The Fae Captain's Thief

by Elle Thrasher

Beware the third son of the inland sea — and the thief who stole more than just his compass.

Bryn has always chased shiny objects and secrets, diving deep into Fjord Fae legends in search of treasure and myth. But when word spreads of a necklace worth more than gold and glory, she can’t resist the lure. She sets out alone for a remote island, determined to claim it.

The theft is the easy part.

The escape? That’s where things get complicated.

The only vessel leaving the jagged coastline is captained by the one man she vowed never to face again: a ruthless fae prince with a sharp smile and a darker past. A man she left after one night together. A man whose stolen compass still hangs at her hip.

Now, with a winter storm closing in and a desperate need to get home, Bryn must choose: freeze on shore or risk everything aboard the ship of the fae she once left.

Pirates of the Caribbean meets cold and ancient Nordic waters. The Fae Captain’s Thief is a romantic fantasy with a suave and morally gray captain, a confident and badass fmc, elemental magic, and mystical creatures right out of Nordic folklore. This adult fae romance is perfect for readers of LJ Andrews, Helen Scheuerer, and Frozen (but make it not PG).

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Fantasy Romance, Fiction, Paranormal

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2026

About the author

Raised on old English fairytales and Nordic folklore, Elle Thrasher is a romantasy author who writes stories about relatable heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and places that will give you wanderlust. You're also likely to find cute small towns, unique and epic magic systems, banter that will make you giggle at 2am, plus a cabin... there is always some sort of cabin.

When she isn't writing, you can find her drinking a cup of tea, frolicking at the beach with a book, or staring at the yoga mat she probably should use for those mental health benefits.

Join her mailing list to keep up with her work!
www.ellethrasher.com

Reviews

[rosie [exams - trying to keep up!] · Rating 4 out of 5]

ʚɞ the fae captain’s thief by elle thrasher ⋆.˚

⋆.˚ 29/8/26 — 3/9/26

⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 104 of 2026 ── .✦

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:

YEEEESSS I GOT THE ARC 🥹💓 tysm to behind the pages and elle thrasher for the e-ARC!! i LOVED elle’s previous release (the fae guardian) so i have high hopes 😋🤞

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

╰› (⭐4)

❝ i’d never say no to bread. anyone who did would be a fool in my book. ❞

⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:

── .✦ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕

oh this was SO short and sweet 🥹💘 i really enjoyed how fast and exciting the plot was! i definitely found it a bit cringey at times but honestly that was half of its charm 💝

i loved the fast pacing and the excitement around every corner, but a side effect of that is that the romance did feel a little instant for me 🥲

like i understand the MCs already had prior experiences together, but i wasn’t there for that!!! 😭 i wanna see their relationship develop outside of lust and forced proximity!! 🙏

── .✦ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

brynhild was honestly such a joy. i loved her and i wanted her to succeed so badly 🥹💗 she was such a cutie patootie tbh, with her passion for bread <3

her character art too omg. she’s such a BADDIE i love herrr 🥹💌

・・・・・

henrik i was a little unsure about at first, but with that love declaration he GOT me 🤭 his devotion to bryn was so beautiful and i loved seeing how far he would go to protect her honour 🤍

i liked the little snippet of his backstory that we got, but i must say i was really hoping for more insight into that! i hope there’s another book in this nordic fae universe that details henrik’s conflict with his father more, i’d love to see it 🙂‍↕️💓

・・・・・

i really do wish we got to see more of those side characters, as they were named up and in a total of one (1) scene, but they disappeared afterwards 🥲 with the short length of this book, i do understand this, but they really got my hopes up for nothing 😭

── .✦ 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈

i’ve come to really love elle thrasher’s humour and unique voice in her writing — this book was no different! i enjoyed the quick-witted writing that the fae captain’s thief had to offer 🫶🏻💖

・・・・・

𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?

YES! definitely go read the fae guardian first tho, it’s a canon experience 😚💕

・・・・・

the fae captain’s thief will be released on september 15, 2026!

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another one I really wanted to love. I got sucked into the tropes, particularly the slutty little glasses and ADHD rep. But by 60% in of this novella, I had neither. While it is billed as a standalone that doesn’t require familiarity with the other books within this world, I do think it was a major barrier to me falling into the story.

It started out great, I loved the thief energy that came from Bryn. It was when we got the captain part, there was some serious history there that I felt like I was completely missing. It didn’t let me connect to the world or the characters, and I’m still waiting for the ADHD rep and the glasses, thank you. If you are already familiar with this world, I think this would be a solid read. For those of us coming in brand new, it just wasn’t enough to pull us in and keep us there.

The Fae Captain’s Thief comes out September 15. Thank you to the author and Behind the Pages LLC for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own

[Ashley {_xamountofbooks} · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Behind the Pages PR)

4.25 stars

Short and spicy novella! I enjoyed being back in this world. I loved the chemistry and banter between Bryn and Henrik. Enjoyed Bryn insisting on calling his ship a boat throughout the story and her love of bread.

[Joleen Turns Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun little romantasy adventure! Give me a badass thief, a morally gray fae captain, stolen treasure, Nordic folklore, forced proximity, and two people who absolutely know how to get under each other’s skin, and I am in.

Bryn was easily one of my favorite parts of this. She’s confident, impulsive, clever, and exactly the kind of FMC who sees something shiny and potentially dangerous and thinks, yeah, I should probably steal that. Pairing her with Henrik—who just happens to be the fae prince she once slept with, disappeared on, AND stole a compass from—made their dynamic so much fun.

