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Skeleton Key
Dark Fae
Tessa James has never been able to figure out the puzzle that is her life, until a mysterious key and a hidden closet lead the way to a realm beyond her imagination. The Fae are real. Magic exists. And Tess’s world has just drastically changed.
Nyx Steele, the leader of the Fae, is ruthless as he is beautiful, especially when it comes to keeping the humans out of his realm. Their role in slaying his people will never be forgotten, even if they stumble on him in the form of an alluring being like Tessa. No matter how strongly he's drawn to her, Nyx must never forget what Tessa's ancestors did to his.
Lost in a land filled with wonder and dangers, Tessa cannot resist her attraction to the enigmatic Nyx. The most breathtaking love she's ever found may also bring her ultimate ruin and death.
Nyx Steele, the leader of the Fae, is ruthless as he is beautiful, especially when it comes to keeping the humans out of his realm. Their role in slaying his people will never be forgotten, even if they stumble on him in the form of an alluring being like Tessa. No matter how strongly he's drawn to her, Nyx must never forget what Tessa's ancestors did to his.
Lost in a land filled with wonder and dangers, Tessa cannot resist her attraction to the enigmatic Nyx. The most breathtaking love she's ever found may also bring her ultimate ruin and death.
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About the author
Lillian Cartier
2 books65 followersLillian Cartier started writing when a persistent vampire entered her mind and refused to leave. Sharing the crazy idea with her closest friends and, with the encouragement from them, a story not only started to form but she has gone into collaboration with a friend turned author, Michelle Dare.
A wife, mom, and lover of books, that will be soon going on a vacation on a tropical island where she can finally get some much needed rest and relaxation with her family and friends.
A wife, mom, and lover of books, that will be soon going on a vacation on a tropical island where she can finally get some much needed rest and relaxation with her family and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 18, 2016
I have to say that normally fantasy books are not my usual cup of tea, but this book crosses lines and throws a little sex and romance into the story, which is right up my alley.
I cannot believe that this is the authors first book, it was truly a great book, from the start of the book you are sucked in and brought along for Tessa's ride to the land of the Fae, where we meet Nyx, I can honestly say that when reading the authors words I can see what Nyx looks like with his beautiful wings, and I would love to have a Fae of my own to hold me tight.
The story in this book was great, and will make you wonder if fairies do exist and at the same time remind you what true love/love at first sight is.
This series of the Skelton Key, a key which brings to you to realms unknown is set to one heck of a journey.
I cannot believe that this is the authors first book, it was truly a great book, from the start of the book you are sucked in and brought along for Tessa's ride to the land of the Fae, where we meet Nyx, I can honestly say that when reading the authors words I can see what Nyx looks like with his beautiful wings, and I would love to have a Fae of my own to hold me tight.
The story in this book was great, and will make you wonder if fairies do exist and at the same time remind you what true love/love at first sight is.
This series of the Skelton Key, a key which brings to you to realms unknown is set to one heck of a journey.
May 19, 2016
This is the first book Lillian Cartier that I have read. I must say this my favorite kind of book. Her writing flow thru out the whole book. I was captivated from the first page. I have to say that is an awesome read. Thank you Lillian for this awesome book.
July 9, 2017
I love the fae world but the conversations between Nyx and Tessa were just too unrealistic.
June 18, 2016
Title: Dark Fae
Series: Skeleton Key
Author: Lillian Cartier
Publisher: Lillian Cartier
Reviewer: Mollien
Release Date: June 15, 2016
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance
Page Count: 81 pages
Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Review:
This is one of many books in the Skeleton Key Series. The series seems to be about paranormal romances with HAE written by different authors. This book is written by Lillian Carter. As far as I can tell, this is the first published book by this author or one of the first. All that being said, this is a fun whimsical short story about a woman that thought that she was alone in the world. Growing up in the foster care system, she has to find a way to survive. As a singer at a strip club she barely gets by until a strange man is at her door. The plot has Tess finding out that she has an aunt that has been searching for her. An aunt that died before she found Tess, but left Tess everything including a strange glass skeleton key. Tess finds herself in a strange land with a beautiful man that she has a very strong attraction to, Nyx Steele. Nyx is not your typical man, for one thing, he has razor sharp wings on his back. The chemistry between Tess and Nyx is strong, but there are some that want to keep them apart. This book reads quickly and smoothly, with one event going into the next. Good HEA ending. Not much in the way of character development since the story takes place over a short amount of time, but during that time Tess becomes a more confident woman. This was a good story and if you enjoy reading about mystical worlds and fairies, you will enjoy this one. This story does have some dark elements typical with stories involving The Fae.
SCORES on a scale of 1-5 Stars rate each of the Following 5
Categories
PLOT: 4 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 5 Stars
PACING: 5 Stars
ENDING: 4 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 3 Stars
Review Copy of Dark Fae provided by the Lillian Carter for an honest Review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club
Series: Skeleton Key
Author: Lillian Cartier
Publisher: Lillian Cartier
Reviewer: Mollien
Release Date: June 15, 2016
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance
Page Count: 81 pages
Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Skeleton Key Book Series
One Skeleton Key. Endless Adventures.
https://skeletonkeybookseries.com
Tessa James has never been able to figure out the puzzle that is her life, until a mysterious key and a hidden closet lead the way to a realm beyond her imagination. The Fae are real. Magic exists. And Tess’s world has just drastically changed.
Nyx Steele, the leader of the Fae, is ruthless as he is beautiful, especially when it comes to keeping the humans out of his realm. Their role in slaying his people will never be forgotten, even if they stumble on him in the form of an alluring being like Tessa. No matter how strongly he's drawn to her, Nyx must never forget what Tessa's ancestors did to his.
Lost in a land filled with wonder and dangers, Tessa cannot resist her attraction to the enigmatic Nyx. The most breathtaking love she's ever found may also bring her ultimate ruin and death.
Review:
This is one of many books in the Skeleton Key Series. The series seems to be about paranormal romances with HAE written by different authors. This book is written by Lillian Carter. As far as I can tell, this is the first published book by this author or one of the first. All that being said, this is a fun whimsical short story about a woman that thought that she was alone in the world. Growing up in the foster care system, she has to find a way to survive. As a singer at a strip club she barely gets by until a strange man is at her door. The plot has Tess finding out that she has an aunt that has been searching for her. An aunt that died before she found Tess, but left Tess everything including a strange glass skeleton key. Tess finds herself in a strange land with a beautiful man that she has a very strong attraction to, Nyx Steele. Nyx is not your typical man, for one thing, he has razor sharp wings on his back. The chemistry between Tess and Nyx is strong, but there are some that want to keep them apart. This book reads quickly and smoothly, with one event going into the next. Good HEA ending. Not much in the way of character development since the story takes place over a short amount of time, but during that time Tess becomes a more confident woman. This was a good story and if you enjoy reading about mystical worlds and fairies, you will enjoy this one. This story does have some dark elements typical with stories involving The Fae.
SCORES on a scale of 1-5 Stars rate each of the Following 5
Categories
PLOT: 4 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 5 Stars
PACING: 5 Stars
ENDING: 4 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 3 Stars
Review Copy of Dark Fae provided by the Lillian Carter for an honest Review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club
July 19, 2016
Thank you to the author, Lillian Cartier, and Shannon @Once Upon An Alpha for gifting me with a copy of Dark Fae in exchange for an honest review!
