the last 30% or so and I adore Saeldian!
I think people familiar with D&D will enjoy this a lot more than others who might miss the references. It really does read like a D&D adventure with all the more gamey aspects, like characters being aware of their class and the logistics of adventuring.
Overall, I enjoyed it but I didn't love it. It started a little slow and took a while to hook me, though I did love the last 30% or so and I adore Saeldian!
June 24, 2026
The Feywild Job is fun, flirty and a fast read. The cozy vibes held throughout on the elaborate heist as bitter exes are forced to team up and the banter was great. The adventure was fun, this isn’t a deep and meaningful book by any means but all the same I enjoyed the vibes. I loved the first chapter the most though as the fairy fantasy tale was immensely enjoyable. After that I didn’t connect to the characters as much but Saeldian did have a great storyline. Overall a fun read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
August 11, 2026
Another fun story in the D&D universe, and with my favorite romance trope terrorizing the main characters! I love seeing second chance romances in the fantasy world.
While the pacing was interesting at certain points, overall everyone was entertaining bursting with quirky energy.
Pub Date June 30 2026
ARC + eARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley. Thank you.
review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads
While the pacing was interesting at certain points, overall everyone was entertaining bursting with quirky energy.
Pub Date June 30 2026
ARC + eARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley. Thank you.
review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads
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