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A Beautifully Crafted Lie
A LIE CAN SAVE A LIFE,
UNTIL IT DEMANDS A PRICE
A creature lurks in Bryndis Ashglo’s mind. It sees what she sees and hears what she hears, and it won’t be silenced any longer. In the town of Bouldermore, governed with stringent laws and nightmarish tales of monsters, no one will be spared if found harbouring magic. Not even Bryndis, the governor’s daughter.
On the cusp of Samhain, Bryndis attracts the unwanted attention of the famed and feared bastard prince tasked to enforce the king’s laws and conduct this year’s witch reaping. He is the last person she should provoke… yet now he watches her with calculating interest, enjoying every second of her discomfort.
Prince Odhran doesn’t address her numerous transgressions according to the law, but no good deed comes without a cost. In exchange for her freedom, Bryndis is dragged into the faerie realm—tasked with lying to royalty on his behalf. Of all the atrocious things the bastard prince has done and can do, lying is the one thing out of his reach, but something Bryndis excels in.
As dangerous truths unravel, Bryndis faces two terrifying revelations:
Odhran is a monster—a blood-drinking faerie.
And on some level, she is a monster too.
UNTIL IT DEMANDS A PRICE
A creature lurks in Bryndis Ashglo’s mind. It sees what she sees and hears what she hears, and it won’t be silenced any longer. In the town of Bouldermore, governed with stringent laws and nightmarish tales of monsters, no one will be spared if found harbouring magic. Not even Bryndis, the governor’s daughter.
On the cusp of Samhain, Bryndis attracts the unwanted attention of the famed and feared bastard prince tasked to enforce the king’s laws and conduct this year’s witch reaping. He is the last person she should provoke… yet now he watches her with calculating interest, enjoying every second of her discomfort.
Prince Odhran doesn’t address her numerous transgressions according to the law, but no good deed comes without a cost. In exchange for her freedom, Bryndis is dragged into the faerie realm—tasked with lying to royalty on his behalf. Of all the atrocious things the bastard prince has done and can do, lying is the one thing out of his reach, but something Bryndis excels in.
As dangerous truths unravel, Bryndis faces two terrifying revelations:
Odhran is a monster—a blood-drinking faerie.
And on some level, she is a monster too.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
March 31, 2026
“You truly are the bane of my blight. My ultimate ruin.”
Oh would you look at that? Another MMC for me to obsess over 🤤
If you love a romantasy with fae, a shadow daddy, and a gothic setting, then A Beautifully Crafted Lie is for you. As Bryndis is swept away by Prince Odhran to the realm of the fae, get ready for twisted politics and a unique world with magic and found family.
This book was a real page turner and had everything I love in my romantasy books. The plot was exciting and had me hooked, with the gothic setting ensuring I was fully immersed in the world.
Bryndis is a strong FMC, which made some questionable decisions that I’m still screaming at her for now, but I think she’s going to really experience a good character arc as the overall story progresses. I especially enjoyed the ‘monster in her head’ plot and let me tell you, that REALLY ramps up towards the end.
Prince Odhran, our MMC aka my new love, is that typical brooding, sarcastic, flirty love interest that I can’t help but be obsessed over. The spice in here was written super well and Evelyn has actually put a note in the chapter for those who prefer closed door, so they can skip if they like. I’m a fiend so of course I read, but I haven’t seen this in a book before and I thought it was a great idea to cater to both preferences!
Bryndis and Odhran’s relationship does seem to snap from enemies to lovers without that ‘in between’ part but I don’t think that took away from the overall dynamic, especially as it got later in the book. I am VERY intrigued to see how things pan out because that ending?! I am still shook!!
If you like your romantasy books with fae, a hot AF MMC, and court intrigue, you’re going to love this. I have high hopes for how this series will develop - I’ve got a feeling it’ll be epic.
Thank you so much to Evelyn Ash for having me as part of your street team and for this eARC. I’m so grateful to be on this journey with Bryn & Odhran 🖤
Oh would you look at that? Another MMC for me to obsess over 🤤
If you love a romantasy with fae, a shadow daddy, and a gothic setting, then A Beautifully Crafted Lie is for you. As Bryndis is swept away by Prince Odhran to the realm of the fae, get ready for twisted politics and a unique world with magic and found family.
This book was a real page turner and had everything I love in my romantasy books. The plot was exciting and had me hooked, with the gothic setting ensuring I was fully immersed in the world.
Bryndis is a strong FMC, which made some questionable decisions that I’m still screaming at her for now, but I think she’s going to really experience a good character arc as the overall story progresses. I especially enjoyed the ‘monster in her head’ plot and let me tell you, that REALLY ramps up towards the end.
Prince Odhran, our MMC aka my new love, is that typical brooding, sarcastic, flirty love interest that I can’t help but be obsessed over. The spice in here was written super well and Evelyn has actually put a note in the chapter for those who prefer closed door, so they can skip if they like. I’m a fiend so of course I read, but I haven’t seen this in a book before and I thought it was a great idea to cater to both preferences!
Bryndis and Odhran’s relationship does seem to snap from enemies to lovers without that ‘in between’ part but I don’t think that took away from the overall dynamic, especially as it got later in the book. I am VERY intrigued to see how things pan out because that ending?! I am still shook!!
If you like your romantasy books with fae, a hot AF MMC, and court intrigue, you’re going to love this. I have high hopes for how this series will develop - I’ve got a feeling it’ll be epic.
Thank you so much to Evelyn Ash for having me as part of your street team and for this eARC. I’m so grateful to be on this journey with Bryn & Odhran 🖤
February 17, 2026
Ugh what the hell am I doing to myself?!?
Odhran & Bryn
This book far exceeded my expectations and left me broken and angry. Yeah I’m angry. That ending is too cruel and heartbreaking. For whatever is to come next.
Tension. A slow burn that burns for so long. Possessive. Inner demons.
🔥Shadow Daddy MMC
🔥Magic
🔥Witches
🔥Forbidden magic
🔥Realms
🔥Fated Mates
🔥Lies and Secrets
🔥Slow burn
🔥Touch her and die
🔥Gothic romance
Be prepared to want to scream at your book. Throw your book across the room. Cry at choices made that you can’t even change.
While this book was heartbreaking I’m looking forward to continuing Odhran and Bryn’s story.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Evelyn Ash & Raven Court Publishing for this opportunity to read an amazing book.
Odhran & Bryn
This book far exceeded my expectations and left me broken and angry. Yeah I’m angry. That ending is too cruel and heartbreaking. For whatever is to come next.
Tension. A slow burn that burns for so long. Possessive. Inner demons.
🔥Shadow Daddy MMC
🔥Magic
🔥Witches
🔥Forbidden magic
🔥Realms
🔥Fated Mates
🔥Lies and Secrets
🔥Slow burn
🔥Touch her and die
🔥Gothic romance
Be prepared to want to scream at your book. Throw your book across the room. Cry at choices made that you can’t even change.
While this book was heartbreaking I’m looking forward to continuing Odhran and Bryn’s story.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Evelyn Ash & Raven Court Publishing for this opportunity to read an amazing book.
April 8, 2026
ARC Review - ARC received from NetGalley & Author. I could not put this book down!!! I was in deep emotionally almost immediately and in even deeper by the end! That ending!!! 🫣 - Hyped me up to continue reading so I hope there’s more coming in a book 2! I loved all the fantasy, action, secrecy, fated mates, politics, found family, self discovery, and impossible choices within the story! It is well written and builds deep rooted connections to the characters where you feel what they feel and you feel completely immersed in their lives. The story is about Bryn who grew up in hardship just trying to survive, with secrets, and you follow her on quite an exciting and adventurous journey of self discovery and embracing who she is. She finds herself stuck with a man she can hardly tolerate, a man she calls a monster. As Bryn discovers more about herself and pieces together the truth she begins to take her life into her own hands. She stumbles along the way and has to be clever and resilient to navigate this new life she’s living. What will she decide are her true desires and purpose? Will they align? What will she risk to do so? And what consequences will she have to face and/or overcome to get there? A Beautifully Crafted Lie is a haunting and deeply emotional romantasy that you just keep wanting more of! If you like witchy, cinderella, game of thrones vibes then you’ll like this book! Pre-orders are open, releasing August 26th!
Thank you so much Evelyn Ash for this ARC opportunity, I absolutely loved it and look forward to more!!
Favorite Quotes:
“Be brave, be strong, but always be yourself.”
“Truth is dreadful,” my mother would say, “best not be surprised by it.”
“Everything I thought I knew has turned out to be a ruse. A beautifully crafted lie.”
Thank you so much Evelyn Ash for this ARC opportunity, I absolutely loved it and look forward to more!!
Favorite Quotes:
“Be brave, be strong, but always be yourself.”
“Truth is dreadful,” my mother would say, “best not be surprised by it.”
“Everything I thought I knew has turned out to be a ruse. A beautifully crafted lie.”
February 26, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and publisher, Raven Court Publishing, for sharing an ARC of this book with me on NetGalley !!!