I'm a sucker for fantasy. So when I saw that Shannon was covering a fantasy/romance book, I jumped to sign up to review it. I read this book/novella about 4 times before I got my thoughts together enough to write a review. The thing was that I had forgotten that this is a novella. So the first time I read it, I thought it was way too short and there was no development whatsoever. However, when I reread it, I realized that it is, in fact a novella so it isn't supposed to be that long at all. With that in mind, let's get into the review!
1. The plot. So, like I said, this is a novella/short story. With that short of a time frame to outline a clear plot, I thought the author did a commendable job. In my opinion, the first half is definitely the best half. The author took a bit more time to detail Tessa's life before she comes into contact with the fae and it was really intruiging to me and helped build up her character. But more on that in the next bullet! The second half of the plot was slightly rushed. Something you have to know going in is that this book is mainly focused on the romance plot line and not really about Tessa. There is some of her learning about the fae world put in too. All in all, the plot was all right for me. It wasn't amazing, but it wasn't terrible either. With the short word count the author had, it was good.
2. The characters. The best character, in my opinion, by far is Tessa. We have so much more time with her to learn about her past and her thoughts and dreams. For a novella, we actually get a pretty good picture of her and what kind of person she is. The other characters were all more flat (naturally, again given the short word count). I would definitely be interested in a more extended story to learn more about the fae characters that are introduced.
3. The romance. The main focus of this book is the romance that develops between Tessa and Nyx. When I say develops, I mean that it happens within 2 pages. This, of course, isn't ideal and would fall under the category of insta-love in a regularly-sized book. However, in a novella, I'm a bit more forgiving although the book would have been much improved if the romance was developed over more pages.
4. The world-building. Again (I feel like I've said this so many times but I want to be clear!), because this is so short, there wasn't much world-building to be had. However, I do feel that a little more explanation could have happened in terms of what the deal was with Nyx's 'friend' that kept randomly popping in and what the significance and meaning of things was. I felt like everything just was happening rapid-fire in the last half of the book and none of the events were explained with anything more than a line of dialogue.
The Final Verdict:
While this review seems rather negative, I think the author did a wonderful job crafting a story with the word count available. I'm still keeping my rating at a 3 however because of the pacing issues at the end, the crazy insta, insta romance, and the unexplained events. Tessa, our MC, however was a wonderful bright spot.
3 stars
I'm a sucker for fantasy. So when I saw that Shannon was covering a fantasy/romance book, I jumped to sign up to review it. I read this book/novella about 4 times before I got my thoughts together enough to write a review. The thing was that I had forgotten that this is a novella. So the first time I read it, I thought it was way too short and there was no development whatsoever. However, when I reread it, I realized that it is, in fact a novella so it isn't supposed to be that long at all. With that in mind, let's get into the review!
1. The plot. So, like I said, this is a novella/short story. With that short of a time frame to outline a clear plot, I thought the author did a commendable job. In my opinion, the first half is definitely the best half. The author took a bit more time to detail Tessa's life before she comes into contact with the fae and it was really intruiging to me and helped build up her character. But more on that in the next bullet! The second half of the plot was slightly rushed. Something you have to know going in is that this book is mainly focused on the romance plot line and not really about Tessa. There is some of her learning about the fae world put in too. All in all, the plot was all right for me. It wasn't amazing, but it wasn't terrible either. With the short word count the author had, it was good.
2. The characters. The best character, in my opinion, by far is Tessa. We have so much more time with her to learn about her past and her thoughts and dreams. For a novella, we actually get a pretty good picture of her and what kind of person she is. The other characters were all more flat (naturally, again given the short word count). I would definitely be interested in a more extended story to learn more about the fae characters that are introduced.
3. The romance. The main focus of this book is the romance that develops between Tessa and Nyx. When I say develops, I mean that it happens within 2 pages. This, of course, isn't ideal and would fall under the category of insta-love in a regularly-sized book. However, in a novella, I'm a bit more forgiving although the book would have been much improved if the romance was developed over more pages.
4. The world-building. Again (I feel like I've said this so many times but I want to be clear!), because this is so short, there wasn't much world-building to be had. However, I do feel that a little more explanation could have happened in terms of what the deal was with Nyx's 'friend' that kept randomly popping in and what the significance and meaning of things was. I felt like everything just was happening rapid-fire in the last half of the book and none of the events were explained with anything more than a line of dialogue.
The Final Verdict:
While this review seems rather negative, I think the author did a wonderful job crafting a story with the word count available. I'm still keeping my rating at a 3 however because of the pacing issues at the end, the crazy insta, insta romance, and the unexplained events. Tessa, our MC, however was a wonderful bright spot.
3 stars
May 14, 2016
I read a wide variety of books but fantasy has always been low on my list. I recently listed to an audio book that included Fae and Ms. Cartier's book is the first Fae tale I have read. This debut novella shows great promise from the author's imagination. Her characters interact well with one another and their chemistry is undeniable. Her Fae world is very similar to our human world except for the winged Fae that inhabit it.
Tessa is a woman who has lived a very lonely and difficult life, first in foster care and then on her own. When she is left an inheritance by a long lost aunt, her life is forever changed. She holds the key to her future and when she enters the Fae world, her life takes on new meaning, mostly due to a Fae named Nyx. He is an intoxicating Fae who has also been alone for far too long. All Tessa has ever wanted in life is a family and security. While she never got to meet her aunt; Lauren manages to give those things to Tessa after her death.
When the couple meets, their chemistry is instantaneous and passionate. While humans haven't come into the Fae world in a very long time, fate seems to have brought the couple together for a reason. However, as in all relationships, there are bumps in the road to an HEA.
Ms. Cartier hits a lot of emotions in this novella, anger, loneliness, love, passion and revenge. Her characters are well put together and the story flows well. A great debut, Ms. Cartier.
Tessa is a woman who has lived a very lonely and difficult life, first in foster care and then on her own. When she is left an inheritance by a long lost aunt, her life is forever changed. She holds the key to her future and when she enters the Fae world, her life takes on new meaning, mostly due to a Fae named Nyx. He is an intoxicating Fae who has also been alone for far too long. All Tessa has ever wanted in life is a family and security. While she never got to meet her aunt; Lauren manages to give those things to Tessa after her death.
When the couple meets, their chemistry is instantaneous and passionate. While humans haven't come into the Fae world in a very long time, fate seems to have brought the couple together for a reason. However, as in all relationships, there are bumps in the road to an HEA.
Ms. Cartier hits a lot of emotions in this novella, anger, loneliness, love, passion and revenge. Her characters are well put together and the story flows well. A great debut, Ms. Cartier.
May 17, 2016
I just loved this fairy world! Tessa has struggled her whole life dancing and signing in a strip club but it's an honest job and it keeps a roof over her head. She never knew her mother and spent her life in foster homes so having her own place is really important to her. One day a man shows up and tells her that her aunt Lauren has been looking for but she is recently deceased but she left her a letter. This letter explained that she left her a cabin and a car and a glass key. The key opened the door to the Fae or fairy world and in there Tessa finds her mate but not without a lot of conflict. This is a great short story just to get lost in for a little while and you can really feel Tessa's emotions through the whole story. I received this book for an honest review
June 15, 2016
I really liked reading this. It's one of those stories that captures you attention soon while reading it. And the story was great. Nyx sounds hot and mysterious now I want to read more into this skeleton key series.
