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Stariel #2
The Prince of Secrets
Well-bred women should not be seen kissing their butlers. Even when the butler in question is secretly a fae prince.
Wyn knows falling for Hetta Valstar is a bad idea. She's not only human but the new magically bonded ruler of Stariel Estate. If their relationship gets out, it'll cause a scandal that could ruin their attempts to sort out the estate's crumbling finances.
And it doesn't help that Stariel has decided it doesn't like him.
But more than jealous sentient estates and Hetta's good name are at stake. Wyn's past is coming back to bite him. Ten years ago, he broke an oath and shattered the power of his home court, and the fae have been hunting him ever since. Now they've found his hiding place, they won't rest until he's dead or the debt is repaid--and they don't play nicely.
The Prince of Secrets is Book 2 in the Stariel Quartet.
Wyn knows falling for Hetta Valstar is a bad idea. She's not only human but the new magically bonded ruler of Stariel Estate. If their relationship gets out, it'll cause a scandal that could ruin their attempts to sort out the estate's crumbling finances.
And it doesn't help that Stariel has decided it doesn't like him.
But more than jealous sentient estates and Hetta's good name are at stake. Wyn's past is coming back to bite him. Ten years ago, he broke an oath and shattered the power of his home court, and the fae have been hunting him ever since. Now they've found his hiding place, they won't rest until he's dead or the debt is repaid--and they don't play nicely.
The Prince of Secrets is Book 2 in the Stariel Quartet.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2019
845 people are currently reading
2066 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Lancaster
10 books655 followersAJ Lancaster lives in New Zealand and writes romantic, whimsical fantasy in a house containing two ridiculous cats and many plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews
July 30, 2022
The first book of the series (which will be a quartet), The Lord of Stariel, was one of my best reads of 2018 - a Netgalley discovery. I pounced to buy the paperbook (so beautiful) and was more than ready to buy the sequel as soon as out in the world! I was thus very happy to receive the ARC of The Prince of Secrets from the author (whom I thank!) and be able to review the book as soon as possible.
I could just say that if you liked the first book, you're sure to like this one as much, maybe even more.
I could also just say that it was, as the first book, a perfect read for me. It's difficult to express how magical it is to find a book which delights oneself without any restriction. I've gained, along my years of reviewing, the reputation of being extremely demanding, fastidious to the point of quibbling. I'm not! I just know what I like and...what I dislike.
The story begins just after the end of The Lord of Stariel in a very linear way. The narration, still at the third person, smoothly alternate between Hetta's and Wyn's points of view. A lot of exciting things happen in this second book, with new fascinating characters, but without forgetting the old ones.
(A small digression about secondary characters: there all are exceptionally good, with very distinct personalities, never stereotyped - which is a positive sign of literary quality and writing personality. I wouldn't mind, at all, to read about them in some plentiful spin-off!)
Stariel, the land, gains some real personality and plays an important part during the story, which is as clever as fascinating. The relationship between Hetta and Win evolves sweetly and, most importantly, in character: witty, touching, credible and sensual without being pornographic.
(You may need to know that my expectations about the new, at the time, New Adult genre had been sadly disappointed when I discovered that what was called "erotic" was just plain "soft porn" in my point of view, and that the said sex scenes were predominant to the detriment of the story and often of any characters' development).
The atmosphere is still as much heartwarming and deliciously domestic (I love big houses dynamics, as in Downtown Abbey series or in Jane Austen's or Victoria Clayton's books) as in the first book, with some exciting and mysterious trips...
The author has reinvented faes in a very personal, inventive and yet rather classic way, with plenty of appealing details. And a refreshing absence of complex!
To finish with (as I won't tell you anything about the story except that it's riveting, very satisfying and opening toward an already much awaited sequel), I'd like to say a word about a discreet but very significant quality, about the treatment of characters and situations. The author sometimes cleverly uses some reverse stereotypes, especially to express an enlightened feminism. For instance if we could easily imagine the story with a man instead of Hetta and a woman in place of Wyn, the substitution isn't grossly made. Hetta is a very feminine strong heroine and Wyn a very masculine kind and passionate character.
In a genre where clichés and lazy stereotypes are so frequently used and worn out without any imagination or personal efforts, this kind of mastery makes all the difference!