“Tempers are only good for starting wars when there’s no need for one”
This book was so good! I seem to be stumbling upon beautiful fantasy stories recently and Bryn’s one was no different. The power, the torment, the enemies to lovers, the forced proximity and the inevitability of a life different from the one you were living and yet closer to the one you were trying to hide wanting for yourself. It was enchanting. Compelling and thrilling at times. It was quite fast paced and things were happening suddenly sometimes but when it comes to things changing … they generally are. I really enjoyed the book and had a great time reading it. And the fact that there were some plot twists I did not see coming … I enjoyed it even more for those. Besides, when you add a cocky, arrogant, strong willed and handsome fae prince into the mix and spicy times ensues … can you really complain?
“Embrace your darkness. Do not hide from it”
“You are an ache I can’t get over … A pain I can’t escape … A blessing and a curse … the bane of my blight … My ultimate undoing … And you’re mine”
“Tempers are only good for starting wars when there’s no need for one”
This book was so good! I seem to be stumbling upon beautiful fantasy stories recently and Bryn’s one was no different. The power, the torment, the enemies to lovers, the forced proximity and the inevitability of a life different from the one you were living and yet closer to the one you were trying to hide wanting for yourself. It was enchanting. Compelling and thrilling at times. It was quite fast paced and things were happening suddenly sometimes but when it comes to things changing … they generally are. I really enjoyed the book and had a great time reading it. And the fact that there were some plot twists I did not see coming … I enjoyed it even more for those. Besides, when you add a cocky, arrogant, strong willed and handsome fae prince into the mix and spicy times ensues … can you really complain?
“Embrace your darkness. Do not hide from it”
“You are an ache I can’t get over … A pain I can’t escape … A blessing and a curse … the bane of my blight … My ultimate undoing … And you’re mine”
March 20, 2026
I just finished an eARC of A Beautifully Crafted Lie, and my heart is officially in tatters. (Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the copy and the emotional damage!)
If you live for "I hate you/don't touch me" energy and plots that keep you guessing until the very last page, this is your new obsession.
The pacing is relentless—I stayed up way too late because "just one more chapter" turned into finishing the whole book. I was so stressed by the end I had to sit up straight just to breathe! I’m still crying over that final page.
Do yourself a favor and put this at the top of your summer TBR. I’ll be first in line for the physical copy.
If you live for "I hate you/don't touch me" energy and plots that keep you guessing until the very last page, this is your new obsession.
The pacing is relentless—I stayed up way too late because "just one more chapter" turned into finishing the whole book. I was so stressed by the end I had to sit up straight just to breathe! I’m still crying over that final page.
Do yourself a favor and put this at the top of your summer TBR. I’ll be first in line for the physical copy.
April 26, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This one honestly took me a while to get into. The beginning felt slow for some reason, and Bryn seemed rather juvenile. I did end up really liking her by the end. Part Six was so good that I wished the rest of the book had the same flow. I did also enjoy the MMC, and would have enjoyed more chapters from his POV. Overall, it was a fun read. I think fans of Quicksilver would enjoy it. I will be looking out for book 2!
May 2, 2026
Don’t let the fact that it took almost 3 months to read this book insinuate this book was anything less than a 4 star read. I’m such a mood reader and had some things going on that had me jumping between so many books.. to the review!
The way so many worlds were brought together is amazing! We’re talking magic, fae (that like drinking blood), dragons and the human realm! The tension was palpable throughout and while I didn’t agree with the decisions Bryndis made, she quickly realizes her mistakes and tries to fix them. Be prepared for betrayal, a little spice and so much more… not to mention that ending!
The way so many worlds were brought together is amazing! We’re talking magic, fae (that like drinking blood), dragons and the human realm! The tension was palpable throughout and while I didn’t agree with the decisions Bryndis made, she quickly realizes her mistakes and tries to fix them. Be prepared for betrayal, a little spice and so much more… not to mention that ending!
February 22, 2026
Advance reader review - received via NetGalley
Wow! I really enjoyed this book and devoured it in a single day. The first half felt fresh and completely immersive and original. The second half carried hints of familiar fantasy and romantasy elements, blending vibes from a few beloved tropes, yet it still managed to stand on its own and feel uniquely crafted.
Wow! I really enjoyed this book and devoured it in a single day. The first half felt fresh and completely immersive and original. The second half carried hints of familiar fantasy and romantasy elements, blending vibes from a few beloved tropes, yet it still managed to stand on its own and feel uniquely crafted.
February 22, 2026
ARC REVIEW - 3.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Evelyn Ash for the opportunity to read this book before its release!
A Beautifully Crafted Lie is a fascinating story about two realms colliding, magic, and the pursuit of figuring out who you are.
I thought the plot concept was interesting and definitely not the copy/paste that has become a staple with so many romantasies lately. I liked the FMC’s growth in confidence throughout the book (even if it left us on a major cliffhanger) and I always root for a broody, morally gray MMC.
On the other hand, I felt like the book was rushed with significant gaps in the plot and world building. I was often left with figurative whiplash wondering where certain “key” pieces came from. Having read a lot of fantasies before, I could put two and two together but for someone who may not know all this before the book, they may be left guessing. Also - the “monster” inside her - a lot more explanation about this is needed since it’s basically the reason for the cliffhanger. Her being a witch? Would have loved to know more about the witch culture. And the bond between FMC and MMC? I didn’t understand their journey. I get the formula is loathing to love but I didn’t feel the slow burn yearning that seemed to be the goal.
Overall, it was a fun, fast read and I would definitely read the next book. Does she get the dragon out? Do they reject the bond? Does he get the kingdom? I need to know! I think a lot of my critiques could be answered in book #2.
Thank you NetGalley and Evelyn Ash for the opportunity to read this book before its release!
A Beautifully Crafted Lie is a fascinating story about two realms colliding, magic, and the pursuit of figuring out who you are.
I thought the plot concept was interesting and definitely not the copy/paste that has become a staple with so many romantasies lately. I liked the FMC’s growth in confidence throughout the book (even if it left us on a major cliffhanger) and I always root for a broody, morally gray MMC.
On the other hand, I felt like the book was rushed with significant gaps in the plot and world building. I was often left with figurative whiplash wondering where certain “key” pieces came from. Having read a lot of fantasies before, I could put two and two together but for someone who may not know all this before the book, they may be left guessing. Also - the “monster” inside her - a lot more explanation about this is needed since it’s basically the reason for the cliffhanger. Her being a witch? Would have loved to know more about the witch culture. And the bond between FMC and MMC? I didn’t understand their journey. I get the formula is loathing to love but I didn’t feel the slow burn yearning that seemed to be the goal.
Overall, it was a fun, fast read and I would definitely read the next book. Does she get the dragon out? Do they reject the bond? Does he get the kingdom? I need to know! I think a lot of my critiques could be answered in book #2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
This story will haunt you long after the last page.
Bryn is a rose among thorns, a feisty and independent heroine surrounded by hardship and harsh rules. Odhran is our shadow daddy with issues, and yet you'll love him from the moment he steps onto the page. Their romance is what I absolutely lived for. The banter, the chemistry, the yearning - I devoured it all! And that cliffhanger? I'll never be okay until I get my hands on the next book!!
I highly recommend this beautiful Gothic read! A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED LIE is perfect for readers who love forbidden love, fated mates, shadow daddies, feminine rage, found family, and a slow burn to die for. 🖤
I received an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bryn is a rose among thorns, a feisty and independent heroine surrounded by hardship and harsh rules. Odhran is our shadow daddy with issues, and yet you'll love him from the moment he steps onto the page. Their romance is what I absolutely lived for. The banter, the chemistry, the yearning - I devoured it all! And that cliffhanger? I'll never be okay until I get my hands on the next book!!
I highly recommend this beautiful Gothic read! A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED LIE is perfect for readers who love forbidden love, fated mates, shadow daddies, feminine rage, found family, and a slow burn to die for. 🖤
I received an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2026
I was so so excited to read this book. The premise sounded really exciting, the concept of the monster in her head was intriguing and the promised gothic vibes sold me, but I’m gutted to say it unfortunately did not meet my expectations.
The first 100 pages of this book sucked me in and it was a really strong start but then the pacing slowed and it began to loose my attention until the last 15% where it picked up again. The ending was probably my favourite part of the book. There were some good twists and an exciting betrayal storyline that had me sat.
This book has very little world building which made it difficult to picture when reading. It would have gothic vibes in one scene but then fluffy socks in another which left me feeling confused about the world. It did however make for easy, quick reading. There were also significant gaps within the plot. So many things weren’t explored in enough detail which made it feel rushed and disjointed, leaving me with a lot of unanswered questions.
The magic system also wasn’t explained at all. I don’t understand what her magic was or why it was so forbidden. There is just a lot of unanswered questions and it felt like as the reader we were just expected to know these things.
There was some chemistry and tension between Bryndis and Odhran to begin with but it fizzled out fairly quickly. The enemies to lovers was more just Bryndis repeating she hated him over and over until lust just suddenly took over. There was no natural progression of their developing feelings for one another making the romance feel forced and inauthentic. For me this book lacked emotional depth which made it hard to connect with any of the characters.
I did feel like some things were there simply to tick a trope box, for example fated mates. It felt like it came out of nowhere and it just didn’t fit the narrative that had been portrayed up to that point.
