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Legacy of Avalon #1
Veiled Court
Join the Trials. Fake a Romance. Kill the King.
Ex-assassin Syn Malleore hates kings. The last one poisoned her sister, leaving her to slowly die of a curse. Now that the monarchy has fallen, Syn can finally leave London and return to the Fey realm to search for a magic cure.
But the Fey nobility are already plotting to restore the monarchy. In a hidden court, aristocrats fight to the death in brutal trials to claim the throne.
Syn won’t let another tyrant rise. Disguised as a baroness, she infiltrates the trials as a spy. Her first goal: steal a sacred relic to save her sister. Her second: destroy the monarchy. But the greatest danger is Rion du Lac, a lethally seductive warlord.
When he discovers she’s an imposter, he forces her to pose as his lover to win the crowd’s favor. If he exposes her secrets, she’ll burn for treason. And if she fails, a new tyrant will rise.
Ex-assassin Syn Malleore hates kings. The last one poisoned her sister, leaving her to slowly die of a curse. Now that the monarchy has fallen, Syn can finally leave London and return to the Fey realm to search for a magic cure.
But the Fey nobility are already plotting to restore the monarchy. In a hidden court, aristocrats fight to the death in brutal trials to claim the throne.
Syn won’t let another tyrant rise. Disguised as a baroness, she infiltrates the trials as a spy. Her first goal: steal a sacred relic to save her sister. Her second: destroy the monarchy. But the greatest danger is Rion du Lac, a lethally seductive warlord.
When he discovers she’s an imposter, he forces her to pose as his lover to win the crowd’s favor. If he exposes her secrets, she’ll burn for treason. And if she fails, a new tyrant will rise.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2026
About the author
C.N. Crawford
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C.N. Crawford are Wall Street Journal bestselling authors of romantasy books, including books with fae, demons, and magical academies.
We write fantasy romance, urban fantasy, and portal romance. Our books often include trials, banter, and enemies to lovers stories.
Note: We are actually two people--a former biologist (Nick) and a former school psychologist (Christine).
Some books are both of us, and some are just Christine!
To join C.N. Crawford's fan group and chat to the authors, Click here.
To stalk on instagram, Click here.
For a free standalone novel, Sign up here.
C.N. Crawford are Wall Street Journal bestselling authors of romantasy books, including books with fae, demons, and magical academies.
We write fantasy romance, urban fantasy, and portal romance. Our books often include trials, banter, and enemies to lovers stories.
Note: We are actually two people--a former biologist (Nick) and a former school psychologist (Christine).
Some books are both of us, and some are just Christine!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 602 reviews
May 25, 2026
Sometimes reading a spinoff is the final push it takes to get into an original series, at least that’s my excuse for reading Veiled Court before Avalon Tower. CN Crawford does say that even though they take place in the same world they can be read separately without feeling lost, and I would agree. So If you like the idea of a traditional fey story with dragons, deadly trials, and commoners rebelling against a corrupt monarchy blended with some urban fantasy, this might be your cup of tea.
Biding her time in a post apocalyptic London brought on by fey magic, Syn returns to the fey realm after the monarchy is dismantled by revolutionaries, with the goal of finding a cure for her sister. Forced to assume the identity of a fey aristocrat, she enters a deadly competition to crown a new monarch, adding the goal of dethroning whoever wins, leaving the common people to rule.
There are times I wish I could dive into the mind of an author, sometimes to learn something as simple as what inspired a name. Syn is one of those FMC’s with a troubled past, enough guilt to constantly risk her life in exchange for achieving her goals, and the external facade of a trained assassin. She’s a little prickly, but appreciated her sarcasm at times.
“I’m willing to learn from people I hate. I certainly spent ten years doing it.”
I am always down to support a character who conspires to bring down a corrupt government, and I found Syn to be relatable for the most part. The only time where I really questioned her thought process was her participation in a sort of love triangle. Now I just read another book with one of these, so I might be a little jaded. On one hand she pines after a longtime friend, but she also lusts after a dangerous knight she gets roped into being in a fake relationship with. I just find it hard to relate to the idea of truly loving one person, and having the physical impulse to be with someone else. But this was probably meant to show that she’s in denial about some aspects of her life, and there were times when I wasn’t sure who I wanted to end up on top.
The writing in this story is fairly solid. Mostly straight forward, but also funny with insight and depth. Where it fell somewhat short for me is conveying the darkness and tragedy of Syn’s past. I feel like I was able to understand her anger, but I didn’t fully feel her despair. That might just be a me problem. I believe the original series has a lighter tone, so maybe I’m just digging for too much depth.
Overall I would say this is a well paced, fun and entertaining romantasy. And sometimes that’s really all I want.
Thank you so much to the author for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
————————
Pre: I’ve had Avalon Tower on my TBR forever but apparently I’m starting with the spinoff. I’m here for the 35YO FMC whose plan is to take down the crown and avenge her sister (who is still alive btw) 💜
Biding her time in a post apocalyptic London brought on by fey magic, Syn returns to the fey realm after the monarchy is dismantled by revolutionaries, with the goal of finding a cure for her sister. Forced to assume the identity of a fey aristocrat, she enters a deadly competition to crown a new monarch, adding the goal of dethroning whoever wins, leaving the common people to rule.
There are times I wish I could dive into the mind of an author, sometimes to learn something as simple as what inspired a name. Syn is one of those FMC’s with a troubled past, enough guilt to constantly risk her life in exchange for achieving her goals, and the external facade of a trained assassin. She’s a little prickly, but appreciated her sarcasm at times.
“I’m willing to learn from people I hate. I certainly spent ten years doing it.”
I am always down to support a character who conspires to bring down a corrupt government, and I found Syn to be relatable for the most part. The only time where I really questioned her thought process was her participation in a sort of love triangle. Now I just read another book with one of these, so I might be a little jaded. On one hand she pines after a longtime friend, but she also lusts after a dangerous knight she gets roped into being in a fake relationship with. I just find it hard to relate to the idea of truly loving one person, and having the physical impulse to be with someone else. But this was probably meant to show that she’s in denial about some aspects of her life, and there were times when I wasn’t sure who I wanted to end up on top.
The writing in this story is fairly solid. Mostly straight forward, but also funny with insight and depth. Where it fell somewhat short for me is conveying the darkness and tragedy of Syn’s past. I feel like I was able to understand her anger, but I didn’t fully feel her despair. That might just be a me problem. I believe the original series has a lighter tone, so maybe I’m just digging for too much depth.
Overall I would say this is a well paced, fun and entertaining romantasy. And sometimes that’s really all I want.
Thank you so much to the author for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
————————
Pre: I’ve had Avalon Tower on my TBR forever but apparently I’m starting with the spinoff. I’m here for the 35YO FMC whose plan is to take down the crown and avenge her sister (who is still alive btw) 💜
Want to Read
April 24, 2026He circles me, slowly. “You’re suffocating under your own restraints. Once, we Fey ruled Britain with primal magic in our blood. We hunted, and we claimed what we desired. We took each other hard on the forest moss, and we fucked each other against rowan trunks. Primal magic roared through our veins. We thrived on instinct. But when mortals spread across the kingdom, they flooded us with their words, and then their iron weapons, and machines. You think like a machine.”
My pulse fasters, blood heating. “I’m very much not a machine.”
Rion goes still. His silver eyes bore into me, rooting me in place. “Even mortals know what you’ve lost. Your own stories tried to warn you—the serpent and the garden and the fruit tree. The god who brought fire. A taste of knowledge that separated you from nature, words that warned of your own mortality. That was your fall from grace. Self-awareness breeds dread, and you’re drowning in it.”
“I see. So that’s your thing? You don’t have any knowledge. Just hunting and murdering and fucking like beasts? I’m not sure I’d brag about that, Ruthless Knight.”
My pulse fasters, blood heating. “I’m very much not a machine.”
Rion goes still. His silver eyes bore into me, rooting me in place. “Even mortals know what you’ve lost. Your own stories tried to warn you—the serpent and the garden and the fruit tree. The god who brought fire. A taste of knowledge that separated you from nature, words that warned of your own mortality. That was your fall from grace. Self-awareness breeds dread, and you’re drowning in it.”
“I see. So that’s your thing? You don’t have any knowledge. Just hunting and murdering and fucking like beasts? I’m not sure I’d brag about that, Ruthless Knight.”
May 12, 2026
what a fun, good time!!
thank you to CN Crawford for the early copy!
if you love the avalon tower trilogy, you’re gonna eat this up! i loved the mmc, he’s so mysterious and broody, and the end reveal was honestly shocking.
the only thing i wish we had a little more of was more info on the fmc’s magic, i didn’t quite understand what her power was and how she lost it (not a spoiler bc that’s disclosed very early on in the book).
this was fast paced, action filled, the romance is gonna be SO good in book 2, and the ending left me so excited to see what happens next!!
