Prince of Darkness and Deceit

by Samantha Britt

Elara Stonebloom must risk her life to save her greatest the cruel Fae who oppress her homeland.

An orphaned human healer, Elara hides in the shadow of the powerful Fae who rule her homeland with an iron fist. But her carefully controlled world unravels when a Fae Lord strides into her quiet village and presents her with a brutal choice: heal his dying soldier or watch her village burn.

Though the task is far beyond her skill, she must try to save her loved ones from suffering, but as she struggles to save the life of one of her enemies, the Fae Lord's piercing dark eyes linger on her with an intensity that makes her heart race.

Something raw and untamed thrums beneath his cold exterior, calling to her. Something, Elara knows, she should resist. Because Elara has a secret... One that, if discovered, could see her life, her home, and the fragile bond forming between them destroyed forever.

If you loved the world-building in A Court of Thorns and Roses and the SLOW BURN, forbidden romance in From Blood and Ash, then scroll up to one-click PRINCE OF DARKNESS AND DECEIT today!

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Magic, Slow Burn, War, Paranormal

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 24, 2026

About the author

Lover of all things romantasy, USAT bestselling author Samantha Britt enjoys binge reading and writing new adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Her favorite protagonists are women in the middle of discovering just what they have to offer the world, often drawn to complicated, dreamy guys in the process.

When not swooning over devastatingly handsome Fae, Samantha spends her days raising two rambunctious toddlers, snuggling her fur babies, and enjoying a date night every Friday with the man who gave her the happily ever after she always dreamed of.

Subscribe to Samantha’s newsletter at SamanthaBrittBooks . com to claim a free book and dive into a new fantasy world today!

Reviews

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

We meet twins Elara and Ferria who have forbidden magic. Both their parents were killed and they were outcast but were raised by a local healer who knew their parents. Elara is the town healer and she uses a bit of magic when she heals the townsfolk. Ferria has fire magic and works in the forge. At a town mtg, everyone had heard the Fae have been seen on their way to their town. When 3 Fae storm in with a human rebellionist, they demand a healer or the town will perish. Elara agrees in order to save her town. What she wasnt counting on was healing a Fae. She needs to be careful or her secret will be out. When she touches the Ill fae, a dark entity latches onto her magic. Smtg is seriously wrong. The 3 fae, Jaxon, Draven and Rian will do anything to help their comrade. There is smtg about Rian that draws Elara in to him and that in itself is dangerous. There is more going on in town the meets the eye. Monsters, deceit, trickery and revenge make this a good read. Next book please!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ✨

This book is breathtaking, it keeps you intrigued from the first line. This novel captivated me with the MMC and the feisty FMC. The slow burn was electric and the banter was priceless.

Tropes:
-fae & human
-slow burn 🔥
-enemies to lovers
-toxic love
-found family
-banter
-feisty FMC
-grumpy MMC
-shadow brute

Thank you so much for the ARC @samanthabrittbooks I cannot wait to continue Elara’s journey 💕

[Stephanie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always a sucker for a good fae story. This one was just what I needed ! I loved the twin energy from the FMC and her sister. The MMC and his group of friends was such a great combination. I love a strong, handsome, shadow fae MMC. If you are looking for your next book where a story is painted beautiful in your mind look no further! This is it !

[Jenna Derby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying reading is one of my hobbies. I don’t read professionally to review or edit; I read for purely for fun and relaxation. I am going to write this review for this specific book solely on enjoyability, readability, story line, and will not be comparing this book to any famous book of the genre (ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, etc). I will however, compare this book to the popular “standard” of the genre.

This book is the 1st of a trilogy, which is not yet available for review or purchase. If I am given the opportunity to review following books of this series, I will do those as well.

For context, I am a voracious reader; reading 60 books last year- all between 300-700 pages. I primarily read Romantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Modern Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, High Fantasy, and Epic Fantasy books, though I have enjoyed Dark Romantasy, Dark Romance, and Dark Romantic Fantasy genres (I like a little magic in my life).

I also will not be including any spoilers in this review.

This book fits squarely in the Romantic Fantasy (Fantasy storyline, Romantic subplot)


For those looking for spice, I would say this book is 0.75 out of 4 peppers 🌶️. It is more of a Slow Burn. In my opinion, this book is laying the foundation for future books to build upon.

For my review itself, I am going to break it down into several categories: (1) Cover art, (2)main character and development, (3) setting, (4) backstory/world building, (5) story arc, and (6) other character development.

Again, I will not be including any spoilers in this review.

On to the review:

(1) First things first: the COVER.
The cover art is adequate; it matches the esthetic of the story contained within. It will draw a reader of this genre in, especially if the first printing/special edition has sprayed edges that match the color scheme of the cover art. My only issue with the cover art is that I cannot tell if the art was conceptualized by a human artist or by AI. I realize that this may not be something that reviewers will normally review, however, the book’s cover is quite literally a reader’s first impression of a book, so I include it.

(2) Main Character and development

This book is written in the first person narration style. We read the book from the perspective of the FMC (Female Main Character).