It’s also briefly mentioned that it’s forbidden for Humans and Fae to be together, with a penalty of death under the treaty, but it was very easy to forget that as there was no forbidden romance vibes at all. It didn’t feel like they were even trying to hide their desire for one another and therefore lacked the high stakes and palpable tension and yearning that usually accompany a forbidden romance.
It definitely takes inspiration from a certain other popular romantasy with the monster in her head element which is such an intriguing concept, but it just didn’t quite work for me here. Most likely because there was not much context provided. Whilst I know this will probably be explored more in the sequel, I needed more in this initial instalment to hook me and help me become invested.
The overall premise was intriguing but too many aspects were underdeveloped. I’m left with so many questions and I wanted a lot more from these characters, the romance, the plot, the world to become invested. It definitely had the bones to be a great story, but for me the execution fell short. At this stage I am unsure if I will be continuing the series.
Many thanks to the author for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The first 100 pages of this book sucked me in and it was a really strong start but then the pacing slowed and it began to loose my attention until the last 15% where it picked up again. The ending was probably my favourite part of the book. There were some good twists and an exciting betrayal storyline that had me sat.
This book has very little world building which made it difficult to picture when reading. It would have gothic vibes in one scene but then fluffy socks in another which left me feeling confused about the world. It did however make for easy, quick reading. There were also significant gaps within the plot. So many things weren’t explored in enough detail which made it feel rushed and disjointed, leaving me with a lot of unanswered questions.
The magic system also wasn’t explained at all. I don’t understand what her magic was or why it was so forbidden. There is just a lot of unanswered questions and it felt like as the reader we were just expected to know these things.
There was some chemistry and tension between Bryndis and Odhran to begin with but it fizzled out fairly quickly. The enemies to lovers was more just Bryndis repeating she hated him over and over until lust just suddenly took over. There was no natural progression of their developing feelings for one another making the romance feel forced and inauthentic. For me this book lacked emotional depth which made it hard to connect with any of the characters.
I did feel like some things were there simply to tick a trope box, for example fated mates. It felt like it came out of nowhere and it just didn’t fit the narrative that had been portrayed up to that point.
It’s also briefly mentioned that it’s forbidden for Humans and Fae to be together, with a penalty of death under the treaty, but it was very easy to forget that as there was no forbidden romance vibes at all. It didn’t feel like they were even trying to hide their desire for one another and therefore lacked the high stakes and palpable tension and yearning that usually accompany a forbidden romance.
It definitely takes inspiration from a certain other popular romantasy with the monster in her head element which is such an intriguing concept, but it just didn’t quite work for me here. Most likely because there was not much context provided. Whilst I know this will probably be explored more in the sequel, I needed more in this initial instalment to hook me and help me become invested.
The overall premise was intriguing but too many aspects were underdeveloped. I’m left with so many questions and I wanted a lot more from these characters, the romance, the plot, the world to become invested. It definitely had the bones to be a great story, but for me the execution fell short. At this stage I am unsure if I will be continuing the series.
Many thanks to the author for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 10, 2026
I received an eARC of A Beautifully Crafted Lie from Netgalley and the author Evelyn Ash, in exchange for my honest review.
I was craving a romantasy novel with an enemies to lovers, slow burn, gut wrenching plot twist and Evelyn Ash DELIVERED with this one. I could not put this down!
This book had good pacing and each chapter left you wanting to know more. The characters had depth and the plot has a good hook. I really enjoyed the imagery that the author created while telling the story, it was easy to get lost in the world she built. I am begging any other ARC readers out there that can draw, please draw our main characters! Especially the dress and tux scene!
The last 10% was a wild ride and gave me CHILLS! You know it's good when you need to change positions because sh*t got serious. I NEED to know what happens next!!! The last page had my crying.
10/10 recommend you add this to your TBR and read it when it releases this summer. I will be making sure I have a physical copy to annotate for when book 2 drops.
I was craving a romantasy novel with an enemies to lovers, slow burn, gut wrenching plot twist and Evelyn Ash DELIVERED with this one. I could not put this down!
This book had good pacing and each chapter left you wanting to know more. The characters had depth and the plot has a good hook. I really enjoyed the imagery that the author created while telling the story, it was easy to get lost in the world she built. I am begging any other ARC readers out there that can draw, please draw our main characters! Especially the dress and tux scene!
The last 10% was a wild ride and gave me CHILLS! You know it's good when you need to change positions because sh*t got serious. I NEED to know what happens next!!! The last page had my crying.
10/10 recommend you add this to your TBR and read it when it releases this summer. I will be making sure I have a physical copy to annotate for when book 2 drops.
March 5, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Evelyn Ash for the ARC of this book.
A story of humans, witches, fae, and monsters; it had yearning, found family, feminine rage, fated mates, and betrayal.
Bryndis, the main character, lives with a monster in her head. I loved her character and her strength. Despite all that she deals with, it doesn’t prevent her from caring for her half-sister, and others. When she meets Prince Odhran, we get to see a different side to her character, as she pushes back against him.
I enjoyed reading about their relationship growing. It was easy to care for both of them and root for them to fulfill their desires. There was tragedy and twists that helped keep me engaged with the story.
The ending had me wanting more! The story is definitely not finished yet. I cannot wait for the next installment.
This book is for fans of The Shepherd King Duology, ACOTAR, and Folk of the Air.
A story of humans, witches, fae, and monsters; it had yearning, found family, feminine rage, fated mates, and betrayal.
Bryndis, the main character, lives with a monster in her head. I loved her character and her strength. Despite all that she deals with, it doesn’t prevent her from caring for her half-sister, and others. When she meets Prince Odhran, we get to see a different side to her character, as she pushes back against him.
I enjoyed reading about their relationship growing. It was easy to care for both of them and root for them to fulfill their desires. There was tragedy and twists that helped keep me engaged with the story.
The ending had me wanting more! The story is definitely not finished yet. I cannot wait for the next installment.
This book is for fans of The Shepherd King Duology, ACOTAR, and Folk of the Air.
June 4, 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to read your book! This was giving One Dark Window vibes. I rated this a 3.5 stars.
While the pacing had me in and out of engagement, I was still intrigued by the premise. I felt like there was wholes or gaps in some of the scenes. It had me re reading it again to see if I missed something. I also didn’t get the vibes between the FMC and MMC. I would have like some more tension and yearn. I felt some parts was rushed or moved forward for the plot. The FMC’s decisions were frustrating at times—like cutting off her nose to spite her face—but I was craving more depth in the witch culture and how it affected that inner voice. That cliffhanger, though? Definitely curious what the next book has in store.
While the pacing had me in and out of engagement, I was still intrigued by the premise. I felt like there was wholes or gaps in some of the scenes. It had me re reading it again to see if I missed something. I also didn’t get the vibes between the FMC and MMC. I would have like some more tension and yearn. I felt some parts was rushed or moved forward for the plot. The FMC’s decisions were frustrating at times—like cutting off her nose to spite her face—but I was craving more depth in the witch culture and how it affected that inner voice. That cliffhanger, though? Definitely curious what the next book has in store.
August 2, 2026
3.5 🌟
Starting off with a big thank you for Evelyn Ash for giving me the opportunity to read her ARC of A Beautifully Crafted Lie. I had a good time reading this, it was fast paced and although only a short read (for me) at 380pages on kindle it packed a punch!
I got Cinderella vibes reading this but obviously with Fae, monsters and a good helping of blood. Bryndis, our FMC, discovers her life is not what it seems and the Fae are in control of their town and existence. Odhran, the fae man who turns her life upside down and inside out has more than his fair share of secrets and very quick to point out he can’t lie, however lying by omission is just as deadly.
For a fairly short book I thought that too many characters were introduced resulting in a lack of depth to most of them. Odhran has his own found family but although they are there and interacted well I felt I didn’t develop any connection with them. I look forward to reading more about them in book 2.
Starting off with a big thank you for Evelyn Ash for giving me the opportunity to read her ARC of A Beautifully Crafted Lie. I had a good time reading this, it was fast paced and although only a short read (for me) at 380pages on kindle it packed a punch!
I got Cinderella vibes reading this but obviously with Fae, monsters and a good helping of blood. Bryndis, our FMC, discovers her life is not what it seems and the Fae are in control of their town and existence. Odhran, the fae man who turns her life upside down and inside out has more than his fair share of secrets and very quick to point out he can’t lie, however lying by omission is just as deadly.
For a fairly short book I thought that too many characters were introduced resulting in a lack of depth to most of them. Odhran has his own found family but although they are there and interacted well I felt I didn’t develop any connection with them. I look forward to reading more about them in book 2.
August 29, 2026
What a beautifully crafted story! I was immediately invested in all the characters, the magic, the world, and the romance. That ending though, I am completely devastated! I have to go follow the author's socials right now to see when we'll get to find out what happens next with Bryn, Odhran... and Aed.
Thanks to Netgalley, Raven Court Publishing and Evelyn Ash for the arc.
Thanks to Netgalley, Raven Court Publishing and Evelyn Ash for the arc.
July 5, 2026
I ate this book up!! It gave me One Dark Window vibes, but felt totally different in its own way. I loved the “reveal”, it actually gave me goosebumps. Can’t say too much without spoiling it, but WOW. I could picture myself right there with the characters.
