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The Courts Beneath #1
Liar in the Hollow Court
A standalone enemies-to-lovers fae fantasy—except she’s the only one who thinks they’re enemies. With the high-stakes intrigue of The Cruel Prince, the cozy found-family banter of FRIENDS, and the no-spice romantic tension of Pride and Prejudice.
Brynn never believed in fairytales—until one stole her mother.
Everyone says she ran off, but Brynn saw the truth. Her mother was taken by something not quite human.
When her father and sisters vanish next, dragged into the winter woods by the same strange creatures, Brynn follows and falls head over heels into the Hollow Court: an underground fae kingdom rife with dangerous bargains.
In a realm where fae can’t lie, Brynn’s human ability to do just that becomes her greatest weapon. It gives her leverage when dealing with Soren—a handsome, unreadable fae who offers help in exchange for the power of her words. But there’s always a cost. The more she bargains, the more tangled everything becomes.
When a mysterious fae prince provides Brynn with a shortcut to the truth, she must decide who to trust as the veil between worlds begins to close.
Perfect for fantasy readers who love:
- no-spice romantic tension
- fae bargains
- found family
- a cursed prince
- cozy fantasy worlds but with faster pacing and higher stakes
- a grumpy Mr. Darcy who lost his wings
- a shy Elizabeth Bennett whose family was taken by the fae
The Courts Beneath stories are all standalone novels set in a shared universe series. Despite taking place in the same world, their stories have no overarching plot and each story occurs in a completely different location. As such, these novels can be read in any order.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING (from Goodreads Reviewers):
“Every single page of this book absolutely DELIVERS!!!”
“If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would.”
“Honestly, this story could’ve been 1,000 more pages and I would’ve eaten it up.”
“Bethany Atazadeh’s best book yet!”
“...definitely has the cosy feel to it the author was going for.”“from the very first page I was hooked... overall, it was a very pleasant reading experience!”
“the tension throughout the book between them had me giggling and kicking my feet”
Brynn never believed in fairytales—until one stole her mother.
Everyone says she ran off, but Brynn saw the truth. Her mother was taken by something not quite human.
When her father and sisters vanish next, dragged into the winter woods by the same strange creatures, Brynn follows and falls head over heels into the Hollow Court: an underground fae kingdom rife with dangerous bargains.
In a realm where fae can’t lie, Brynn’s human ability to do just that becomes her greatest weapon. It gives her leverage when dealing with Soren—a handsome, unreadable fae who offers help in exchange for the power of her words. But there’s always a cost. The more she bargains, the more tangled everything becomes.
When a mysterious fae prince provides Brynn with a shortcut to the truth, she must decide who to trust as the veil between worlds begins to close.
Perfect for fantasy readers who love:
- no-spice romantic tension
- fae bargains
- found family
- a cursed prince
- cozy fantasy worlds but with faster pacing and higher stakes
- a grumpy Mr. Darcy who lost his wings
- a shy Elizabeth Bennett whose family was taken by the fae
The Courts Beneath stories are all standalone novels set in a shared universe series. Despite taking place in the same world, their stories have no overarching plot and each story occurs in a completely different location. As such, these novels can be read in any order.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING (from Goodreads Reviewers):
“Every single page of this book absolutely DELIVERS!!!”
“If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would.”
“Honestly, this story could’ve been 1,000 more pages and I would’ve eaten it up.”
“Bethany Atazadeh’s best book yet!”
“...definitely has the cosy feel to it the author was going for.”“from the very first page I was hooked... overall, it was a very pleasant reading experience!”
“the tension throughout the book between them had me giggling and kicking my feet”
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2026
About the author
Bethany Atazadeh
22 books1,190 followersOnce upon a time, Bethany Atazadeh escaped into writing YA fantasy—and never came back. Now she’s the award-winning author of The Stolen Kingdom Series, a wife, mom of two, and professional chocolate taster (unofficial title), who shares her writing adventures and helpful tips she’s learned about publishing on YouTube. To find out when her next book arrives, sign up at bethanyatazadeh.com.
CONNECT WITH BETHANY ON:
Website: www.bethanyatazadeh.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/bethanyatazadeh
Instagram: @authorbethanyatazadeh
YouTube: www.youtube.com/bethanyatazadeh
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon Author Profile: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B077FRKJGW
CONNECT WITH BETHANY ON:
Website: www.bethanyatazadeh.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/bethanyatazadeh
Instagram: @authorbethanyatazadeh
YouTube: www.youtube.com/bethanyatazadeh
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon Author Profile: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B077FRKJGW
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
July 31, 2025
I absolutely loved Liar at the Hollow Court by Bethany Atazadeh. From the very first page, I was completely hooked—I genuinely couldn’t put it down. The story pulls you in with its tension, intrigue, and emotional depth, and it only gets better with every chapter.
The characters felt vivid and real, and I found myself deeply invested in their journeys.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It’s one of those stories that stays with you even after you’ve finished the last page.