I could just say that if you liked the first book, you're sure to like this one as much, maybe even more.
I could also just say that it was, as the first book, a perfect read for me. It's difficult to express how magical it is to find a book which delights oneself without any restriction. I've gained, along my years of reviewing, the reputation of being extremely demanding, fastidious to the point of quibbling. I'm not! I just know what I like and...what I dislike.
The story begins just after the end of The Lord of Stariel in a very linear way. The narration, still at the third person, smoothly alternate between Hetta's and Wyn's points of view. A lot of exciting things happen in this second book, with new fascinating characters, but without forgetting the old ones.
(A small digression about secondary characters: there all are exceptionally good, with very distinct personalities, never stereotyped - which is a positive sign of literary quality and writing personality. I wouldn't mind, at all, to read about them in some plentiful spin-off!)
Stariel, the land, gains some real personality and plays an important part during the story, which is as clever as fascinating. The relationship between Hetta and Win evolves sweetly and, most importantly, in character: witty, touching, credible and sensual without being pornographic.
(You may need to know that my expectations about the new, at the time, New Adult genre had been sadly disappointed when I discovered that what was called "erotic" was just plain "soft porn" in my point of view, and that the said sex scenes were predominant to the detriment of the story and often of any characters' development).
The atmosphere is still as much heartwarming and deliciously domestic (I love big houses dynamics, as in Downtown Abbey series or in Jane Austen's or Victoria Clayton's books) as in the first book, with some exciting and mysterious trips...
The author has reinvented faes in a very personal, inventive and yet rather classic way, with plenty of appealing details. And a refreshing absence of complex!
To finish with (as I won't tell you anything about the story except that it's riveting, very satisfying and opening toward an already much awaited sequel), I'd like to say a word about a discreet but very significant quality, about the treatment of characters and situations. The author sometimes cleverly uses some reverse stereotypes, especially to express an enlightened feminism. For instance if we could easily imagine the story with a man instead of Hetta and a woman in place of Wyn, the substitution isn't grossly made. Hetta is a very feminine strong heroine and Wyn a very masculine kind and passionate character.
In a genre where clichés and lazy stereotypes are so frequently used and worn out without any imagination or personal efforts, this kind of mastery makes all the difference!
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
January 20, 2019
4.5 stars
In this installation, Wyn's past catches up with him in a very dramatic fashion and threatens Stariel and the Valstars along with it.
Have I just discovered a new favorite series?
I am utterly enchanted with this world, particularly the idea of magical faelands that bond fiercely to their lords (with room for favoritism for select others) and their lord's families.
Plus, it's set in what seems to be an alternate version of the early 1900s, complete with a type of cars, trains, bank tellers and basically it's a perfect match of Edwardian fashion complete with strict rules of manners and ridiculously archaic sexism, with some evil fairies and devoted faelands and some super high stakes thrown into the mix.
There are fae.
"Good" fae.
Bad fae.
Morally ambiguous fae.
Super twisty fae.
And some super cute fae-kittens because why the hell not .
And this is the conclusion of my incredibly unhelpful review, because if I say anymore there will be ~spoilers~.
The stakes are higher, the action more prevalent, Wyn is basically an adorably masochistic fluff-birdling, and it's told in dual POV between Hetta and Wyn so life really is the best of both worlds.
While I wish that 1) we saw more of the Valstars and 2) the book was a lot longer, I'm very excited to see the continuation of Hetta's journey into her lordship with Stariel and hope that things settle down just a little bit for her to get a handle on what it means being the mortal lord of a faeland. If the third book's title The Court of Mortals reveals anything, it's that things are probably not going to settle down much but we will get answers.
tl;dr, if you enjoyed The Lord of Stariel, you'll definitely like this one too.
I received this ARC from the author (thank you so much!) for an honest review.
In this installation, Wyn's past catches up with him in a very dramatic fashion and threatens Stariel and the Valstars along with it.
Have I just discovered a new favorite series?
I am utterly enchanted with this world, particularly the idea of magical faelands that bond fiercely to their lords (with room for favoritism for select others) and their lord's families.