The banter and chemistry between these two really carried the novella for me. I loved watching them constantly push each other’s buttons while being forced back into each other’s orbit. Henrik has that suave, morally gray captain energy that works perfectly against Bryn’s chaotic thief energy. Henrik has slutty little rings and that is an automatic yes for me!

I also really enjoyed the Nordic-inspired setting and folklore. Between the elemental magic, mystical creatures, icy atmosphere, treasure hunting, and danger at sea, this felt like a bite-sized fantasy adventure that was incredibly easy to fly through.

My biggest complaint is honestly that I wanted more. Because it’s a novella, the story moves FAST, and I would have happily spent another hundred pages with Bryn and Henrik. I wanted a little more time for their relationship and some of the story elements to breathe.

Overall, this was fast, spicy, adventurous, and just a really good time. If “morally gray fae captain + chaotic treasure thief” sounds like your kind of combination, definitely add this one to your TBR.

[Evie Oliva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something about this title called to me and I'm so glad that it did. What is even better is that once this story ended, I was given more titles to read in the same world with just enough information to catch my attention and leave me feeling gleeful because YAY, more books to read. I wasn't sure what to make of this book at first but by the time the ending arrived, I knew I loved these characters and this world and that is a wonderful feeling to be left with at the end of the day.

The Fae Captain's Thief follows Bryn, a thief who decides to follow the legends she's heard about a necklace and has managed to steal it for herself. On her way back home though, Bryn must find a ship that will help her on her journey. But the only ship available belongs to a fae prince she stayed with once before leaving him behind, his compass now joining her collection of treasures. Bryn has to decide if it's worth sneaking onto his ship and risk getting caught or if she should find some other way of getting back home.

World-building was very interesting here. The idea of the fae and the various kinds there are and their magic was intriguing and I wish there was more in this novella to fill in the blanks. For that reason alone, I will be reading the other related books, just so I can find the answers I'm sure are in the other stories. What is given here was enough to keep the story moving but in the back of my mind, I kept wondering about the rest of this world that Thrasher has created, so yes, I'll be going back and reading more about this world. The story felt accessible, easy to fall into as we follow Bryn on her daring heist and everything that comes from it after. Everything flows easily from moment to moment, giving time to let emotions grow and to have characters come together. Everything asked was answered for this book and Thrasher shows a talent for writing a concise and enthralling story with the pages given.

As for the characters, at the start I wanted to wring Bryn's neck. This woman took a lot of risks for treasure and I wanted to tell her there was a time and a place to think about the next daring theft but she grew on me. Thrasher made Bryn strong but sympathetic and the reveals about the character made me want to bash some heads in so yes, I grew to love her. Which brings me to our fae prince, Henrik, a man of infinite patience who was obviously smitten with Bryn from the start. I felt like this was the perfect character to complement Bryn, compassionate and understanding and fiercely protective to those he loves. Henrik proved to be intelligent as a captain and resourceful enough to find ways to keep his crew safe and to help Bryn at the same time. These two together made way for a poignant storyline about finding someone to care for, to protect and keep safe and I loved when Bryn finally started to believe what Henrik was telling her.

As for the plot itself, I am very intrigued by the development this story took about the necklace that Bryn stole. The focus that it took about the origins of the necklace and precisely what it meant that Bryn stole it made me a little heartbroken. Which is why that ending made me smile. I meant it when I said I wanted to bash some heads in for Bryn so the way everything wrapped up made me cackle a little. The whole idea of thievery and how Bryn could actually use her talents as part of something more made me very happy. There's no other way to explain it. Sure, this was a spicy story and the heat between the leads was definitely there but what I'm left pondering the most was the effect the entire adventure had on Bryn and where she'll go with the knowledge she's gained. I hope to see more of these two in future books, you know, once I've caught up with everything set in this book world.

In the end, this was a very respectable read and I'm looking forward to adding the rest of Thrasher's books to my neverending TBR list.


Rating on my Scale: 8 Stars. I don't read novellas often, I'm always left feeling like I wanted more from everything. The good thing about this one is that there are other books in this world so this story has managed to hook me enough to make me want to read everything else so at least there is that. It's short and sweet, and I'll probably love it more once I know more about the books that came before this one.


My thanks to Behind the Pages and Elle Thrasher for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

“No more hurt. No more mistakes. No more taking on the world alone. You have us. You have me.”

I really enjoyed this novella. It was a nice and quick read. I liked the characters and their dynamic. I enjoyed the adventure aspects and the magic was interesting as well. I will definitely be checking out the other books in this universe!

[Beba Andric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was simply gorgeous! The dedication had me smiling and as I was reading the book, it became crystal clear WHY there's a nod to bread...Do I love a vividly written fun read and this book sure was that! As I follow Bryn, a thief, I'm clutching at the walls, sticking to the shadows and creeping along with her, traversing dark tunnels, evading the giant Hrimthursar, and running for my life! Then I'm evading a certain ship's captain...only to go from one dangerous situation into the next. Besides the truly physical deadly encounters, the danger of the heart is the deadliest. Or is it?

The author set a stage with a fierce FMC, a thief with an agenda. To simply steal an item to use as a bartering aid but simple is never really...simple. A loner with a slightly obsessive nature and an even bigger obsession for all things shiny. And ends up exactly where she didn't want to be, on a Fae Captain's boat...ummm, sorry... ship. I enjoyed every aspect of Bryn, her thoughts, her drooling over said captain, her guilt at later events and her snark. One night, a year prior, unbeknown to Bryn, had left a lasting impression on both of them.