The characters felt vivid and real, and I found myself deeply invested in their journeys.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It’s one of those stories that stays with you even after you’ve finished the last page.
Read
June 8, 2026ONE WEEK since this book came out... this is my final update to say:
(1) Liar is officially IN KINDLE UNLIMITED where you can read for free! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GLRBDKL4
(2) the Livestream Release Party was a blast and full of fun secrets, easter eggs, behind the scenes stories, and of course, spoilers at the end. You can watch the replay here: https://youtube.com/live/QHVu5nqsAuA
(3) Book 2 in this series of standalones is called Prince of the Drowned Court and YES there will be another Kickstarter special edition version that will have both world cover and character art cover options again like this one did. You can follow the prelaunch page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
And last but definitely not least, I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who reviewed! Reviews are absolute magic for a book, and I appreciate every single one. Thank you!
<3 Bethany
(1) Liar is officially IN KINDLE UNLIMITED where you can read for free! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GLRBDKL4
(2) the Livestream Release Party was a blast and full of fun secrets, easter eggs, behind the scenes stories, and of course, spoilers at the end. You can watch the replay here: https://youtube.com/live/QHVu5nqsAuA
(3) Book 2 in this series of standalones is called Prince of the Drowned Court and YES there will be another Kickstarter special edition version that will have both world cover and character art cover options again like this one did. You can follow the prelaunch page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
And last but definitely not least, I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who reviewed! Reviews are absolute magic for a book, and I appreciate every single one. Thank you!
<3 Bethany
April 14, 2026
I don’t think I can accurately describe how much I adored this book!! Ever since the author began marketing for her Kickstarter, I knew that I had to get my hands on a special edition copy!! And boy am I glad that I trusted my instincts!!!
Atazadeh delivers a fun story full of lovable characters, immaculate cozy vibes, a perfect amount of love and yearning, and a book that made me laugh out loud multiple times! I’m already planning on rereading this as soon as my physical Kickstarter copy comes!!
Every single page of this book absolutely DELIVERS!!! Brynn and Soren were seriously the cutest ever! And I am hoping that the whole friend groups keeps showing up in the next books because I loved them so much!!!
I can’t wait to reread this book and enjoy this masterpiece again!!
Atazadeh delivers a fun story full of lovable characters, immaculate cozy vibes, a perfect amount of love and yearning, and a book that made me laugh out loud multiple times! I’m already planning on rereading this as soon as my physical Kickstarter copy comes!!
Every single page of this book absolutely DELIVERS!!! Brynn and Soren were seriously the cutest ever! And I am hoping that the whole friend groups keeps showing up in the next books because I loved them so much!!!
I can’t wait to reread this book and enjoy this masterpiece again!!
October 25, 2026
I really did enjoy this one! It was a fun cozy story, though it had high stakes/hard topics for a cozy. I liked the depth of the story and think it added a lot. I liked the main two characters.
It was definitely more YA than I was expecting, but I would definitely recommend it to older teens. Theres no explicit romance or too graphic violence, but there’s a sweet love story and found family.
Content:
Human trafficking (faes kidnapping humans to be their slaves.), light kisses, mentions of people drinking. All is kept light and as non descriptive as possible
It was definitely more YA than I was expecting, but I would definitely recommend it to older teens. Theres no explicit romance or too graphic violence, but there’s a sweet love story and found family.
Content:
Human trafficking (faes kidnapping humans to be their slaves.), light kisses, mentions of people drinking. All is kept light and as non descriptive as possible
May 10, 2026
I have some feelings on this one. Part of me wants to give it 1 star and the other part 5 stars. Most of the irritation is related to the marketing. So the good first: I loved the story, the writing, the characters, and oh my goodness the swoon! It was a really well done book that I loved right up to the ending.
Why didn't I like the ending? I found this book on KickStarter and it was clearly labeled as a STANDALONE. There was no hint that it was book one of interconnected “standalones” or should have any sort of unresolved or hook for continuation ending. It was such a disappointment. The main conflict was resolved, but not wrapped up. The romance started, and could I guess?, be considered done enough. Then the epilogue was just a hook for book two. There should not be marketing for a second book in a standalone. This is not what was marketed.
That being said… will I read the next book? Yeah, probably. The writing is amazing and I LOVED the characters. But endings seem to be a weak point for this author in general.
Why didn't I like the ending? I found this book on KickStarter and it was clearly labeled as a STANDALONE. There was no hint that it was book one of interconnected “standalones” or should have any sort of unresolved or hook for continuation ending. It was such a disappointment. The main conflict was resolved, but not wrapped up. The romance started, and could I guess?, be considered done enough. Then the epilogue was just a hook for book two. There should not be marketing for a second book in a standalone. This is not what was marketed.
That being said… will I read the next book? Yeah, probably. The writing is amazing and I LOVED the characters. But endings seem to be a weak point for this author in general.