Plus, it's set in what seems to be an alternate version of the early 1900s, complete with a type of cars, trains, bank tellers and basically it's a perfect match of Edwardian fashion complete with strict rules of manners and ridiculously archaic sexism, with some evil fairies and devoted faelands and some super high stakes thrown into the mix.
There are fae.
"Good" fae.
Bad fae.
Morally ambiguous fae.
Super twisty fae.
And some super cute fae-kittens because why the hell not .
And this is the conclusion of my incredibly unhelpful review, because if I say anymore there will be ~spoilers~.
The stakes are higher, the action more prevalent, Wyn is basically an adorably masochistic fluff-birdling, and it's told in dual POV between Hetta and Wyn so life really is the best of both worlds.
While I wish that 1) we saw more of the Valstars and 2) the book was a lot longer, I'm very excited to see the continuation of Hetta's journey into her lordship with Stariel and hope that things settle down just a little bit for her to get a handle on what it means being the mortal lord of a faeland. If the third book's title The Court of Mortals reveals anything, it's that things are probably not going to settle down much but we will get answers.
tl;dr, if you enjoyed The Lord of Stariel, you'll definitely like this one too.
I received this ARC from the author (thank you so much!) for an honest review.
February 27, 2022
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book, not as much as the first (which is unsurprising), but it’s still enjoyable light reading that kept me engaged and has me interested in moving on to the next. These books are sweet and fun, while still keeping the plot moving, featuring characters with distinct personalities who have some dimension to them, and not being full of holes. And that’s a rare combination, in my experience; I would like to read more lighter fiction but struggle to find examples that work for me.
This volume focuses primarily on the romance between Hetta and Wyn, and on all the fae drama around Wyn, his family, and his broken oath. Much of the book is therefore told from Wyn’s POV, which I was initially unconvinced about but which does wind up serving the plot well. Events move at a good pace that keeps the pages turning, and I actually liked the romance. Perhaps it’s unsurprising that a romance written by an author who’s committed to that element would be better than your typical obligatory romantic subplot, which might only be there because the author felt it was required. At any rate, it’s sweet when it needs to be and hot when that’s called for; I like these two together.
There is more danger and action in this book than the first, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it is more fantasy standard. Likewise, there’s a lot more time spent on Wyn’s family, your typical scheming royal backstabbers, which leaves less time for Hetta’s, which I enjoy much more—it’s a lot of fun to see ordinary family drama portrayed in fantasy, regular (if sometimes eccentric) people who are actually able to function as a family. There’s nothing really wrong with the action and the fae stuff—though I wasn’t thrilled with Hetta’s having such a passive role in the final 50 pages —it’s just the kind of thing I’ve seen many times before and there’s nothing exceptional about this example of it.
But overall, I had fun with this. I enjoyed that in the midst of all the drama, our principals are still working hard to get a bank loan to modernize the estate. I’m also enjoying the sentient estate, which is a fun concept. I liked the bit where virgin magic works with men too. And in the bigger picture, it’s nice how much is getting wrapped up at the end of each volume: here, it was much more than I expected for a middle book, while hinting at new challenges to come. Most importantly, this volume continued to provide an engaging story featuring characters that I like in a setting that feels lived-in, and was enough fun that I plan to move on to the next soon!
I enjoyed this book, not as much as the first (which is unsurprising), but it’s still enjoyable light reading that kept me engaged and has me interested in moving on to the next. These books are sweet and fun, while still keeping the plot moving, featuring characters with distinct personalities who have some dimension to them, and not being full of holes. And that’s a rare combination, in my experience; I would like to read more lighter fiction but struggle to find examples that work for me.
This volume focuses primarily on the romance between Hetta and Wyn, and on all the fae drama around Wyn, his family, and his broken oath. Much of the book is therefore told from Wyn’s POV, which I was initially unconvinced about but which does wind up serving the plot well. Events move at a good pace that keeps the pages turning, and I actually liked the romance. Perhaps it’s unsurprising that a romance written by an author who’s committed to that element would be better than your typical obligatory romantic subplot, which might only be there because the author felt it was required. At any rate, it’s sweet when it needs to be and hot when that’s called for; I like these two together.