Some books I forget the second I finish them, but this one has stuck with me!
Also, I need book 2 NOW!!! Don’t do this to me!!!
Some books I forget the second I finish them, but this one has stuck with me!
Also, I need book 2 NOW!!! Don’t do this to me!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book.
To me this book is a mix between a classic fae romantasy (ACOTAR style) mixed with some One Dark Window. It had a spooky gothic theme.
I struggled with what to rate this book. It started off strong and then slowly started to go downhill as I felt like things were just happening with no rhyme or reason. With Bryn being a witch, that aspect was talked about a lot but never explored. The relationship and mate bond kind of just happened in a way that didn't make sense and was very instalovey to me. I also found Bryn's actions and behaviour to not match the character or the natural progression of development from my perspective.
WITH THAT SAID - If you're looking for a masterpiece unique story, this isn't the book for you. If you're looking for fast relationship, fae and you liked One Dark Window's nightmare and you're a vibes reader then you will enjoy it.
To me this book is a mix between a classic fae romantasy (ACOTAR style) mixed with some One Dark Window. It had a spooky gothic theme.
I struggled with what to rate this book. It started off strong and then slowly started to go downhill as I felt like things were just happening with no rhyme or reason. With Bryn being a witch, that aspect was talked about a lot but never explored. The relationship and mate bond kind of just happened in a way that didn't make sense and was very instalovey to me. I also found Bryn's actions and behaviour to not match the character or the natural progression of development from my perspective.
WITH THAT SAID - If you're looking for a masterpiece unique story, this isn't the book for you. If you're looking for fast relationship, fae and you liked One Dark Window's nightmare and you're a vibes reader then you will enjoy it.
March 2, 2026
3.75 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!
My first impressions reading this book was that I’d read something very similar with the (voice in the head) and this meant I was confused on if I would like this book/ keep reading, but I’ll admit I was wrong after getting to about 35% I started to enjoy the plot and characters. I became invested in where the story went and will definitely be reading the next instalment.
I felt there could have been slightly more information on Brynn’s magic and some history on what being a witch within this story means.
I enjoyed the romance and look forward to it growing in the next book.
I think if I’d have immediately gotten sucked into the story the rating would have been an easy 4/5 stars but as I had to push through the first third of the book I felt 3.75 was appropriate for me.
I’d definitely recommend this to someone and will be continuing the series.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!
My first impressions reading this book was that I’d read something very similar with the (voice in the head) and this meant I was confused on if I would like this book/ keep reading, but I’ll admit I was wrong after getting to about 35% I started to enjoy the plot and characters. I became invested in where the story went and will definitely be reading the next instalment.
I felt there could have been slightly more information on Brynn’s magic and some history on what being a witch within this story means.
I enjoyed the romance and look forward to it growing in the next book.
I think if I’d have immediately gotten sucked into the story the rating would have been an easy 4/5 stars but as I had to push through the first third of the book I felt 3.75 was appropriate for me.
I’d definitely recommend this to someone and will be continuing the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Evelyn Ash enters the romantasy scene with A Beautifully Crafted Lie, an atmospheric, dark fantasy romance brimming with high-stakes deception, bloodthirsty fae, and a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic. While the novel occasionally stumbles under the weight of its frustrating character choices, its rich world-building and dramatic cliffhanger ending ultimately deliver a gripping read that leaves you eager for the next installment.
The narrative centers on Bryndis Ashglo, the daughter of a strict governor in the gloomy town of Bouldermore—a place governed by ruthless laws against magic and haunted by legends of terrifying monsters. Bryndis harbors a deadly secret: a mysterious creature lurks inside her mind, seeing and hearing everything she does. In a society where possessing magic means execution, she spends her life walking a tightrope to keep her condition hidden.
Her fragile safety shatters on the eve of Samhain with the arrival of Prince Odhran, the feared bastard prince sent to enforce the king’s laws and execute the annual witch reaping. When Bryndis catches Odhran's calculating eye, she expects the worst. Instead of turning her over to the law, Odhran strikes a dangerous bargain: in exchange for concealing her secret and protecting her freedom, Bryndis must travel with him to the realm of the Fae to serve as his master deceiver. Odhran—bound by magic or nature—cannot lie, but Bryndis, as a mortal, can do it anytime. Dragged into a deadly foreign court, she must navigate royal intrigue, bloodthirsty secrets, and the growing realization that neither Odhran nor herself are entirely human.
At the heart of the story is the fiery, highly contentious dynamic between Bryndis and Prince Odhran.
Odhran is a compelling, dark love interest. As a blood-drinking faerie and royal enforcer, he effortlessly commands fear and authority. Yet beneath his cold demeanor lies a tactician using Bryndis to play a much larger political game. He delights in her discomfort and challenges her at every turn, executing the "morally gray ruler" archetype with brooding charm.
Bryndis, on the other hand, presents a bit more of a mixed bag. Driven by a fierce instinct to survive and an overwhelming need to protect her family, her resilience is commendable. However, her interactions with Odhran often feel stuck on repeat. Her constant, unyielding "I hate you" posture toward him starts to wear thin after a while, making her feel overly stubborn rather than strategically cautious.
Compounding this frustration is the dynamic with her sister. Bryndis risks everything—her life, her secrets, and her freedom—to shield her sister, yet receives zero support or initiative in return, particularly when it comes to standing up against their domineering mother./step mother. Watching Bryndis bend over backward for a sister who refuses to pull her own weight creates a frustrating loop that bogs down the midsection of the book.
Where Ash truly shines is in her world-building. The transition from the oppressive, paranoid streets of human-governed Bouldermore to the dark, seductive threat of the Fae realm is handled with vivid detail. Ash crafts a lush lore around magic, deception, and political deceit that anchors the plot when the character dynamics stall.
Truthfully, I spent much of the story sitting right on the fence. Bryndis’s repetitive hostility and the exasperating family dynamics held the book back from reaching its full potential early on. However, the final act changes the game entirely. Ash delivers a breathtaking, high-stakes finale capped off with a cliffhanger that sets these characters up for something interesting in the next book.
Despite my grievances with Bryndis's stubbornness along the way, the sheer momentum of that ending won me over. Evelyn Ash has set up a fascinating premise for the sequel, and based on how this book wrapped up, I will definitely be picking up Book 2 to see where this woven web of lies leads next.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative centers on Bryndis Ashglo, the daughter of a strict governor in the gloomy town of Bouldermore—a place governed by ruthless laws against magic and haunted by legends of terrifying monsters. Bryndis harbors a deadly secret: a mysterious creature lurks inside her mind, seeing and hearing everything she does. In a society where possessing magic means execution, she spends her life walking a tightrope to keep her condition hidden.
Her fragile safety shatters on the eve of Samhain with the arrival of Prince Odhran, the feared bastard prince sent to enforce the king’s laws and execute the annual witch reaping. When Bryndis catches Odhran's calculating eye, she expects the worst. Instead of turning her over to the law, Odhran strikes a dangerous bargain: in exchange for concealing her secret and protecting her freedom, Bryndis must travel with him to the realm of the Fae to serve as his master deceiver. Odhran—bound by magic or nature—cannot lie, but Bryndis, as a mortal, can do it anytime. Dragged into a deadly foreign court, she must navigate royal intrigue, bloodthirsty secrets, and the growing realization that neither Odhran nor herself are entirely human.
At the heart of the story is the fiery, highly contentious dynamic between Bryndis and Prince Odhran.
Odhran is a compelling, dark love interest. As a blood-drinking faerie and royal enforcer, he effortlessly commands fear and authority. Yet beneath his cold demeanor lies a tactician using Bryndis to play a much larger political game. He delights in her discomfort and challenges her at every turn, executing the "morally gray ruler" archetype with brooding charm.
Bryndis, on the other hand, presents a bit more of a mixed bag. Driven by a fierce instinct to survive and an overwhelming need to protect her family, her resilience is commendable. However, her interactions with Odhran often feel stuck on repeat. Her constant, unyielding "I hate you" posture toward him starts to wear thin after a while, making her feel overly stubborn rather than strategically cautious.
Compounding this frustration is the dynamic with her sister. Bryndis risks everything—her life, her secrets, and her freedom—to shield her sister, yet receives zero support or initiative in return, particularly when it comes to standing up against their domineering mother./step mother. Watching Bryndis bend over backward for a sister who refuses to pull her own weight creates a frustrating loop that bogs down the midsection of the book.
Where Ash truly shines is in her world-building. The transition from the oppressive, paranoid streets of human-governed Bouldermore to the dark, seductive threat of the Fae realm is handled with vivid detail. Ash crafts a lush lore around magic, deception, and political deceit that anchors the plot when the character dynamics stall.
Truthfully, I spent much of the story sitting right on the fence. Bryndis’s repetitive hostility and the exasperating family dynamics held the book back from reaching its full potential early on. However, the final act changes the game entirely. Ash delivers a breathtaking, high-stakes finale capped off with a cliffhanger that sets these characters up for something interesting in the next book.