June 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW: Dark Fae (Novella)
BOOK SERIES: Skeleton Key Book Series
One Skeleton Key. Endless Adventures.
https://skeletonkeybookseries.com
AUTHOR: Lillian Cartier
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
PUBLICATION DATE: June 15, 2016
CLIFF HANGER: No
4 Stars
SYNOPSIS:
Tessa James has never been able to figure out the puzzle that is her life, until a mysterious key and a hidden closet lead the way to a realm beyond her imagination. The Fae are real. Magic exists. And Tess’s world has just drastically changed.
Nyx Steele, the leader of the Fae, is ruthless as he is beautiful, especially when it comes to keeping the humans out of his realm. Their role in slaying his people will never be forgotten, even if they stumble on him in the form of an alluring being like Tessa. No matter how strongly he's drawn to her, Nyx must never forget what Tessa's ancestors did to his.
Lost in a land filled with wonder and dangers, Tessa cannot resist her attraction to the enigmatic Nyx. The most breathtaking love she's ever found may also bring her ultimate ruin and death.
MY THOUGHTS:
What a great concept for a series, different authors offer their paranormal stories on different types of paranormal beings! All the books are stand-alone. I love paranormal romance and was so excited to read this. Look at the beautiful cover. That alone would get me to read it!
The only drawback to this book is that it was too short! I wanted more! I feel like the author could have done so much more with the story and expanded it to a full length novel. What story there was it was really good. I just wanted more background on the characters and push to story out a little.
Tessa always felt like she didn’t belong. Abandoned at birth, she went through the foster care system and at 18, she made her way in the world living day to day, pay check to pay check.
Sometimes going hungry and living in run down apartments. Tessa was a talented singer and dancer. She worked at a club where she sang and stripped down to her thong and pasties. She wasn’t ashamed at what she did and she was just grateful she had money coming in. Her life changed one night when a handsome man was at her door when she came home from work. He said he represented her deceased aunt who had left her a cabin, a car and a very strange glass skeleton key. Tessa was shocked as she thought she had no family. She learned that her mother on her death bed told her aunt about the baby she abandoned. Her aunt searched for her for a long time and had died recently from her injuries from a car accident. She lived long enough to dictate a letter to Tessa explaining her search for her.
Tessa
Tessa goes to the cabin to see what her aunt had left her and it was everything she had ever dreamed of having. She takes a tour of the cabin and finds a note on the refrigerator from her aunt with a cryptic message about finding her destiny in the loft. Tessa heads to the loft and finds many sculptures of people with wings. Then she sees this very odd door that didn’t belong in the room. It was locked and had a skeleton keyhole. Tessa decided to try the glass key and see if she could open it. The glass key fit and unlocked the door. Tessa found a hallway and another door at the end of the hallway. This door was unlocked. She found another cabin or what she thought was still a part of her aunt’s cabin. She heard a noise downstairs and worried that someone had broken into her cabin, she called out and her glass breaking. She ran downstairs and there stood a woman with a confused look on her face. She thought she was Tessa’s aunt because the family resemblance was so strong. The woman explained that she cleaned the cabin and took care of things when her aunt was away. She also knew her aunt was dead.
The story continues with Tessa deciding to take a walk in the woods. It’s a beautiful fall day and she is enjoying her time outside until she sees a man with wings floating above the ground. He yells for her to stop and gives chase. He grabs Tessa and asks what she is doing in their realm and Tessa was totally confused and thought she was dreaming. He flies off with her and is threatening her because she is a human. Then a shout from below gets their attention and he drops Tessa. Fortunately for her she is caught by the most beautiful man she has ever seen and then promptly passes out.
Nyx
Nyx and Tessa both feel an intense connection like the other half of their soul had been found. Nyx has to explain to Tessa what he is and that she is in another realm that humans cannot enter. Nyx is a dark and dangerous prince in this realm, protecting it from human attacks. He can’t fight the overwhelming feeling of love and longing he has for Tessa. The catch though is that his wings are made of very sharp metal and they kill people and he can’t stand the thought of anything ever happening to Tessa. They both fall deeply in love. A love so profound that they can’t’ imagine life without the other.
Now this is where I am going to stop. I want you to read this novella. There are some interesting twists that happen that you don’t see coming and there is drama and heartbreak.
If you like paranormal romance, please give this one a try. It was a good read!
ARC kindly provided for an honest review.
BOOK SERIES: Skeleton Key Book Series
One Skeleton Key. Endless Adventures.
https://skeletonkeybookseries.com
AUTHOR: Lillian Cartier
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
PUBLICATION DATE: June 15, 2016
CLIFF HANGER: No
4 Stars
SYNOPSIS:
Tessa James has never been able to figure out the puzzle that is her life, until a mysterious key and a hidden closet lead the way to a realm beyond her imagination. The Fae are real. Magic exists. And Tess’s world has just drastically changed.
Nyx Steele, the leader of the Fae, is ruthless as he is beautiful, especially when it comes to keeping the humans out of his realm. Their role in slaying his people will never be forgotten, even if they stumble on him in the form of an alluring being like Tessa. No matter how strongly he's drawn to her, Nyx must never forget what Tessa's ancestors did to his.
Lost in a land filled with wonder and dangers, Tessa cannot resist her attraction to the enigmatic Nyx. The most breathtaking love she's ever found may also bring her ultimate ruin and death.
MY THOUGHTS:
What a great concept for a series, different authors offer their paranormal stories on different types of paranormal beings! All the books are stand-alone. I love paranormal romance and was so excited to read this. Look at the beautiful cover. That alone would get me to read it!
The only drawback to this book is that it was too short! I wanted more! I feel like the author could have done so much more with the story and expanded it to a full length novel. What story there was it was really good. I just wanted more background on the characters and push to story out a little.
Tessa always felt like she didn’t belong. Abandoned at birth, she went through the foster care system and at 18, she made her way in the world living day to day, pay check to pay check.
Sometimes going hungry and living in run down apartments. Tessa was a talented singer and dancer. She worked at a club where she sang and stripped down to her thong and pasties. She wasn’t ashamed at what she did and she was just grateful she had money coming in. Her life changed one night when a handsome man was at her door when she came home from work. He said he represented her deceased aunt who had left her a cabin, a car and a very strange glass skeleton key. Tessa was shocked as she thought she had no family. She learned that her mother on her death bed told her aunt about the baby she abandoned. Her aunt searched for her for a long time and had died recently from her injuries from a car accident. She lived long enough to dictate a letter to Tessa explaining her search for her.
Tessa
Tessa goes to the cabin to see what her aunt had left her and it was everything she had ever dreamed of having. She takes a tour of the cabin and finds a note on the refrigerator from her aunt with a cryptic message about finding her destiny in the loft. Tessa heads to the loft and finds many sculptures of people with wings. Then she sees this very odd door that didn’t belong in the room. It was locked and had a skeleton keyhole. Tessa decided to try the glass key and see if she could open it. The glass key fit and unlocked the door. Tessa found a hallway and another door at the end of the hallway. This door was unlocked. She found another cabin or what she thought was still a part of her aunt’s cabin. She heard a noise downstairs and worried that someone had broken into her cabin, she called out and her glass breaking. She ran downstairs and there stood a woman with a confused look on her face. She thought she was Tessa’s aunt because the family resemblance was so strong. The woman explained that she cleaned the cabin and took care of things when her aunt was away. She also knew her aunt was dead.