4 ⭐️
thank you to CN Crawford for the early copy!
if you love the avalon tower trilogy, you’re gonna eat this up! i loved the mmc, he’s so mysterious and broody, and the end reveal was honestly shocking.
the only thing i wish we had a little more of was more info on the fmc’s magic, i didn’t quite understand what her power was and how she lost it (not a spoiler bc that’s disclosed very early on in the book).
this was fast paced, action filled, the romance is gonna be SO good in book 2, and the ending left me so excited to see what happens next!!
4 ⭐️
May 17, 2026
This is one of those books that you start reading and before you know it, you’re almost finished with it! I’m already dying for book 2!
If you’ve already read Fey Spy Academy, then you’ll need to pick this up asap! But even if you haven’t, and you’re in the mood for a well paced story, deadly trials, a fake relationship, with a sprinkle of Arthurian lore, and a super slow burn then read this immediately!
Syn, a former assassin, is finally returning to her homeland of the fey. After years away she knows it’s the only place with a hope of curing her sister. But on her way there, she gets herself entangled with fey royals looking to crown a new king. After her life was ruined by the previous king, Syn will do anything to keep the next one off the throne, even if it means entering trials that she surely will not survive. Her only hope is teaming up with a fey royal known to be a ruthless killer.
It’s so refreshing to see an FMC in her 30s! Syn is smart, capable, and mature about her attraction to Tristan and Rion. Sometimes you do want her to be a little reckless with them 😏, but her decisions are also understandable. The slow burn builds throughout the whole book and I can’t wait for her to finally get together with a certain someone!
The pace of the story and world building is really well done. You’re completely enraptured from the very beginning. Having read the Fey Spy Academy series, it was so nice seeing crossovers and mentions from there. It made me want to read the series all over again! However I do not think you need to have read that series to start this one. There are new characters and are in a new place, plus the author does a phenomenal job of orienting the reader to this world.
I will say that the end of this book had me tapping my kindle multiple times because I thought for sure that couldn’t be the ending! And yet, it was. Now comes the wait for book 2. I can only hope it doesn’t take too long!
Many thanks to the author and Nerd Fam for the gifted copy!
If you’ve already read Fey Spy Academy, then you’ll need to pick this up asap! But even if you haven’t, and you’re in the mood for a well paced story, deadly trials, a fake relationship, with a sprinkle of Arthurian lore, and a super slow burn then read this immediately!
Syn, a former assassin, is finally returning to her homeland of the fey. After years away she knows it’s the only place with a hope of curing her sister. But on her way there, she gets herself entangled with fey royals looking to crown a new king. After her life was ruined by the previous king, Syn will do anything to keep the next one off the throne, even if it means entering trials that she surely will not survive. Her only hope is teaming up with a fey royal known to be a ruthless killer.
It’s so refreshing to see an FMC in her 30s! Syn is smart, capable, and mature about her attraction to Tristan and Rion. Sometimes you do want her to be a little reckless with them 😏, but her decisions are also understandable. The slow burn builds throughout the whole book and I can’t wait for her to finally get together with a certain someone!
The pace of the story and world building is really well done. You’re completely enraptured from the very beginning. Having read the Fey Spy Academy series, it was so nice seeing crossovers and mentions from there. It made me want to read the series all over again! However I do not think you need to have read that series to start this one. There are new characters and are in a new place, plus the author does a phenomenal job of orienting the reader to this world.
I will say that the end of this book had me tapping my kindle multiple times because I thought for sure that couldn’t be the ending! And yet, it was. Now comes the wait for book 2. I can only hope it doesn’t take too long!
Many thanks to the author and Nerd Fam for the gifted copy!
May 16, 2026
I have previously enjoyed Fey Spy Academy and am not the least bit surprised that I enjoyed another book in the same world.
I liked having a mid 30's fmc and her end goals are admirable.
I also liked the trials mixed with espionage.
The ending is a cliffhanger that has me anticipating book 2 already.
Thank you nerdfam and CN Crawford for the opportunity to read the eArc and share my opinion.
I liked having a mid 30's fmc and her end goals are admirable.
I also liked the trials mixed with espionage.
The ending is a cliffhanger that has me anticipating book 2 already.
Thank you nerdfam and CN Crawford for the opportunity to read the eArc and share my opinion.
May 20, 2026
No. NO. NONONONO.
Don’t make me leave this world. I don’t wanna go!
Put me back. Put. Me. Back.
I’m not done living in it! I don’t care if the book is done, I AM NOT DONE.
Give me a badass FMC that is over 30 (thank you very much C.N. Crawford), put her in some deadly ass trials, give her a secret and I AM YOURS FOREVER. She is not meek. She’s not cold. She is a badass bitch that GETS IT DONE.
Veiled Court is a spin-off from Crawford’s Avalon Tower series, which you do not have to have read to get lost in this world. Ask me how I know. Go ahead, ask. Do I have that entire series on my shelf? Uh huh. Did I read them before reading this book? Nuh uh. I sure did not. It didn’t make me miss a beat. I got everything I needed to know and then some, so don’t let that hold you back. (I do plan to go back and actually, you know, read them now. I’m sure it will heighten the experience, but it won’t detract from your experience if you don’t.)
This had everything it needed to shine, and let me tell you it lit the sky UP. Syn is the perfect mix of saucy and strong, there’s some very delicious tension (with not one but TWO very pretty people), and the trials are a mile a minute fast and deadly. This was so easy to get lost in, clearly I am fighting my way to get back into it.
Speaking of which…So, uh. C.N.Crawford… there’s gonna be more, right? RIGHT?
Veiled Court hits shelves May 25 and you need to get yourself a copy ASAP. If you’re looking for something that’s going to set your pulse and heart on fire, this is it.
Huge thank you to The Nerd Fam (their book club is amazing, you need to go sign up for it, for real) and to C.N. Crawford for the gifted eARC. This was a delight to read, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Don’t make me leave this world. I don’t wanna go!
Put me back. Put. Me. Back.
I’m not done living in it! I don’t care if the book is done, I AM NOT DONE.
Give me a badass FMC that is over 30 (thank you very much C.N. Crawford), put her in some deadly ass trials, give her a secret and I AM YOURS FOREVER. She is not meek. She’s not cold. She is a badass bitch that GETS IT DONE.
Veiled Court is a spin-off from Crawford’s Avalon Tower series, which you do not have to have read to get lost in this world. Ask me how I know. Go ahead, ask. Do I have that entire series on my shelf? Uh huh. Did I read them before reading this book? Nuh uh. I sure did not. It didn’t make me miss a beat. I got everything I needed to know and then some, so don’t let that hold you back. (I do plan to go back and actually, you know, read them now. I’m sure it will heighten the experience, but it won’t detract from your experience if you don’t.)
This had everything it needed to shine, and let me tell you it lit the sky UP. Syn is the perfect mix of saucy and strong, there’s some very delicious tension (with not one but TWO very pretty people), and the trials are a mile a minute fast and deadly. This was so easy to get lost in, clearly I am fighting my way to get back into it.
Speaking of which…So, uh. C.N.Crawford… there’s gonna be more, right? RIGHT?
Veiled Court hits shelves May 25 and you need to get yourself a copy ASAP. If you’re looking for something that’s going to set your pulse and heart on fire, this is it.
Huge thank you to The Nerd Fam (their book club is amazing, you need to go sign up for it, for real) and to C.N. Crawford for the gifted eARC. This was a delight to read, and all opinions expressed are my own.
May 11, 2026
A great start to a new series
**ARC READ**
4.75⭐️
0.5/5🌶️
Single/first person POV
Book 1 in a trilogy
Format: e-arc
Spoiler free
Thank you to the author & to @thenerdfam Early Reads Book Club for this arc read. What a good time!
Disclaimer: I have read the series this is a spin off of: Fey Academy for Spies (Avalon Tower) trilogy. This new series can be read on its own though.
Let me get this outta the way first: if you enjoyed that series then you will enjoy this just as much if not more. Christine does it again!
This is set a few months after those events & from page one the pacing is fast & insanely fun. The action here is viscous. It’s so comforting to be back with her writing. I love her writing style; it’s never pretentious but simple & easy to understand. That dry humorous tone is back. The world building here feels both familiar but also there’s so many unique new takes. This world continues to get more vast & even more creative. The way this author constructs a setting continues to surprise me.