Despite my grievances with Bryndis's stubbornness along the way, the sheer momentum of that ending won me over. Evelyn Ash has set up a fascinating premise for the sequel, and based on how this book wrapped up, I will definitely be picking up Book 2 to see where this woven web of lies leads next.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2026
3⭐️ I was so excited to read this book. It didn't exactly live up to my expectations, but I think the concept has great potential.
It gave me One Dark Window vibes with a little bit of The Village (M. Night Shyamalan) tossed in. If you like those things, you may enjoy this book. It's dark, haunting, not as emotional as I was expecting, but still covers some tough topics. The pace moves along steadily under a solid writing style, and there are many intriguing aspects to the main characters' stories.
The walled human village in the beginning had the potential to be very fascinating, and I was almost immediately hungry for any little nugget of world building in this setting.
However, this quickly became a pattern in this book. Some fascinating tidbit of information would be introduced, suck me in, make me hungry for more and then... would go nowhere. I struggled with some of the plot points.
The mysterious "other" inside the main character Bryndis is one example. Like... Why? The fact that Bryndis is supposed to be a witch but this is never fully explored is another.
Bryndis herself was a huge point of frustration for me. The last 10 chapters of this book, all I could do was shake my head at her. She makes some of the most colossally stupid decisions I've ever seen an FMC make in a book. The bargains she made? Everything that happens to her at the end of this book, she 100% deserves!
This concept (which I think DOES have good bones) and the MMC Odhran is what earned this book 3⭐️ for me. Odhran was a fascinating character. I loved his rather dramatic, flamboyant seeming personality in the beginning. I didn't mind his obsessive, possessiveness though it did border a bit on insta-love, in my opinion. He was the star of this show though with his cavalier attitude, unusual shadow magic and tortured "bad boy" vibes. I wish we had gotten more chapters in his POV and more of his background.
I just could not connect with this story or these characters. The relationship felt forced, the characters needed more depth, it could have benefited from more world-building and time dedicated to exploring complicated scenarios. Important things would happen between characters but instead of getting to experience them, we were just told they happened. There was too much going on but some how nothing really happening. I can honestly say, I'm not sure what we were moving toward by the end.
Though I didn't have a terrible time, I'm also not entirely sure how I feel about this book. Unfortunately, I don't think this one is for me, but I think it has potential; perhaps many things that irked me will be more fully explored in book two, and I'm sure there are many readers who will find value in this story just as it is.
Thank you to the author for sharing an advanced reader copy of this book with me. This review is my honest opinion, and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
It gave me One Dark Window vibes with a little bit of The Village (M. Night Shyamalan) tossed in. If you like those things, you may enjoy this book. It's dark, haunting, not as emotional as I was expecting, but still covers some tough topics. The pace moves along steadily under a solid writing style, and there are many intriguing aspects to the main characters' stories.
The walled human village in the beginning had the potential to be very fascinating, and I was almost immediately hungry for any little nugget of world building in this setting.
However, this quickly became a pattern in this book. Some fascinating tidbit of information would be introduced, suck me in, make me hungry for more and then... would go nowhere. I struggled with some of the plot points.
The mysterious "other" inside the main character Bryndis is one example. Like... Why? The fact that Bryndis is supposed to be a witch but this is never fully explored is another.
Bryndis herself was a huge point of frustration for me. The last 10 chapters of this book, all I could do was shake my head at her. She makes some of the most colossally stupid decisions I've ever seen an FMC make in a book. The bargains she made? Everything that happens to her at the end of this book, she 100% deserves!
This concept (which I think DOES have good bones) and the MMC Odhran is what earned this book 3⭐️ for me. Odhran was a fascinating character. I loved his rather dramatic, flamboyant seeming personality in the beginning. I didn't mind his obsessive, possessiveness though it did border a bit on insta-love, in my opinion. He was the star of this show though with his cavalier attitude, unusual shadow magic and tortured "bad boy" vibes. I wish we had gotten more chapters in his POV and more of his background.
I just could not connect with this story or these characters. The relationship felt forced, the characters needed more depth, it could have benefited from more world-building and time dedicated to exploring complicated scenarios. Important things would happen between characters but instead of getting to experience them, we were just told they happened. There was too much going on but some how nothing really happening. I can honestly say, I'm not sure what we were moving toward by the end.
Though I didn't have a terrible time, I'm also not entirely sure how I feel about this book. Unfortunately, I don't think this one is for me, but I think it has potential; perhaps many things that irked me will be more fully explored in book two, and I'm sure there are many readers who will find value in this story just as it is.
Thank you to the author for sharing an advanced reader copy of this book with me. This review is my honest opinion, and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!
A very good story with great potential, and almost flawless execution.
When Bryndis sneaks out of her house into the woods to collect herbs, she doesn’t expect her world to turn upside down. She breaks a magic mushroom circle, and she’s faced with the force of Prince Odhran when she manages to get home. She’s swept away into the world of Fae, with blood oaths, magical powers, compulsions, and the love of her life.
The story is intricate, builds on our general understanding of faerie courts and rules, e.g., Fae cannot lie, Fae can compel you, do not drink Fae wine, or you will get addicted. Then adds a bit of twist, when human blood keeps the Fae immortal, and Fae’s blood helps heal mortal wounds. The plot itself is predictable but well-written. She’s the one, the fated mate, ferocious and unobiding. He’s hurt, dark, broody, misunderstood, trying to protect her, and regain his kingdom’s freedom. Even though we know what to expect, we are still intrigued to see how closely the story hits that expectation. The words flow, with chapters smoothly following into the next one, and it is hard to put the book down. Quite addictive.
What I didn’t like were the moments of our MFC’s immature and emotionally reactive responses. She’s been raised as a lady, the oldest daughter of a Lord; she shouldn’t respond with ‘F you’ every time the Prince annoys. Additionally, as much as the shocking reveals were necessary to justify the turn of the events, I wish the correspondence with Declan had been shown in more detail. We understand when the betrayal is hinted at, but we’re missing how we truly got there. We got an internal thought of ‘I know what I’m doing because he told me about it’ instead of actually seeing him pass the information. Lastly, different types of oaths are discussed in the book, and how impossible it is to free oneself of them, but somehow, no one collects on the broken promises, and every character gets away scot-free.
On the other hand, the ending itself does not follow the predictable path, making it so much better, bitter, emotional, and wrenching. A perfect cliffhanger to keep us on edge until the second book is published. And a potential opportunity for more Odhran’s POVs in the sequel, definitely, will get us running to the bookstore when the continuation is published. I really like the idea of a dark passenger. I like his commentary, his transactional nature, and the way his story is resolved here. It was done tastefully before (One Dark Window), but this time, the passenger is of a different nature, with his own needs and tricks. Adding that extra element to the story makes it more complex and so much more compelling.
A strong story, with a masterfully written romance, I would recommend 100%
A very good story with great potential, and almost flawless execution.
When Bryndis sneaks out of her house into the woods to collect herbs, she doesn’t expect her world to turn upside down. She breaks a magic mushroom circle, and she’s faced with the force of Prince Odhran when she manages to get home. She’s swept away into the world of Fae, with blood oaths, magical powers, compulsions, and the love of her life.
The story is intricate, builds on our general understanding of faerie courts and rules, e.g., Fae cannot lie, Fae can compel you, do not drink Fae wine, or you will get addicted. Then adds a bit of twist, when human blood keeps the Fae immortal, and Fae’s blood helps heal mortal wounds. The plot itself is predictable but well-written. She’s the one, the fated mate, ferocious and unobiding. He’s hurt, dark, broody, misunderstood, trying to protect her, and regain his kingdom’s freedom. Even though we know what to expect, we are still intrigued to see how closely the story hits that expectation. The words flow, with chapters smoothly following into the next one, and it is hard to put the book down. Quite addictive.
What I didn’t like were the moments of our MFC’s immature and emotionally reactive responses. She’s been raised as a lady, the oldest daughter of a Lord; she shouldn’t respond with ‘F you’ every time the Prince annoys. Additionally, as much as the shocking reveals were necessary to justify the turn of the events, I wish the correspondence with Declan had been shown in more detail. We understand when the betrayal is hinted at, but we’re missing how we truly got there. We got an internal thought of ‘I know what I’m doing because he told me about it’ instead of actually seeing him pass the information. Lastly, different types of oaths are discussed in the book, and how impossible it is to free oneself of them, but somehow, no one collects on the broken promises, and every character gets away scot-free.
On the other hand, the ending itself does not follow the predictable path, making it so much better, bitter, emotional, and wrenching. A perfect cliffhanger to keep us on edge until the second book is published. And a potential opportunity for more Odhran’s POVs in the sequel, definitely, will get us running to the bookstore when the continuation is published. I really like the idea of a dark passenger. I like his commentary, his transactional nature, and the way his story is resolved here. It was done tastefully before (One Dark Window), but this time, the passenger is of a different nature, with his own needs and tricks. Adding that extra element to the story makes it more complex and so much more compelling.
A strong story, with a masterfully written romance, I would recommend 100%
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Beautifully Crafted Lie was an enjoyable read that kept me engaged throughout, but it ultimately left me wanting more from its most interesting ideas.