The FMC, Elara, is very well developed and thought out. She has her own set of morals and beliefs, is employed in a profession that she is very passionate about. While her impetus reminded me of a certain brand of Princess (looking at you, mouse ears) - she is an orphan who grew up under the eye of a benevolent family friend- she is quite vehemently not that Brand of Princess-type character. Elara is definitely a fully developed adult FMC, with all the histories and back story that a fully grown woman has. She is not a dainty 16 year old FMC who is naive to the ways and workings of her world. When we meet her, she is actively giving medical care to her childhood friend/lover. This character acts and thinks in such a way that younger (20 something) and more mature (40 something) readers will identify with her and her journey through this story.



(3) Setting
This is one of the areas that brought his book from a 5 star to a 4, almost a 3. Other parts lifted my rating to its 4 star…

While I absolutely loathe an author who spends 8 pages describing a tree that has absolutely no story significance, the setting descriptions in this book pretty much leaves everything up to the imagination. Besides telling the reader that there is a scary forest, a town that is held together by houses made of wood and hay, and a military “base,” not much is given to describing the setting and landscape of this world. The forest is literally the “forbidden forest”.

There are also several mentions of other continents, countries, and cities in this book, however this setting is solely in one small town and its neighboring forest.

While this might be something that is better described in the following two books, in THIS book, the world in which this book takes place is very sparsely written. This may be purposeful, and only future books may be able to better describe the setting and reasons for the sparse nature of sparse scene setting in this book. This may also be because this setting is merely the “starting point” of the series, and the settings will be more descriptive later.

(4) Back Story/World Building



(5)Story Arc
The story flows; it is easy to read and finish. There is a developed story arc with a beginning, events that occur to further the story, and end. Without giving any spoilers at all whatsoever, every character, element and sequence appear to have a very definite purpose. Whether it is foreshadowing in future installments, backstory, story progression, everything appears to have a purpose - remember the 8 page description of a tree that was never again mentioned in a story? This book does not have that.

Does it end in a cliff hanger? Yes, but not one that will leave you absolutely yearning for more or make you want to throw your book at a wall. It will leave you wondering and inquisitive. Is it a little formulaic? Yeah. Did I mind? Nope. Am I interested in reading the following two books? Abso-fricking-lutely.

(6) Other Character development
I feel like other character development will take place in subsequent novels. We don’t learn much about the Fae characters in this book; we don’t learn a lot of backstory about our FMC and her family. As with the setting of this story, I am cautiously optimistic that our “supporting” characters will have more development.

All in all, I would give this book a solid 4.1 out of 5 stars. It’s solid, but I’m not obsessed. It was a fun read, and I would read it again.

[NerdyBookFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars out of 5.
0 peppers out of 5 spice. (At the moment)

***I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

Genre: Fantasy
Single-POV
First Person
Cliffhanger

Tropes:
-Fae
-Forbidden Magic
-Enemies to Lovers to Enemies Please get me the next book ASAP
-Morally Grey MMC
-Obnoxiously slow burn
-Yearning
-Political Intrigue

I have not read From Blood and Ash or ACTOR to compare. See the authors "If you loved..."

If you want to skip all the paragraphs, find "Positives and Negatives" at the bottom.
First Thoughts:
I was excited to get to this ARC and I'm happy I was not disappointed. Prince of Darkness and Deceit captured my attention early on and had me intrigued until the end. While I didn't binge read it, I kept going to bed thinking about what was currently going on and how it could potentially unfold. Some things were predictable (I kind of felt spoon fed one twist), while others I didn't predict. There's still a few questions I have that I hope get answered in the series, and a few things that might not get answers and that's okay. Now I'm left twiddling my thumbs waiting for book 2.

Spice:
At the moment, there is just yearning. I feel like the direction could go either closed door or open door in later books, but those might also have more slow burn.

Knock it off, Elara. Stop noticing how good-looking the evil Fae is while he's on his knees.

Writing Style:
Britt's writing style is easy to immerse in and visualize. I wasn't getting lost translating a sentence into a visual in my head, and even the fighting made sense (I usually gloss over detailed fights because they usually lose me at some point).

The pacing is a high point for me. At no point did the story seem to become stagnant, it was always progressing forward, either on page or off. Chapters were also a reasonable length, making it easy to tell myself "just one more chapter", which with how each chapter leads into the next seamlessly, that isn't good for trying to get some sleep.

Characters:
I hate Mary Sue characters. I am super happy our FMC is not a Mary Sue. She has weaknesses and makes bad decisions and gets herself in trouble. Nothing is handed to her on a silver platter. She picks things up a bit fast for the timeline, but she still has to work for it and make judgement calls.

I wish we got more from the MMC, while we are aware that he's around, the writing doesn't point our attention to him too much, leaving him relatively mysterious at some points.

Our side characters are all well developed and consistent with their voices. What I'm really happy with is the twin trope. I hate the twin trope. Why? I'm a twin. What does the twin trope normally entail? Twins constantly twinning or treated as one person, or one is good and one is bad, or one is disposable so the main twin doesn't have real risk. While that could be some peoples cup of tea, I don't connect. What I loved about the twins in this story? They're both their own person.... they're actually realistic! I wasn't cringing at Britt falling on twin stereotypes or plot devices. They both have their own personalities, stories, interests. They're both treated like their own person. Love love love. Thank you, Britt, for not making me cringe.