The story continues with Tessa deciding to take a walk in the woods. It’s a beautiful fall day and she is enjoying her time outside until she sees a man with wings floating above the ground. He yells for her to stop and gives chase. He grabs Tessa and asks what she is doing in their realm and Tessa was totally confused and thought she was dreaming. He flies off with her and is threatening her because she is a human. Then a shout from below gets their attention and he drops Tessa. Fortunately for her she is caught by the most beautiful man she has ever seen and then promptly passes out.
Nyx
Nyx and Tessa both feel an intense connection like the other half of their soul had been found. Nyx has to explain to Tessa what he is and that she is in another realm that humans cannot enter. Nyx is a dark and dangerous prince in this realm, protecting it from human attacks. He can’t fight the overwhelming feeling of love and longing he has for Tessa. The catch though is that his wings are made of very sharp metal and they kill people and he can’t stand the thought of anything ever happening to Tessa. They both fall deeply in love. A love so profound that they can’t’ imagine life without the other.
Now this is where I am going to stop. I want you to read this novella. There are some interesting twists that happen that you don’t see coming and there is drama and heartbreak.
If you like paranormal romance, please give this one a try. It was a good read!
ARC kindly provided for an honest review.
June 21, 2016
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Dark Fae is part of the Skeleton Key book series. I really love the set up of this series. It is a group of almost 30 authors, each one writing a book featuring a skeleton key that unlocks a secret world. But all of the books are vastly different. Different themes, different age groups and different sub genres. I just love that idea. So whether you like young adult, new adult or adult, you will be able to find a book for you. If you want to know more information about the series you can check out the website dedicated to the books.
Skeleton Key Book Series
One Skeleton Key. Endless Adventures.
https://skeletonkeybookseries.com
Dark Fae is an adult fae novella by Lillian Cartier. A woman who thinks she has no family, discovers that a long lost aunt has left her a house and strange key. When she unlocks a door in her aunt's house she is brought to the world of the Fae, where she meets Nyx. I really loved Nyx and his steel wings. Actually the description of his wings was my favorite aspect of Dark Fae. I think this book has the potential to be a 5 star story for me. I loved the set up and I love the idea of mates and fae are some of my favorite creatures. But at 81 pages long,this book was simply too short to have the kind of development I was looking for. Everything felt too rushed and too fast. I felt like Tessa and Nxy met, and then they were obsessed with each other, and then the book ended. I wanted more. Lillian Cartier is clearly a really great writer and I can't wait to read some of her full length stories, but this one was just too rushed for me to really believe their connection.
If you love fae noevllas and don't mind short fast paced stories, Dark Fae is one that you will want to check out. And further, the skeleton key series is one that I would recommend to all fans of fantasy and magic stories. I think you will be hard pressed to not find at least one of the books that appeals to you. I particularly love that there are a mix of age groups in the series. Something for fans of clean YA and adult alike. Royal Enchantment by Lia Davis is still my favorite read in the series, but I am excited because I think I will love Lillian Cartier's full length books. And it is exciting to me to discover a new author.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Dark Fae is part of the Skeleton Key book series. I really love the set up of this series. It is a group of almost 30 authors, each one writing a book featuring a skeleton key that unlocks a secret world. But all of the books are vastly different. Different themes, different age groups and different sub genres. I just love that idea. So whether you like young adult, new adult or adult, you will be able to find a book for you. If you want to know more information about the series you can check out the website dedicated to the books.
Skeleton Key Book Series
One Skeleton Key. Endless Adventures.
https://skeletonkeybookseries.com
Dark Fae is an adult fae novella by Lillian Cartier. A woman who thinks she has no family, discovers that a long lost aunt has left her a house and strange key. When she unlocks a door in her aunt's house she is brought to the world of the Fae, where she meets Nyx. I really loved Nyx and his steel wings. Actually the description of his wings was my favorite aspect of Dark Fae. I think this book has the potential to be a 5 star story for me. I loved the set up and I love the idea of mates and fae are some of my favorite creatures. But at 81 pages long,this book was simply too short to have the kind of development I was looking for. Everything felt too rushed and too fast. I felt like Tessa and Nxy met, and then they were obsessed with each other, and then the book ended. I wanted more. Lillian Cartier is clearly a really great writer and I can't wait to read some of her full length stories, but this one was just too rushed for me to really believe their connection.
If you love fae noevllas and don't mind short fast paced stories, Dark Fae is one that you will want to check out. And further, the skeleton key series is one that I would recommend to all fans of fantasy and magic stories. I think you will be hard pressed to not find at least one of the books that appeals to you. I particularly love that there are a mix of age groups in the series. Something for fans of clean YA and adult alike. Royal Enchantment by Lia Davis is still my favorite read in the series, but I am excited because I think I will love Lillian Cartier's full length books. And it is exciting to me to discover a new author.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
June 23, 2016
I received an eARC of this novella via the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of this review.
Dark Fae by Lillian Cartier is one of 30 novellas in the Skeleton Key collection. I love the idea of this series! In each novella, a glass skeleton key appears and whisks the main character to a new realm, a new life, providing an escape from their troubles. In Dark Fae, Tessa James is a former foster care child. She bounced from home to home, never feeling complete. When a man shows up with news that her long-lost aunt has died and left everything to her, she finds herself in a secluded cabin with a locked closet.
Tessa was an interesting character. She’s lonely, a bit lost and when she finds out about her aunt her world is turned upside down. Someone cared for her, she wasn’t just tossed away as she had always thought. It’s an eye-opening experience for her. When the skeleton key turns up and opens the locked closet into a realm of fae. To say she handles it better than I would is an understatement. She is the epitome of understanding.
This novella focuses on Nyx and Tessa. Nyx is the leader of the fae and it is his job to protect his realm from humans like Tessa. The two make an interesting pair. However it lost a star due to the insta-love, which is more appropriately named lust. The world-building made up for it though. I found it interesting to see how the fae realm worked, Nyx’s fae traits and the politics associated with his position.
Overall I found the novella ok. It’s a quick, easy read. Perfect for someone looking for a paranormal romance fix. FYI it is not for anyone under 18. Sorry friends, adults only! There are some pretty steamy sex scenes and some foul language, which I personally could have done without.
Dark Fae by Lillian Cartier is one of 30 novellas in the Skeleton Key collection. I love the idea of this series! In each novella, a glass skeleton key appears and whisks the main character to a new realm, a new life, providing an escape from their troubles. In Dark Fae, Tessa James is a former foster care child. She bounced from home to home, never feeling complete. When a man shows up with news that her long-lost aunt has died and left everything to her, she finds herself in a secluded cabin with a locked closet.
Tessa was an interesting character. She’s lonely, a bit lost and when she finds out about her aunt her world is turned upside down. Someone cared for her, she wasn’t just tossed away as she had always thought. It’s an eye-opening experience for her. When the skeleton key turns up and opens the locked closet into a realm of fae. To say she handles it better than I would is an understatement. She is the epitome of understanding.
This novella focuses on Nyx and Tessa. Nyx is the leader of the fae and it is his job to protect his realm from humans like Tessa. The two make an interesting pair. However it lost a star due to the insta-love, which is more appropriately named lust. The world-building made up for it though. I found it interesting to see how the fae realm worked, Nyx’s fae traits and the politics associated with his position.
Overall I found the novella ok. It’s a quick, easy read. Perfect for someone looking for a paranormal romance fix. FYI it is not for anyone under 18. Sorry friends, adults only! There are some pretty steamy sex scenes and some foul language, which I personally could have done without.