There is more danger and action in this book than the first, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it is more fantasy standard. Likewise, there’s a lot more time spent on Wyn’s family, your typical scheming royal backstabbers, which leaves less time for Hetta’s, which I enjoy much more—it’s a lot of fun to see ordinary family drama portrayed in fantasy, regular (if sometimes eccentric) people who are actually able to function as a family. There’s nothing really wrong with the action and the fae stuff—though I wasn’t thrilled with Hetta’s having such a passive role in the final 50 pages —it’s just the kind of thing I’ve seen many times before and there’s nothing exceptional about this example of it.
But overall, I had fun with this. I enjoyed that in the midst of all the drama, our principals are still working hard to get a bank loan to modernize the estate. I’m also enjoying the sentient estate, which is a fun concept. I liked the bit where virgin magic works with men too. And in the bigger picture, it’s nice how much is getting wrapped up at the end of each volume: here, it was much more than I expected for a middle book, while hinting at new challenges to come. Most importantly, this volume continued to provide an engaging story featuring characters that I like in a setting that feels lived-in, and was enough fun that I plan to move on to the next soon!
January 12, 2021
Hmm.
This sequel was about as enjoyable as the first. Definitely parts of it that I liked, but gosh there's still just something missing. There WAS more action to The Prince of Secrets, which helped a bunch in terms of actually reading to the end. I dunno, I'm torn on if I'll continue onto the next book. I'm mildly interested to see where this goes, but I'm not extremely gung-ho about it.
Have a giant shrug for my review, basically.
This sequel was about as enjoyable as the first. Definitely parts of it that I liked, but gosh there's still just something missing. There WAS more action to The Prince of Secrets, which helped a bunch in terms of actually reading to the end. I dunno, I'm torn on if I'll continue onto the next book. I'm mildly interested to see where this goes, but I'm not extremely gung-ho about it.
Have a giant shrug for my review, basically.
October 26, 2021
I stalled on this one for a long time, because it transitioned from being Hetta's story to Wyn's. I like Wyn, but the stage of the story has gotten so much larger -- tons of new characters, new powers, new creatures -- that it lost some of the charm of the first book. I loved the first book. I only liked this one. Some of that was pacing, some of that was less time with the characters we saw developed in book 1, who I cared about and wanted to see more.
I've already purchased the rest of the series (when I finished book 1), and I do plan to read them. But I miss the story of a human girl coming to grip with power in her ancestral lands (land sense is such a cool magical element!), and am less excited about a fairy prince's struggle for power. Maybe the series will surprise me, though.
I've already purchased the rest of the series (when I finished book 1), and I do plan to read them. But I miss the story of a human girl coming to grip with power in her ancestral lands (land sense is such a cool magical element!), and am less excited about a fairy prince's struggle for power. Maybe the series will surprise me, though.
June 19, 2022
Yeah, definitely slower and less engaging than the first. I could barely put down the first and this took me several days.
But still enjoyable!
But still enjoyable!
July 1, 2023
I struggled a bit with this book, especially compared to the first one. The plot felt all over the place and the pacing was slow. The only thing that saved it from being a two stars was the nice fast-paced ending. But otherwise, I didn't love this one. I'm hoping the next one will suit me more.
June 15, 2020
"My excellent kissing skills? My dark and tortured soul, which makes you long to comfort me?"
Oh, Wyn.
He's my good, good, boy, yeah, for sure.
I mean, he's an iiiiiiidiot, but. That's what makes him my good good boy.
OKAY! So it's taken me a while because it's been very hard for me to read lately without panicking about the real world
UNDERSTANDABLY, I THINK.
But here's a just Quick Review:
Overall...it's still a 3-star. Usually my reviews usually go up or down a star for sequels but this one just sat right at the same mark, and that's because while it introduced more concepts and ideas that expanded the world and make the characters and events more interesting, there were also some things that got left behind, pushed to the side, or just done in a way that was....ehhhhhh
SO. Positives first.
I'm glad Hetta's family still exists in the book. Her actions usually have consequences for her relationships with them, and the book doesn't ONLY focus on the relationship between Hetta and Wyn. I am curious as to why the (no spoilers) events at the end of the first book don't really have any repercussions, but at the same time, I don't miss not having the fallout. So. There's that.
We still get to see a bit of Marius, Jack, and Caro (Caroline) one of Hetta's other cousins who starts making more of an appearance. Alexandra is also noted now and again as well. However, I have to say, for Hetta-family side characters only Marius and Jack are really developed well enough for you to continue caring about them in the sequel. Most of the other family members don't get enough screen time or attention paid to them this time around.