World Building:
I think Prince of Darkness and Deceit dips it's toes in the world building and has paved the way to further expand later. Right now the world building stays relatively localized and does not overwhelm us with information overload or complex magic systems. It gradually introduces us to more and more. The biggest elements of our world building is 1. The war of humans versus fae, and 2. A very misogynistic town filled with domestic violence, with both serving as their own devices towards the over arching plot.

Story:
I think my most frequent thought throughout the story was how we were still in the same location we were at the beginning of the story. The FMC never went on a grand adventure calling her away on some epic quest. Instead, we get to spend the book where she's familiar, where she is truly herself. We see her thoughts and struggles towards the place she calls home, nor are do we get information overload on world building because we stay localized. I really enjoyed this approach, it felt fresh compared to what I normally read in fantasy.

Positives:
-Easy to read and become immerse, world building is not overwhelming
-Slow burn and yearning
-Enemies to lovers to please get me the next book
-Realistically empathetic FMC
-Realistic twin representation

Negatives:
-Some predictability
-Misogyny and domestic violence as plot devices
-Some questions left unanswered that might not get answered later

"I'd give anything to clear the storm in your mind."

Recommend:
I will definitely be recommending this, but as mentioned earlier, I have not read the two stories that the author compares this to for fans of to agree or disagree with that statement. I personally loved it and will be ordering a physical copy. Then I'll twiddle my thumbs waiting for book 2.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Page-Turner Full of Hidden Threats, Shifting Allegiances, Secrets, Twists, and Slow-Burn Chemistry I Couldn’t Put Down

Prince of Darkness and Deceit grabbed me within the first pages. I immediately felt grounded in a world that was very normal, even if there are magical aspects. This was refreshing as means to be able to insert myself into the story, as opposed to those stories you know you’re not a fairy princess.

I felt compelled to keep reading to see where we were going. How bad could part of this world be? Who were true friends, friends in disguise and the real threats or enemies. Friendships, secrets, prejudice, and a town seeped in fear and hatred.

I can’t even lie, the first night I stayed up way too late because I knew I wouldn’t sleep until I could pause. Even then, I was still awake another hour wondering what would happen, vs just continuing to read! A luxury and a problem all at once.

The slow build of tension between our dear Elara and the dangerous Rian, was exquisite. Some of this is a tension of a fragile human and a strong fae (shadow fae), or in another sense the interaction between sworn enemies. Yet there is also the romantic friction as well, without going into chapters upon chapters of physical connection. Sometimes the sexiest part is the tension of “will they won’t they”, or “what is this between us”. Personally, it’s better than the pages upon pages of sex that clouds some storylines of other books in the genre. This also makes the book perfect to share with all friends and "ahem" family!

There are several surprises and allegiances that take twists and turns, keeping me glued to the book. I couldn’t wait until I was done with a project so that I could return to this world and see what came next. Even as I had a sense of foreboding that it was going to get “bad” before it would get better. Also, knowing it’s three books…there is the expectation of no full closure. But we aren’t dropped off a cliff either.

I am gutted that it appears that I will have to wait until 2027 to reconnect with Elara on her adventures. And if you’re smart you will do as I have, and have done what you can to keep up with the author Samantha Britt. Get her newsletter, following her socials, follow her on Booksprout, Goodreads, and wherever else you may typically get your book info. As we wait, perhaps read (or reread) her other stories which are just as captivating.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙄’𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚. 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚.

Prince of Darkness & Deceit by Samantha Britt
4☆

This book politely ruined my sleep schedule but I sat there knowing it was worth it.

From the very beginning, you’re dropped into a world that feels normal, grounded enough that you can slip right into it… but then you slowly realize something is VERY off. The Fae loom in the background like dark clouds on the horizon; powerful, cruel, and always watching. The tension in this world is CONSTANT. Like the static before lightning strikes.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧.” “𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.”

At the center of it all is Elara, and she literally carries this story. She’s layered, emotional, and evolving from the very beginning. You feel her growth, her fear, her strength, and it makes it impossible to not be invested.

𝙃𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙊𝙧 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣. 𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚. 𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝.

And then there’s Rian—morally questionable, dangerous, and FREAKING infuriating. But MAGNETIC.

“𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙬?” “𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨.”

Their dynamic is PURE slow-burn tension. Fragile human x shadow fae. They are ABSOLUTELY enemies...but also something else. The lingering looks, the charged conversations, and that delicious “what is this?” energy hits harder than pages of any open door spice ever could.

𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙚𝙨. 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨.

The writing keeps things moving without slowing down, making it dangerously bingeable—like “just one more chapter” turns into 2am and you’re questioning your life choices…

✨ Shadow fae + human tension
✨ Slow burn that burns 🔥
✨ Secrets, betrayal, and shifting alliances
✨ Addictive, can’t-put-it-down pacing

It’s fantasy with emotional depth, dangerous love interests, and a constant sense that something big is coming…careful because this one’s got teeth.