June 22, 2016
ARC REVIEW
Tessa has no one, struggles through life scraping just enough to keep a roof over her head. That is until a mystery man turns up and hands her a letter that contains more than she dreamed.
Nyx is fae, as is Ryder who visited Tessa, they live close to Tessa's inherited new home just in a different dimension.
Tessa has no idea where she is and is shocked to see people flying, when confronted by a testy fae she ends up in danger - luckily Nyx is there to save her.
This is PNR so everything is instalove, now I have no problem with insta love but to me Tessa excepted everything too quick, Id have liked it drawn out more, so you long for them to do the deed.
I really liked Tessa and Nyx was okay, I wasnt as drawn to him as I like to be. His protective and caring and has a darker side which is good - just something was missing for me.
An enjoyable read but Nyx is not going on my book boyfriend list.
3.5 stars
*I received an arc for an honest review
Tessa has no one, struggles through life scraping just enough to keep a roof over her head. That is until a mystery man turns up and hands her a letter that contains more than she dreamed.
Nyx is fae, as is Ryder who visited Tessa, they live close to Tessa's inherited new home just in a different dimension.
Tessa has no idea where she is and is shocked to see people flying, when confronted by a testy fae she ends up in danger - luckily Nyx is there to save her.
This is PNR so everything is instalove, now I have no problem with insta love but to me Tessa excepted everything too quick, Id have liked it drawn out more, so you long for them to do the deed.
I really liked Tessa and Nyx was okay, I wasnt as drawn to him as I like to be. His protective and caring and has a darker side which is good - just something was missing for me.
An enjoyable read but Nyx is not going on my book boyfriend list.
3.5 stars
*I received an arc for an honest review
May 28, 2016
Tessa has been alone her whole life. Her mother abandoned her and went into foster care, when she become of age she left and was on her own. When signing on the streets has a man coming to offer her a job she excepts even though she is not comfortable where she will be working, she must do anything to survive. When she sees a man looking for her, and tells her her Aunt was looking for her and hands her an envelope that will change her life. When seeing a skeleton key she doesn't know what is for until she goes to her Aunts cabin. She finds the key and enters another realm but is unaware of that. Tessa is in danger until a man saves her and the moment they touch they both feel that they are meant to be, but someone doesn't want them together, will they find a way to finally not be alone? Really good book, I love fantasy reads and this book has me hooked.
I received this book from the author in exchange for a honest review
I received this book from the author in exchange for a honest review
June 15, 2016
I love the idea of the Skeleton Key series. I think that having different authors offer up their own stories is a wonderful way to learn about new authors and have a link that binds them.
Dark Fae is the second book of the Skeleton series I have read. It's got such great potential, but I feel like the author lost her way while writing it. I have never read this author before.
I felt that the story was progressing well but hit a point where everything started to be rushed. Plot points were being made with no lead in, no transitions, and no clue as to why.
It was an ok read.
Dark Fae is the second book of the Skeleton series I have read. It's got such great potential, but I feel like the author lost her way while writing it. I have never read this author before.
I felt that the story was progressing well but hit a point where everything started to be rushed. Plot points were being made with no lead in, no transitions, and no clue as to why.
It was an ok read.
May 21, 2016
Dark Fae is a quick and entertaining read. I enjoyed reading about the fantasy world she created. Tessa and Nyx have an instant connection. This a a great debut novella for Lillian Cartier.
February 21, 2018
Good read
It was an OK read. It felt hurried and could have used more details to really add to this story.
It was an OK read. It felt hurried and could have used more details to really add to this story.
March 22, 2018
Terrible
Way too fast ..... Don't waste your time. Terribly written. This will make you
Loose interest in paranormal romance indefinitely
Way too fast ..... Don't waste your time. Terribly written. This will make you
Loose interest in paranormal romance indefinitely
October 28, 2018
Good story. But too short. End was written too quick with a long run-up.
August 15, 2016
Where is my skeleton key?
Dark Fae is one in thirty of the Skeleton Key collection. A unique premise where the skeleton key opens a whole other realm of possibilities. Each story is unique in the realms they explore and the characters the various authors bring to life. Each, however, promises a HEA.
Tess James is a survivor. Abandoned as a baby she spent her life in the foster care system. The beginning of Dark Fae gives you an up close and personal view of what survival means for Tess. Singing and stripping for a hand to mouth existence, few friends, no family, no hopes and no dreams. Then a man shows up at her door one night as she is arriving home. He claims to represent her long lost aunt who has been searching for her for years. Her aunt has passed away and left her an inheritance. Curious about her inheritance and more importantly about this mysterious woman claiming to be her aunt, Tess takes her inherited car off to settle her aunt’s affairs and check out the cabin left to her. From all accounts, the small community loved her aunt. Her aunt has left her a legacy and connection to a family she never had the chance to know and love. She also left her a mysterious skeleton key. When Tess uses it on the only locked door in the place she steps through to another realm… the realm of the dark fae.
Nyx Steele finds Tess strolling through the woods outside her cabin. If there is one thing the Prince of the Dark Fae won’t tolerate it’s the infiltration of his realm by humans… Humans like those that once slew his brethren. But there is something about Tess that draws Nyx. Not only is her presence a mystery but even more so is the history of her family. Because Tess’s aunt was not unknown in the dark fae realm. Her death is questionable. Now it’s up to Nyx to solve the mystery as he falls ever deeper under the spell of Tess.
Dark Fae is a bit of beauty and the beast in its romance. It’s a quick read offering fantasy, romance and a bit of mystery. So pull out your skeleton key and open the pages to a far off realm where beauty is about to unmask the beast and show him just how loveable he truly is.
*****Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions*****
Dark Fae is one in thirty of the Skeleton Key collection. A unique premise where the skeleton key opens a whole other realm of possibilities. Each story is unique in the realms they explore and the characters the various authors bring to life. Each, however, promises a HEA.
Tess James is a survivor. Abandoned as a baby she spent her life in the foster care system. The beginning of Dark Fae gives you an up close and personal view of what survival means for Tess. Singing and stripping for a hand to mouth existence, few friends, no family, no hopes and no dreams. Then a man shows up at her door one night as she is arriving home. He claims to represent her long lost aunt who has been searching for her for years. Her aunt has passed away and left her an inheritance. Curious about her inheritance and more importantly about this mysterious woman claiming to be her aunt, Tess takes her inherited car off to settle her aunt’s affairs and check out the cabin left to her. From all accounts, the small community loved her aunt. Her aunt has left her a legacy and connection to a family she never had the chance to know and love. She also left her a mysterious skeleton key. When Tess uses it on the only locked door in the place she steps through to another realm… the realm of the dark fae.
Nyx Steele finds Tess strolling through the woods outside her cabin. If there is one thing the Prince of the Dark Fae won’t tolerate it’s the infiltration of his realm by humans… Humans like those that once slew his brethren. But there is something about Tess that draws Nyx. Not only is her presence a mystery but even more so is the history of her family. Because Tess’s aunt was not unknown in the dark fae realm. Her death is questionable. Now it’s up to Nyx to solve the mystery as he falls ever deeper under the spell of Tess.
Dark Fae is a bit of beauty and the beast in its romance. It’s a quick read offering fantasy, romance and a bit of mystery. So pull out your skeleton key and open the pages to a far off realm where beauty is about to unmask the beast and show him just how loveable he truly is.