& Of course we get a fresh new plot line with a 35 year old FMC. & Guess what? She acts like it too. The author knows how to give us a steadfast lead who truly shines & gives MC energy. She’s got such a great mature outlook on life even though, as the book goes on, we get to see the inner layers of the FMC we initially met. She talks like someone/Her inner dialogue is that of her age. Throughout, we get to see her be pragmatic & make both good choices but also bad ones & deal with the consequences.
& Oh all the cameos😉love to see a few old faces make an appearance.
As for the MMC: I see what the author is doing sneaky sneaky 😏interesting to see where this goes. This isn’t spicy but the tension oh boy
The twists: grand. The ending: chef’s kiss. A thorough fabulous time.
Caveat: If you’re fresh to this world, everything will surprise you. But for me, some aspects did get annoying because it seems that quite a few themes are being repeated here from the previous series. I wont share spoilers but I was getting frustrated at times with some recycled elements. But then I remember that I’ll literally read the same thing in a different font over & over & over🤣so all is good
**Publishing 05/25/2026**
**ARC READ**
4.75⭐️
0.5/5🌶️
Single/first person POV
Book 1 in a trilogy
Format: e-arc
Spoiler free
Thank you to the author & to @thenerdfam Early Reads Book Club for this arc read. What a good time!
Disclaimer: I have read the series this is a spin off of: Fey Academy for Spies (Avalon Tower) trilogy. This new series can be read on its own though.
Let me get this outta the way first: if you enjoyed that series then you will enjoy this just as much if not more. Christine does it again!
This is set a few months after those events & from page one the pacing is fast & insanely fun. The action here is viscous. It’s so comforting to be back with her writing. I love her writing style; it’s never pretentious but simple & easy to understand. That dry humorous tone is back. The world building here feels both familiar but also there’s so many unique new takes. This world continues to get more vast & even more creative. The way this author constructs a setting continues to surprise me.
& Of course we get a fresh new plot line with a 35 year old FMC. & Guess what? She acts like it too. The author knows how to give us a steadfast lead who truly shines & gives MC energy. She’s got such a great mature outlook on life even though, as the book goes on, we get to see the inner layers of the FMC we initially met. She talks like someone/Her inner dialogue is that of her age. Throughout, we get to see her be pragmatic & make both good choices but also bad ones & deal with the consequences.
& Oh all the cameos😉love to see a few old faces make an appearance.
As for the MMC: I see what the author is doing sneaky sneaky 😏interesting to see where this goes. This isn’t spicy but the tension oh boy
The twists: grand. The ending: chef’s kiss. A thorough fabulous time.
Caveat: If you’re fresh to this world, everything will surprise you. But for me, some aspects did get annoying because it seems that quite a few themes are being repeated here from the previous series. I wont share spoilers but I was getting frustrated at times with some recycled elements. But then I remember that I’ll literally read the same thing in a different font over & over & over🤣so all is good
**Publishing 05/25/2026**
May 26, 2026
4/5 ⭐️ ARC READ
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I got this ARC not knowing it was a spin-off of the Avalon Tower series, which has been sitting on my TBR. Thankfully, you do not have to read Avalon Tower before this book.
TROPES:
-fae
-dragons
-fake relationship
-love triangle
-deadly trials
We start off with the FMC, Syn, catching her boyfriend cheating on her through the window of his apartment. They had planned to leave London and return to the fae realm after fleeing a war, but now London isn’t safe and fae are being hunted and killed.
After killing a fae aristocrat, Syn is forced to assume her identity and accept an invitation to the Veiled Court, where fae compete in deadly trials for a chance to become the next monarch. Syn enters the trials in hopes of finding a cure for her sister, who is dying from a plague caused by contaminated water.
Once inside the Veiled Court, the competitors are sorted into towers before the trials begin. The sorting process gave me major Harry Potter sorting hat vibes. It felt like Harry Potter x Hunger Games, and I loved it. The world-building was immersive, and the author did an amazing job bringing this world to life.
The romance is deliciously complex. Syn still has feelings for her childhood best friend, while also finding herself trapped in a fake relationship with the ruthless knight blackmailing her and threatening to expose her as an imposter. There’s chemistry with both love interests, and I genuinely couldn’t decide which direction I wanted the romance to go. The sexual tension is SO good.
Also, Syn is 30+ years old, which you hardly ever see in romantasy, and I LOVED that. I’m really excited to learn more about her magic, which she lost after a traumatic event we still know very little about.
The writing really shines, and I couldn’t put this book down. I finished it in under 24 hours. The cliffhanger comes at a point where there’s still soooo much story left to tell. I was literally like… wait, THIS is where it ends?! I need answers immediately and can’t wait for the next book.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I got this ARC not knowing it was a spin-off of the Avalon Tower series, which has been sitting on my TBR. Thankfully, you do not have to read Avalon Tower before this book.
TROPES:
-fae
-dragons
-fake relationship
-love triangle
-deadly trials
We start off with the FMC, Syn, catching her boyfriend cheating on her through the window of his apartment. They had planned to leave London and return to the fae realm after fleeing a war, but now London isn’t safe and fae are being hunted and killed.
After killing a fae aristocrat, Syn is forced to assume her identity and accept an invitation to the Veiled Court, where fae compete in deadly trials for a chance to become the next monarch. Syn enters the trials in hopes of finding a cure for her sister, who is dying from a plague caused by contaminated water.
Once inside the Veiled Court, the competitors are sorted into towers before the trials begin. The sorting process gave me major Harry Potter sorting hat vibes. It felt like Harry Potter x Hunger Games, and I loved it. The world-building was immersive, and the author did an amazing job bringing this world to life.
The romance is deliciously complex. Syn still has feelings for her childhood best friend, while also finding herself trapped in a fake relationship with the ruthless knight blackmailing her and threatening to expose her as an imposter. There’s chemistry with both love interests, and I genuinely couldn’t decide which direction I wanted the romance to go. The sexual tension is SO good.
Also, Syn is 30+ years old, which you hardly ever see in romantasy, and I LOVED that. I’m really excited to learn more about her magic, which she lost after a traumatic event we still know very little about.
The writing really shines, and I couldn’t put this book down. I finished it in under 24 hours. The cliffhanger comes at a point where there’s still soooo much story left to tell. I was literally like… wait, THIS is where it ends?! I need answers immediately and can’t wait for the next book.
May 3, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️ (Rounded up)
What a fantastic spin off from The Fey Spy Academy series! Veiled Court is the first book in the new Legacy of Avalon series. This one gripped me right from the start and that first line of the book had me giggling. #IYKYK
The plot was immersive and detailed to give the reader the lore that is needed. The world building was vibrant yet dangerous and quite mysterious.
Arthurian Legend…yes, please! English monarchy and Shakespearean references…absolute love! The parallels to the English monarchy and the Veiled Court were brilliant!
A hidden court, fake romance (but is it really 👀, enemies to ?? (I can’t wait to see where this goes), deadly trials, nobility summoned to fight for the Fey crown and lots of slow burn angst and tension! All the makings of a great Romantasy.
I loved Syn! She’s feisty and sassy and very relatable. She tends to find trouble wherever she goes yet she handles it like a champ always finding ways to save herself. And her inner monologue was hilarious!
While this can be read without reading the Fey Spy Academy trilogy, some of this story takes place in Avalon Tower with a little bit of character crossover. So I highly recommend reading it first to give you a bit more understanding of the lore, characters and world.
Thank you, CN Crawford, for the very very early e-ARC!
What a fantastic spin off from The Fey Spy Academy series! Veiled Court is the first book in the new Legacy of Avalon series. This one gripped me right from the start and that first line of the book had me giggling. #IYKYK
The plot was immersive and detailed to give the reader the lore that is needed. The world building was vibrant yet dangerous and quite mysterious.
Arthurian Legend…yes, please! English monarchy and Shakespearean references…absolute love! The parallels to the English monarchy and the Veiled Court were brilliant!
A hidden court, fake romance (but is it really 👀, enemies to ?? (I can’t wait to see where this goes), deadly trials, nobility summoned to fight for the Fey crown and lots of slow burn angst and tension! All the makings of a great Romantasy.
I loved Syn! She’s feisty and sassy and very relatable. She tends to find trouble wherever she goes yet she handles it like a champ always finding ways to save herself. And her inner monologue was hilarious!
While this can be read without reading the Fey Spy Academy trilogy, some of this story takes place in Avalon Tower with a little bit of character crossover. So I highly recommend reading it first to give you a bit more understanding of the lore, characters and world.
Thank you, CN Crawford, for the very very early e-ARC!
May 5, 2026
I loved Avalon Tower but dare I say this series is shaping up to be even better!
We have an assassin, a ruthless warlord, more dragons, trials and so much more. The action starts from page 1 and doesn't stop.
All Syn wants is to save her sister and make sure no king is put on the throne.