*Thank you to Samantha Britt for this arc opportunity.

[Faerierealm1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince of Darkness and Deceit had me hooked from page one, and cost me two sleepless nights. I genuinely could not put this book down. From the very first chapter, I was completely immersed in Elara's world and intrigued by the distant, oppressive Fae who rule from afar.

The world-building is excellent. I loved the way the Fae were portrayed; cruel, powerful, and ever present even when they weren't on the page. The writing style, while not overly prose heavy, kept me fully engaged and turning pages. I did feel that a few fewer dialogue tags and a few more action beats could have strengthened certain scenes, but honestly, it didn't interfere with my enjoyment at all.

What truly kept me invested was Elara herself. The FMC has real depth, and her character growth starts right from page one. Her arc is compelling and emotional, and it was the main reason I couldn't stop reading. The supporting cast was just as strong; relatable, flawed, and memorable. I found myself liking and loathing Rian in equal measure, and I have a strong feeling book two is going to change my opinion all over again.

The twists and turns were well done and genuinely exciting. I did predict a couple of them before they fully played out (likely my ADHD doing its thing), but that didn't lessen the impact. The tension, the stakes, the drama, the beef of this story was amazing. I was fully immersed and only stopped reading because sleep eventually became unavoidable.

Overall, I loved this book and will absolutely be picking up more of Samantha's work as soon as my TBR allows. I'm very excited for book two and can't wait to see where this story goes next.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves Fae fantasy with strong characters, emotional depth, and addictive storytelling.

I received an advance reader copy and confirm this review is my own honest opinion.

[Katie Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book that I've read by this author, and I'm always nervous to start a new author, since I never know what to expect with their stories or writing styles or anything. By the first chapter, I had already relaxed and knew this was going to be a good book. But I didn't realize just HOW good it was going to get!

The way I devoured this book can only be described as desperate. This has to be one of the most unputdownable books I've EVER read!

One thing that really impressed me was how well the author had every character have their own truths. Everyone had different knowledge, and never once was one of the other characters able to glean a mystery someone else was hiding. They might have SEEN things, but they didn't know what it meant. It was honestly masterful. By the end of the book, so many things became clear, and made so much sense from all the little pieces the main character had seen.

This made for a very fun experience as a reader, being able to piece some things together before she did—but not because she was blind to things or too dumb to tie them together. She was just really set in her own world view, and influenced by the knowledge she did and did not have. It was masterful!

As such, I did correctly predict the large twists of the book, BUT, there were constantly smaller twists and turns that literally made me gasp out loud at least a few times.

I don't know that I've ever been so eager to learn more about the world building of a book in my life! (I'm generally all about the characters—which she does great with here, too.) I was simply consumed by the absolute, desperate, NEED to learn more, with every paragraph that went by.

Absolutely incredible book. I'm very eager to continue the series, and discover the author's backlist, as it looks like she has quite a few! Hooray for finding a new must-have author!

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

🗡 Prince of Darkness and Deceit 🗡
By @samanthabrittbooks

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I genuinely love this book!!
So we have Elara, an orphan and a human healer in a very conservative, medieval-type community, that does not accept people with the same background, nor are very kind to women either.
But she is compassionate, caring, and optimistic, hoping her dedication won't come unnoticed and she is truly living the healer calling!

Her relationship with Lev evolved from friendship to romantic, however Elara's secrets, and yet some emotional brake keeps her at distance from the connection Lev offers. She values their history and friendship, and stays dedicated to it even  when the events that happened led her the opposite way.

On the other hand, the interactions between Rian and Elara felt very platonic, with mutual respect and fear, with lots of yearning and restraining feelings. The ending left us at a cliffhanger and I simply need book two now! I loved that their relationship was left as a slowburn and longing, with so much open space for building their connection in following books. Rian's character is exactly what we need from shadowy, morally grey MMC, that has a soft spot for our FMC, but at the same time is imposing and ruthless.

All the side characters were very interesting and brought a lot to the story, and I'm honestly excited to see their journeys as well!

I am beyond grateful to the author @samanthabrittbooks for providing me with an eARC of this book, I'm already waiting as the first in line for the second book! "Prince of Darkness and Deceit" releases on April 30th, so get ready!!

What to expect:
▪️fae
▪️forbidden magic
▪️forced proximity
▪️slowburn
▪️lovers to enemies
▪️secrets and cliffhanger ending

Coming out April 30th, Kindle Unlimited

[Edit~A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an ARC from the author for an honest review.

It’s been a while since I read an ARC that completely absorbed me, but Prince of Darkness and Deceit did exactly that. Easy 5 stars for me.

The pacing was one of my favorite parts. There’s consistent action and forward movement, but it never feels overwhelming or nonstop chaos. It’s the kind of story where something is always happening, yet you still get space to connect with the characters and feel the tension build naturally.