From the beginning, many aspects of the novel felt familiar. The plot elements, character dynamics, and fantasy tropes frequently reminded me of other books I have read. While there is nothing wrong with drawing upon established conventions, I often felt that the story did not develop these elements in a way that was distinctive enough to separate itself from similar works in the genre.
My biggest criticism concerns the worldbuilding and the central mysteries surrounding Bryn and her abilities. Bryn is described as a witch, yet by the end of the novel I still felt I had only a vague understanding of what that actually means. Because she was never formally taught how to use her magic, she primarily relies on her knowledge of plants, extracting their properties and brewing them into teas and remedies. While this approach was interesting, it left me uncertain about the nature and limits of her magical abilities. What can she do? What can't she do? How does her magic differ from that of other witches? These questions remained largely unanswered, making the magic system feel underdeveloped.
Similarly, the dragon's presence was one of the most intriguing aspects of the story, yet it was also one of the least explored. The concept of a dragon being locked inside Bryn's mind immediately captured my attention, but very little information is provided about its origins, purpose, or significance. Where did the dragon come from? Why is it bound to her? What role does it play in the larger narrative? While I understand that future installments may address these questions, I felt that the first book did not provide enough information to make this mystery feel fully satisfying.
For me, the distinction between an engaging mystery and a frustrating one lies in whether the reader is given enough information to understand the stakes. In this case, I often felt that too much was withheld. Rather than leaving me eager to speculate, some of the novel's most compelling ideas felt underdeveloped because there was not enough context to fully appreciate their importance.
That said, I still found the book entertaining and easy to read. The story moves at a steady pace, and there were enough intriguing moments to keep me invested in Bryn's journey.
While the novel did not entirely distinguish itself from other fantasy novels I have read, it contains enough promise that I am curious to see where the series goes next. I only wish some of its strongest concepts, particularly Bryn's magic and her connection to the dragon, had been explored in greater depth within this first installment.
From the beginning, many aspects of the novel felt familiar. The plot elements, character dynamics, and fantasy tropes frequently reminded me of other books I have read. While there is nothing wrong with drawing upon established conventions, I often felt that the story did not develop these elements in a way that was distinctive enough to separate itself from similar works in the genre.
My biggest criticism concerns the worldbuilding and the central mysteries surrounding Bryn and her abilities. Bryn is described as a witch, yet by the end of the novel I still felt I had only a vague understanding of what that actually means. Because she was never formally taught how to use her magic, she primarily relies on her knowledge of plants, extracting their properties and brewing them into teas and remedies. While this approach was interesting, it left me uncertain about the nature and limits of her magical abilities. What can she do? What can't she do? How does her magic differ from that of other witches? These questions remained largely unanswered, making the magic system feel underdeveloped.
Similarly, the dragon's presence was one of the most intriguing aspects of the story, yet it was also one of the least explored. The concept of a dragon being locked inside Bryn's mind immediately captured my attention, but very little information is provided about its origins, purpose, or significance. Where did the dragon come from? Why is it bound to her? What role does it play in the larger narrative? While I understand that future installments may address these questions, I felt that the first book did not provide enough information to make this mystery feel fully satisfying.
For me, the distinction between an engaging mystery and a frustrating one lies in whether the reader is given enough information to understand the stakes. In this case, I often felt that too much was withheld. Rather than leaving me eager to speculate, some of the novel's most compelling ideas felt underdeveloped because there was not enough context to fully appreciate their importance.
That said, I still found the book entertaining and easy to read. The story moves at a steady pace, and there were enough intriguing moments to keep me invested in Bryn's journey.
While the novel did not entirely distinguish itself from other fantasy novels I have read, it contains enough promise that I am curious to see where the series goes next. I only wish some of its strongest concepts, particularly Bryn's magic and her connection to the dragon, had been explored in greater depth within this first installment.
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March 13, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Beautifully Crafted Lie hooked me straight away with its premise: a young woman hearing a mysterious voice in her head, forbidden magic, and a dangerous journey into the fae realm. From the beginning I was intrigued by Bryndis and the possibility that she might either be losing her mind… or discovering something far more powerful.
The author’s worldbuilding and descriptions are one of the biggest strengths of this book. The settings feel vivid and atmospheric, with a dark gothic tone that makes the fae realm feel both beautiful and dangerous. I also loved the creative touches at the start of chapters - the artwork, poems, and excerpts added a really nice layer to the reading experience.
The multiple POVs and flashbacks helped flesh out the characters and their pasts, and I found myself especially invested in Bryn’s dynamic with Prince Odhran. Their enemies-to-lovers tension definitely keeps things interesting, even if Bryn occasionally made me want to sit her down and say “please just talk to the man for five minutes.”
One thing I struggled with a little was the pacing in the middle of the book. Some scenes felt slightly disjointed, with transitions or time jumps that weren’t always clear. There were a few moments where I had to reread sections to make sure I hadn’t missed something.
I was also hoping for a bit more clarity around Bryn’s magic. She’s described as a witch, but much of what we see feels closer to herbalism, so I’d love to see the magic system expanded further in future books.
That said, the final portion of the story absolutely pulled me back in. The twists start stacking up quickly and I found myself fully reacting to the pages - you know the type of reading experience where you’re muttering “THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A TRAP” while the characters confidently walk straight into it anyway.
The ending definitely left me curious about what comes next, and I’d be interested in continuing the series to see how the unanswered questions and character arcs develop.
Overall, A Beautifully Crafted Lie is an intriguing start to a dark fantasy romance series with immersive worldbuilding, morally grey characters, fae politics, and plenty of twists, even if the pacing occasionally stumbles along the way.
Readers who enjoy fae fantasy, enemies-to-lovers romance, morally grey princes, forbidden magic, and dark gothic romantasy may want to add this one to their list.
A Beautifully Crafted Lie hooked me straight away with its premise: a young woman hearing a mysterious voice in her head, forbidden magic, and a dangerous journey into the fae realm. From the beginning I was intrigued by Bryndis and the possibility that she might either be losing her mind… or discovering something far more powerful.
The author’s worldbuilding and descriptions are one of the biggest strengths of this book. The settings feel vivid and atmospheric, with a dark gothic tone that makes the fae realm feel both beautiful and dangerous. I also loved the creative touches at the start of chapters - the artwork, poems, and excerpts added a really nice layer to the reading experience.
The multiple POVs and flashbacks helped flesh out the characters and their pasts, and I found myself especially invested in Bryn’s dynamic with Prince Odhran. Their enemies-to-lovers tension definitely keeps things interesting, even if Bryn occasionally made me want to sit her down and say “please just talk to the man for five minutes.”
One thing I struggled with a little was the pacing in the middle of the book. Some scenes felt slightly disjointed, with transitions or time jumps that weren’t always clear. There were a few moments where I had to reread sections to make sure I hadn’t missed something.
I was also hoping for a bit more clarity around Bryn’s magic. She’s described as a witch, but much of what we see feels closer to herbalism, so I’d love to see the magic system expanded further in future books.
That said, the final portion of the story absolutely pulled me back in. The twists start stacking up quickly and I found myself fully reacting to the pages - you know the type of reading experience where you’re muttering “THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A TRAP” while the characters confidently walk straight into it anyway.
The ending definitely left me curious about what comes next, and I’d be interested in continuing the series to see how the unanswered questions and character arcs develop.
Overall, A Beautifully Crafted Lie is an intriguing start to a dark fantasy romance series with immersive worldbuilding, morally grey characters, fae politics, and plenty of twists, even if the pacing occasionally stumbles along the way.
Readers who enjoy fae fantasy, enemies-to-lovers romance, morally grey princes, forbidden magic, and dark gothic romantasy may want to add this one to their list.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Omggg... This book destroyed me in the most beautiful way possible.. I knew this book would be something special but WOW,the way it unfolded was even more than I hoped. I need everyone to understand that this book did not just consume me… it possessed me... A Beautifully Crafted Lie is the kind of romantasy that feels lush, dangerous, and emotionally sharp. From page one, there’s this heavy, almost suffocating atmosphere.. Magic that’s feared, politics that are ruthless, and secrets that feel like they’re holding a dagger straight to your neck...
And then there’s Bryndis Ashglo.
She is not your soft, naive heroine. She is clever, observant and survival driven. A girl who has learned to weaponize perception because in her world, magic isn’t a gift but a threat. What I loved most about her is that she doesn’t just lie to others. She lies to herself. Watching her slowly unravel the truth about who she is and what she carries was so satisfying. Her strength isn’t loud.. It’s strategic.. What sets Bryndis apart is her resilience and wit. She excels at deception which is a skill both born of survival and sharpened by necessity. But as the story progresses, that talent becomes a double edged sword, forcing her to wrestle with who she is versus who she pretends to be.
And Odhran… oh Odhran.
The feared bastard prince who is cold., calculated and sharp edged. The kind of man who walks into a room and owns it without raising his voice. He’s not just ruthless, commanding, and terrifying
in his reputation but also layered, conflicted,
and endlessly fascinating.
The tension between him and Bryndis? It’s not just
romantic. It’s psychological. It’s two intelligent people
constantly measuring each other. This is slow burn done
RIGHT. No rushed feelings. No instant devotion. Just quiet tension, dangerous conversations, and the constant question of “Are we allies or enemies?”