April 6, 2026
⭐️4.5—this book was like a vacation you were anticipating so bad, and then it ends and you want more. cannot wait for the next one. had so much fun!
June 7, 2026
* ੈ✩‧˚
⤷ Liar in the Hollow Court by Bethany Atazadeh
* ੈ✩‧˚
⤷ find me as @abby.reads14 on YT (my reading vlog for this book is out now!) <3
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
★★★★★
⤷ 4.75 stars
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
⤷ fae fantasy
⤷ one-sided enemies-to-lovers
⤷ found family
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤:
⤷ profanity - no
⤷ romance - 1/4
⤷ violence - 0/3
⤷ trigger warnings - none that I can think of
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
⤷ I loved this book! It was a really nice, cozy fantasy, which I didn’t realize how much I needed until I read this book.
⤷ Characters: pretty good. Brynn was good, if annoying at times (mostly in a way that I expect out of main characters, but every now and then she’d make a stupid decision where I’d just be like “Really?” if you know what I mean; overall I liked her though). Soren was amazing, I loved him. The rest of the group was cool (I really liked Lore; she was so quirky and cute). And then the Prince gave me Cardan vibes (but like, actually evil Cardan, not enemies-to-lovers Cardan, if that makes sense).
⤷ Which brings me to another point: the world. VERY Cruel Prince coded; not to the point of plagiarism I don’t think, because there are many different elements, but the vibes are just very Cruel Prince (but more lighthearted than TCP). I mean that as a compliment, by the way, having loved that whole series. I also loved the technical, makes-you-think speaking of the fae (which is where the “What are you doing?!” parts of Brynn’s character come in, but again, it’s not a whole lot), and just like the fae in general; the many different variants and types of fae were really cool to see.
⤷ The plot: this was great! I did NOT realize this was an interconnected standalone series, so the fact that everything in this book happned how it did is both a blessing (I feel like I never see fantasy standalones, and this one was done pretty well for being what I'm pretty sure is my first one) and just a little bit of a curse (because I feel like there's a lot more that could be explored with these characters and this storyline, and I know that the next book follows a different character and storyline, so it's just a little bit unsatisfying because of that). But besides that last little bit, I was HOOKED at the end; I just had to know what happened. If I hadn't had to wake up early the next morning when I was around 75%, I would have stayed up WELL past midnight to finish this book, because I just didn't want to put it down. This fact brings up the rating in and of itself; based on my criticisms alone, this is probably a 4.5 star book, but it goes up .25 because I was just so invested at the end.
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
⤷ Yes! This was an amazing, lighthearted cozy fantasy read, and if you're interested in that type of book that can be read as a standalone (with more books coming in the same world with characters that we already know) then I definitely recommend this book!
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖:
⤷ Liar in the Hollow Court is out now!!!
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕:
⤷ Thanks to the author, Bethany Atazadeh, and to NetGalley for giving me a free e-arc of this book! This is an honest review, and all thoughts are my own <3
⤷ Liar in the Hollow Court by Bethany Atazadeh
* ੈ✩‧˚
⤷ find me as @abby.reads14 on YT (my reading vlog for this book is out now!) <3
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
★★★★★
⤷ 4.75 stars
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
⤷ fae fantasy
⤷ one-sided enemies-to-lovers
⤷ found family
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤:
⤷ profanity - no
⤷ romance - 1/4
⤷ violence - 0/3
⤷ trigger warnings - none that I can think of
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
⤷ I loved this book! It was a really nice, cozy fantasy, which I didn’t realize how much I needed until I read this book.
⤷ Characters: pretty good. Brynn was good, if annoying at times (mostly in a way that I expect out of main characters, but every now and then she’d make a stupid decision where I’d just be like “Really?” if you know what I mean; overall I liked her though). Soren was amazing, I loved him. The rest of the group was cool (I really liked Lore; she was so quirky and cute). And then the Prince gave me Cardan vibes (but like, actually evil Cardan, not enemies-to-lovers Cardan, if that makes sense).
⤷ Which brings me to another point: the world. VERY Cruel Prince coded; not to the point of plagiarism I don’t think, because there are many different elements, but the vibes are just very Cruel Prince (but more lighthearted than TCP). I mean that as a compliment, by the way, having loved that whole series. I also loved the technical, makes-you-think speaking of the fae (which is where the “What are you doing?!” parts of Brynn’s character come in, but again, it’s not a whole lot), and just like the fae in general; the many different variants and types of fae were really cool to see.
⤷ The plot: this was great! I did NOT realize this was an interconnected standalone series, so the fact that everything in this book happned how it did is both a blessing (I feel like I never see fantasy standalones, and this one was done pretty well for being what I'm pretty sure is my first one) and just a little bit of a curse (because I feel like there's a lot more that could be explored with these characters and this storyline, and I know that the next book follows a different character and storyline, so it's just a little bit unsatisfying because of that). But besides that last little bit, I was HOOKED at the end; I just had to know what happened. If I hadn't had to wake up early the next morning when I was around 75%, I would have stayed up WELL past midnight to finish this book, because I just didn't want to put it down. This fact brings up the rating in and of itself; based on my criticisms alone, this is probably a 4.5 star book, but it goes up .25 because I was just so invested at the end.