Aww, Henrik is so cutthroat sweet! Yes, that's contradictory but he's a toughie who's got a heart of gold. His aim is to prevent and stop the culling of whales, at any cost. Then Bryn re-enters his life and, yes, he sets both her tummy fluttering as well as mine. And when Henrik confesses to Bryn, "the night you stole that compass, you took a whole lot more with you.” my heart was in a puddle by my feet. The banter and retorts were fast and timely placed, eliciting a chuckle by the double entendre. Even Bryn acknowledged it "We would end up killing each other with euphemisms at the rate we were going." I just loved their dance with words, although, from the headers, I was expecting to see Henrik's POV. Especially about THE night in question and how Bryn's reappearance affected him. Sure, my Thrasher gave me a great account of what he might have felt, but through Bryn's eyes, not his. Irrespective, it didn't deter my enjoyment, I adored them both, their journey and the heat between them.

Pirates, Fae and magic blend beautifully in this book, the spice set off butterflies in my tummy, it was so tenderly delivered, expertly by the author. The supporting characters are just as delightful, and the entire stance of support, sticking together and loyalty resonates with me. What took me by surprise was the highlighting a very real issue, that of whale hunting and ocean preservation. I wasn't expecting a Romantasy to feature this vile practice so prominently but I'm glad Ms Thrasher did. Not as as irrelevant insertion but as integral to the story, a very fitting one. I do hope there's more to come, more adventures with Bryn and Henrik and a tantalising "marking" by Hrim definitely needs exploring!

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

Bryn was probably my favorite part of the book. She is confident, clever, independent, and definitely not the kind of woman who waits around for someone else to save her. She is a thief who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it, even when it gets her into trouble. I loved how much personality she had and how she could be completely confident one moment and then show a much more vulnerable side the next. She felt like a character who had learned to rely on herself, and I really enjoyed seeing her slowly realize that she didn't always have to do everything alone.

Then we have Henrik, who at first comes across as this intimidating, ruthless fae captain with a sharp tongue and plenty of secrets. But the more we see of him, the more there is to his character. I really liked discovering the softer side of Henrik and seeing how differently he treats Bryn compared to everyone else. He may look like the scary fae captain everyone should stay away from, but there is definitely more heart underneath all of that.

Bryn and Henrik have some seriously good banter, and I found myself smiling at their interactions. There is so much history between them, which makes their attraction and frustration with each other even more interesting. Neither of them is particularly good at admitting what they're feeling, so watching them circle around each other while trying to figure out whether they can actually trust one another was one of my favorite parts.

I also loved how Henrik seemed to really see Bryn. He doesn't expect her to change who she is, and I enjoyed watching him accept all of her messy, chaotic, complicated parts. At the same time, Bryn brings out a completely different side of Henrik, and I loved seeing how much more alive and open he becomes around her.

The fantasy side of the story was also a lot of fun. I loved the Nordic-inspired fae world, elemental magic, mythical creatures, treasure hunting, and the pirate-like adventure. There was always something happening, and the story moved quickly without losing the romance at the center of it.

I would like to thank Behind the Pages for the opportunity to review this book

[ChellesOfBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
Content warning: violence, injury detail, bullying, panic attack

Thank you to the author and Behind the Pages influencer team for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

I always love a good pirate story, and if you're looking for a fast-paced read with relatively minor obstacles (as in they are easily resolved), then you may enjoy this book. I picked this up through an influencer arc team I'm on, and I admit to being swayed by the quickfire trope list to apply. However, I would say that a lot on this list was quite misleading or at least minimally used, and I didn't truly get a sense for the ADHD rep at all, which is one of the reasons I picked this up. This novella may be deemed a standalone but it's set in an established world which was not mentioned on the application. I feel like without that other world-building knowledge, The Fae Captain's Thief suffered a little. There was also some historical inaccuracies in the Ancient Nordic setting that personally drew me out of the read - I acknowledge this is a me issue as a historian.

The beginning of this read was fun and I enjoyed the setup of Bryn stealing from the Hrimthursar and then stowing herself away on a ship. She seemed bold and plucky, and I loved her banter and assertive energy. This does change, however, and I don't quite understand the author's reasoning for taking Bryn's character down this path over her reason for stealing from Hrim in the first place. I understand it was to show a vulnerable side, but the obstacles in return became weak and kind of pointless, with how readily they were resolved. By the time I was done reading, I was not very satisfied, and felt there were areas where this could have been improved upon.

The romance was good, mostly down to the banter for me. I appreciated because they had a past dalliance that there was less yearning required so the fast track to intimacy was believable, but admittedly not my favourite.

Given the shorter page count, keeping this fast-paced for a novella length made sense, but I would have preferred a longer page count to give more room to this story. There was a lot to like and the potential was there for this to be more enjoyable, but for me, it was just an average read with some inconsistencies (with marketing and writing) that lowered my enjoyment.

[Nova McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stealing a pretty little necklace from a sleeping frost giant? Easy peasy. Getting away with it? Now that’s where things get interesting. Being caught as a stowaway on a ship is a problem. It being the ship captained by Henrick, the dastardly, devastatingly handsome pirate she had an amazing night with that ended with her sneaking out with a souvenir? His compass. Well, that’s just awkward. Oh, and did I mention the frost giant is hot on her trail? Yup, now we’re in trouble.

Now this was just a good time! This was a quick, easy, action packed, heartfelt novella, and it hit the spot! It was fast paced and really well developed. The connection was already established, but the banter and snark had me giggling.

