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Prince of Darkness and Deceit
Not yet published
Expected 24 Sep 26Elara 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!
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!
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 24, 2026
5 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Britt
53 books315 followersLover 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!
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!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Review of advance copy
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!
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!
February 14, 2026
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 💕
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 💕
March 15, 2026
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 !
Review of advance copy
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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 toEnemies 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.
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
-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.
Review of advance copy
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.
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.
January 21, 2026
🗡 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
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
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
January 18, 2026
“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!
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!
Review of advance copy
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!!!
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!!!
January 14, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I flew through this one because it kept me interested from the very beginning! I honestly needed to know what was going to happen next. There weren’t really any slow chapters, and I liked that each one revealed something new. It just kept making me want to get to the next chapter.
I loved Elara, especially her dynamic with her sister. Their relationship was such a fun and special part of the story, and I felt like it added a lot overall.
The slow burn romance was done really well. It didn’t feel rushed, and you could feel the tension building between the two characters. There really wasn’t much spice in this book, but it worked because the focus was on building their relationship. I’m curious to see where that goes in book two.
There were several twists throughout the story, especially involving some of the secondary characters, and I liked that it constantly kept me questioning people’s intentions. I was always trying to figure out who could be trusted and who couldn’t. I also liked the way certain relationships played out because they weren’t as straightforward as they first seemed.
Overall, this felt like a really strong start to what I think will be a great series. I’m definitely invested and excited to see where book two goes.
I loved Elara, especially her dynamic with her sister. Their relationship was such a fun and special part of the story, and I felt like it added a lot overall.
The slow burn romance was done really well. It didn’t feel rushed, and you could feel the tension building between the two characters. There really wasn’t much spice in this book, but it worked because the focus was on building their relationship. I’m curious to see where that goes in book two.
There were several twists throughout the story, especially involving some of the secondary characters, and I liked that it constantly kept me questioning people’s intentions. I was always trying to figure out who could be trusted and who couldn’t. I also liked the way certain relationships played out because they weren’t as straightforward as they first seemed.
Overall, this felt like a really strong start to what I think will be a great series. I’m definitely invested and excited to see where book two goes.
Review of advance copy
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?
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?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy
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.
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.
January 8, 2026
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.
December 29, 2025
Prince of Darkness and Deceit — ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Twin human sisters with magic casually getting their lives wrecked (respectfully) by actual shadow daddies—and yes, I mean plural. You love to see it.
Elara is sweet, naïve, and painfully honourable… basically a cinnamon roll thrown into chaos.
And then there’s Rian—shadow-daddy fae, dripping in morally grey perfection, walking red flag energy, and I would absolutely follow him into the darkness without hesitation.
This book doesn’t wave spice in your face like most romantasy, but honestly? It doesn’t need to. The slow burn and tension are criminal. Lingering looks. Charged moments. The kind of anticipation that has you internally screaming and kicking your feet.
The emotional depth hit hard—the good, the bad, and the devastating—and I felt every single moment of it.
I am feral for book two. Give me more shadows, more danger, and more morally grey men immediately. 🖤✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Twin human sisters with magic casually getting their lives wrecked (respectfully) by actual shadow daddies—and yes, I mean plural. You love to see it.
Elara is sweet, naïve, and painfully honourable… basically a cinnamon roll thrown into chaos.
And then there’s Rian—shadow-daddy fae, dripping in morally grey perfection, walking red flag energy, and I would absolutely follow him into the darkness without hesitation.
This book doesn’t wave spice in your face like most romantasy, but honestly? It doesn’t need to. The slow burn and tension are criminal. Lingering looks. Charged moments. The kind of anticipation that has you internally screaming and kicking your feet.
The emotional depth hit hard—the good, the bad, and the devastating—and I felt every single moment of it.
I am feral for book two. Give me more shadows, more danger, and more morally grey men immediately. 🖤✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my gosh, when I tell you I flew through this book, that in less than 48 hours I devoured all 413 pages. I could not, did not, want to put down this compelling story.
Ms. Britt deftly weaves the tale of Elara and her twin sister who have spent their lives orphaned and hiding their secret magic from the town they live in. But Elara bravely risks exposing it all when Fae come to town and demand the help of a healer, her magical speciality. What follows is not suprising, but filled with just enough mystery and intrigue to continue to draw you along.