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
⤷ Yes! This was an amazing, lighthearted cozy fantasy read, and if you're interested in that type of book that can be read as a standalone (with more books coming in the same world with characters that we already know) then I definitely recommend this book!
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖:
⤷ Liar in the Hollow Court is out now!!!
* ੈ✩‧˚ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕:
⤷ Thanks to the author, Bethany Atazadeh, and to NetGalley for giving me a free e-arc of this book! This is an honest review, and all thoughts are my own <3
June 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this, I dont normally read YA/no spice so had to tell myself that I needed to rate it fairly for its genre and not based on my usual expectations but honestly its the first romantasy I have read in a while and I was hooked - loved getting to support the author as well as love her youtube videos!
August 17, 2026
Such a cute, fun read! I easily recognized the world building of Holly Black’s Cruel Prince. Rewarding romance arc, spunky fmc, and yes, even a winged male fae 🤭
April 14, 2026
Thank you Bethany Atazadeh and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
I’m not going to lie, the beginning of this story was tough, but I’ve thought that about many of my favorite books, so I didn’t give up there. I expected the main character to go into the fae world a bit sooner and didn’t really understand why that was delayed, but maybe that’s just me! After the halfway mark though, I was invested. (And after the fae wine scene, it got so good! 😍)
Although the fmc, Brynn, got on my nerves at times—especially with her “you’re so evil” mentality toward the mmc, Soren, for literally no reason—she usually redeemed herself.
"My struggle to trust him didn't make logical sense—I knew that. After all, he hadn't done anything to me personally."
~exactly! there's no reason for her to hate him 😭
I kinda wish that the book wasn't written in first person because although it's very common in this genre, the main character did a lot of telling rather than showing—which distracted me from the plot—and her voice bogged down parts of the story.
Like this:
“the atmosphere was relaxed. It was more cozy than anything.”
Saying the atmosphere was cozy didn’t make it cozy, if that makes sense.
But can I just say, after reading Liar in the Hollow Court’s ending (both of them!) I’ll continue this series. I seriously need the author to finish the sequel in the next year or I’ll die from anticipation!
Note: I’m very intrigued what counts as ‘lying’ for the fae. I really wish this book would’ve gone deeper than just saying ‘they used fae misdirection’ …whatever that is! Like, if it’s Tuesday and someone asks a fae, “Is it Tuesday?” Could they mishear the question and say, “No.” or just lie and trick their minds to think the question was something different? Or can they ‘lie’ about things that they’re not sure the true answer to? Idk if that makes any sense, but I have other questions too that the world building didn’t quite satisfy lol.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
‼️Release Date: June 1, 2026‼️
(Go grab a copy if you want to enjoy a fun, relaxing, clean read this summer!) 📖
I’m not going to lie, the beginning of this story was tough, but I’ve thought that about many of my favorite books, so I didn’t give up there. I expected the main character to go into the fae world a bit sooner and didn’t really understand why that was delayed, but maybe that’s just me! After the halfway mark though, I was invested. (And after the fae wine scene, it got so good! 😍)
Although the fmc, Brynn, got on my nerves at times—especially with her “you’re so evil” mentality toward the mmc, Soren, for literally no reason—she usually redeemed herself.
"My struggle to trust him didn't make logical sense—I knew that. After all, he hadn't done anything to me personally."
~exactly! there's no reason for her to hate him 😭
I kinda wish that the book wasn't written in first person because although it's very common in this genre, the main character did a lot of telling rather than showing—which distracted me from the plot—and her voice bogged down parts of the story.
Like this:
“the atmosphere was relaxed. It was more cozy than anything.”
Saying the atmosphere was cozy didn’t make it cozy, if that makes sense.
But can I just say, after reading Liar in the Hollow Court’s ending (both of them!) I’ll continue this series. I seriously need the author to finish the sequel in the next year or I’ll die from anticipation!
Note: I’m very intrigued what counts as ‘lying’ for the fae. I really wish this book would’ve gone deeper than just saying ‘they used fae misdirection’ …whatever that is! Like, if it’s Tuesday and someone asks a fae, “Is it Tuesday?” Could they mishear the question and say, “No.” or just lie and trick their minds to think the question was something different? Or can they ‘lie’ about things that they’re not sure the true answer to? Idk if that makes any sense, but I have other questions too that the world building didn’t quite satisfy lol.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
‼️Release Date: June 1, 2026‼️
(Go grab a copy if you want to enjoy a fun, relaxing, clean read this summer!) 📖
April 14, 2026
My, oh my! I am so, so endeared to this book. You have no idea. I’ve been following the writing and Kickstarter process for a while now and it was very much one of those things where you just have a good feeling (I mean, who doesn’t want a Butter Book? IYKYK). I am thrilled that I trusted my instincts because… Liar in the Hollow Court made me so happy!!