Bryn was tough as nails, but there was a much softer reason behind why she was willing to risk it all. She was quick, smart, and had Henrick eating out of the palm of her hand, but she had such a big heart underneath it all. And then the ship’s crew took her in and stood behind her, giving her a team and a family. I loved that so much.

Now Henrick… yum! This hot, tattooed, sharp tongued, cocky ship’s captain was also a bit of a mush. He had searched for Bryn after their night together, never forgetting her and never giving up hope of finding her again. So when he has her back in his arms, he’s determined to make her stay.

I loved these two together. They just worked so well. I loved their chemistry, their banter, and the way they brought out the best in each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and this novella has me eager to get into The Fae Guardian series. I definitely need more!


Thank you so much to Elle Thrasher and Behind The Pages for this gifted copy.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 maybe?
A fun expansion of the Nordic Fae world, this time we set sail aboard Henrik's ship and get a fun adventure of thievery and heisting.

This is written to be a standalone kind of story but set within the existing world of the Nordic Fae from Elle Thrasher's other books. I do think this one is best read with the context of at least The Fae Guardian, as the world itself is not as well fleshed out on its own here since this one is shorter. Henrik is introduced in The Fae Guardian, so after reading that, I already knew how fun and flirty this man would be, plus I had background in some of his earlier antics or familial history.

This story introduces Bryn, who had a one night stand with Henrik and stole his compass, then ran off to continue her thieving elsewhere. They had this one night of passion, then when they reconnect in this timeline, the attraction is just as strong as ever, despite their reluctance to be stuck together. I just wish I had seen more on page chemistry that didn't depend purely on their past dalliance. They are both flirty and bantery by nature, so this was very fun, but I think I wanted a little more on page substance to actually build.

The plot here is riddled with heists and sneaking, which is lots of fun. Henrik is down BAD for Bryn and she is honestly pretty smitten with him too. This dynamic does make the heisting even more fun and risky.

Thank you to the author and Behind the Pages PA for the advance copy of this book.

[Kate Bellamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a short fantasy that will take you on a journey of the high sea, with sea monsters and stolen treasures. The Fae Captain's Thief is a standalone by Elle Thrasher and I would like to thank the author and Behind the pages Pa for giving me this ARC. Importantly this book may contain content that is triggering for some, so please check the trigger/ content warnings before reading.

you dive straight into the action and the adventure when Bryn is trying to get a necklace that is hidden in a treasure room. For a short read there was so much plot, romance , fantasy and action to it. Bryn, showed from the start that she is strong even in the times where her weakness had shown ; from taking on a monster to sneaking on to ship ( that may or may not be from a past lover, who she stole from) . Seeing the yearning from Henrik was my favorite part of the book. One thing I loved was how the tension had built between these two, you could tell from the start how they were drawn to each other and she kept fighting it. The story also did not feed us so much character backstory at the start but slowly throughout the book, so much so that it had kept me intrigued. Overall there was so much I loved about this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did . Happy reading

sorry for the abrupt ending of my review good reads is being a b***h and keeps cutting off my connection.

[Amber Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you soooo much Elle and Behind the Pages for the opportunity to be on the ARC team for this book!

You can never go wrong with a lovely pirate read! I am OBSESSED with Henrik and need MOORRREEEEEEE!!!

The Fae Captain’s Thief is such a fun, quick adventure! There are heist, romantic banter, frost giants, and revenge! For a quick read, it flowed beautifully and was action packed! Not once did I know where this story was going to go and I enjoyed every minute of it! Bryn is a complex character but she has so much humanity to her whether she likes it or not! Henrik can be sweet one minute but will gut you in several ways! If you ever think to cross him, DON’T! Their chemistry together is priceless with some great banter!

Near the end, it got very emotional and it really tugged at my heart strings. Bryan’s realization over the events of the story just really hit you. Very well done! The spice was 🤌🏻 I have no words it was perfect haha you would expect nothing less from a captain haha there are some unanswered questions and I hope to have them answered sometime in the future? Maybe? 🤔

Overall, I thought this story was soooo well done! If you want a fun pirate read that has far and water magic, this is the book for you! I highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

[Laura Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fae Captain's Thief
ARC Review
Publish date: September 15, 2026

I read Elle Thrasher’s novel The Fae Guardian earlier this year, so I was excited to return to the world of the Fjord Fae with this novella about Bryn and Henrik.

Bryn is a thief who has just stolen a rare necklace and needs to find a way home. She plans to sneak onto a ship to make her escape. The only problem is the ship belongs to the fae captain she had a one night stand with a years prior (and she still has his compass that she stole).

Bryn does her best to stay hidden, but it isn’t long before Henrik discovers her.

This was such a fun and quick read. I finished it in one sitting. I absolutely loved the banter between Bryn and Henrik, it was soooo good!

If you’re looking for a fast paced novella filled with adventure, fae, and amazing banter then you’re definitely going to want to pick this one up.

Thank you to Behind the Pages PA and Elle Thrasher for the eARC of The Fae Captain’s Thief.

[Samantha Hardesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🌟

The wonderful Elle Thrasher has done it again! Just like with The Fae’s Guardian, I inhaled this one 😏

I absolutely love Elle’s writing style and The Fae Captain’s Thief is everything I want in a short standalone - delicious spice, banter, and an exciting plot. Also there’s slutty glasses - WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR?!

I adored both Henrik and Bryn, and I especially liked the subtle nods to things from The Fae’s Guardian 👀.