*****Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions*****
June 22, 2016
Hello Author Cartier. It is very nice to meet you!
This book is a different take on romance and love. From the real world, there is another one cloaked and veiled. To enter this world, you need a Skeleton Key. Hence, the name of this series.
This is my first read in the series. I was happy to find that different authors write within the complete series. A refreshing take of each of their imaginations. A great concept.
This story is a tale of Tessa. Found as a baby, she became the poster child of the foster home syndrome. Never did she fit in. Never did she find her spot. Now as an adult, the past continues as in her profession and the dangerous neighborhood she has an apartment in. Keeping your head down, seeing nothing and saying nothing is her mode of operandi. Yet, she has a tenderness for those that share her struggle, like every night feeding the homeless man that has taken residence down the hall from her apartment.
Her life begins to change upon the discovery that she has an Aunt, who just recently passed away. She feels a need to go to her home. Which she finds her Aunt has left her a Skeleton Key. She begins an adventure of excitement, confusion, joy and pain. She meets Nye Steele, hot razor blade sharp wings, dark features and razor sharp nails. The book takes you through a quest for truth, for love, a knowledge of survivorship and a real place that feels like home.
I loved the story. The intricate details actually made me feel Tessa and every part of her life. You literally walk in her moccasins. You enter a magical world, but it is as dangerous as the one you really live in. Boy, I do so love an adventure and that was delivered.
The story is a short read and you can feel little things missing. You don't have the luxury of knowing every character in full, but that is okay. There are grammatical errors but, again, this doesn't take away from the story. Your imagination will thank you for reading and enjoying the ride. You will want more of the adventure and hope that the author fulfills your cry.
Overall, Thank You greatly Author Lillian Cartier. I really enjoyed the story. I look forward to reading more.
This book is a different take on romance and love. From the real world, there is another one cloaked and veiled. To enter this world, you need a Skeleton Key. Hence, the name of this series.
This is my first read in the series. I was happy to find that different authors write within the complete series. A refreshing take of each of their imaginations. A great concept.
This story is a tale of Tessa. Found as a baby, she became the poster child of the foster home syndrome. Never did she fit in. Never did she find her spot. Now as an adult, the past continues as in her profession and the dangerous neighborhood she has an apartment in. Keeping your head down, seeing nothing and saying nothing is her mode of operandi. Yet, she has a tenderness for those that share her struggle, like every night feeding the homeless man that has taken residence down the hall from her apartment.
Her life begins to change upon the discovery that she has an Aunt, who just recently passed away. She feels a need to go to her home. Which she finds her Aunt has left her a Skeleton Key. She begins an adventure of excitement, confusion, joy and pain. She meets Nye Steele, hot razor blade sharp wings, dark features and razor sharp nails. The book takes you through a quest for truth, for love, a knowledge of survivorship and a real place that feels like home.
I loved the story. The intricate details actually made me feel Tessa and every part of her life. You literally walk in her moccasins. You enter a magical world, but it is as dangerous as the one you really live in. Boy, I do so love an adventure and that was delivered.
The story is a short read and you can feel little things missing. You don't have the luxury of knowing every character in full, but that is okay. There are grammatical errors but, again, this doesn't take away from the story. Your imagination will thank you for reading and enjoying the ride. You will want more of the adventure and hope that the author fulfills your cry.
Overall, Thank You greatly Author Lillian Cartier. I really enjoyed the story. I look forward to reading more.
June 19, 2016
Tessa didn’t really have a plan for her future, she was living basically paycheck to paycheck and relied on her boss’ generosity for food. One day a stranger approaches and tells her that her only living relative (her aunt) had been looking for her for years and had sent him. He came bearing both good and bad news. The bad news, her aunt had just died from injuries resulting from a car accident. The good news, Tessa was the sole beneficiary. Not only did she inherit the cottage her aunt lived in, but she also inherited a vehicle, and a mysterious skeleton key. Tessa was torn, she didn’t have a good childhood, her mom had abandoned her as a child and she had never know about any relatives.
Taking time off from her job, she travels to the cottage to get everything handled. While there, she found that the key opened a door in the cottage, this door was the gateway to a gorgeous world. One filled with Fae. They were not happy when she was found, they did not understand how a human had made it to their world. Nyx, the leader of the Fae is instantly attracted to her, just as she is to him. Can a Fae and human make their love work?
This is such a good story. Very imaginative. The writing is well, the characters pop. You run a gamut of emotions, from the loneliness of Tessa’s life, the grief when she finds out that her aunt had passed before she got to meet her, to happiness, love, and contentment when she is both at the cottage and with Nyx. This isn’t just a sweet love story either, there’s plenty of action as well. I cannot wait to read more by Lilian Cartier.
Reviewed by Cryssy
Taking time off from her job, she travels to the cottage to get everything handled. While there, she found that the key opened a door in the cottage, this door was the gateway to a gorgeous world. One filled with Fae. They were not happy when she was found, they did not understand how a human had made it to their world. Nyx, the leader of the Fae is instantly attracted to her, just as she is to him. Can a Fae and human make their love work?
This is such a good story. Very imaginative. The writing is well, the characters pop. You run a gamut of emotions, from the loneliness of Tessa’s life, the grief when she finds out that her aunt had passed before she got to meet her, to happiness, love, and contentment when she is both at the cottage and with Nyx. This isn’t just a sweet love story either, there’s plenty of action as well. I cannot wait to read more by Lilian Cartier.
Reviewed by Cryssy
June 20, 2016
Tessa James has lived a lonely life. Then one day a mystery man shows up telling her that an Aunt she never knew has been looking for her but passed before they could meet. She is given an envelope and that is all. Inside the envelope are a skeleton key, house keys, and a note from her Aunt Lauren. She feels like she needs to go to the house her aunt left her. This one decision changes her life. She finds a hidden door that leads her to a whole new world the land of Fae. She is saved by a Fae named Nyx. She feels such a pull to this man; something like she has never felt before. She is about to learn about things she only dreamed existed. She might even find love. Will she find out what really happened to her aunt as well? This was great fast read. The book is around 80 pages. I love the paranormal genre so this book was right up my lane. Tessa had no idea about the Fae before she showed up in their world. The Fae are weary of humans as they have been hurt by them in the past. Nyx has felt so alone for a long time constantly worried about hurting someone by accident. He has hurt people in the past but only to protect his people. When Nyx meets Tessa he has a whole new worry and isn’t sure what to do about it. He never imagined that there was something worse than just being lonely but he has found it. Will Nyx and Tessa be able to work things out or be forced to spend eternity apart? This book has romance, a little danger, a bit of mystery. I am looking forward to reading other books in the skeleton key collection.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2016
Tessa is a young woman alone in the world. Found in an abandoned apartment when she was a child. She was put into the foster care system until she was 18. She was discovered by her boss, singing on a street corner and he offered her a job. What happens when she comes home after a long day at work and finds a strange man, Ryder, standing outside of her apartment door with an envelope in hand? Why is she so leery? It makes sense when you read it. The next day, she goes into work and asks for time off. What does her boss tell her? How long does she say she will likely be gone? What is the response to that? When she gets to the cabin, what happens? She finds another note from her aunt Lauren. What does this note say and what does it mean? Watching as Tessa tries to process everything is interesting. Once she unlocks the door to her future, what happens when she wanders back out into the forest and runs into Kris? Who is Nyx? How do they know one another? What does Kris try to do to Tessa? What does Nyx say to Kris? When Kris finds out she is still there, and in Nyx's home none-the-less, what does he do? This book will tug at your heart strings, and it can be a tough read at some parts, due to the overwhelming feeling of your heart breaking for Tessa and Nyx. It does end with an HEA. I hope to find more books like this from Lillian Cartier in the future!