The trials are lethal, the competition unforgiving and her reluctant alliance with Rion, dangerous. It seems everyone is keeping secrets and it's only a nature of time before they are exposed.
If you like deadly trials, secret identities, and missions with a bit of mystery you will love this.
I received an advance review copy but these thoughts are my own.
We have an assassin, a ruthless warlord, more dragons, trials and so much more. The action starts from page 1 and doesn't stop.
All Syn wants is to save her sister and make sure no king is put on the throne.
The trials are lethal, the competition unforgiving and her reluctant alliance with Rion, dangerous. It seems everyone is keeping secrets and it's only a nature of time before they are exposed.
If you like deadly trials, secret identities, and missions with a bit of mystery you will love this.
I received an advance review copy but these thoughts are my own.
May 25, 2026
C.N. Crawford does it again…
She makes me fall for a man immediately… and then a second one comes along… and I’m left feeling confused… really confused…
If you have not read the Fey Spy Academy series… that’s ok… I’m mad at you that you haven’t… but it’s ok.
This book takes place in the same world… but it’s a brand new series… but… if you want a deeper understanding and to feel absolutely giddy when you hear a character’s name mentioned here or there… you should definitely read this series first…
Ok so… Our female main character is an ex-assassin…
Her sister was poisoned by the last king and she wants to search for a cure…
Disguised as a baroness, she infiltrates a hidden court where aristocrats are fighting in brutal trials to claim the throne… Her first goal is to steal a sacred relic to save her sister. Her second… is to destroy the monarchy.
But the greatest danger is a lethally seductive warlord..
When he discovers she’s an imposter, he forces her to pose as his lover to win the crowd’s favor…
If he exposes her secrets, she’ll burn for treason. And if she fails, a new tyrant will rise…
YOU GUYS I was giddy… from page one. This story takes off immediately and it does not stop.
I couldn’t believe how fast I flew through this story. The trials were unique, the circumstances were intense. I literally didn’t know who to trust… at any point ever.
I love the female main character. I’m rooting for her so hard. She is confident. She’s such a survivor. But she’s just figuring things out as she goes like all of us are and I just appreciate her so much. I can see myself in her and I can also see her as person I look up to and would like to emulate.
I have a new favorite male main character… I think. Hotties are being thrown at me left and right and it’s hard to concentrate. But this one has a slutty little earring so he earns triple hot points in my book. I’m not even obsessed with him I feel a bit unhinged… I feel a bit feral. And it’s just the tip of the iceberg. We barely know him. He’s like Legolas… we never really know who he is but we’re obsessed all the same.
This book has mystery, magic, lost magic, riddles, history, intrigue, games, high stakes, trials, tension, desire… enough to make me… flustered and upset... in a good way… sort of… a slight… bluish balls moment… may occur.. but it’s good. Sort of. Ok moving on.
The visuals in this world are stunning. The Veiled Court is so beautiful I want to live there. It’s so dreamy. The four elements rule the towers of the court and it’s like a fairytale come to life.
I can’t get enough of this world. I was given everything I wanted and I want so much more. I’m… desperate for book two. Desperate.
She makes me fall for a man immediately… and then a second one comes along… and I’m left feeling confused… really confused…
If you have not read the Fey Spy Academy series… that’s ok… I’m mad at you that you haven’t… but it’s ok.
This book takes place in the same world… but it’s a brand new series… but… if you want a deeper understanding and to feel absolutely giddy when you hear a character’s name mentioned here or there… you should definitely read this series first…
Ok so… Our female main character is an ex-assassin…
Her sister was poisoned by the last king and she wants to search for a cure…
Disguised as a baroness, she infiltrates a hidden court where aristocrats are fighting in brutal trials to claim the throne… Her first goal is to steal a sacred relic to save her sister. Her second… is to destroy the monarchy.
But the greatest danger is a lethally seductive warlord..
When he discovers she’s an imposter, he forces her to pose as his lover to win the crowd’s favor…
If he exposes her secrets, she’ll burn for treason. And if she fails, a new tyrant will rise…
YOU GUYS I was giddy… from page one. This story takes off immediately and it does not stop.
I couldn’t believe how fast I flew through this story. The trials were unique, the circumstances were intense. I literally didn’t know who to trust… at any point ever.
I love the female main character. I’m rooting for her so hard. She is confident. She’s such a survivor. But she’s just figuring things out as she goes like all of us are and I just appreciate her so much. I can see myself in her and I can also see her as person I look up to and would like to emulate.
I have a new favorite male main character… I think. Hotties are being thrown at me left and right and it’s hard to concentrate. But this one has a slutty little earring so he earns triple hot points in my book. I’m not even obsessed with him I feel a bit unhinged… I feel a bit feral. And it’s just the tip of the iceberg. We barely know him. He’s like Legolas… we never really know who he is but we’re obsessed all the same.
This book has mystery, magic, lost magic, riddles, history, intrigue, games, high stakes, trials, tension, desire… enough to make me… flustered and upset... in a good way… sort of… a slight… bluish balls moment… may occur.. but it’s good. Sort of. Ok moving on.
The visuals in this world are stunning. The Veiled Court is so beautiful I want to live there. It’s so dreamy. The four elements rule the towers of the court and it’s like a fairytale come to life.
I can’t get enough of this world. I was given everything I wanted and I want so much more. I’m… desperate for book two. Desperate.
May 21, 2026
This was so fun! If you loved her Avalon tower series then you’ll also love this! Syn is going undercover as an aristocrat into these deadly trials to pick the next monarch. Her goal is to spy but also she wants to unalive the next king! I was honestly entertained the whole time. There is so much more to uncover and we got little mentions here and there of the characters from Avalon tower! You don’t need to read those books before this, it’s just set in the same world. Also the ending!! Loveddddd hehehe!
⚔️single first person POV
⚔️Deadly trials
⚔️spying and secret missions
⚔️35 year old FMC
⚔️fake dating
⚔️fey, demi fey, humans
⚔️dragons
⚔️.5🌶️
Thank you SO much CN Crawford for sending me an ARC 🫶🏻
⚔️single first person POV
⚔️Deadly trials
⚔️spying and secret missions
⚔️35 year old FMC
⚔️fake dating
⚔️fey, demi fey, humans
⚔️dragons
⚔️.5🌶️
Thank you SO much CN Crawford for sending me an ARC 🫶🏻
May 13, 2026
Loved the high stakes trials and the fast pace of this Romantasy! But note, this isn’t a fluffy fairytale. Book has some dark themes with elements of trauma and violence.
⚔️ Deadly trials
🤫 Secret Identities
🤝 Fake relationship
🗡️ Ex-Assassin FMC
👑 Arrogant/Seductive warlord MMC
🏰 Mythology x dark fae politics
🌎 World building
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the arc!
⚔️ Deadly trials
🤫 Secret Identities
🤝 Fake relationship
🗡️ Ex-Assassin FMC
👑 Arrogant/Seductive warlord MMC
🏰 Mythology x dark fae politics
🌎 World building
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the arc!
May 4, 2026
Thank you so much to Christine for this arc! She is absolutely one of my “if she writes it, I’ll read it” authors. This book absolutely lived up to the hype. We’re set in the world of the Avalon Tower series, but following different characters. I absolutely loved getting to know Syn and Rion (and Elizabeth, what a beautiful dedication). You’re going to want to add this one to your TBR, I’m already counting down til book two.
May 26, 2026
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3.75 stars
I know it says this can be read without reading Avalon Tower first but I am wondering if I would have benefited from doing so. I liked Rion and Syn together and would have loved to see more with the tension between them. I do love a stabby enemies to (hopefully) lovers arc though! I am behind Syn 100% when it comes to wanting to bring down a corrupt government though, so I did appreciate that about her. The pacing made this an easy read for me overall but it felt a little flat in parts for me.
3.75 stars
I know it says this can be read without reading Avalon Tower first but I am wondering if I would have benefited from doing so. I liked Rion and Syn together and would have loved to see more with the tension between them. I do love a stabby enemies to (hopefully) lovers arc though! I am behind Syn 100% when it comes to wanting to bring down a corrupt government though, so I did appreciate that about her. The pacing made this an easy read for me overall but it felt a little flat in parts for me.
May 25, 2026
What a great follow-up to Fey Spy Academy. CN Crawford has written another page turner. Veiled Court adds more great characters to the World of Avalon Towers. Although not necessary to read the Fey Spy Academy series, it is fun to have the references.
Syn is such a great FMC, who arrives at the Veiled Court by impersonating a Baroness. Her primary goal is to survive but find a relic to save her sister. Even without her magic, she is a badass. I’m waiting to see if her magic returns in the next book.