The overall cozy feel of the burrows mixed with a tiny spot of danger and impending doom hit the spot. Also, there is something nostalgic about a character from the very modern human world falling into the fae realm. All of the lying and word vomit (I’m calling this the Falsehood Factor) was fabulous! Honestly, this story could have been a thousand more pages and I would have eaten it up.
The romance was sweet and I loved catching glimpses of Pride and Prejudice here and there. Brynn and Soren are so cute! I love how they come out of their shells when they are together. There is sass, spunk, and touching moments. LOVE IT!!!
That ending though!!! I cannot wait for more!
No-Spice Rating: 1 (light kissing)
Language: Clean (unless you consider “crap”)
Faith-Elements: None
The overall cozy feel of the burrows mixed with a tiny spot of danger and impending doom hit the spot. Also, there is something nostalgic about a character from the very modern human world falling into the fae realm. All of the lying and word vomit (I’m calling this the Falsehood Factor) was fabulous! Honestly, this story could have been a thousand more pages and I would have eaten it up.
The romance was sweet and I loved catching glimpses of Pride and Prejudice here and there. Brynn and Soren are so cute! I love how they come out of their shells when they are together. There is sass, spunk, and touching moments. LOVE IT!!!
That ending though!!! I cannot wait for more!
No-Spice Rating: 1 (light kissing)
Language: Clean (unless you consider “crap”)
Faith-Elements: None
April 20, 2026
I’m soooo glad I supported this book on Kickstarter!
This is such a refreshing book in the fae romantasy genre. I didn’t realize it until reading this book, but the fae romantasy genre has gotten SOOO trope-y lately that I forgot how books used to pull inspiration from myths and legends and that I had missed that and none of them do anymore (that I know of, anyway), but in this book, the fae as a race were so creatively build by Bethany, and I loved seeing some of the original lore being added into them which, like I said, you don’t typically see anymore. The romance isn’t spicy but more than that, it’s clear what both characters see in each other and why they fall in love, which is a question I always like to ask that most often doesn’t really get answered in a lot of typical romantasy books because it’s about spice, but this one really worked well with their character arcs. It was very cozy and relaxing but still had enough stakes to keep me interested. I loved the lies and the court aspects to this and the friends. It made it such an enjoyable read, and I also really loved the main female character because I related to her a lot and she was so much more relatable compared to most female leads that know everything and do everything perfectly. I loved the main male character, that he gave off “rhysand” vibes but without the spice and a lot more of a good guy, if that makes sense. I don’t normally read ya fantasy or cozy fantasy but this book blew me away.
5 stars!
This is such a refreshing book in the fae romantasy genre. I didn’t realize it until reading this book, but the fae romantasy genre has gotten SOOO trope-y lately that I forgot how books used to pull inspiration from myths and legends and that I had missed that and none of them do anymore (that I know of, anyway), but in this book, the fae as a race were so creatively build by Bethany, and I loved seeing some of the original lore being added into them which, like I said, you don’t typically see anymore. The romance isn’t spicy but more than that, it’s clear what both characters see in each other and why they fall in love, which is a question I always like to ask that most often doesn’t really get answered in a lot of typical romantasy books because it’s about spice, but this one really worked well with their character arcs. It was very cozy and relaxing but still had enough stakes to keep me interested. I loved the lies and the court aspects to this and the friends. It made it such an enjoyable read, and I also really loved the main female character because I related to her a lot and she was so much more relatable compared to most female leads that know everything and do everything perfectly. I loved the main male character, that he gave off “rhysand” vibes but without the spice and a lot more of a good guy, if that makes sense. I don’t normally read ya fantasy or cozy fantasy but this book blew me away.
5 stars!
June 3, 2026
This was such a good cozy fantasy! The writing was so immersive that I could picture the entire story vividly in my head.
I could definitely relate to the main character and how she would never stand up for herself and hated conflict but I’m so glad she grew so much by the end of the story. I loved how much she cared for her family and never gave up!
The romance was very sweet, and I would have loved to see more romance or their relationship get deeper especially in a standalone. However I’m hopeful we’ll see more of them in the coming books of this interconnected series!
I absolutely loved the friend group and found family in this one as well!
Thank you so much @netgally for this arc and @ for sending me the beautiful copy! I can’t get over how pretty the artwork inside is!!
If you love:
✨Fantasy
✨One sided Enemies to Lovers
✨Forced Proximity
✨Found Family
✨First Person POV
✨No Spice Romance
I could definitely relate to the main character and how she would never stand up for herself and hated conflict but I’m so glad she grew so much by the end of the story. I loved how much she cared for her family and never gave up!