Elara Stonebloom is a heroine I genuinely rooted for. She’s the healer of her town, carrying so much responsibility while hiding a dangerous truth. I loved how brave she is, even when she’s terrified, and how much heart she has for the people she loves. Her relationships added depth too. Lev brought warmth and steadiness, especially with the history between them. And when Rian arrives, everything shifts. The deal he forces her into raises the stakes fast, and the tension between them had me glued to the page.

The character arcs across the board were so satisfying, and the supporting cast deserves a shoutout. Ferria was such a strong presence, and I loved the contrast between the twins. My personal favorites were Anton (Ferria’s apprentice) and Jaxon (one of the shadow fae). They added so much personality and made the world feel even richer.

And the scene at the Late King’s festival? FIRE. I won’t say more because I refuse to spoil anything.

Romantasy is one of my favorite genres, and “mates” is one of my favorite tropes. I’m not going to spoil anything, but I will say I have my suspicions and I am very excited to see where this goes next.

If you love strong FMCs and MMCs, slow-burn tension, and a storyline that stays exciting without dragging, you should absolutely pick this up.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince Of Darkness - ✔️ Prince of deceit-✔️ yes this book title definitely hit the mark!

First time reader of Samantha Britts books, and what a book it was for me to start on!

I absolutely loved it!

This first book in the series is more fantasy than romantasy with very little spice involved.

This first book is all about the building of the story and characters, but don't be fooled into thinking it's the cookie cutter style FMC and MMC enemies to lovers we are all use to reading about.

There are so many characters you need to be aware of and do not write anyone off as a minor character else it be to your detrement!

We have many tropes within this one book besides the enemies to lovers - which by the end will still have you wandering if it will be or won't be happening. included in this novel is forced proximity, hidden magic and magical awakening, powerful brooding male, political intrigue and rebellion, coerced alliances, fae regime, moral dilemmas, dark elements of abuse, a terrifying forest and gruesome magical creatures -things called klarv,natchlings and onyx wraiths.

The twists and turns are many and I didn't sense some of them at all were coming so it was great to be shocked with one of those" drop of my jaw" moment.

I loved the sisters close relationship, Elara and Ferria and the quirky grandmother type mother figure -Juniper , gave me fairy godmother type vibes.

The fae males will all make you swoon for them in differnt ways, from the sweet Jaxon to the grumpy stand offish Draven and Rian the brooding dangerous shadow weilding fae.

The book was full of immersive worldbuilding, so much constant movement and action happening all the way throughout and it never seemed to drag on.

It is 5 stars for me and I can't wait to read the 2nd book of the shadowbound fae series!

I received a free copy of this novel and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Matthew Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't even know how to put into words how fantastic of a read this book was - ABSOLUTELY loved every page. There are some VERY fun turns and twists, the characters are amazing - Elara and her sister are fantastic, especially. There's betrayal, coming into one's power, fun banter, fire magic, light magic, shadow magic, curses, familial secrets, and still so many questions for pasts, things to come, and more.

Loved EVERY single page, start to finish, could NOT put the book down - read literally like 85% of it in one setting (it would have been all 100% but sleep decided to shut me down for the night lol, so the last bit had to wait til the next day.)

I cannot wait for book 2 already - and I DEFINITELY wanna see this book do well enough I get to get a pretty hardcover SE version at some point (and for the rest of the series) - can't wait to see what else Elara and her sister are going to learn, discover, see, do, become over the rest of the series, how any of the budding potential romances are going to play out with some of the twists already having been revealed/taken place, (and I have theories about her and her sister's past/who they are - can't wait to see how wrong or close I am).

I was SOOO happy that I 10000% called it regarding Rian and Daruius and the rest of the Fae (and that's all I can say without spoiling anything), but that twist came with it's own twist and I can't help but need to know how that goes over their journey in the next book(s)

100000% recommend, must read - this is definitely in my top 12 books of the year at least so far that I've read (and I'm already over 80 so far :P ) - if you love magic, character growth, powerful female characters, mysterious pasts, and more you'll love this book!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when a healer from the middle of nowhere makes a deal with the Fae? Shenanigans, action, tension, and a whole lot of twists.

Elara Stonebloom, the town healer. She has a massive heart and a hero’s mind. She will try to save everyone, even if they don’t deserve it or it’ll hurt her in the end. She’s strong willed, stubborn, so eager to learn, and so smart. She adapts to challenges thrown at her with a speed I can only dream of. Rian, the Fae who starts it all. Elara is forced into a deal to save a friend. Thank god she is, because this man is single handedly saving her life. He’s infuriating. He’s hot. He’s way too good at being a brooding shadow daddy.

There’s nothing better than an “I don’t know why I love you when I hate you but I won’t admit it” relationship. It leads to the most satisfying tension. I felt like I could cut the tension with a knife at points. The banter is top tier. It’s great when they’re fighting each other, but it’s even better when they both give each other permission to indulge in the feelings.

So many things are happening. Elara learning how to use her healing powers. Politics between the humans and Fae. Brooding wars and rebellions. Magic systems slowly being unvelied. All of it being written in a way that’s easy to understand and not overwhelming. There are subtle drops lore here and there that lead to some pretty big reveals. I was screaming every time a new twist hit. Every time I thought I knew what the next step was, I was proven wrong. So good. I cannot physically wait for book 2 to release.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a books opening line is " life dealt me a shitty hand..."You know it's going to be a great book! I absolutely devoured every page.