Rion is full of mystery and has secrets of his own. He and Syn fake a relationship early in the trials and that saves them by entertaining the Nobles. Now they have to keep up the ruse even though they would rather unalive each other.
Fake dating, deadly trials, secret identities, slow burn romance, enemies to something more, dragon riders. These are just a few of the tropes in Veiled Court. The side characters add another layer to the intrigue. Book 2 cannot get here soon enough!
A big thank you to CN Crawford for the advanced copy. I am honored to be part of those selected to read Veiled Court early.
Syn is such a great FMC, who arrives at the Veiled Court by impersonating a Baroness. Her primary goal is to survive but find a relic to save her sister. Even without her magic, she is a badass. I’m waiting to see if her magic returns in the next book.
Rion is full of mystery and has secrets of his own. He and Syn fake a relationship early in the trials and that saves them by entertaining the Nobles. Now they have to keep up the ruse even though they would rather unalive each other.
Fake dating, deadly trials, secret identities, slow burn romance, enemies to something more, dragon riders. These are just a few of the tropes in Veiled Court. The side characters add another layer to the intrigue. Book 2 cannot get here soon enough!
A big thank you to CN Crawford for the advanced copy. I am honored to be part of those selected to read Veiled Court early.
May 26, 2026
This was my first book by this author.
I loved Syn and Rion's characters. I felt chemistry was well put. I could feel the slow burn and tension.
I am looking forward to the next book to see more story development.
I really liked it. I did get kind of bored in some places.
I loved Syn and Rion's characters. I felt chemistry was well put. I could feel the slow burn and tension.
I am looking forward to the next book to see more story development.
I really liked it. I did get kind of bored in some places.
May 26, 2026
This was an ARC from The Nerd Family, given for an honest. review.
I was honestly, truly entertained from the very first page to the absolute end. I couldn’t put it down!
Let’s talk about our main girl, Syn. First of all, she is 35 and she is hilarious. It is SO incredibly refreshing to have a mature, clever, genuinely funny FMC who isn't just reacting to the chaos. she’s calculating it. She is on a desperate, high-stakes mission to save her sister, and of course, she gets into trouble immediately. But she pivots like an absolute boss and manages her way into the Veiled Court.
From there, it is a non stop rollercoaster. It’s trial after deadly trial, and the environment is so brutal. There is literally zero room for error, and the tension had my anxiety through the roof! She is juggling dangerous spying, secret missions, and trying to unalive the next king. The stakes could not be higher.
And then, enter Rion
He is mysterious, charming, and just ridiculously handsome. We only get a little bit of his backstory in this book, but the mystery just makes him so much more enticing. I am already feral for book two to learn more about his history!
To survive the court, they end up entangled in a fake dating situation, and the chemistry? The banter? IMMACULATE. It is a slow burn connection that kept me absolutely hooked.
I was honestly, truly entertained from the very first page to the absolute end. I couldn’t put it down!
Let’s talk about our main girl, Syn. First of all, she is 35 and she is hilarious. It is SO incredibly refreshing to have a mature, clever, genuinely funny FMC who isn't just reacting to the chaos. she’s calculating it. She is on a desperate, high-stakes mission to save her sister, and of course, she gets into trouble immediately. But she pivots like an absolute boss and manages her way into the Veiled Court.
From there, it is a non stop rollercoaster. It’s trial after deadly trial, and the environment is so brutal. There is literally zero room for error, and the tension had my anxiety through the roof! She is juggling dangerous spying, secret missions, and trying to unalive the next king. The stakes could not be higher.
And then, enter Rion
He is mysterious, charming, and just ridiculously handsome. We only get a little bit of his backstory in this book, but the mystery just makes him so much more enticing. I am already feral for book two to learn more about his history!
To survive the court, they end up entangled in a fake dating situation, and the chemistry? The banter? IMMACULATE. It is a slow burn connection that kept me absolutely hooked.
May 17, 2026
Rating
5 💎
1 🌶️
Quick Summary
The book hooked me immediately with its intense, fast-paced opening. The story felt fresh and unique, with deadly, high-stakes trials that were absolutely gripping. The relationship between Syn and Tristan was compelling, while the chemistry between Syn and Rion was electric and left me wanting more. This is a true slow burn filled with obstacles, and by the end, you’re left with more questions than answers.
While Reading Thoughts
📔The start of this book was intense and fast paced and I was reeled in
📔The story was unique and and the trials …wow they were deadly and high stakes and brilliant
📔The relationship between Syn & Tristan was soo good.
📔Wow the chemistry I felt with Syn & Rion was electric and I just wanted more and more of them.
📔This is slow burn and there is a lot of obstacles and you will be left with more questions than answers
Words that linger
🍷 So, who do you imagine will be the most ruthless one here? A high lord grown soft on mead and banquets? Or the creature who crawled from the kingdom of bones like the dead rising from the grave to breathe again?”
🍷It’s wrong, I know. Even in my dreams, I know he’s a monster, and I still want to taste the salt of his skin. I want to rake my fingernails down his back, leaving my mark.
🍷I crave him, body and soul, because ever since the Undercroft, he’s been the missing piece of me that I need to live.
Tropes
👑Dread & lust Magic
👑Hot villian
👑Fake relationship
👑Deadly trials
👑30+ FMC
Thank you The Nerd Fam and CN Crawford for the ecopy
5 💎
1 🌶️
Quick Summary
The book hooked me immediately with its intense, fast-paced opening. The story felt fresh and unique, with deadly, high-stakes trials that were absolutely gripping. The relationship between Syn and Tristan was compelling, while the chemistry between Syn and Rion was electric and left me wanting more. This is a true slow burn filled with obstacles, and by the end, you’re left with more questions than answers.
While Reading Thoughts
📔The start of this book was intense and fast paced and I was reeled in
📔The story was unique and and the trials …wow they were deadly and high stakes and brilliant
📔The relationship between Syn & Tristan was soo good.
📔Wow the chemistry I felt with Syn & Rion was electric and I just wanted more and more of them.
📔This is slow burn and there is a lot of obstacles and you will be left with more questions than answers
Words that linger
🍷 So, who do you imagine will be the most ruthless one here? A high lord grown soft on mead and banquets? Or the creature who crawled from the kingdom of bones like the dead rising from the grave to breathe again?”
🍷It’s wrong, I know. Even in my dreams, I know he’s a monster, and I still want to taste the salt of his skin. I want to rake my fingernails down his back, leaving my mark.
🍷I crave him, body and soul, because ever since the Undercroft, he’s been the missing piece of me that I need to live.
Tropes
👑Dread & lust Magic
👑Hot villian
👑Fake relationship
👑Deadly trials
👑30+ FMC
Thank you The Nerd Fam and CN Crawford for the ecopy
May 14, 2026
Thank you to C.N. Crawford for the ARC of The Veiled Court!
Avalon Tower has been sitting on my TBR for such a long time, so I was genuinely excited to finally dive into this one. Unfortunately, while I can definitely see the potential in both the story and the world, it just didn’t fully land for me.
The premise is really intriguing, and there are elements of the plot that had me wanting more, but overall I found the pacing quite slow. I completely understood Syn’s motivation to save her sister, Vero, but I felt like we were reminded of it a little too often, to the point where it started to pull me out of the story rather than deepen the emotional impact.
I was especially excited to read about a 35 year old badass FMC, because we don’t often get older heroines in fantasy, but unfortunately Syn didn’t quite deliver that energy for me. I wanted more grit, maturity, from her character, and at times she just didn’t feel as compelling as I’d hoped she would be.
I also wanted so much more from Rion, he seemed like such an interesting character and I really hoped, we would have got alot more from that fake Romance, the tension and chemistry between them could have been built up far more. I kept waiting for the story to really hit that emotional or dramatic peak, but it never quite got there for me.
That said, I am still interested to see where the story goes next because the series definitely has potential. For me, though, this was one of those reads where I kept turning the page expecting a bigger payoff, and it just never fully came. I’m wishing I would of read Avalon tower first, and maybe it would of hit different!
Avalon Tower has been sitting on my TBR for such a long time, so I was genuinely excited to finally dive into this one. Unfortunately, while I can definitely see the potential in both the story and the world, it just didn’t fully land for me.
The premise is really intriguing, and there are elements of the plot that had me wanting more, but overall I found the pacing quite slow. I completely understood Syn’s motivation to save her sister, Vero, but I felt like we were reminded of it a little too often, to the point where it started to pull me out of the story rather than deepen the emotional impact.
I was especially excited to read about a 35 year old badass FMC, because we don’t often get older heroines in fantasy, but unfortunately Syn didn’t quite deliver that energy for me. I wanted more grit, maturity, from her character, and at times she just didn’t feel as compelling as I’d hoped she would be.