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M.Brennan.
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M.Brennan.
June 16, 2016
I truly enjoyed Dark Fae. While the book started out a little on the slow side it picked up and moved on and I have to say it got really good rather quickly. I love the picture that Lillian paints of both worlds both the human and the Fae one of darkness and of light. It's a fine line that we walk between dark and light and she paints the picture perfectly.
This story is one of Tessa and she's had a bit of a rough go at life. Making her own way and barely surviving. When one day things change and she's given the key and a letter from her Aunt who just passed. She's now left with having to sort things out and it in turn finds herself entering a whole new world (literally). When she enters this enchanting world she finds things aren't all as they seem. That's when she meets the grey eyed man that will change everything.
I love the pull that Nyx and Tessa have to each other. This story is definitely erotic from the moment these two meet. The sexual tension is evident right away. It's a deep connection though. You can tell he is good for her and the same goes for her of him. It's like they are a soothing balm for each other one heals the other. This story fantastic I love the little bits and pieces that we get of the life of the aunt and the family that are told. I like the way the author wrapped up Nyx and Tessa at the end. I do hope that she continues with a story for Ryder though. I don't feel as though his story is finished. It's almost as if he has more to say. At least I'm crossing my fingers for more! Overall this was a fantastic novella!
This story is one of Tessa and she's had a bit of a rough go at life. Making her own way and barely surviving. When one day things change and she's given the key and a letter from her Aunt who just passed. She's now left with having to sort things out and it in turn finds herself entering a whole new world (literally). When she enters this enchanting world she finds things aren't all as they seem. That's when she meets the grey eyed man that will change everything.
I love the pull that Nyx and Tessa have to each other. This story is definitely erotic from the moment these two meet. The sexual tension is evident right away. It's a deep connection though. You can tell he is good for her and the same goes for her of him. It's like they are a soothing balm for each other one heals the other. This story fantastic I love the little bits and pieces that we get of the life of the aunt and the family that are told. I like the way the author wrapped up Nyx and Tessa at the end. I do hope that she continues with a story for Ryder though. I don't feel as though his story is finished. It's almost as if he has more to say. At least I'm crossing my fingers for more! Overall this was a fantastic novella!
June 20, 2016
Tessa didn’t really have a plan for her future, she was living basically paycheck to paycheck and relied on her boss’ generosity for food. One day a stranger approaches and tells her that her only living relative (her aunt) had been looking for her for years and had sent him. He came bearing both good and bad news. The bad news, her aunt had just died from injuries resulting from a car accident. The good news, Tessa was the sole beneficiary. Not only did she inherit the cottage her aunt lived in, but she also inherited a vehicle, and a mysterious skeleton key. Tessa was torn, she didn’t have a good childhood, her mom had abandoned her as a child and she had never know about any relatives.
Taking time off from her job, she travels to the cottage to get everything handled. While there, she found that the key opened a door in the cottage, this door was the gateway to a gorgeous world. One filled with Fae. They were not happy when she was found, they did not understand how a human had made it to their world. Nyx, the leader of the Fae is instantly attracted to her, just as she is to him. Can a Fae and human make their love work?
This is such a good story. Very imaginative. The writing is well, the characters pop. You run a gamut of emotions, from the loneliness of Tessa’s life, the grief when she finds out that her aunt had passed before she got to meet her, to happiness, love, and contentment when she is both at the cottage and with Nyx. This isn’t just a sweet love story either, there’s plenty of action as well. I cannot wait to read more by Lilian Cartier.
Taking time off from her job, she travels to the cottage to get everything handled. While there, she found that the key opened a door in the cottage, this door was the gateway to a gorgeous world. One filled with Fae. They were not happy when she was found, they did not understand how a human had made it to their world. Nyx, the leader of the Fae is instantly attracted to her, just as she is to him. Can a Fae and human make their love work?
This is such a good story. Very imaginative. The writing is well, the characters pop. You run a gamut of emotions, from the loneliness of Tessa’s life, the grief when she finds out that her aunt had passed before she got to meet her, to happiness, love, and contentment when she is both at the cottage and with Nyx. This isn’t just a sweet love story either, there’s plenty of action as well. I cannot wait to read more by Lilian Cartier.
June 20, 2016
Dark Fae by Lillian Carter transports you into another world that borders the human, and for some, only a locked door separates the two. If you have a special key, you can open it.
Tessa has always been alone, and then all of the sudden, she has an aunt who is leaving her property. Someone she never knew existed. Staying at the cabin her aunt left her, she finds a locked door which uses an odd skeleton key in her possession. Opening it, she finds herself finds herself in the world of the fae, and she feels a connection with one in particular.
Nyx hasn’t seen a human in decades, but all of the sudden one arrives in his world. He should kill her or send her away, but he can’t. He’s attracted to her and can’t let her go.
The premise of this story is fantastic, however, the delivery fell a little short for me. There were many times the story was rushed and I felt like there were holes in everything. Some stuff didn’t really make sense. Such as towards the end when assumptions are made about one of the fae and it makes little to no sense on why she made the assumption in the first place. I liked the story, but I wish there was more to it and the holes had been filled in. I’m not sure if it was the fact it was a novella and the author didn’t have the word count available to her – maybe the story needs a full length novel – or if there were things in the story that weren’t necessary for the story and that space could have been used for some of the plot holes. It just felt slightly lacking. 3.5 stars.
Tessa has always been alone, and then all of the sudden, she has an aunt who is leaving her property. Someone she never knew existed. Staying at the cabin her aunt left her, she finds a locked door which uses an odd skeleton key in her possession. Opening it, she finds herself finds herself in the world of the fae, and she feels a connection with one in particular.
Nyx hasn’t seen a human in decades, but all of the sudden one arrives in his world. He should kill her or send her away, but he can’t. He’s attracted to her and can’t let her go.
The premise of this story is fantastic, however, the delivery fell a little short for me. There were many times the story was rushed and I felt like there were holes in everything. Some stuff didn’t really make sense. Such as towards the end when assumptions are made about one of the fae and it makes little to no sense on why she made the assumption in the first place. I liked the story, but I wish there was more to it and the holes had been filled in. I’m not sure if it was the fact it was a novella and the author didn’t have the word count available to her – maybe the story needs a full length novel – or if there were things in the story that weren’t necessary for the story and that space could have been used for some of the plot holes. It just felt slightly lacking. 3.5 stars.
June 24, 2016
I have to say Lillian did a great job writing this story and keeping you hooked until the very last page. She never loses the plot and you'll go on an adventure with the characters. I think the author did great on getting you into the story.
Tessa has had a hard life and always going from foster home to foster home with no kinds of love showing. When she turns eighteen she is living in cheap hotels and singing on the street for money until a man rescues her and gives her a job singing while being a stripper. She may not enjoy the stripping part but she'll do what she must to survive. When a man is standing at her door with an envelope from her Aunt, she has no choice but to see what's in it and discovers a letter, keys to a cabin and a skeleton key. Tessa decides to go check out the cabin and when she discovers what the skeleton key is for - she uses it and enters in a world that she never knew about. Now she finds Nyx who is a dark Fae and he believes she is her mate. Now Tessa has to figure out what to do and has so much to learn.