While the slow burn had me smirking, the bretrayal in this book was heartbreaking and had me grabbing tissue. Prince of Darkness and Deceit is a romantasy and book one in the Shadowbound Fae series. With childhood friends, love, betrayal, and so much more, all I thought about when not reading was reading this book.

The suspense was intense, keeping me glued to the pages. The plot was definitely more of a focus for this book, making it exceptionally hard to know I'll be waiting for book two. There are so many things I want and need to know still about characters. I loved the side characters. Some of my favorites. are Draven, Elaras' sisters, and Anton. I absolutely loved Elara. Her character embodies a strong, independent woman wanting to prove herself by working hard, all while trying to be the best version of herself and do right by others. Then you have Rian with his sexy broody self. There is so much mystery still behind his character, and I can't wait to learn more! The chemistry between Rian and Elara was magnetic! I will be thinking about these characters and this book long after reading the last page.

Their were so many twists throughout the book that potential outcomes will permentantly be running through my mind. If you are looking for world building, this is your book! This book is not for someone looking for a spicy read, but I can only assume that trope will be in future books in this series. This book is 100% just the beginning of an AMAZING series!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙪𝙨.” 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙’𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧, “𝙊𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙨𝙝.”

In Verdanthia, the humans work to keep the fae away by mining and forging weapons out of astlerium to deliver to them. Magical humans have been exiled from the land, but Elara and her twin sister Ferria hide in plain sight. They utilize their abilities in secret, Elara with healing abilities and Ferria with forging weapons. When the fae discover a rebellion, they request the best healer to enter a bargain to save the town. Elara volunteers where she can save the town - she must figure out how to use her magic to save a member of the fae who has been cursed. Elara ends up discovering more about her past and what’s really going on in with the fae, the Verdanthian politics, and even the Forbidden Forest filled with monsters.

This book does a great job introducing the magical elements and world politics in an understandable way. I enjoyed learning about everything with Elara. The monsters and lore kept me engaged, as well as trying to figure out what was actually going on. lt started getting hard to put this one down by the end of the book. I felt like a lot of this book was understanding the characters and the world as Elara knows it. I think the second book will really expand upon the characters and world, and I look forward to finding out what happens next!

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book!

[Stacie Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me an amazing surprise. It was such an adventure! While I felt that the first half of the story was a bit slow and I wanted it to move along, things finally caught and I couldn’t let go. This story wasn’t spicy, but there was lots of tension and intrigue.

I loved Elara. She was an inspiring FMC. Her relentless spirit for loyalty and compassion was beautiful. Despite being shunned, hurt, and betrayed, she continued to show dignity and mercy to those who were hurting. What a needed message these days. She didn’t have to agree with everyone in order to see them as a hurting individual. She didn’t allow them to walk all over her either - she had appropriate boundaries and made her stances clear. She fought hard for the weaker individuals. All in all, she was “normal” but she also had great power.

Rian is an interesting character. He was certainly enigmatic. Since the book is a single point of view from Elara’s perspective, I still don’t understand all of his motives.

I hope that Lev gets a redemption story. He was such a complex character. I hated how things ended for him, and I hated his reluctance to stand for what’s just. But you couldn’t unsee the depths of his feelings for Elara. He was responsible for his actions, but it’s sad to see how he’s so representative of so many who choose poorly because of “tradition” and duty vs what good and just and merciful.

I’m looking forward to the next book. I need more answers!!!

[Marci Soloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince of Darkness and Deceit is a compelling romantasy debut that blends world building with a slow burn romance. Samantha Britt introduces readers to a realm marked by tension between humans and Fae, creating a setting that feels immersive without overwhelming the story’s core.
Elara is a well developed FMC whose resilience and compassion shine. Her secret adds a steady layer of intrigue, and her interactions with the aloof Fae Lord create a dynamic that is both tense and captivating. Their relationship unfolds with deliberate pacing, allowing the emotional tension to build naturally.
Britt’s writing shines in her ability to balance romance, mystery, and fantasy elements. The plot moves with purpose, the world feels lived in, and the character motivations are clear and believable. Fans of similar series will appreciate the familiar themes—dangerous bargains, morally gray love interests, and high stakes choices—while still finding fresh elements that set this story apart.
Overall, Prince of Darkness and Deceit is an engaging and well crafted beginning to what promises to be an exciting series. The blend of emotional depth, romantic tension, and richly drawn fantasy elements makes it a strong recommendation for readers who enjoy romantasy with a darker edge. I cannot wait to read the next book to fill in the unanswered questions.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:
I was given an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I liked that the Fae were cast as the baddies and the author was able to give a good backstory without the history becoming tedious. The FMC is so giving and kind to a fault and I appreciated watching the start of her arc in terms of her world views and how she relates to people. The primary MMC also was given good depth and dimension which was fun to discover! He could have been an ogre he has soooo many layers (IYKYK).