I also wanted so much more from Rion, he seemed like such an interesting character and I really hoped, we would have got alot more from that fake Romance, the tension and chemistry between them could have been built up far more. I kept waiting for the story to really hit that emotional or dramatic peak, but it never quite got there for me.
That said, I am still interested to see where the story goes next because the series definitely has potential. For me, though, this was one of those reads where I kept turning the page expecting a bigger payoff, and it just never fully came. I’m wishing I would of read Avalon tower first, and maybe it would of hit different!
May 28, 2026
Thank you to C.N. Crawford for sending me the eARC before release day! I’ve had the Fey Academy series on my TBR for so long, and after reading this one, I can already tell I need to finally pick it up because I loved this world so much. 👀
This book was SO addictive. The pacing is fast, the chapters are short (which is dangerous because “just one more chapter” somehow turned into me still reading at 1AM 😭), and the tension?? Absolutely unreal.
Syn is a 35-year-old ex-assassin trying to survive deadly trials while hiding her identity. Then there’s Rion our mysterious, hot, deadly MMC who quickly realizes she’s lying and decides to blackmail her into a fake relationship because of course he does 🥵
Add in betrayals, secrets, deadly competitions, magic, and nonstop tension, and I was completely hooked. And that ENDING??? I seriously need book 2 right now because I have to know what kind of trouble Syn gets into next.
This book was SO addictive. The pacing is fast, the chapters are short (which is dangerous because “just one more chapter” somehow turned into me still reading at 1AM 😭), and the tension?? Absolutely unreal.
Syn is a 35-year-old ex-assassin trying to survive deadly trials while hiding her identity. Then there’s Rion our mysterious, hot, deadly MMC who quickly realizes she’s lying and decides to blackmail her into a fake relationship because of course he does 🥵
Add in betrayals, secrets, deadly competitions, magic, and nonstop tension, and I was completely hooked. And that ENDING??? I seriously need book 2 right now because I have to know what kind of trouble Syn gets into next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2026
Thank you so much for the ARC!
Synopsis:
While escaping London with her sister, our Demi-fae FMC, Syn kills a woman in self defense and ends up getting thrown into the Veiled Court to compete in trials to become the next Fey Queen. Becoming a Queen doesn’t interest her but finding the grail to save her sister does. She works with her longtime, somewhat estranged friend, Tristan to help the spies of Avalon Tower find out the secrets of the Veiled Court. During the trials, she is blackmailed by the Ruthless Knight, Rion, into a fake relationship but the attraction to one another is not so fake…..
_________________________
Where do I start? I have to say, it was so much fun being back in the Avalon Tower world! I loved Syn as an FMC! She is a flawed woman with a tragic past and along the way she has lost herself. Between competing in the trials and working with Tristan and Rion, she seems to be finding her strength again. I also love a slow burn and a love triangle and this one has both! I will state for the record that I am a Rion fan; Tristan is too much of a green flag for me. Rion is my misunderstood villain and I’m rooting for him!
Synopsis:
While escaping London with her sister, our Demi-fae FMC, Syn kills a woman in self defense and ends up getting thrown into the Veiled Court to compete in trials to become the next Fey Queen. Becoming a Queen doesn’t interest her but finding the grail to save her sister does. She works with her longtime, somewhat estranged friend, Tristan to help the spies of Avalon Tower find out the secrets of the Veiled Court. During the trials, she is blackmailed by the Ruthless Knight, Rion, into a fake relationship but the attraction to one another is not so fake…..
_________________________
Where do I start? I have to say, it was so much fun being back in the Avalon Tower world! I loved Syn as an FMC! She is a flawed woman with a tragic past and along the way she has lost herself. Between competing in the trials and working with Tristan and Rion, she seems to be finding her strength again. I also love a slow burn and a love triangle and this one has both! I will state for the record that I am a Rion fan; Tristan is too much of a green flag for me. Rion is my misunderstood villain and I’m rooting for him!
May 25, 2026
5 Stars ✨
This was fan-freaking-tastic! I started the book and next thing I know I was finished. I NEED book 2 now. This is a spin off series from Fey Spy Series, but you don’t need to read it to comprehend this. Trust me I know, since I haven’t read it. We have a badass FMC who is over 30, thank you very much C. N. Crawford, who has to compete in a series of trials to crown the next monarch of the Fey. There is delicious tension between 2 MMC. This was fast paced and so much fun.
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
This was fan-freaking-tastic! I started the book and next thing I know I was finished. I NEED book 2 now. This is a spin off series from Fey Spy Series, but you don’t need to read it to comprehend this. Trust me I know, since I haven’t read it. We have a badass FMC who is over 30, thank you very much C. N. Crawford, who has to compete in a series of trials to crown the next monarch of the Fey. There is delicious tension between 2 MMC. This was fast paced and so much fun.
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 7, 2026
“You’ll be in danger every moment you’re there. A traitor among enemies… if they found out who you are, they’ll make you regret the day you were born.”
✨ Fake relationship
✨ Trials
✨ FMC 30+
✨ Fey spy mission
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Forced proximity
Veiled Court was such a fun ride. Syn is out here pretending to be a baroness, infiltrating a lethal Fey tournament, running a covert spy op, and fake dating Rion, a warlord who absolutely knows she is lying through her teeth.
It’s fast paced, high stakes, and somehow still funny in that “I should not be laughing but here we are” way. The crossover moments with Avalon Tower had me feral, and the little Easter eggs sprinkled everywhere made it even better.
“We’ve all heard the stories about the high lord who tortures people to death as entertainment for his depraved party guests.”
The trials themselves are wild enough, but the whole fake relationship dynamic gives it that extra chaotic kick. The tension is great, the danger feels real, and the whole hidden identity plot keeps everything nicely sharp.
“Why are you calling me love when I can end your life at any moment?”
Syn being over 30 was such a refreshing change too. She’s competent, messy, traumatised, sarcastic, and genuinely interesting to follow.
“Rion could destroy me with just a word, and now I’m putting my life in the hands of a man universally known for his cruelty.”
And that ending sets up book two so well. Like… immediately please.
Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.
✨ Fake relationship
✨ Trials
✨ FMC 30+
✨ Fey spy mission
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Forced proximity
Veiled Court was such a fun ride. Syn is out here pretending to be a baroness, infiltrating a lethal Fey tournament, running a covert spy op, and fake dating Rion, a warlord who absolutely knows she is lying through her teeth.
It’s fast paced, high stakes, and somehow still funny in that “I should not be laughing but here we are” way. The crossover moments with Avalon Tower had me feral, and the little Easter eggs sprinkled everywhere made it even better.
“We’ve all heard the stories about the high lord who tortures people to death as entertainment for his depraved party guests.”
The trials themselves are wild enough, but the whole fake relationship dynamic gives it that extra chaotic kick. The tension is great, the danger feels real, and the whole hidden identity plot keeps everything nicely sharp.
“Why are you calling me love when I can end your life at any moment?”
Syn being over 30 was such a refreshing change too. She’s competent, messy, traumatised, sarcastic, and genuinely interesting to follow.
“Rion could destroy me with just a word, and now I’m putting my life in the hands of a man universally known for his cruelty.”
And that ending sets up book two so well. Like… immediately please.
Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.
May 15, 2026
I NEED BOOK 2 RIGHT FREAKING NOW!!!
My girl Christine has successfully pulled me out of TWO reading slumps. All hail Christine.
I will tolerate 0 slander about Christine or her books. 🗡️♥️
My girl Christine has successfully pulled me out of TWO reading slumps. All hail Christine.
I will tolerate 0 slander about Christine or her books. 🗡️♥️
May 16, 2026
Review to come..
May 7, 2026
4⭐️ -
You don’t have to read The Fey Academy for Spies series before, but it is really neat seeing the crossovers with some of the characters from the series.
I really liked our FMC and MMC. I definitely want to see where this story goes! I feel like I have my theories and I feel like some betrayals are destined to happen. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
The banter had me laughing out loud and the tension was so good!! I loved that this book didn’t have any spice moments yet, it’s a true enemies to lovers/slow burn 🔥 with so many secrets and trust issues. 🤌🏻
CN Crawford does such an amazing job at creating a binge worthy series and I can’t wait for more! ❤️🔥
Tropes:
🐦⬛ Touch Her & 💀
🐦⬛ Secret Missions
🐦⬛ Villain MMC
🐦⬛ He Heals Her
🐦⬛ Dragons
🐦⬛ Portal Fantasy
🐦⬛ 30+ aged FMC
You don’t have to read The Fey Academy for Spies series before, but it is really neat seeing the crossovers with some of the characters from the series.