Elle has created a fantastic world here that differs from your usual fae stories and The Fae Captain’s Thief in particular will leave you completely satisifed. It’s not easy to write a short story well and to balance the pace, but this was perfect.

Thank you so much to both Elle & Sarah from Behind the Pages LLC for the eARC in advance of release 😘

[Chelbie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this short pirate tale! Bryn is a highly skilled thief, Henrik is the fearsome Pirate Captain she stole from after a one night stand. When danger thrusts them back together in this adventurous, swashbuckling, fight for your life kind of story, they must work together to right their wrongs & survive.

Bryn was so fun to get to know & was very relatable (especially her love for bread lol). She was famous for her thievery and I thought that was an awesome reputation for a FMC! Henrik was easy to love as well, he was hard and unforgiving to everyone… except Bryn! Which is a trope I love!🔥 This was fun & has me interested in reading more!🖤🏴‍☠️

✨Thank you Elle & Behind The Pages for the early ARC copy!✨

[Diamanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi everyone!
This is a story inspired by Scandinavian folklore—specifically, Nordic Fae tales.
It is a short book, yet despite its brevity, the author immerses you in the story right away while simultaneously enchanting you.
The protagonists are Bryn and Henrik; their incredible chemistry, witty banter, and playful teasing really liven up the atmosphere.
Finally, the writing style is moving, gripping, delightful, captivating, and fast-paced.

Many thanks to the author and the PA @behindthepagespa for the eARC!

This is my honest review!

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fae Captain’s Thief

This was a cute fast paced read! I loved this cozy read that had the perfect amount of romance, thrills, magic, and drama.

Bryn was a sassy fun FMC! I enjoyed her quirks and loved how kick butt she was.

Henrik was sweet. I loved his protectiveness and loyalty!

I enjoyed the banter between them and of course the second chance romance was sweet.

If you love fantasy romance, pirate/thief, fae magic, who did this to you, forced proximity, quest, morally grey characters, cozy vibes, and more then don’t miss this!

[Amelia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. Bryn is a feisty FMC with a IDGAF attitude. She is the embodiment of every person easily distracted by (literal) shiny things. Henrik is a powerful and deadly sea captain with a soft spot for Bryn. They had lots of banter! I liked how he believed in her and wanted to support her. It was a quick read and was a fun adventure.

[The Book Nerd's Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short fantasy read featuring fae adventures amongst the blistering seas off Norway.

Bryn is a master thief and she's known for pursuing some of the rarest treasures known to the Fjord Fae. So when word of a necklace worth more than she ever dreamed of surfaces, she can't resist going after it. Since the target is in the middle of nowhere, Bryn needs to catch a ride back home. With no other option, she boards the ship of pirate captain Henrik. She had a one night stand with him a year ago and stole his beloved compass, so it's imperative that she isn't found out as a stowaway. Bryn may be a master thief, but Henrik seems to have a special way of finding her out.

This is another ARC I applied for because the author will be attending Midwest Bookish Fest 2027. I think this one has been my favorite read from those attending thus far, so that's exciting. Thank you so much to Elle Thresher for the ARC of this one!

I am a big fan of thieves and pirates in fantasy books, so I knew I was in for a treat with this one. Bryn is brimminng with spunk and spirit, so she was a fun character to follow. I was expecting us to enter Henrik's PoV because the title headers said Bryn, but that literally didn't happen until the very end of the book. Luckily, Henrik is a fiercely loyal and courageous sea captain, and it was a joy getting to know him, too.

Bryn and Henrik have such a fun vibe. These two are constantly bantering and flirting with one another, which is quite a blast. Things do get a bit more real eventually, which is also super sweet as Henrik accepts every part of Bryn (even those that she has been trained to dislike by society; such as her ADHD and her anxiety attacks). Bryn seems to fill the wind in Henrik's sails; he truly comes to life in her presence.

I was a bit surprised that one of the main themes in this one is ocean conservation. Henrik's ship and crew seem so menacing, but in reality, they just want to save the whales and destroy any that get in their way.

I found combining fae magic with Norse mythology to be fascinating. This is the first time I've seen it done, and I absolutely loved it! My inner "How to Train Your Dragon" lover glowed while reading this one.

Bryn's love for bread is such a minor part of this book, but something I found amusing nonetheless. I kid you not, this woman would kill for a decent loaf of bread. And the author dedicated this book to bread, which is also amazing.

This is part of an interconnected stand alone series called "Nordic Fae Stories." I believe the only thing these books have in common is they are both set in the same world, and that Henrik appears in the two that are out thus far. I'm definitely intrigued, and I hope to check out more of this series at some point.

Overall, I had a great time reading "The Fae Captain's Thief." It is filled with delectable banter, romantic yearning, and pirate adventures. Bryn and Henrik are a dangerous duo together, and I'm certainly a fan of their thief x pirate vibes. I had a ton of fun reading this one and I hope to check out more of this author's Nordic fae books in the future!

[Ashley (alwaysbooksandtea) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anyone who is willing to stand toe to toe with the captain and remain alive is someone worthy of remaining on this ship."

The Fae Thief is a fun, action-packed standalone fantasy romance novella in Elle Thrasher's Nordic Fae Stories series. It follows Fjord fae thief, Bryn, as she's discovered as a stowaway on a pirate ship captained by Henrik...a fae she romanced and stole from previously.

What another great addition to the Nordic Fae Stories series! The Fae Thief exists as a standalone story, but you can meet Henrik earlier in book one, The Fae Guardian, which I recommend. It has great pacing, lots of action and adventure, and fantastic banter. This story was exactly the pallet cleanser I needed. It's easy to read, will make you giggle, and the flirting will make you swoon.