The romance was very sweet, and I would have loved to see more romance or their relationship get deeper especially in a standalone. However I’m hopeful we’ll see more of them in the coming books of this interconnected series!
I absolutely loved the friend group and found family in this one as well!
Thank you so much @netgally for this arc and @ for sending me the beautiful copy! I can’t get over how pretty the artwork inside is!!
If you love:
✨Fantasy
✨One sided Enemies to Lovers
✨Forced Proximity
✨Found Family
✨First Person POV
✨No Spice Romance
June 21, 2026
Thank you Bethany Atazadeh for this gifted copy of your book!
This YA Romantasy was such a fun read! No spice. No language. Just some good enemies to lovers tension and plot twists! It gave pride and prejudice vibes but if p&p met a fae courts. I adored the cast of characters and can’t wait to read more of their stories! The setting was full of magic, new worlds, and unique creatures that made me feel like I stepped into a different place. I felt for our FMC and MMC and even though I don’t typically like miscommunication, this one handled it well. Definitely worth adding to your summer list!
This YA Romantasy was such a fun read! No spice. No language. Just some good enemies to lovers tension and plot twists! It gave pride and prejudice vibes but if p&p met a fae courts. I adored the cast of characters and can’t wait to read more of their stories! The setting was full of magic, new worlds, and unique creatures that made me feel like I stepped into a different place. I felt for our FMC and MMC and even though I don’t typically like miscommunication, this one handled it well. Definitely worth adding to your summer list!
June 12, 2026
For the first time in a long time, I am utterly speechless. This cozy fantasy is so beautifully penned and the world-building is spellbinding. I took my sweet time to read this enchanting story. I simply could not put this book down! It's such a page-turner.
From now on, everytime I stroll through the forest or the woods and see a hole nearby a tree, I will check if there are fae underground 'cause the fae world is so mesmerizing and that one fae with wings is such a handsome green flag. He seemed so intimidating in the beginning, but at the end of the story, he is such a softie and a gentleman. A real gem! And the main female character made me smile so many times. I just love her personality and how bold she is.
I knew that there was more to these characters, but that twist, I did not see that coming at all! How fascinating! I can't wait for the sequel 'cause I want to know more about the main characters and the side characters. Just give me more of this found family!
Overall, I really loved this story and was sad when I turned that last page, I just did not want this story to be over. So, hurry up with the second installment, please!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Release date: June 1st
From now on, everytime I stroll through the forest or the woods and see a hole nearby a tree, I will check if there are fae underground 'cause the fae world is so mesmerizing and that one fae with wings is such a handsome green flag. He seemed so intimidating in the beginning, but at the end of the story, he is such a softie and a gentleman. A real gem! And the main female character made me smile so many times. I just love her personality and how bold she is.
I knew that there was more to these characters, but that twist, I did not see that coming at all! How fascinating! I can't wait for the sequel 'cause I want to know more about the main characters and the side characters. Just give me more of this found family!
Overall, I really loved this story and was sad when I turned that last page, I just did not want this story to be over. So, hurry up with the second installment, please!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Release date: June 1st
June 25, 2026
I loved this! It was cosy and fun to read, with a good story and charming characters. I enjoyed the twists and friendship, Soren and Brynn are delightful and I found it refreshing to read a twist on the classic enemies to lovers trope where he doesn't see her as an enemy! The writing kept me turning the page so great job!
June 21, 2026
such a good mix between acotar and friends!!
August 8, 2026
I loved every moment of this book. The way Bethany weaved description and made me love the characters was done skillfully. I enjoyed Brynn’s story and fell in love with Soren so fast. I cannot wait to read more in this standalone series.
July 27, 2026
A sweet no spice romance that I honestly thoroughly enjoyed!! I would have read 3 of these books easily! The nod to P&P was exquisite
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Reading this was pure enjoyment! The author is new-to-me and I will definitely be reading more from her. This is a young adult fae fantasy with a cozy setting.
• Found family
• Cute romance
• Fae bargains
The epilogue definitely makes me excited for the next character's story.
*Received an ARC from Netgalley; opinions are my own.
• Found family
• Cute romance
• Fae bargains
The epilogue definitely makes me excited for the next character's story.
*Received an ARC from Netgalley; opinions are my own.
April 20, 2026
Ok where do I start but to say this book was AMAZING! First book of Bethany’s I’ve got round to reading and now I’m so excited to read the rest on my tbr! I was one of the kickstarter backers so that’s how I got an early copy and she is someone I really admire and I keep up on her YouTube videos - but her writing really is incredible!
The story which is perfectly defined as pride and prejudice meets the friendship group of friends the tv show reminded me of the vibes of the cruel prince but in a much easier way to understand. Brynns family is taken by the fae and she follows them into the fae world to save them making some friends along the way: Soren (the love interest), Peregrin (chef extraordinaire), Julian (dude who seems like he flirts with everyone but is really just down to earth), Gwen (badass knife wielding Queen) and Lore (fashion icon and ethereal goddess).