Overall, this story is about a girl trying to live her life and prove her worth in a wholly chauvinistic society where status and who your family is matters more than your character. She makes sacrifices for a town that would throw her away if they knew her secrets despite all she does for them. Enter the Fae. She makes a bargain she doesn’t understand to save everyone only
For it to completely blow up in her face. Little did she know that this bargain would completely change the course of her life.

This story has magic. Fae. Characters you love to hate and hate to love. Highly recommended for those who like a book with tension and action and a plot driven story.

[Klara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily chose to read this book after finding the book as an ARC.

I quite enjoyed it; it’s exciting, interesting, and it really grabbed my attention. The world-building is nice, though I feel it could benefit from being tightened up a bit.
For instance, there are some inconsistencies with the timeline regarding The Late King’s Festival. At the beginning of the book, the festival was supposed to take place in two days, yet Elara made a deal with the Fae to help them within ten days—and the festival ended up occurring near the end of that ten-day period.

There were also a few elements I felt were missing from the story:
- Character Description: What does Elara look like? I missed having a description of her, especially since her sister was frequently described as having red hair.
- Aftermath: I would have liked more detail on what happened immediately after the monster attack in chapters 16 and 17.
- Show, Don't Tell: I wanted more detail on how Elara suddenly became able to read the Fae language and understand their history. I’m looking for the "story" itself rather than just a retelling of the facts.
- Magic System: I missed seeing more of the process of Elara learning magic from Rian. How did she suddenly gain the understanding and ability to use her magic?

[LittleMouse 🐭 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even start! This books was amazing! ☺️ Samantha did such a great job at keeping you enthralled in the story! There were barely any slow points and I loved that. When I thought I knew what was happening, she throws a wrench in the plot and makes you wanna read more!

The characters in this book were very well put together. I loved the villains and the hero’s. Well if you can call them those things! 😬

The monsters were so unique and made the book a breath of fresh air. I’m glad it wasn’t all just fighting and romance. I liked that the monsters just added to the already interesting story. 🥰

The magic is also super unique and made for a great addition. I can’t wait to learn more about the magic and the fae!

This slow burn is amazing! And the twist at the end made me go “what the heck?!” 🤯

I cannot wait to read the next book, and I really hope I can get the ARC for that one as well, because if I ate this book up, I can’t even imagine how much I’ll devour the next! 💕

Is it dark? Yes. Mature themes.
Is it spicy? Not really.
Would I recommend this book? Oh definitely! Might have made its way into my top 10 books! 💙.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twins with mysterious magic and Fae warriors - Sign me up! I loved the premise for this story immediately. The story was engaging and fun to read and I loved the characters. Each one had their own distinct characteristics and were easily engaging and presented their own agendas.
The FMC is great and her sister seems to be as well.
The only reason for not giving 5 stars, were what I believe might be some editing issues which I imagine will get better with the final copy. Some time jumps I didn't like and could have been better explained.
The story was only about 350 or so pages and definitely could have been 600 which would have eliminated the time jumps and given us a better understanding of the magic and the purpose of the plot.
The MMC was likable but ....I felt it leaned into a steamy trope rather than a slow burn and I would have liked that better.
Twists and turns I didn't see coming and some I did but pleasantly so.
The ending was good - HOWEVER my only note was that the FMC in my opinion acted uncharacteristically in her feelings and I felt it was forced.
I am excited for book 2 and will definitely read it ...

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince of Darkness and Deceit gripped my attention from the first chapter. There’s lovers, true friends, betrayal, celebrations, battles, blood, guts, gore, drama, surprises, and disappointments. The characters are well fleshed and likable. The storyline flows so well. But then I’m reading a character doing something that drives me nuts: immediately after making clear they find a certain behavior disgusting, that same character takes a complete personality 180 and does that horrible behavior themselves—something I abhor in books I read. *sigh* I hope book two brings a reasonable explanation …

MMC:
✨Rian
✨Lev
FMC:
✨Elara
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Series:
✨Book 1 of The Shadowbound Fae
Tropes:
👉epic fantasy romance
👉enemies to lovers
👉fae lord mmc x healer fmc
👉friends to enemies
👉curses
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
💥violence, gore, blood, torture
💥death
💥betrayal, imprisonment, manipulation
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kinsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as romantasy's go, this one is definitely one I can see being very popular. The main characters all feel three dimensional, and the story is very easy to visualize despite being fantasy and describing new, imaginary monsters and powers and the like. The yearning between the main couple was also visceral, which helped the story move along. Where it sometimes lost me was the way in which the plot opens up conflicts, and then resolves them fairly easily without any sort of feeling of relief. I think there could have been a lot more development between the characters, and there were some plot points I really wish had been more drawn out and detailed like the main couple, as I feel that could've really boosted their relationship and trust, making the end of the book feel that bit more devastating. Because of the lack of detail in some cases like that, it feels like the stakes were never very high. It also felt like there were a lot of "villains" per se, and a lot of threads open, but could very well be resolved with another book. Overall, great start to a fantasy series and I do look forward to the next one!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
6 out of 10

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑺𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍

🌑🧝‍♂️ Shadow Fae x Human Healer
⚔️ Warring Kingdoms
✨ Hidden Powers
▲ Love Triangle
💫 Magical Realms
🔥 Slow Burn
🎭 Secret Identity
🏛️ Political Intrigue
🏡 Found Family
💞 Minimal Romance

This one started off with a bang - there was so much happening and I loved every twist and turn. There was a sense of mystery in that the FMC is tasked with curing an unknown curse and an extra layer of political intrigue kept me wanting to know more. However after the midway point I felt like the story unraveled a little bit - the attraction with the MMC and FMC felt forced to me and some of the plot points were no longer believable and felt like they came out of nowhere. The writing also got a bit repetitive and some of the internal dialogue just felt juvenile. That being said, if you like fae stories filled with political intrigue and a slow slow burn, maybe this one is for you!

“Prince of Darkness and Deceit” is Book One in The Shadowbound Fae Series and is out September 24! Thank you so much to Booksprout and Samantha Britt for the ARC opportunity 🫶✨

Rated M for Adult Themes of Romance and Violence ❤️⚔️

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I didn’t binge it in one sitting, I did get it done in 2. Some twists felt predictable, but others caught me off guard, and I’m left with plenty of questions I’m excited to see explored in the series.

This is a very slow burn—right now it’s all yearning and tension. The writing is immersive and easy to visualize, with strong pacing that kept the story moving and made “just one more chapter” impossible to resist. I loved that the FMC isn’t perfect—she makes mistakes and has real weaknesses. The MMC remains mostly mysterious, which worked well for the intrigue. Side characters felt distinct and believable, and I especially appreciated how the twin dynamic avoided tired stereotypes.

The worldbuilding stays localized, focusing on human–fae conflict and political tension without overwhelming the reader. I also enjoyed that the story doesn’t rely on a big quest—staying in one setting gave the plot a fresh, grounded feel for a fantasy. Overall, a strong start to the series that has me eager for what comes next. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story hits everything I want from a paranormal romance and then goes harder.
The worldbuilding is immersive without slowing the pace, the tension crackles from the first chapter, and the chemistry between the leads is undeniable. The romance burns hot, but it’s layered with real emotional weight. Every glance, every touch, every moment of restraint feels earned.
The hero is powerful, protective, and dangerously compelling without tipping into cliché. The heroine is smart, strong, and refuses to be overshadowed, which makes their dynamic addictive to read. Their connection feels inevitable in the best way. Fated, but fought for.
What really stood out was how seamlessly the action, romance, and supernatural elements were woven together. No filler. No sagging middle. Just sharp pacing, escalating stakes, and a payoff that left me breathless.
If you love paranormal romance with intense chemistry, alpha energy, emotional depth, and a world you want to disappear into, do not miss this book. I’m already counting down to the next one.
Highly recommend.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince of Darkness and Deceit was one of the best books I have read in a long while. I was unable to put it down always being left with needing to know more. The plot was constantly moving and the banter between the characters kept me wanting more. I really enjoyed Jaxon and Elara’s banter. Ferria is a little firecracker. Loved her banter and interaction with multiple characters. I am eagerly awaiting book 2 in this series. I feel connected and invested in all of the characters in the book. I found myself rooting for all the characters and their personal growth. The emotions both high and low were easily found throughout the story. There were lots of twist and turns along the way that had me guessing and then second guessing which characters we could trust. This will by far be one of my favorite books for months to come. I am so happy to have found another favorite author and can’t wait to read more books by her. I feel anyone who loves slow burn forbidden romances will really enjoy this book.

[Sometimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am a sucker for Healer/Warrior tropes, Elara, a competent healer who finds herself caught in a high-stakes deal with a Fae Lord provides an engaging enough hook, and the slow burn tension between the FMC and MMC is handled well, keeping the narrative drive consistent. I particularly appreciated that Elara feels like a capable adult with a specific skill set, which distinguishes her from the more naive protagonists often found in similar stories. The writing is accessible and easy to move through, making it a breezy read for anyone looking for a quick, entertaining escape.

The world-building feels somewhat contained, keeping us largely confined to a small village and the immediate forbidden forest which left me wanting a broader sense of the politics and landscape hinted at in the background. The Plot is fairly predictable if you have read widely in the genre, you will likely see the major twists coming well before they happen. But it did not detract much from the storytelling.

[Janna Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prince of Darkness and Deceit is a gripping romantasy that delivers exactly what fans of slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamics are looking for. The tension between Elara and the Fae Lord is the clear highlight, charged, uneasy, and layered with just enough vulnerability to keep you invested in their growing connection. Elara makes for a compelling protagonist, balancing quiet strength with the weight of her secrets, and her role as a healer adds an interesting dimension to the story. The worldbuilding is immersive, with a strong sense of danger and oppression that raises the stakes throughout. While some familiar genre tropes appear and certain plot beats feel predictable, the emotional payoff and steadily building romance make up for it. The pacing leans more toward a gradual unraveling than constant action, but it suits the story well, especially as the bond between the characters deepens. This is an engaging and atmospheric read with just the right mix of tension, romance, and intrigue to leave you eager for more.