I really liked our FMC and MMC. I definitely want to see where this story goes! I feel like I have my theories and I feel like some betrayals are destined to happen. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
The banter had me laughing out loud and the tension was so good!! I loved that this book didn’t have any spice moments yet, it’s a true enemies to lovers/slow burn 🔥 with so many secrets and trust issues. 🤌🏻
CN Crawford does such an amazing job at creating a binge worthy series and I can’t wait for more! ❤️🔥
Tropes:
🐦⬛ Touch Her & 💀
🐦⬛ Secret Missions
🐦⬛ Villain MMC
🐦⬛ He Heals Her
🐦⬛ Dragons
🐦⬛ Portal Fantasy
🐦⬛ 30+ aged FMC
May 15, 2026
I haven’t read the Fey Spy Academy series but I didn’t have trouble understanding the plot of this one. It starts pretty much with a bang (🤷🏻♀️). But Sin is a badass and even though she makes questionable choices, I absolutely adore her. Rion is an interesting one. I love fake dating (or whatever it was they were doing), but Rion’s reasons for it had me intrigued. He’s mysterious but gives you just enough that you need to know more. I also love trials which is why I had signed up for this one. But holy betrayal and plot twists. A few came out of left field and have me so eager for the next book.
May 26, 2026
Thank you to C.N. Crawford for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✨ “Fate is something people invent after they’ve already won. But the moment they lose, their destiny disappears.”
Deadly trials, ruthless fae politics, hidden identities, Arthurian mythology, and a tension-filled fake relationship all wrapped into one addictive romantasy.
From the very first chapter, I knew I was going to love this, and I ended up finishing it in less than a day because I genuinely could not put it down.
Veiled Court follows Syn, a former assassin forced to impersonate a murdered aristocrat in order to infiltrate the Veiled Court and find a cure for her dying sister. Alongside her is Tristan, her best friend and fellow spy, who grew up with Syn in King Auberon’s underground assassin academy before the two fled the fae realm fifteen years earlier.
Now, surrounded by nobles competing for the crown through deadly trials, Syn must survive while hiding the truth about who and what she really is.
─────────────────────────
📖 The Details
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
🌶 Spice Level: 1/5
📚 Genre: Adult Romantic Fantasy
🔮 Tropes: deadly trials, fake relationship, hidden identity, assassin FMC, villain MMC, portal fantasy, political intrigue, slow burn, 30+ FMC, Arthurian myths, dragons, touch her and die
─────────────────────────
💭 My Reading Experience
This book hooked me immediately.
The world building is introduced early enough that I never felt lost, but it also never felt overwhelming or heavy with exposition. The politics, history, magic, and setting all unfolded naturally in a way that made it easy to become immersed in the story.
I also appreciated that while this is set in the same world as the Fae Spy Academy series, you absolutely do not need to read that series first to understand or enjoy this one.
What really made this story stand out to me, though, was the characters.
Syn quickly became one of my favorite FMCs. Her inner monologue was genuinely funny and gave the story so much personality, but underneath that humor was someone carrying grief, fear, rage, and desperation. While the other nobles are fighting for power, Syn is fighting to save her sister, and that emotional difference changes everything. It makes every trial feel more intense because Syn has something the others do not: a real reason to survive.
I also really loved Tristan’s role in the story. Their history together added so much emotional weight to the book. They were raised side by side to become assassins under King Auberon, survived his brutality together, and ultimately fled the fae realm together. Their loyalty and trust in each other felt believable and layered, especially with how dangerous their situation becomes inside the Veiled Court.
And then there’s Rion.
Mysterious, ruthless, dangerous, and impossible to fully figure out. I loved that the story never gives too much away about him too quickly. It made every interaction between him and Syn feel layered with tension, uncertainty, and danger.
Even though we do not fully know him yet, I was completely invested in their dynamic by the end of the book.
─────────────────────────
🖤 Characters
Syn
A former assassin hiding both her identity and the fact that she is only 3/4 fae.
Syn is sharp, resilient, chaotic, and deeply driven by love for her sister. Despite everything she has survived, she still throws herself into impossible situations if it means protecting the people she cares about.
I loved that even though she is capable and dangerous, she is not invincible. There is a vulnerability underneath her humor and confidence that made her feel very human.
⸻
Rion
The High Lord of Tintagol.
The Ruthless Knight.
Rion spends most of this book surrounded by mystery. From the very beginning, it feels like he knows far more than he lets on.
What I loved most about him was the constant tension between danger and restraint. He is clearly capable of brutality, yet there are multiple moments where he protects Syn instead of exposing or harming her.
Their fake relationship dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the story.
─────────────────────────
💖 What Worked For Me
• Syn’s hilarious inner monologue
• The deadly trials
• Tristan and Syn’s history and friendship
• The tension and banter between Syn & Rion
• Arthurian mythology elements
• The addictive pacing
• Strong side characters
─────────────────────────
⚡ What Didn’t Fully Work For Me
• Some backstory details and character dynamics felt slightly repetitive at times
─────────────────────────
✨ Final Thoughts
Veiled Court was addictive from beginning to end and gave me exactly the kind of tension-filled romantasy I love.
If you enjoy deadly trials, dangerous fae courts, morally dangerous MMCs, hidden identities, and slow burn tension, this is absolutely worth picking up.
And after that ending?
I already know book 2 is going to consume me.
─────────────────────────
🖤 Quotes:
"For just a second, I let myself indulge in a vision of throwing a rock at my boyfriend’s head"
"How is it that I’ve dreamt of his beautiful face so many times? In my nightmares, he leaves piles of bodies and severed limbs in his wake."
"Panic means death. It robs a mind of rational thought, the one thing more than any other that can keep a person alive. It’s more important than strength, more important than magic."
"“Now, many of you will die here.” This is probably the least relaxing party I’ve ever been to."
"“But you can’t break what’s already broken. We’re here to fight for the crown, and I’ve got something that none of you do, Rion du Lac.” Silver light sharpens in his gaze. “And what’s that?” “Nothing left to lose.”"
"I’ve made it. The ravens know exactly who I am, and they like it.
"someone zooms by on the rolling cart, and my gaze flicks up. I don’t want to fall in love here, and I certainly don’t want to burn to death. But I really want to ride in that thing."
"“Fate is something people invent after they’ve already won. But the moment they lose, their destiny disappears.”
✨ “Fate is something people invent after they’ve already won. But the moment they lose, their destiny disappears.”
Deadly trials, ruthless fae politics, hidden identities, Arthurian mythology, and a tension-filled fake relationship all wrapped into one addictive romantasy.
From the very first chapter, I knew I was going to love this, and I ended up finishing it in less than a day because I genuinely could not put it down.
Veiled Court follows Syn, a former assassin forced to impersonate a murdered aristocrat in order to infiltrate the Veiled Court and find a cure for her dying sister. Alongside her is Tristan, her best friend and fellow spy, who grew up with Syn in King Auberon’s underground assassin academy before the two fled the fae realm fifteen years earlier.
Now, surrounded by nobles competing for the crown through deadly trials, Syn must survive while hiding the truth about who and what she really is.
─────────────────────────
📖 The Details
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
🌶 Spice Level: 1/5
📚 Genre: Adult Romantic Fantasy
🔮 Tropes: deadly trials, fake relationship, hidden identity, assassin FMC, villain MMC, portal fantasy, political intrigue, slow burn, 30+ FMC, Arthurian myths, dragons, touch her and die
─────────────────────────
💭 My Reading Experience
This book hooked me immediately.
The world building is introduced early enough that I never felt lost, but it also never felt overwhelming or heavy with exposition. The politics, history, magic, and setting all unfolded naturally in a way that made it easy to become immersed in the story.
I also appreciated that while this is set in the same world as the Fae Spy Academy series, you absolutely do not need to read that series first to understand or enjoy this one.
What really made this story stand out to me, though, was the characters.
Syn quickly became one of my favorite FMCs. Her inner monologue was genuinely funny and gave the story so much personality, but underneath that humor was someone carrying grief, fear, rage, and desperation. While the other nobles are fighting for power, Syn is fighting to save her sister, and that emotional difference changes everything. It makes every trial feel more intense because Syn has something the others do not: a real reason to survive.
I also really loved Tristan’s role in the story. Their history together added so much emotional weight to the book. They were raised side by side to become assassins under King Auberon, survived his brutality together, and ultimately fled the fae realm together. Their loyalty and trust in each other felt believable and layered, especially with how dangerous their situation becomes inside the Veiled Court.
And then there’s Rion.
Mysterious, ruthless, dangerous, and impossible to fully figure out. I loved that the story never gives too much away about him too quickly. It made every interaction between him and Syn feel layered with tension, uncertainty, and danger.
Even though we do not fully know him yet, I was completely invested in their dynamic by the end of the book.