I’d recommend this to someone who doesn’t know any thing about fae novels as Bethany explains everything in a really easy way as well as adding her own unique take on it. As the main character doesn’t know anything about the fae, we learn things with her and are along for the ride. It makes you feel really immersed and I feel like that’s the sign of a good storyteller.
The romance !!! So wholesome, I love how Soren and Brynn accept each other for who they are and the tension throughout the book between them had me giggling and kicking my feet 🤭
Every character I felt was fleshed out and was so vivid on the page - I’m exited to see where she takes the rest of the novels in this series (begging for more Peregrin and Lore content they’re my fave duo 🤞)
So excited for my physical copy to come in the post, probably one of my faves I’ve read this year 💕
Ok appreciation rant over I’m off to read her entire backlist now 🙂↕️🤏
The story which is perfectly defined as pride and prejudice meets the friendship group of friends the tv show reminded me of the vibes of the cruel prince but in a much easier way to understand. Brynns family is taken by the fae and she follows them into the fae world to save them making some friends along the way: Soren (the love interest), Peregrin (chef extraordinaire), Julian (dude who seems like he flirts with everyone but is really just down to earth), Gwen (badass knife wielding Queen) and Lore (fashion icon and ethereal goddess).
I’d recommend this to someone who doesn’t know any thing about fae novels as Bethany explains everything in a really easy way as well as adding her own unique take on it. As the main character doesn’t know anything about the fae, we learn things with her and are along for the ride. It makes you feel really immersed and I feel like that’s the sign of a good storyteller.
The romance !!! So wholesome, I love how Soren and Brynn accept each other for who they are and the tension throughout the book between them had me giggling and kicking my feet 🤭
Every character I felt was fleshed out and was so vivid on the page - I’m exited to see where she takes the rest of the novels in this series (begging for more Peregrin and Lore content they’re my fave duo 🤞)
So excited for my physical copy to come in the post, probably one of my faves I’ve read this year 💕
Ok appreciation rant over I’m off to read her entire backlist now 🙂↕️🤏
June 24, 2026
This was my first fae book in a really long time as I normally avoid them as they are usually full of spice snd lust. This is a clean fiction about fae and it’s really good!
One thing that surprised me after finishing was seeing how many reviews criticized Brynn for being emotional or immature. She’s eighteen years old and has lost her entire family. Honestly, I found her reactions believable, and I loved her inner dialogue. Her awkwardness, self-awareness, and constant attempts to figure out how to act “normal” made her feel relatable and real.
The relationship between Brynn and Soren was also a highlight. Rather than relying on the intense romantic tension that seems common in a lot of fantasy today, this felt like a genuine slow burn built on trust, friendship, and learning who someone really is. The found-family elements were equally charming.
The fantasy world was well built and just enough description to keep me pulled in but also leave room for me to imagine.
This was a fun adventure story about figuring out who to trust and where you belong. I found myself laughing at the banter more than once, I’ll definitely continue with this author.
One thing that surprised me after finishing was seeing how many reviews criticized Brynn for being emotional or immature. She’s eighteen years old and has lost her entire family. Honestly, I found her reactions believable, and I loved her inner dialogue. Her awkwardness, self-awareness, and constant attempts to figure out how to act “normal” made her feel relatable and real.
The relationship between Brynn and Soren was also a highlight. Rather than relying on the intense romantic tension that seems common in a lot of fantasy today, this felt like a genuine slow burn built on trust, friendship, and learning who someone really is. The found-family elements were equally charming.
The fantasy world was well built and just enough description to keep me pulled in but also leave room for me to imagine.
This was a fun adventure story about figuring out who to trust and where you belong. I found myself laughing at the banter more than once, I’ll definitely continue with this author.
June 25, 2026
Okay but WHY did I get so attached to everyone?? 😭
This had cosy fantasy, fae, found family, romance, mystery… basically all the things that make my little fantasy-loving heart happy. I kept saying “one more chapter” and then suddenly it was way past my bedtime. Oops.
The world was so easy to get lost in, the characters completely stole my heart, and I already need more because I am simply not ready to leave them behind.
If cosy fantasy with a little bit of danger and a whole lot of heart is your thing… just trust me and pick this one up.
Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me. Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for book two because I have questions and I need answers immediately. 🫶
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC
This had cosy fantasy, fae, found family, romance, mystery… basically all the things that make my little fantasy-loving heart happy. I kept saying “one more chapter” and then suddenly it was way past my bedtime. Oops.
The world was so easy to get lost in, the characters completely stole my heart, and I already need more because I am simply not ready to leave them behind.
If cosy fantasy with a little bit of danger and a whole lot of heart is your thing… just trust me and pick this one up.
Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me. Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for book two because I have questions and I need answers immediately. 🫶
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC
June 16, 2026
Considering I'm not the target audience for YA fantasy romance, I still found Liar in the Hollow Court entertaining. It's a complicated story with an interesting cast of characters.