The worldbuilding feels textured and intentional. Magic is political. Power is controlled. Fear shapes law. And every choice has consequences. The fae elements add mystery without overwhelming the emotional core of the story.
What truly stood out to me was the theme of identity. The idea that survival can shape you into someone you don’t even recognize. The “lie” in the title isn’t just external — it’s internal.
And I am already desperate for more. Can’t wait to read the next book.....
And then there’s Bryndis Ashglo.
She is not your soft, naive heroine. She is clever, observant and survival driven. A girl who has learned to weaponize perception because in her world, magic isn’t a gift but a threat. What I loved most about her is that she doesn’t just lie to others. She lies to herself. Watching her slowly unravel the truth about who she is and what she carries was so satisfying. Her strength isn’t loud.. It’s strategic.. What sets Bryndis apart is her resilience and wit. She excels at deception which is a skill both born of survival and sharpened by necessity. But as the story progresses, that talent becomes a double edged sword, forcing her to wrestle with who she is versus who she pretends to be.
And Odhran… oh Odhran.
The feared bastard prince who is cold., calculated and sharp edged. The kind of man who walks into a room and owns it without raising his voice. He’s not just ruthless, commanding, and terrifying
in his reputation but also layered, conflicted,
and endlessly fascinating.
The tension between him and Bryndis? It’s not just
romantic. It’s psychological. It’s two intelligent people
constantly measuring each other. This is slow burn done
RIGHT. No rushed feelings. No instant devotion. Just quiet tension, dangerous conversations, and the constant question of “Are we allies or enemies?”
The worldbuilding feels textured and intentional. Magic is political. Power is controlled. Fear shapes law. And every choice has consequences. The fae elements add mystery without overwhelming the emotional core of the story.
What truly stood out to me was the theme of identity. The idea that survival can shape you into someone you don’t even recognize. The “lie” in the title isn’t just external — it’s internal.
And I am already desperate for more. Can’t wait to read the next book.....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Part of me doesn’t know where to begin. Lets just say this book is 5 stars and my fave read so far this year.
The story hooked me from the very start. We start with our FMC, Bryndis Ashglo, who is treated very poorly by her step-mother and not seen as a part of the family. Bryndis is secretly a witch passed down by her mother who sadly passed away when she was little. She also has another secret, a creature living inside her who talks to her! Despite all the horrible things she goes through she is such a fierce, fiery, empathic character. She makes mistakes she regrets, but her intentions are good.
We are quickly introduced to the MMC, Prince Odhran. He is a morally grey shadow daddy. However, he is weak at the knees for Bryn. He sees the way she is being treated and acts accordingly [touch her and die!!]. Although he is clearly powerful, he also has his own secrets related to his family and heritage. He also uses ravens to spy on Bryn.
As you move through the story, the world building and pacing is spot on. It’s so fun reading Bryn and Odhran doing this dance when it comes to their feelings for each other. She wants to hate him but can’t.
The way this book is written really evokes emotions right along with the characters. There is a particular scene towards the end where Bryn is riding a horse and the way certain parts of that bit are described had my heart racing and I was genuinely feeling all the feels.
The side characters are really well thought out and you get invested.
I also like it when characters are included that you don’t like but don’t necessarily hate. For example, they aren’t the villain but you also don’t like them. This book does that so well!! I was so mad at so many characters for different reasons. This book really is so multifaceted.
I adore the use of Irish/Gaelic language. The spice is great and I love that it wasn’t rushed.
Also very cool that the author put a note in for those who wished to skip if they wanted to keep it closed door.
If you want:
-Fierce FMC
-Morally Grey but weak at the knees for her MMC
-Faeries
-Magic
-Blood drinking
-dark gothic romantasy
-betrayal
-fated mates
You should read this!
Thank you for the chance to be an ARC reader for this amazing book!
The story hooked me from the very start. We start with our FMC, Bryndis Ashglo, who is treated very poorly by her step-mother and not seen as a part of the family. Bryndis is secretly a witch passed down by her mother who sadly passed away when she was little. She also has another secret, a creature living inside her who talks to her! Despite all the horrible things she goes through she is such a fierce, fiery, empathic character. She makes mistakes she regrets, but her intentions are good.
We are quickly introduced to the MMC, Prince Odhran. He is a morally grey shadow daddy. However, he is weak at the knees for Bryn. He sees the way she is being treated and acts accordingly [touch her and die!!]. Although he is clearly powerful, he also has his own secrets related to his family and heritage. He also uses ravens to spy on Bryn.
As you move through the story, the world building and pacing is spot on. It’s so fun reading Bryn and Odhran doing this dance when it comes to their feelings for each other. She wants to hate him but can’t.
The way this book is written really evokes emotions right along with the characters. There is a particular scene towards the end where Bryn is riding a horse and the way certain parts of that bit are described had my heart racing and I was genuinely feeling all the feels.
The side characters are really well thought out and you get invested.
I also like it when characters are included that you don’t like but don’t necessarily hate. For example, they aren’t the villain but you also don’t like them. This book does that so well!! I was so mad at so many characters for different reasons. This book really is so multifaceted.
I adore the use of Irish/Gaelic language. The spice is great and I love that it wasn’t rushed.
Also very cool that the author put a note in for those who wished to skip if they wanted to keep it closed door.
If you want:
-Fierce FMC
-Morally Grey but weak at the knees for her MMC
-Faeries
-Magic
-Blood drinking
-dark gothic romantasy
-betrayal
-fated mates
You should read this!
Thank you for the chance to be an ARC reader for this amazing book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc Review
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an early copy of her book.
To say I loved it would be the biggest understatement. For me, it was an infinite-star read! I loved everything about this book. The story was so well written that I basically had zero perception of time while reading it. And I am happy to announce that I have found a new book boyfriend! 😏
First of all, the story was really good. There are multiple POVs and multiple timelines, which made it so much more enjoyable. I personally think they are very effective at telling all sides of the story, helping us get to know the characters better, and building tension. Miss Evelyn Ash did a very good job not only with the storytelling but also with bringing her characters to life.
The FMC, Bryndis, grew up feeling rejected and hiding her secret power. She lost her mother and was then treated very poorly by her stepmother. Still, she never wants anyone to pity her, and she never complains. She is strong and fierce from the beginning of the book, but throughout the story, as she discovers more about herself, she becomes even stronger, both physically and mentally.
The MMC, Odhran, is my newest obsession! A cocky, shadow-wielding fae prince. And before you say, “Ugh, another one of those?” let me stop you right there! For me, he was a combination of Rhysand and Zevander (from Anathema), and every time he appeared, I suddenly felt so thirsty I could have consumed gallons of water. 🤭 Everyone needs to meet this heart-shatteringly beautiful man!
The side characters were also amazing.
There was lots of banter, lots of tension, a slow burn, and even a dragon shifter! Yes. Even a dragon!
The ending was cruel, so my only advice to you is to stay away from any public place when you reach the ending, because it will most probably make you curse. A LOT! 😂
I need book 2 like yesterday!
This read was excellent! It’s definitely one of those books you wish you could read again for the first time!
Thank you for my new obsession, Miss Evelyn, and please hurry up with the second book and put me out of my misery! 🙏🏻❤️
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an early copy of her book.
To say I loved it would be the biggest understatement. For me, it was an infinite-star read! I loved everything about this book. The story was so well written that I basically had zero perception of time while reading it. And I am happy to announce that I have found a new book boyfriend! 😏
First of all, the story was really good. There are multiple POVs and multiple timelines, which made it so much more enjoyable. I personally think they are very effective at telling all sides of the story, helping us get to know the characters better, and building tension. Miss Evelyn Ash did a very good job not only with the storytelling but also with bringing her characters to life.
The FMC, Bryndis, grew up feeling rejected and hiding her secret power. She lost her mother and was then treated very poorly by her stepmother. Still, she never wants anyone to pity her, and she never complains. She is strong and fierce from the beginning of the book, but throughout the story, as she discovers more about herself, she becomes even stronger, both physically and mentally.
The MMC, Odhran, is my newest obsession! A cocky, shadow-wielding fae prince. And before you say, “Ugh, another one of those?” let me stop you right there! For me, he was a combination of Rhysand and Zevander (from Anathema), and every time he appeared, I suddenly felt so thirsty I could have consumed gallons of water. 🤭 Everyone needs to meet this heart-shatteringly beautiful man!
The side characters were also amazing.
There was lots of banter, lots of tension, a slow burn, and even a dragon shifter! Yes. Even a dragon!
The ending was cruel, so my only advice to you is to stay away from any public place when you reach the ending, because it will most probably make you curse. A LOT! 😂
I need book 2 like yesterday!
This read was excellent! It’s definitely one of those books you wish you could read again for the first time!
Thank you for my new obsession, Miss Evelyn, and please hurry up with the second book and put me out of my misery! 🙏🏻❤️
August 28, 2026
Not only did I eARC read this debut gothic romantasy, but I had to do an immediate audiobook read after I was done and let me tell you!!! It was soooo good! Putting voices to Bryndis and Odhran was EVERYTHING! The narrators did such an amazing job of making me see the world, the characters and become even more emotionally invested than I already was after just reading.