Which...fine. Whatever, I guess. It's not a terrible thing. She avoids bogging down her plot by just streamlining everything and minimizing who shows up when etc. I just love me some side characters.
....And I really wanna know why Marius can't be influenced by the fae because BOI: That's a powermove. You gotta use that matey.
That brings us to...Sunnika and Rakken! Who I guess are the other two significant new characters added to the book.
Well. I say that but...really just Rakken. Sunnika is more of a plot device than a character TBH while Rakken has VERY clear agency. We also are introduced to one of Wyn's sisters but...eh. The scene she's in where she tries to influence Marius is probably the only noteworthy scene she's in. The climax feels a tad but rushed, but that's because of a reason I will bring up later.**
(MILD SPOILERS)
As usual, Wyn and Marius were great. I like that they handle the fact that Wyn's a virgin pretty well. He's not treated as weird for being that way and it's just a matter of, well, he had other things to do and he wasn't that interested in anyone.
Fair play. Thank you for not being weird about it. I always hate when authors make their adult characters "not-virgins" in ridiculous ways just to promote an agenda. The fact Wyn hasn't trusted anyone enough and has not been interested enough to have sex MAKES SENSE. A lot of authors would come up with an excuse against this just "because". This annoys me because eveyone keeps SAYING "it's not a big deal if you wait to have sex, we respect your decision" but...
Yeah. That ain't true. Anyone who has made it too age 22+ (ESPECIALLY for guys) and is still a virgin has been razzed about it. I'm glad no one did that to Wyn. There's actual respect for personal choices. WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT.
I mean, I'm definitely giving praise for something that should just be EXPECTED, but it's such a nice change to not have a "sex-maniac male character pushing a female character into sex" situation. So that was nice. Wyn and Hetta actually respect one another. Yay....
...My standards are slowly being lowered I guess since having love interests who respect one another should be the starting point of all standards but that is not very common nowadays....
Particularly when it comes to literally ANY OTHER Fae/human romance subplot book I have EVER READ.
...With the exception of Wildwood Dancing but...that one doesn't focus enough on that kinda romance to even know much about it at all.
Anywho. Last character call out but um...y’all knew I would like Irokoi. It been knew. He’s my other good good boy. I have adopted children now. The older I become while reading, the more I am Mom. Doesn’t even matter that all my favorite characters aside from Hetta are older than me (if my math is correct Hetta is 24 so...samesies). Don't care that they're all 28+ to like...possibly hundreds of years old for Irokoi and Rakken. I have four sons now.
Cool.
I also like the "land-sense" magic. That's some cool original stuff. I liked how it was described, how it works, and how it is almost fighting against Wyn's magic. That was all good, good stuff, 10/10, would do again. Will definitely read the next book for these above reasons.
Now! Here are some complaints/comments on what could have been done better or that I just didn't feel was up to snuff for a four-star situation.
A lot of the action in the book focuses on the events of what happened at the bank and, for me at least, this should have occurred closer to the beginning of the book, with more happening in the second half in the end, particularly extending that last 15% which just comes up too fast.
The book isn't very long, so a lot of the character development is also plot driven, and I would have liked to have seen some NON-plot driven stuff. I know everyone is an idiot nowadays and keep telling authors "if it doesn't directly advance the plot, cut the scene!" but that's....stupid advice and let me tell you why:
Overall, grandly, and in general: people care WAY more about characters than plot. You've heard if before I'm sure. Great characters can carry a mediocre plot. A wonderful plot can't save bad characters.
And since I actually LIKE plenty of the cast this time around which is pretty rare for me, I would have liked to see more of them interacting with one another. Again, I did like Rakken as an additional character and I like the dynamic between him and Wyn, but as soon as he shows up, the problems going on with Wyn and Marius, for example, or the Wyn/Hetta relationship that's just been revealed to the rest of the family get pushed to the side.
Again, because of the PLOT. Yes. I know why this happens, but it's a little disappointing because character interactions are super important in getting readers to care. Looking back, I realize a lot of the reasons we only see more of Hetta's family in the first book is because of plot-related reasons. Which...clearly worked out well for me. I guess.