There is plenty of smoldering, longing, and confused emotions, but an otherwise clean romance. I am betting the next book will begin to ramp up the va-va-voom, because of course this one ends on a cliffhanger.
I am excited to see how Elara's world and knowledge of her ability expands and if she can eventually trust the fae she has pledge to help.
This review is based on an ARC and is my honest opinion.
Ms. Britt deftly weaves the tale of Elara and her twin sister who have spent their lives orphaned and hiding their secret magic from the town they live in. But Elara bravely risks exposing it all when Fae come to town and demand the help of a healer, her magical speciality. What follows is not suprising, but filled with just enough mystery and intrigue to continue to draw you along.
There is plenty of smoldering, longing, and confused emotions, but an otherwise clean romance. I am betting the next book will begin to ramp up the va-va-voom, because of course this one ends on a cliffhanger.
I am excited to see how Elara's world and knowledge of her ability expands and if she can eventually trust the fae she has pledge to help.
This review is based on an ARC and is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy
I had the amazing privilege of getting access to this book early and it did not disappoint!
Forbidden magic, dark fae and high stakes! This book has absolutely everything I love. The tension throughout the whole story is incredible, and I could not put this down. Elara, our main character, is beautifully created. She loves hard, she’s forgiving, and she always sees the best in everyone, but she has some inner battles with temptation and desire. I love the sisterhood between Elara and Ferria; their different personalities make them such a strong duo! And don’t even get me started on the romance side of this book. I was screaming and kicking my feet the whole time, and the decisions that Elara has to make for herself and to save her town are so intriguing. The way her journey of trusting others changes creates such a unique sense of suspense and anticipation.
Overall, I loved this book, and I will definitely be reading the next one! I’m so excited!
Forbidden magic, dark fae and high stakes! This book has absolutely everything I love. The tension throughout the whole story is incredible, and I could not put this down. Elara, our main character, is beautifully created. She loves hard, she’s forgiving, and she always sees the best in everyone, but she has some inner battles with temptation and desire. I love the sisterhood between Elara and Ferria; their different personalities make them such a strong duo! And don’t even get me started on the romance side of this book. I was screaming and kicking my feet the whole time, and the decisions that Elara has to make for herself and to save her town are so intriguing. The way her journey of trusting others changes creates such a unique sense of suspense and anticipation.
Overall, I loved this book, and I will definitely be reading the next one! I’m so excited!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book so much. Elara is a human who has magical powers in a world where magic is dangerous and despised by humanity. The fae are a group of creatures who have total control over the humans, and keep them in total submission. Supposedly.
This book was so much fun. I loved how Elara gets the chance to figure out her true power, and how much she and her sister grow in their own strength. Their backstory is so good, although I still think we need to learn more about it. Honestly, every other human is pretty horrible. Their adoptive mother is amazing, and I need to read more about her. I loved reading about the fae much more than the humans. I loved Rian, Jaxon, Darius- pretty much all of them. They are definitely in the morally grey area as far as heros go, but I did love reading about their different characters. I hate cliffhangers, but this one I did not see coming. I can’t wait to read book 2!
This book was so much fun. I loved how Elara gets the chance to figure out her true power, and how much she and her sister grow in their own strength. Their backstory is so good, although I still think we need to learn more about it. Honestly, every other human is pretty horrible. Their adoptive mother is amazing, and I need to read more about her. I loved reading about the fae much more than the humans. I loved Rian, Jaxon, Darius- pretty much all of them. They are definitely in the morally grey area as far as heros go, but I did love reading about their different characters. I hate cliffhangers, but this one I did not see coming. I can’t wait to read book 2!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Prince of Darkness and Deceit is a brooding, intoxicating story where danger and desire are inseparable, and every whispered secret could be a trap. Samantha Britt crafts a world drenched in shadows, where the powerful and the cunning rule — and where love is both a weapon and a temptation.
At the center is a romance that burns with tension and risk. The Prince himself is magnetic, darkly charming, and morally complex, drawing the heroine — and the reader — into a web of intrigue and forbidden longing. Every encounter pulses with electric desire, where trust is fragile, and giving in could mean ruin… or ecstasy.