Henrik is a swashbuckling, head-over-heels pirate captain with an interesting moral compass (ha!), and complete devotion to his crew and beautiful thieves named Bryn. He is so down bad, and not even remotely ashamed about it. I loved his constant flirting and innuendo.

Bryn is an absolute delight of a FMC. While not named as such, Bryn has a form of ADHD, and I love not only the representation but how Elle demonstrated this in Bryn's thought process and actions. Bryn is also completely endearing character. If I could have given her a hug, I would have! She's morally grey, a bit loopy, and loves bread more than anyone I know. She's also a total bad @$$ who will do what is necessary to protect herself and her way of life. I loved watching Bryn soften to Henrik's affection, and still maintain her sense of self.

One of my favorite things about Elle's Nordic Fae stories is the focus she puts on Norwegian culture and environmental concerns. In this story the hunting of whales is brought to the forefront. I always learn something when I read one of Elle's stories, which I adore. Elle helpfully provides a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the novella and on her website, as well as a video so you can listen to her saying all of the names/terms!

In a pirate action/adventure story, it may not be surprising to know that there's quite a bit of violence, and spice. There's also an on-page panic attack as well. Elle includes a content notice at the beginning of the novella, as well as on her website.

This a wonderful, quick read filled with great banter, pirates, and a lovely romance. I highly recommend, both as a standalone and as part of the Nordic Fae Stories!!

"I have plans for you."
"Dastardly plans?"
"Despicable."
"Ooo...My favorite."

"No more hurt. No more mistakes. No more taking on the world alone. You have us. You have me."

*A huge thank you to Elle for an ARC of The Fae's Thief. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

[୨୧○• Erin •○୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced reader copy sent by the Author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars

What to expect:
⨠ Pirate x Thief
⨠ Who did this to you?
⨠ Mystical Creatures
⨠ Elemental Magic
⨠ Morally Grey Captain
⨠ Badass FMC
⨠ Standalone

This was such a fantastic novella. I read it in an hour, just under 200 pages. It was fast paced and action packed. Loved these characters and the banter was 10/10.

We follow our FMC Bryn, she has always chased shiny treasure and myths of Fjord Fae Legends. When she hears about a necklace worth more than gold and glory, she can't help herself and sets of to find it. And the adventure that unfolds from there is captivating.

Bryn is such a fun FMC, she's sassy, strong and a blade wielding baddie. She will do whatever is necessary to save herself. She easily gets distracted with shiny objects. And her hilarious obsession with a certain food had me giggling.

Our MMC Henrik loved him so much. He's your typical grouchy tough Pirate Captain. He is loyal, powerful and protective of his crew. You don't want to get on this man's bad side.

Loved the spicy scenes 🤌🏽 and the added tension of their history together 👏🏽 The chemistry between these two was epic. What else is there to do while sharing a cabin with one bed on a ship in the middle of the sea 😉 loved the progression of their relationship. This man would drown the world for her. 🫠

Its fast paced and action packed for the entire book. You just don't want to put it down. There are constantly things happening in the background. Truths are revealed. Scores are settled.

Loved the entire Nordic inspired vibe of the book, we get mystical creatures, epic battles and soo much hilarious banter.

Loved the unique magic system. 🌊🫧

Elle's writing style is so fantastic, it flows perfectly and it's so easy to lose yourself in the story alongside these characters.

And the ending was the perfect way to end their story. Ahh I love them so much!

Honestly had the best time reading this one. Definitely recommend.

Thank you so much to the Author and Behind the Pages LLC for sending me an arc of this book 🩷

[Sequestered & Co. ARC Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fae Captain’s Thief by Elle Thrasher

⭐️ 4.5 Stars ⭐️

”’Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate’ - Captain Jack Sparrow”

Ah! This was so cute!! I absolutely loved this and flew through it (I think I read this in one day…?). This was a great length and it was just a lovely all rounder short story!

I don’t know about you but I LIVE FOR a stabby violent FMC - potentially because I am a martial artist myself 🫣 I really enjoyed the fight scenes in Elle’s previous book, ‘The Fae Guardian’ and I will say it again: EXCELLENT fight scenes! Short and sweet but most importantly, to the point (get my sword pun-) haha.

In her previous book I commented on the involvement/mention of the other fae factions and I am so happy she has included more information on them; it definitely helps render the story and visualise this book compared to the ‘world’ of her other novels.

I really enjoyed the banter and the characters. It wasn’t cliche, I wasn’t rolling my eyes or screaming at my Kobo (yes, that happens with some books more than I would like to admit 😭). For such a short read the characters had a lot of depth and problems (both internal and external) they acknowledged and worked through, it was really sweet. Ugh. This was so good! (As shown by me literally inhaling it, haha!). I am very excited to see what Elle Thrasher writes next and I will continue to snap up her books if I am given the opportunity to!! I believe this one can be read as a standalone, so now you definitely have to read it 👀.

Let it be known I am 100% a fan. If you liked The Fae Guardian this is a great charming quick read for you! I for one love Elle’s writing. It just flows so well and feels so easy to read.

I recommend if you are looking for: A quick easy read full of slightly cheesy banter and a wee bit of sarcasm that isn’t cliche or boring 😉. Plus pirates!? Who doesn’t love pirates!? Pirates with fae magic and…. bread!? 🤷‍♀️ SAY LESS!

Thank you very much to Behind the Pages PA and of course, Elle Thrasher for the ARC copy! (Elle I hope you know I am most definitely a fan now, you are killing it ✨).