I love the way the characters come together and the strong connection that you feel with both of them shows that there could be more. For a short story, you get so much and get to see if love will finally come for Tessa and what each of them go through. Most of all you will get to know all about the characters as the story goes.
Great job to the author, I highly recommend.
Tessa has had a hard life and always going from foster home to foster home with no kinds of love showing. When she turns eighteen she is living in cheap hotels and singing on the street for money until a man rescues her and gives her a job singing while being a stripper. She may not enjoy the stripping part but she'll do what she must to survive. When a man is standing at her door with an envelope from her Aunt, she has no choice but to see what's in it and discovers a letter, keys to a cabin and a skeleton key. Tessa decides to go check out the cabin and when she discovers what the skeleton key is for - she uses it and enters in a world that she never knew about. Now she finds Nyx who is a dark Fae and he believes she is her mate. Now Tessa has to figure out what to do and has so much to learn.
I love the way the characters come together and the strong connection that you feel with both of them shows that there could be more. For a short story, you get so much and get to see if love will finally come for Tessa and what each of them go through. Most of all you will get to know all about the characters as the story goes.
Great job to the author, I highly recommend.
June 29, 2016
This story was so different to all the fantasy romance books out there. It was so different that I was shocked but really enjoyed at same time. It is fast pace love, but it is meant to be that way. It is beautifully written.
We meet Tessa James, who survives to survive the area she lives. She works as a singer but in erotic singer. She has never had any family, and was brought up by foster families. Some who only wanted children for the money they will bring in but there was some proper foster carers. Her life turned upside down when she returned home from work one night to see a guy called Ryder at her door step, who was carrying a letter and bringing sad news her Aunt Lauren who has been searching for her had passed away. Her life gets turned upside with a glass Skeleton Key and a cottage and a new car.
We meet Nyx, he is use to people being scared of him but he is also scared he will hurt someone with his special wings. He is a fae, but he is also the Prince who has wings what can hurt anyone by just touching. He is use to being feared also dishing out punishments. His life gets turned upside down when he has to save Tessa from his cousin Kristopher who drops her from a great height. He didn't realise this human who came into the fae world somehow would turn out to be his everything.
What is the glass Skeleton Key? What does it open?
This is a brilliant thought out story. You couldn't help but get sucked into the story and brought my imagination alive. WTMO
We meet Tessa James, who survives to survive the area she lives. She works as a singer but in erotic singer. She has never had any family, and was brought up by foster families. Some who only wanted children for the money they will bring in but there was some proper foster carers. Her life turned upside down when she returned home from work one night to see a guy called Ryder at her door step, who was carrying a letter and bringing sad news her Aunt Lauren who has been searching for her had passed away. Her life gets turned upside with a glass Skeleton Key and a cottage and a new car.
We meet Nyx, he is use to people being scared of him but he is also scared he will hurt someone with his special wings. He is a fae, but he is also the Prince who has wings what can hurt anyone by just touching. He is use to being feared also dishing out punishments. His life gets turned upside down when he has to save Tessa from his cousin Kristopher who drops her from a great height. He didn't realise this human who came into the fae world somehow would turn out to be his everything.
What is the glass Skeleton Key? What does it open?
This is a brilliant thought out story. You couldn't help but get sucked into the story and brought my imagination alive. WTMO
June 19, 2016
2 stars. Not for me I'm afraid.
"Nyx Steele, the leader of the Fae, is ruthless as he is beautiful, especially when it comes to keeping the humans out of his realm. Their role in slaying his people will never be forgotten, even if they stumble on him in the form of an alluring being like Tessa. No matter how strongly he's drawn to her, Nyx must never forget what Tessa's ancestors did to his.
Lost in a land filled with wonder and dangers, Tessa cannot resist her attraction to the enigmatic Nyx. The most breathtaking love she's ever found may also bring her ultimate ruin and death."
Reading the blurb I went into this book expecting a good old love-hate fantasy romance but sadly it was not what I expected. Nyx the ruthless,leader of the fae was really a big softy who instantly fell in love with Tessa ,his supposed enemy. I am not a fan of love at first sight romances and that's probably why I found it challenging to read. As for the promise of a land filled with wonder and dangers I felt like I was reading a different book from the description because nothing slightly interesting or exciting happened in this story.
If your just looking for a quick read with a few sex scenes and minimal story then this novella might be worth checking out.
"Nyx Steele, the leader of the Fae, is ruthless as he is beautiful, especially when it comes to keeping the humans out of his realm. Their role in slaying his people will never be forgotten, even if they stumble on him in the form of an alluring being like Tessa. No matter how strongly he's drawn to her, Nyx must never forget what Tessa's ancestors did to his.
Lost in a land filled with wonder and dangers, Tessa cannot resist her attraction to the enigmatic Nyx. The most breathtaking love she's ever found may also bring her ultimate ruin and death."
Reading the blurb I went into this book expecting a good old love-hate fantasy romance but sadly it was not what I expected. Nyx the ruthless,leader of the fae was really a big softy who instantly fell in love with Tessa ,his supposed enemy. I am not a fan of love at first sight romances and that's probably why I found it challenging to read. As for the promise of a land filled with wonder and dangers I felt like I was reading a different book from the description because nothing slightly interesting or exciting happened in this story.
If your just looking for a quick read with a few sex scenes and minimal story then this novella might be worth checking out.
July 3, 2016
3.5 stars
Dark Fae is part of the Skeleton Key series. Really quite a neat idea for a series. I really really wanted to love this novella. I think the ideas and the basic concept of this book were great. I just found it to be lacking depth. I think if this was a complete novel, it could have been awesome! It really has the potential to be a five star read, it just needs some tweaking.
This book is about Tessa & Nyx. I was reeled in pretty quickly, and the buildup to the Fae realm was nice, but once there, things sort of spiraled a bit. Definitely an insta-love thing going on, which I'm not a huge fan of. I would've liked more buildup, I know it's a novella so it may be hard to do, but things felt a bit rushed. Also, some parts of the story didn't quite make sense, like there were just holes in the story, and I found myself re-reading bits of the story thinking I missed things. I think this author was definitely on the right track, but somewhere along the way fell off the path, therefore leaving this story lacking. It doesn't discourage me from reading other works from this author though. I would definitely read her other works, I think she's very creative & I look forward to seeing what other worlds she can create.
Dark Fae is part of the Skeleton Key series. Really quite a neat idea for a series. I really really wanted to love this novella. I think the ideas and the basic concept of this book were great. I just found it to be lacking depth. I think if this was a complete novel, it could have been awesome! It really has the potential to be a five star read, it just needs some tweaking.
This book is about Tessa & Nyx. I was reeled in pretty quickly, and the buildup to the Fae realm was nice, but once there, things sort of spiraled a bit. Definitely an insta-love thing going on, which I'm not a huge fan of. I would've liked more buildup, I know it's a novella so it may be hard to do, but things felt a bit rushed. Also, some parts of the story didn't quite make sense, like there were just holes in the story, and I found myself re-reading bits of the story thinking I missed things. I think this author was definitely on the right track, but somewhere along the way fell off the path, therefore leaving this story lacking. It doesn't discourage me from reading other works from this author though. I would definitely read her other works, I think she's very creative & I look forward to seeing what other worlds she can create.
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