I just thought they'd play a bigger role in book 2.
SPOILER SHIELD IS UP! THIS IS THE ** I MENTIONED EARLIER!
Okay, spoiler done. But in case you didn't open the spoiler: I'll probably read book 3 and book 4. The whole series might end up just being a rounded-out three-star totals reviews. SHRUUUUGS. It's nice to have some refreshing.
Oh, Wyn.
He's my good, good, boy, yeah, for sure.
I mean, he's an iiiiiiidiot, but. That's what makes him my good good boy.
OKAY! So it's taken me a while because it's been very hard for me to read lately without panicking about the real world
UNDERSTANDABLY, I THINK.
But here's a just Quick Review:
Overall...it's still a 3-star. Usually my reviews usually go up or down a star for sequels but this one just sat right at the same mark, and that's because while it introduced more concepts and ideas that expanded the world and make the characters and events more interesting, there were also some things that got left behind, pushed to the side, or just done in a way that was....ehhhhhh
SO. Positives first.
I'm glad Hetta's family still exists in the book. Her actions usually have consequences for her relationships with them, and the book doesn't ONLY focus on the relationship between Hetta and Wyn. I am curious as to why the (no spoilers) events at the end of the first book don't really have any repercussions, but at the same time, I don't miss not having the fallout. So. There's that.
We still get to see a bit of Marius, Jack, and Caro (Caroline) one of Hetta's other cousins who starts making more of an appearance. Alexandra is also noted now and again as well. However, I have to say, for Hetta-family side characters only Marius and Jack are really developed well enough for you to continue caring about them in the sequel. Most of the other family members don't get enough screen time or attention paid to them this time around.
Which...fine. Whatever, I guess. It's not a terrible thing. She avoids bogging down her plot by just streamlining everything and minimizing who shows up when etc. I just love me some side characters.
....And I really wanna know why Marius can't be influenced by the fae because BOI: That's a powermove. You gotta use that matey.
That brings us to...Sunnika and Rakken! Who I guess are the other two significant new characters added to the book.
Well. I say that but...really just Rakken. Sunnika is more of a plot device than a character TBH while Rakken has VERY clear agency. We also are introduced to one of Wyn's sisters but...eh. The scene she's in where she tries to influence Marius is probably the only noteworthy scene she's in. The climax feels a tad but rushed, but that's because of a reason I will bring up later.**
(MILD SPOILERS)
As usual, Wyn and Marius were great. I like that they handle the fact that Wyn's a virgin pretty well. He's not treated as weird for being that way and it's just a matter of, well, he had other things to do and he wasn't that interested in anyone.
Fair play. Thank you for not being weird about it. I always hate when authors make their adult characters "not-virgins" in ridiculous ways just to promote an agenda. The fact Wyn hasn't trusted anyone enough and has not been interested enough to have sex MAKES SENSE. A lot of authors would come up with an excuse against this just "because". This annoys me because eveyone keeps SAYING "it's not a big deal if you wait to have sex, we respect your decision" but...
Yeah. That ain't true. Anyone who has made it too age 22+ (ESPECIALLY for guys) and is still a virgin has been razzed about it. I'm glad no one did that to Wyn. There's actual respect for personal choices. WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT.
I mean, I'm definitely giving praise for something that should just be EXPECTED, but it's such a nice change to not have a "sex-maniac male character pushing a female character into sex" situation. So that was nice. Wyn and Hetta actually respect one another. Yay....
...My standards are slowly being lowered I guess since having love interests who respect one another should be the starting point of all standards but that is not very common nowadays....
Particularly when it comes to literally ANY OTHER Fae/human romance subplot book I have EVER READ.
...With the exception of Wildwood Dancing but...that one doesn't focus enough on that kinda romance to even know much about it at all.
Anywho. Last character call out but um...y’all knew I would like Irokoi. It been knew. He’s my other good good boy. I have adopted children now. The older I become while reading, the more I am Mom. Doesn’t even matter that all my favorite characters aside from Hetta are older than me (if my math is correct Hetta is 24 so...samesies). Don't care that they're all 28+ to like...possibly hundreds of years old for Irokoi and Rakken. I have four sons now.
Cool.