🍀 Quotes used in review may not be accurate to the final published copy.

[The Fated Shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 🌶️3.5
📝 ARC Review

Can I have a Henrik in my life, please? I started this book yesterday and closed it today, which almost never happens with my schedule, and the reason is simple: I could not put it down.

The Fae Captain's Thief is a standalone romantasy set in Elle Thrasher's Nordic Fae world, and it reads like Pirates of the Caribbean dropped into cold, ancient northern waters. Henrik is the captain, morally grey and effortlessly charming, and Bryn is the thief who ends up on his ship. What follows is a story with elemental magic, creatures pulled from Nordic folklore, and a plot that kept surprising me right up to the end.

The writing style is what sold me first. It is clean and quick, with no filler, and the pacing is fast in the best way. Every chapter earns the next one. But the real heart of the book is the chemistry between Henrik and Bryn. The way that pirate speaks to her is dangerously good, equal parts teasing and intense, and the tension between them crackles in every scene they share. Bryn holds her own too. She is confident and sharp, never a passenger in her own story, which is exactly what I want from a heroine.

My one reservation, and it is the reason this sits at 4.5 rather than 5 stars, is length. At 182 pages the story is tight, but I wanted more. I would have loved for it to start earlier, at the moment Henrik and Bryn first met, so I could experience their slow burn from the beginning instead of joining it partway through. That is not a complaint about what is here, it is a complaint that there is not more of it.

This one is perfect for readers who love a swoony morally grey MMC, a heroine who can match him, forced proximity on a ship, and a plot that moves. If you enjoy LJ Andrews or Helen Scheuerer, this belongs on your list. I have already added the other books in this series to my TBR, which is the best compliment I can give.

Thank you Behind the Pages PA for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fae captain and a thief?! Excuse me while I immediately prepare for bad decisions, flirting, betrayal, and someone inevitably stealing something they absolutely should not. 😂🧚‍♀️🏴‍☠️

The Fae Captain's Thief had me hooked by the sheer promise of chaos. Give me a thief with questionable morals, a dangerous captain, fae shenanigans, and romantic tension, and apparently I'm going to sit down and happily watch everything go spectacularly wrong. 👀🔥

I really enjoyed the character dynamics in this one. There’s plenty of push-and-pull energy, and I loved the feeling that neither character was completely willing to give the other the upper hand.

And the chemistry? Oh, I was watching. 👀💋

The banter and tension made the romance particularly fun, especially when you have two characters who seem perfectly capable of making each other's lives considerably more complicated. 😂

The story also kept me curious with its secrets, danger, and twists. I enjoyed not always knowing exactly who was playing who, because with a thief involved, I'm going to assume everyone is lying until proven otherwise. 🖤

There were a few areas where I wanted a little more depth and development, which brought me to four stars, but overall I had a really entertaining time with this one and would happily continue the adventure.

If you love fae, thieves, dangerous captains, banter, romantic tension, morally-grey characters, secrets, and characters who absolutely cannot be trusted with good decision-making, add this one to your TBR. 🧚‍♀️🔥

Would I trust the thief? No.
Would I trust the captain? Also no.
Would I still be invested in their chemistry? Unfortunately, yes. 😂💋

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC! 📖🖤

🧚‍♀️🔥 Tropes & Vibes

🧚‍♀️ Fae
🏴‍☠️ Captain & Thief
💋 Romantic Tension
🔥 Enemies-to-Lovers Energy
😂 Banter & Bickering
👀 Secrets & Deception
🖤 Morally Grey Characters
💎 Thievery & Schemes
⚔️ Danger & Adventure
💔 Complicated Chemistry
✨ Fae Magic
🤫 Hidden Motives
🌙 Unpredictable Characters
🔥 Push & Pull

[Breanna Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fae Captain's Thief by Elle Thrasher

What its About: Bryn has always chased shiny objects and secrets, diving deep into Fjord Fae legends in search of treasure and myth. But when word spreads of a necklace worth more than gold and glory, she can’t resist the lure. She sets out alone for a remote island, determined to claim it.

The theft is the easy part.

The escape? That’s where things get complicated.

The only vessel leaving the jagged coastline is captained by the one man she vowed never to face again: a ruthless fae prince with a sharp smile and a darker past. A man she left after one night together. A man whose stolen compass still hangs at her hip.

Now, with a winter storm closing in and a desperate need to get home, Bryn must choose: freeze on shore or risk everything aboard the ship of the fae she once left.

My Thoughts: 5/5 stars. Honestly signed on for this book because of the title and it was romantasy. It did not disappoint at all. Quick and easy read that took me a day to read. The characters reminded me a little of Aelin and Rolfe from Throne of Glass. The banter and sexual tension was amazing with enough of a plot with action that had me not wanting to put it down. FMC has ADHD and its represented in the writing which was awesome since it isn't something you see often. Henrik is tall, dark, tatted and has a mouth on him but wears slutty little glasses.....say less!!! Highly recommend this standalone novella!

Spice rating: 🌶🌶. The spice that happens is good but not super detailed. Love the sexual tension and flirty exchanges which make up for the lack of spice.

Thank you to Behind the Pages and Elle Thrasher for this ARC opportunity! All of these thoughts and opinions are my own!

To be Released September 15th!

#sluttylittleglasses #romantasy #pirateandthief #arcreader

[Caitlynn Burnaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fae Captain's Thief is a rousing and epic tale following a pirate with a somewhat moral compass and the thief who stole that compass (literally).