Bryndis is the governor’s daughter (Cinderella kind of situation) in Bouldermore, a place where magic is basically a death sentence. Except Bryndis has a pretty massive secret of her own… there’s a creature living in her mind that sees and hears everything she does. And honestly, that alone had me hooked because WHAT?! Also the thought of the "others" living in the woods absolutely piqued my interest!
Then we get Prince Odhran. The feared (HOT) bastard prince who is basically responsible for enforcing the king’s laws and conducting the witch reaping. He is dangerous, sarcastic, mysterious, morally gray, and devilishly handsome.... Naturally, I was immediately interested. 😂
Odhran takes Bryndis into the fae realm after the fae reaping and to help him basically lie because the fae cannot lie and saved her ass from being reaped. From there, we get fae politics, secrets, magic, blood oaths, betrayal, witches, monsters, and SO MANY things that made me question who I could actually trust.
The tension between these two was GOOD. The banter, the distrust, the attraction, the whole "I absolutely should not want you but unfortunately here we are" situation had me giddy! 😏
The world building was probably one of my favorite parts. The gothic, dark atmosphere was EVERYTHING. Dark woods, magic, monsters, fae, secrets… give me all of it. 🖤
THAT ENDING. 😭 It shattered my heart!
There are SO many unanswered questions, and I am absolutely going to need the next book asap because I need to know what happens with Bryndis, Odhran, the creature in her head, and approximately 47 other things.
So Evelyn… respectfully, I need book 2. Immediately. Thank you so much for the eARC!
Bryndis is the governor’s daughter (Cinderella kind of situation) in Bouldermore, a place where magic is basically a death sentence. Except Bryndis has a pretty massive secret of her own… there’s a creature living in her mind that sees and hears everything she does. And honestly, that alone had me hooked because WHAT?! Also the thought of the "others" living in the woods absolutely piqued my interest!
Then we get Prince Odhran. The feared (HOT) bastard prince who is basically responsible for enforcing the king’s laws and conducting the witch reaping. He is dangerous, sarcastic, mysterious, morally gray, and devilishly handsome.... Naturally, I was immediately interested. 😂
Odhran takes Bryndis into the fae realm after the fae reaping and to help him basically lie because the fae cannot lie and saved her ass from being reaped. From there, we get fae politics, secrets, magic, blood oaths, betrayal, witches, monsters, and SO MANY things that made me question who I could actually trust.
The tension between these two was GOOD. The banter, the distrust, the attraction, the whole "I absolutely should not want you but unfortunately here we are" situation had me giddy! 😏
The world building was probably one of my favorite parts. The gothic, dark atmosphere was EVERYTHING. Dark woods, magic, monsters, fae, secrets… give me all of it. 🖤
THAT ENDING. 😭 It shattered my heart!
There are SO many unanswered questions, and I am absolutely going to need the next book asap because I need to know what happens with Bryndis, Odhran, the creature in her head, and approximately 47 other things.
So Evelyn… respectfully, I need book 2. Immediately. Thank you so much for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review - 4.5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Evelyn Ash and Raven Court Publishing for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book! 🫶🏻
A Beautifully Crafted Lie is a fast paced dark gothic romantasy following Bryndis Ashglo, the monster lurking in her mind, and the Prince Odhran that drags her away to the faerie realm. It is an addicting tale of humans, monsters, faeries and witches that will have you flying through the pages just find out what happens next.
I absolutely loved our FMC, Bryndis, from the beginning. She's a wonderfully complex mix of vulnerability, naivety, stubbornness, resilience and strength. Despite the absolute atrocities she's faced with, she fights for herself, her dignity and those she cares for. I'm really excited to see how her character grows and evolves in the sequel.
The worldbuilding was immersive whilst also being easy to follow. I really enjoyed the first-person multi-POV writing of the storyline, along with the sprinkles of flashbacks throughout the story in third person. Everything felt intentional throughout the book and I felt myself constantly highlighting because I felt like I was picking up on little clues everywhere.
The romance is delicious and I found it refreshing that the author gives a heads up at the start of the chapter if it has spice so that readers can skip that section if they prefer a closed-door romance.
I really did think I had the plot for the book somewhat figured out and was theorising all the way... just for me to get to the last 10-15% of the book and just be floored by nonstop plot twists! Total emotional devastation and I am here for it. Don't even get me started on the cliffhanger though - I need book two immediately! 😅
You'll love this book if you like:
✨ magic
✨ found family
✨ shadow daddy MMC
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ forced proximity
✨ he falls first
✨ good girl
Thank you to NetGalley, Evelyn Ash and Raven Court Publishing for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book! 🫶🏻
A Beautifully Crafted Lie is a fast paced dark gothic romantasy following Bryndis Ashglo, the monster lurking in her mind, and the Prince Odhran that drags her away to the faerie realm. It is an addicting tale of humans, monsters, faeries and witches that will have you flying through the pages just find out what happens next.
I absolutely loved our FMC, Bryndis, from the beginning. She's a wonderfully complex mix of vulnerability, naivety, stubbornness, resilience and strength. Despite the absolute atrocities she's faced with, she fights for herself, her dignity and those she cares for. I'm really excited to see how her character grows and evolves in the sequel.
The worldbuilding was immersive whilst also being easy to follow. I really enjoyed the first-person multi-POV writing of the storyline, along with the sprinkles of flashbacks throughout the story in third person. Everything felt intentional throughout the book and I felt myself constantly highlighting because I felt like I was picking up on little clues everywhere.
The romance is delicious and I found it refreshing that the author gives a heads up at the start of the chapter if it has spice so that readers can skip that section if they prefer a closed-door romance.
I really did think I had the plot for the book somewhat figured out and was theorising all the way... just for me to get to the last 10-15% of the book and just be floored by nonstop plot twists! Total emotional devastation and I am here for it. Don't even get me started on the cliffhanger though - I need book two immediately! 😅
You'll love this book if you like:
✨ magic
✨ found family
✨ shadow daddy MMC
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ forced proximity
✨ he falls first
✨ good girl
Review of advance copy received from Author
First off I want to thank the author, Evelyn Ash, for giving me an ARC copy of this book. This is my honest review.
It has been a week since I finished this amazing book and I am still absolutely reeling over the ending! This was an absolute 5 star read for me!
From the start of the story, the gothic fantasy world that the author paints is dark but also sprinkled with whimsy. You get the darkness of the world, the trauma from both the FMC and the MMC, but also you get the magic and whimsy of a fantasy world, which I really loved.
This book is dual POV and is told from both Bryndis Ashglo, the FMC, who is a secret witch and has a creature lurking in her mind, and Odhryn, the MMC, who is a faerie prince with dark slicing shadows and ravens.
When I began reading this story and learned of the voice in Bryndis’ mind, I first thought of One Dark Window, a book that I also LOVED, but when I tell you this is NOTHING like that book and the shock value is a million times better, you better get ready!! I was absolutely gobsmacked and it was the best revelation! This book sucked me in from the start and had me reading faster and faster to see what was going to happen next. The plot twists and emotional damage from this book was top tier!
From the sharp and troublesome voice in Brynis’s head, to her abuse and trama, to spice, to absolutely DEVASTATING, heart shattering moments, this book has EVERYTHING!
I also thought it was really cool how the author let you know at the top of the spicy chapter, that it was a spicy chapter, so you could decide if you wanted an open or closed door romance! I of course dove right into that chapter, but if spice isn’t your thing, you don’t have to worry about it, this book is still for you!
This was a 5 star read for me and I cannot stop thinking about these characters and about what on earth is going to happen next! I can’t wait for book 2!!! Do yourself a favor and pre-order/order this book ASAP!
It has been a week since I finished this amazing book and I am still absolutely reeling over the ending! This was an absolute 5 star read for me!
From the start of the story, the gothic fantasy world that the author paints is dark but also sprinkled with whimsy. You get the darkness of the world, the trauma from both the FMC and the MMC, but also you get the magic and whimsy of a fantasy world, which I really loved.
This book is dual POV and is told from both Bryndis Ashglo, the FMC, who is a secret witch and has a creature lurking in her mind, and Odhryn, the MMC, who is a faerie prince with dark slicing shadows and ravens.
When I began reading this story and learned of the voice in Bryndis’ mind, I first thought of One Dark Window, a book that I also LOVED, but when I tell you this is NOTHING like that book and the shock value is a million times better, you better get ready!! I was absolutely gobsmacked and it was the best revelation! This book sucked me in from the start and had me reading faster and faster to see what was going to happen next. The plot twists and emotional damage from this book was top tier!
From the sharp and troublesome voice in Brynis’s head, to her abuse and trama, to spice, to absolutely DEVASTATING, heart shattering moments, this book has EVERYTHING!
I also thought it was really cool how the author let you know at the top of the spicy chapter, that it was a spicy chapter, so you could decide if you wanted an open or closed door romance! I of course dove right into that chapter, but if spice isn’t your thing, you don’t have to worry about it, this book is still for you!
This was a 5 star read for me and I cannot stop thinking about these characters and about what on earth is going to happen next! I can’t wait for book 2!!! Do yourself a favor and pre-order/order this book ASAP!
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