The gothic worldbuilding adds a rich, atmospheric backdrop to the story. Dark halls, secret alliances, and power plays create an oppressive, alluring setting where danger lurks in every corner, making each romantic moment charged with intensity.
At the center is a romance that burns with tension and risk. The Prince himself is magnetic, darkly charming, and morally complex, drawing the heroine — and the reader — into a web of intrigue and forbidden longing. Every encounter pulses with electric desire, where trust is fragile, and giving in could mean ruin… or ecstasy.
The gothic worldbuilding adds a rich, atmospheric backdrop to the story. Dark halls, secret alliances, and power plays create an oppressive, alluring setting where danger lurks in every corner, making each romantic moment charged with intensity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of Advance Reader Copy:
Completely invested in this story!! Flew through it and even lost some sleep. Worth it!! The book has an easy going world building and easy enough magic system plus some monsters I'm sure we haven't even met yet. There is a couple spicy tension, no chilli pepper scenes. Easy and fun read! I highly recommend! I had a great time reading this!
The FMC is a bit naive, however she is supposed to be so i actually enjoyed her being so clueless at times. So when she finally pieced together who was who in the Fae group of men she ends up bound to I giggled so hard.
There are multiple MMC and Shadow Daddy(s) alert! Had my heart racing more than a few times!
I went into this kinda blind. Never read anything from this author but now I feel like I need to go see what else she has to tie me over for book 2!
Completely invested in this story!! Flew through it and even lost some sleep. Worth it!! The book has an easy going world building and easy enough magic system plus some monsters I'm sure we haven't even met yet. There is a couple spicy tension, no chilli pepper scenes. Easy and fun read! I highly recommend! I had a great time reading this!
The FMC is a bit naive, however she is supposed to be so i actually enjoyed her being so clueless at times. So when she finally pieced together who was who in the Fae group of men she ends up bound to I giggled so hard.
There are multiple MMC and Shadow Daddy(s) alert! Had my heart racing more than a few times!
I went into this kinda blind. Never read anything from this author but now I feel like I need to go see what else she has to tie me over for book 2!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I knew I was interested in reading this from what I saw the author had posted however I was not prepared for this book to just blow me away and far exceed my expectations!! The writing itself flows so freely, there’s no lags , no places of confusion, stops or otherwise. This book is going to engulf you from that first page all the way to the end without fail!! The story of Elara and Rian has a lot of tension building that they both desperately try to ignore or make sense of then as Elara and her twin sister Ferria start discovering they have something that’s been hidden, things escalate between everyone including in their village . I’ve not read this author before but I assure you I’m on a countdown until book 2 comes out and I will be looking at more of her work as I’m definitely following her now . READ this book!! Seriously just read it!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Forbidden magic, fae and a dark curse that needs to be broken to save her village.
When the dreaded fae show up in the middle of a town meeting demanding to know who the village healer is, Elara feels she has no choice but to stand up and agree to help the fae in exchange for the safery of her village. Little does she know her bravery will quickly be seen by her friends and neighbours as betrayal and collusion with the enemy, to them she quickly becomes the enemy whom she agreed to help even though it was to save everyone. Add in the dark curse she is trying to break, her forbidden magic that she doesn't entirely know how to control, an unexpected and intense attraction to one of the fae Rian, monster attacks and a brewing rebellion and you have an intense adventure full of emotion, suspense, magic and unexpected twists and turns.
When the dreaded fae show up in the middle of a town meeting demanding to know who the village healer is, Elara feels she has no choice but to stand up and agree to help the fae in exchange for the safery of her village. Little does she know her bravery will quickly be seen by her friends and neighbours as betrayal and collusion with the enemy, to them she quickly becomes the enemy whom she agreed to help even though it was to save everyone. Add in the dark curse she is trying to break, her forbidden magic that she doesn't entirely know how to control, an unexpected and intense attraction to one of the fae Rian, monster attacks and a brewing rebellion and you have an intense adventure full of emotion, suspense, magic and unexpected twists and turns.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed this book and didn’t want to put it down. This first book in the series has great world and character building without being overwhelming and really draws you into the story. The story is full of twists and turns that you didn’t see coming and betrayal that really keeps you turning the page to learn more. It’s a slow burn romance where the reader can see what’s happening but the MFC hasn’t caught on to quite yet by the end of the book. The ending definitely leaves you wanting to get the next book and dive right in to the story again. I personally am looking forward to reading the next in the series and would recommend this book to anyone who likes slow burn romance with a grumpy guy and some action thrown in.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
my First 5 Star of the year!!! Thank you Thank you for the ArC copy!!