─────────────────────────
🖤 Characters
Syn
A former assassin hiding both her identity and the fact that she is only 3/4 fae.
Syn is sharp, resilient, chaotic, and deeply driven by love for her sister. Despite everything she has survived, she still throws herself into impossible situations if it means protecting the people she cares about.
I loved that even though she is capable and dangerous, she is not invincible. There is a vulnerability underneath her humor and confidence that made her feel very human.
⸻
Rion
The High Lord of Tintagol.
The Ruthless Knight.
Rion spends most of this book surrounded by mystery. From the very beginning, it feels like he knows far more than he lets on.
What I loved most about him was the constant tension between danger and restraint. He is clearly capable of brutality, yet there are multiple moments where he protects Syn instead of exposing or harming her.
Their fake relationship dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the story.
─────────────────────────
💖 What Worked For Me
• Syn’s hilarious inner monologue
• The deadly trials
• Tristan and Syn’s history and friendship
• The tension and banter between Syn & Rion
• Arthurian mythology elements
• The addictive pacing
• Strong side characters
─────────────────────────
⚡ What Didn’t Fully Work For Me
• Some backstory details and character dynamics felt slightly repetitive at times
─────────────────────────
✨ Final Thoughts
Veiled Court was addictive from beginning to end and gave me exactly the kind of tension-filled romantasy I love.
If you enjoy deadly trials, dangerous fae courts, morally dangerous MMCs, hidden identities, and slow burn tension, this is absolutely worth picking up.
And after that ending?
I already know book 2 is going to consume me.
─────────────────────────
🖤 Quotes:
"For just a second, I let myself indulge in a vision of throwing a rock at my boyfriend’s head"
"How is it that I’ve dreamt of his beautiful face so many times? In my nightmares, he leaves piles of bodies and severed limbs in his wake."
"Panic means death. It robs a mind of rational thought, the one thing more than any other that can keep a person alive. It’s more important than strength, more important than magic."
"“Now, many of you will die here.” This is probably the least relaxing party I’ve ever been to."
"“But you can’t break what’s already broken. We’re here to fight for the crown, and I’ve got something that none of you do, Rion du Lac.” Silver light sharpens in his gaze. “And what’s that?” “Nothing left to lose.”"
"I’ve made it. The ravens know exactly who I am, and they like it.
"someone zooms by on the rolling cart, and my gaze flicks up. I don’t want to fall in love here, and I certainly don’t want to burn to death. But I really want to ride in that thing."
"“Fate is something people invent after they’ve already won. But the moment they lose, their destiny disappears.”
May 19, 2026
✨ Tropes & Vibes ✨
🗡️ deadly trials
💍 fake dating / fake romance
🖤 morally gray MMC
⚔️ assassin FMC
👑 hidden fae court politics
🔥 tension-filled banter
🩸 touch her and die vibes
🌙 portals & unique magic system
💨 fast-paced romantasy
🗝️ secret identities
❤️🔥 forced proximity
🐺 seductive warlord MMC
⚡ sarcastic/self-deprecating FMC
🧚 fae realm intrigue
📖 “this is only the beginning” series energy
Join the Trials. Fake a Romance. Kill the King.
After the monarchy falls, ex-assassin Syn Malleore heads back to the Fey realm in search of a magical cure for her dying sister. But instead of freedom, she finds herself thrown into deadly trials where aristocrats brutally fight for the throne. Disguised as a baroness, Syn infiltrates the hidden court with two goals: steal a sacred relic to save her sister and destroy the monarchy before another tyrant rises. But everything becomes far more dangerous when the lethal and incredibly seductive Rion du Lac discovers she’s an imposter and forces her to pose as his lover in front of the court.
This was my first C.N. Crawford book, and it definitely will not be my last. The story hooked me immediately because Syn’s self-deprecating humor was genuinely funny and made her feel so real from the very first chapter. I flew through this book because the writing style was engaging, easy to follow, and balanced humor, tension, and action really well. Even though I haven’t read the Avalon Tower trilogy yet, I could tell there were connections to the larger universe woven throughout the story, and now I absolutely need to go back and read those books because I feel like there’s so much backstory I’m missing in the best way possible.
Syn was such a layered FMC. I loved that she was an actual warrior who used her combat skills constantly throughout the trials instead of just magically talking her way out of situations. Every time I turned around, she was murdering somebody 😭 and honestly? It made the story so entertaining. The portals and magic system felt fresh, and I really appreciated that the trials themselves didn’t drag on forever. As someone who can get burned out by trial-heavy fantasy books, I liked that the trials supported the plot instead of completely overtaking it.
And Rion??? I absolutely loved his character. The tension between him and Syn was EVERYTHING. His sassy banter with her made every scene better, and their chemistry felt so much stronger and more intense to me than Syn’s relationship with Tristan. Part of me wanted to root for the lifelong best friend angle, but the emotional and romantic tension with Rion was on a completely different level.
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING BELOW ⚠️
One thing I did wish I had more context for was Syn’s past and powers. There were a lot of references to what happened to her and how she lost her abilities, but I felt like I never fully understood the scope of her powers or her history. I’m assuming more of that will come in future books, but it did leave me wanting more clarification while reading.
The ending also felt a little abrupt to me. After Syn healed her sister, everything moved very quickly, and I found myself confused about the timeline surrounding the trials and Rion needing her to become his consort. Since he mentioned that only fated mates could win the trials, I thought the trials themselves were already over by that point, so I struggled a bit to fully understand how everything connected in those final chapters.
Overall, this book felt very much like the beginning of a much bigger adventure, and I can already tell this series is going to get even wilder from here. I’m so thankful to the Nerd Fam and the author for the eARC!
🗡️ deadly trials
💍 fake dating / fake romance
🖤 morally gray MMC
⚔️ assassin FMC
👑 hidden fae court politics
🔥 tension-filled banter
🩸 touch her and die vibes
🌙 portals & unique magic system
💨 fast-paced romantasy
🗝️ secret identities
❤️🔥 forced proximity
🐺 seductive warlord MMC
⚡ sarcastic/self-deprecating FMC
🧚 fae realm intrigue
📖 “this is only the beginning” series energy
Join the Trials. Fake a Romance. Kill the King.
After the monarchy falls, ex-assassin Syn Malleore heads back to the Fey realm in search of a magical cure for her dying sister. But instead of freedom, she finds herself thrown into deadly trials where aristocrats brutally fight for the throne. Disguised as a baroness, Syn infiltrates the hidden court with two goals: steal a sacred relic to save her sister and destroy the monarchy before another tyrant rises. But everything becomes far more dangerous when the lethal and incredibly seductive Rion du Lac discovers she’s an imposter and forces her to pose as his lover in front of the court.
This was my first C.N. Crawford book, and it definitely will not be my last. The story hooked me immediately because Syn’s self-deprecating humor was genuinely funny and made her feel so real from the very first chapter. I flew through this book because the writing style was engaging, easy to follow, and balanced humor, tension, and action really well. Even though I haven’t read the Avalon Tower trilogy yet, I could tell there were connections to the larger universe woven throughout the story, and now I absolutely need to go back and read those books because I feel like there’s so much backstory I’m missing in the best way possible.
Syn was such a layered FMC. I loved that she was an actual warrior who used her combat skills constantly throughout the trials instead of just magically talking her way out of situations. Every time I turned around, she was murdering somebody 😭 and honestly? It made the story so entertaining. The portals and magic system felt fresh, and I really appreciated that the trials themselves didn’t drag on forever. As someone who can get burned out by trial-heavy fantasy books, I liked that the trials supported the plot instead of completely overtaking it.
And Rion??? I absolutely loved his character. The tension between him and Syn was EVERYTHING. His sassy banter with her made every scene better, and their chemistry felt so much stronger and more intense to me than Syn’s relationship with Tristan. Part of me wanted to root for the lifelong best friend angle, but the emotional and romantic tension with Rion was on a completely different level.
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING BELOW ⚠️
One thing I did wish I had more context for was Syn’s past and powers. There were a lot of references to what happened to her and how she lost her abilities, but I felt like I never fully understood the scope of her powers or her history. I’m assuming more of that will come in future books, but it did leave me wanting more clarification while reading.
The ending also felt a little abrupt to me. After Syn healed her sister, everything moved very quickly, and I found myself confused about the timeline surrounding the trials and Rion needing her to become his consort. Since he mentioned that only fated mates could win the trials, I thought the trials themselves were already over by that point, so I struggled a bit to fully understand how everything connected in those final chapters.
Overall, this book felt very much like the beginning of a much bigger adventure, and I can already tell this series is going to get even wilder from here. I’m so thankful to the Nerd Fam and the author for the eARC!
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