The author's world building is impressive as she describes both the underground Hollow Court and the mountaintop Shadow Court in detail. The FMC, a late-teenage girl, discovers that her family had been kidnapped by fae people and taken to Hollow Court to be used as servants. A brave and determined young woman, she pursues the kidnappers, loses their trail, then accidentally falls down a large hole that turns out to be an entry to Hollow Court. There, she encounters the MMC, who is a handsome, winged(?) fae who keeps tabs on that entry. The FMC and MMC are like oil and water, at first, but as the story builds throughout the book, their forced proximity makes for some interesting action that drives the story.
At this point I'm not going to say anymore about the story to prevent giving out spoilers. Instead, I recommend buying this fine book.
The author's world building is impressive as she describes both the underground Hollow Court and the mountaintop Shadow Court in detail. The FMC, a late-teenage girl, discovers that her family had been kidnapped by fae people and taken to Hollow Court to be used as servants. A brave and determined young woman, she pursues the kidnappers, loses their trail, then accidentally falls down a large hole that turns out to be an entry to Hollow Court. There, she encounters the MMC, who is a handsome, winged(?) fae who keeps tabs on that entry. The FMC and MMC are like oil and water, at first, but as the story builds throughout the book, their forced proximity makes for some interesting action that drives the story.
At this point I'm not going to say anymore about the story to prevent giving out spoilers. Instead, I recommend buying this fine book.
May 11, 2026
Cozy YA fantasy with fae, court politics, intrigue and a bit of sweet romance. The book got better towards the end and now I'm a little bummed that this was a stand-alone.
But maybe a sequel in the same world offers a glimpses into Brynn's life which became more and more interesting and into the lives of all her new friends. I can recommend this book to YA fae romance fans.
Thanks to Grace House Press and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!
But maybe a sequel in the same world offers a glimpses into Brynn's life which became more and more interesting and into the lives of all her new friends. I can recommend this book to YA fae romance fans.
Thanks to Grace House Press and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!
June 18, 2026
This book had a lot of FIRSTS with me in terms of me reading---first time reading Bethany Atazadeh, first time reading a standalone book in a while, AND first time reading a whole book in one sitting! And I annotated---which I also did!
But this book had great pacing, an engaging plot, masterful character development, very interesting take on fae. I love how well-done the reveals were done.
And the occasional illustrations were amazing---I just wish they were a little bit more of them.
And the ending definitely made me excited to read the next book in the series---AND the rest of Bethany's work!
But this book had great pacing, an engaging plot, masterful character development, very interesting take on fae. I love how well-done the reveals were done.
And the occasional illustrations were amazing---I just wish they were a little bit more of them.
And the ending definitely made me excited to read the next book in the series---AND the rest of Bethany's work!
June 26, 2026
Absolute Perfection—I Devoured This in One Night!
I am officially suffering from a massive book hangover. I picked up Liar in the Hollow Court by Bethany Atazadeh expecting a fun fantasy, and instead, I completely lost my mind, ignored my bedtime, and read the entire thing in a single sitting.
I am officially suffering from a massive book hangover. I picked up Liar in the Hollow Court by Bethany Atazadeh expecting a fun fantasy, and instead, I completely lost my mind, ignored my bedtime, and read the entire thing in a single sitting.
June 3, 2026
I love cozy fantasies and found family, so this book hit the spot! It’s a sweet, no spice, slow burn where he falls first! The whole cast of characters is so lovable and I can’t wait to hear even more of their back stories. I loved how Brynn gained confidence through out this book and really grew into herself to herself. I’d definitely read more from this world!
Thank you to R&R book tours for sending me a gifted review copy!
Thank you to R&R book tours for sending me a gifted review copy!
June 16, 2026
Liar in the hollow Court is such a delightful, cozy book that is definitely rated "E" for everyone! The book has such a good cast of characters, I definitely found myself wanting to spend more time with the stories of each character and get to know them more.
The found family trope isn't usually my favorite but this one was so sweet and had a ton of banter. I loved it.
The romance felt like a slow burn, it took a backseat to the rest of the plot, but was so wholesome and left you wanting more. Bethany Atazadah does such a good job exploring new takes on common fantasy. I've always been fascinated by the idea of the fae's inability to lie, and that's what this whole book is about! If you enjoy a cozy, classic fantasy with a big side of politics then this one is for you!
The found family trope isn't usually my favorite but this one was so sweet and had a ton of banter. I loved it.
The romance felt like a slow burn, it took a backseat to the rest of the plot, but was so wholesome and left you wanting more. Bethany Atazadah does such a good job exploring new takes on common fantasy. I've always been fascinated by the idea of the fae's inability to lie, and that's what this whole book is about! If you enjoy a cozy, classic fantasy with a big side of politics then this one is for you!
June 21, 2026
The author did a fantastic job making this story enjoyable. This is not my usual genre to read, but I decided to give this book a try and am so glad that I did. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
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