Spice level .5
Follow Elara, a human healer with magic powers in a place where having powers is not accepted and cost her parents their life.Elara determined to become more than a kinless (individual with out family and looked down on) she uses her healing powers to help those in her town and fight injustices like the way men treat the women as second class citizens. Just when things are looking up, Fae warriors show up looking for a healer. Bound to secrecy, the town she sacrificed for turns against her and everything she thought she knew isn't what it was! Can she save the fae she vowed to heal while not losing childhood lover/friend.
I wanted to devour this book, it was so good.
Spice level .5
Follow Elara, a human healer with magic powers in a place where having powers is not accepted and cost her parents their life.Elara determined to become more than a kinless (individual with out family and looked down on) she uses her healing powers to help those in her town and fight injustices like the way men treat the women as second class citizens. Just when things are looking up, Fae warriors show up looking for a healer. Bound to secrecy, the town she sacrificed for turns against her and everything she thought she knew isn't what it was! Can she save the fae she vowed to heal while not losing childhood lover/friend.
I wanted to devour this book, it was so good.
January 13, 2026
Wow!!!! For fans of ACOTAR and Shield of Sparrows this is will be up your alley!
Story takes place in a town of humans with a deep prejudice against the fae. When the fae threaten the town the FMC steps up to the plate and makes a deal. Throughout the story my feeling towards the fae and the townspeople shifted and shifted again. The ending had me glued to my kindle and I couldn’t put it down.
The world building is pretty basic and nothing too complicated. Looking forward to learning more in the coming book! The character development was great. Loved the FMC.. although several of the other characters I went back and forth on due to their morally gray nature but overall such a great story!!
Story takes place in a town of humans with a deep prejudice against the fae. When the fae threaten the town the FMC steps up to the plate and makes a deal. Throughout the story my feeling towards the fae and the townspeople shifted and shifted again. The ending had me glued to my kindle and I couldn’t put it down.
The world building is pretty basic and nothing too complicated. Looking forward to learning more in the coming book! The character development was great. Loved the FMC.. although several of the other characters I went back and forth on due to their morally gray nature but overall such a great story!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
To say I am obsessed would be an understatement. I loved every moment of this book and could not get enough of this world. This put me through the emotional gamut, and I am so excited to see where the story goes next. Elara was everything, and I need a Ferria in my life. The males in this book were complicated, just as I prefer. I was falling in an out of love with them as the story progressed. That ending had me, a 40 year old woman, absolutely giddy. I love a messy situation, and I am here for the drama. I will be counting down the days until the next book is released. Which honestly gives me plenty of time to read this again. 🖤
February 19, 2026
Review of Advanced Copy
This book was fairly fast paced with an intriguing plot. I really enjoyed learning along with Elara and seeing things unfold through her perspective. I kept wanting to know what happened next. The female characters were strong willed and brave (my fav)
I especially love that many male characters end the book in the proverbial dog house. I am expecting some thorough grovelling in the next instalment.
I really love a book with good feminine anger. I really hope we get to see Elara and Ferria shine in book two (fingers crossed for some multiple POV.). I am also stoked about exploring the world more as we learn more backstory of the Fae.
This book was fairly fast paced with an intriguing plot. I really enjoyed learning along with Elara and seeing things unfold through her perspective. I kept wanting to know what happened next. The female characters were strong willed and brave (my fav)
I especially love that many male characters end the book in the proverbial dog house. I am expecting some thorough grovelling in the next instalment.
I really love a book with good feminine anger. I really hope we get to see Elara and Ferria shine in book two (fingers crossed for some multiple POV.). I am also stoked about exploring the world more as we learn more backstory of the Fae.
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