I've seen this book compared to Pirates of the Caribbean meets Frozen with Fae pirates, and I had a freaking blast. The flirty banter, the exciting save-the-whales heist, and the sweet and sexy moments in Captain Henrik's cabin sold me. As my first book by Elle Thrasher, The Fae Captain's Thief is a novella-length story set within the world of her other books. Bryn is a thief who steals anything that catches her eye. She shares a night with the captain of a ship and steals his compass on her way out the door. A year later, in an attempt to escape an elemental monster, she sneaks aboard the only ship in the harbor - a ship that is captained by the very Fae captain, Henrik, she'd been avoiding.

The innuendos made me laugh and kept the mood light. Bryn and Henrik clearly have a history, and I really enjoyed feeling like we got to have a sneak peek into just how much they can't resist each other. Their close proximity wasn't exactly forced, merely convenient, and they made the most of it. Bryn has exactly the kind of chaotic decision-making skills that make me question her survival instincts - and make me absolutely adore her.

Even though the novella was short, I felt an instant connection to the characters and story in a way that only a skilled writer could accomplish. I also thought the way Thrasher made the magical Fae world sit alongside the human world was very interesting and that alone is enough to make me curious about her other books. It's funny how the decisions that feel random or impulsive in the moment end up having a profound, fate-guided effect on the rest of our lives.

Thanks to Behind the Pages and Elle Thrasher for early access to read and review this delightful story!

[Poppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brynhild Jacobsen is used to operating on her own. As an infamous thief, her reputation often precedes her. She ventures to the far North and successfully steals the heart of Hrim, a necklace from the frost giant's lair. Barely making it out alive, she uses her Fjord fae magic to swim to the nearest village to find a ship to bring her home. The only ship she finds headed her way is Henrik's, the third son of the Fjord fae king, with whom she shared a night a year ago. Deciding to stow away, Bryn manages to hide on the ship for several days before being discovered. Henrik decides to let her live, enlisting her professional skills for a heist of his own. But Hrim attacks their ship, most likely looking for Bryn and his necklace, so she has to come clean to Henrik, who has some secrets of his own...

What a great, quick, pirate-y romance! I loved the banter and relationship between Bryn and Henrik. Since meeting Henrik in The Fae Guardian, I thought he was an intriguing and dynamic character who deserved a story, and thankfully, he got one! Bryn was his complete match. I adored her character, especially how her ADHD was represented, and that she got the family she wasn't looking for. Henrik was so thoughtful and romantic when it came to Bryn, with such bad boy energy when it came to his foes, especially if they were also hers. Henrik's ship sounded utterly magical and amazing! I'd also love to stow away on it, but I think I'd need magic to survive. I liked being back in this world, with the elemental magic - so unique! I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a dark-auraed pirate captain with slutty little reading glasses who finally claims his woman after a year of yearning 😉

Thank you to the author for providing this book for review consideration via Behind the Pages PA. All opinions are my own.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I would like to say a great thank you to Elle Thrasher and Behind The Pages LLC for the opportunity to delve into this e-ARC!

The Fae Captain’s Thief is a Nordic folklore inspired fantasy romance that, as the title suggests, focuses on a ship captain and a thief.

Not only are the characters engaging but once again, Elle has managed to make me want to live in this world and never leave.

This book is a masterclass in storytelling with beautifully written characters, scenic world building, with swoon worth romance and heart wrenching tragedy that makes you fall in love with each character more and more, even a mythological ice giant.

You can tell that Elle loves what she writes about as the research that she puts into this book is wholly impressive. Mythology, historical ocean atrocities and real world treasure mixed in with a world of magic captures the reader’s attention from page one.

I immensely adored the main characters in this book, as well as the vast cast of side characters that make this ship feel like a home and a family. The Captain that every reader will fall in love with, a thief who steals our heart while she would empty our pockets, a crew who are loyal to a fault and a medic who will step into the path of danger to keep his crew safe. The amount of differing personalities that could easily clash but somehow work perfectly together is refreshing and something every fantasy book should strive towards.

If you are looking for a book that will fill the void of sea adventures and romance that I have been sorely lacking with a MMC that yearns like no other and a FMC that knows her own mind but is willing to bend for one man, this book is for you.

I look forward to seeing what comes next for Elle Thrasher and looking forward to more Nordic adventures on the high seas.

[Krista Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and quick read filled with the adventures of a fae thief and the pirate she stole from with a bit of Norse influence.

You follow the FMC Bryn, a sly thief who a year ago stole the golden magical compass of a pirate captain and has since used it to aid her thieving. On her latest mission, she steals from a northern magical beast a necklace that could solve her current problem, only when she makes it back to the closest city, her only way back south is aboard the same ship captained by Henrik that she stole the compass from. She is able to find a way to stow herself away on board, but being trapped in a small space at sea leads to her attempting to sneak out, only to be caught by the captain himself. He makes her a deal to let her keep her life if she is willing to help him with his mission. They must work together and trust each other enough to finish it or all their lives could be at stake.

I really enjoyed the pirate x the thief who stole from him romance of this book and the banter and tension that built between them even though he should be mad at her for taking from him. I also liked the backstory of the FMC you slowly find out about throughout the book and how she learned to find her own strength and what she was good at so that she could defend herself when she had no one else. There was plenty of excitement aboard the ship between the hazards of stealing from a magical creature to thieving missions that could go wrong at any second that I couldn’t put this book down! It was a quick and exciting read and I enjoyed seeing the bond between the main characters deepen the more time they spent together. My rating 4.6/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!