I also like the "land-sense" magic. That's some cool original stuff. I liked how it was described, how it works, and how it is almost fighting against Wyn's magic. That was all good, good stuff, 10/10, would do again. Will definitely read the next book for these above reasons.
Now! Here are some complaints/comments on what could have been done better or that I just didn't feel was up to snuff for a four-star situation.
A lot of the action in the book focuses on the events of what happened at the bank and, for me at least, this should have occurred closer to the beginning of the book, with more happening in the second half in the end, particularly extending that last 15% which just comes up too fast.
The book isn't very long, so a lot of the character development is also plot driven, and I would have liked to have seen some NON-plot driven stuff. I know everyone is an idiot nowadays and keep telling authors "if it doesn't directly advance the plot, cut the scene!" but that's....stupid advice and let me tell you why:
Overall, grandly, and in general: people care WAY more about characters than plot. You've heard if before I'm sure. Great characters can carry a mediocre plot. A wonderful plot can't save bad characters.
And since I actually LIKE plenty of the cast this time around which is pretty rare for me, I would have liked to see more of them interacting with one another. Again, I did like Rakken as an additional character and I like the dynamic between him and Wyn, but as soon as he shows up, the problems going on with Wyn and Marius, for example, or the Wyn/Hetta relationship that's just been revealed to the rest of the family get pushed to the side.
Again, because of the PLOT. Yes. I know why this happens, but it's a little disappointing because character interactions are super important in getting readers to care. Looking back, I realize a lot of the reasons we only see more of Hetta's family in the first book is because of plot-related reasons. Which...clearly worked out well for me. I guess.
I just thought they'd play a bigger role in book 2.
SPOILER SHIELD IS UP! THIS IS THE ** I MENTIONED EARLIER!
Okay, spoiler done. But in case you didn't open the spoiler: I'll probably read book 3 and book 4. The whole series might end up just being a rounded-out three-star totals reviews. SHRUUUUGS. It's nice to have some refreshing.
January 17, 2019
The Prince of Secrets is A.J Lancaster’s second book in the Stariel series. I was very fortunate to (once again) receive an ARC from her and delve back into the world of Hetta and Wyn.
Beginning a couple of weeks after ‘The Lord of Stariel’ (book 1) finishes, Hetta’s role as the Lord of Stariel is firmly in place. She has been accepted by the other Valstars and is now on a mission to repair the house and state of finances the previous steward had caused.
Hetta takes to this task with all the vigour and increasing confidence of a new Lord, whilst having trusty housekeeper Wyn by her side. After finding out Wyn was fae, the iron law was revoked and his head was wanted for being an oath breaker Hetta has been working closely with Wyn to try and protect Stariel.
Their relationship transcends that of friendship and they find themselves as lovers, but what will Hetta’s family think when they find out she is more than just friends with her stand-in steward?
As well as keeping their relationship quiet Wyn is also keeping his identity under wraps and this is only made more difficult when his siblings and ex fiancee descend upon Stariel soil. It seems his past is finally catching up with him and in dramatic form. Will Wyn spill the beans? How will the land of Stariel react? Will Wyn ever be released from his debt?
I really enjoyed this book. I found The Lord of Stariel was a bit of a ‘set up’ book with a lot of character shaping but the second book in the series dived straight back in to where book 1 left off. It was gritty and explored the fae a lot more than book 1 and I felt it really enveloped the fantasy genre with all the action.
The slow burning relationship between Hetta and Wyn in the first book finally develops and it was one of my favourite parts of this novel. I really can’t wait for book 3 and all that’s yet to come! I would give this book a solid 4 (maybe even 4 and a half star review!) Well done Lancaster!
Beginning a couple of weeks after ‘The Lord of Stariel’ (book 1) finishes, Hetta’s role as the Lord of Stariel is firmly in place. She has been accepted by the other Valstars and is now on a mission to repair the house and state of finances the previous steward had caused.
Hetta takes to this task with all the vigour and increasing confidence of a new Lord, whilst having trusty housekeeper Wyn by her side. After finding out Wyn was fae, the iron law was revoked and his head was wanted for being an oath breaker Hetta has been working closely with Wyn to try and protect Stariel.
Their relationship transcends that of friendship and they find themselves as lovers, but what will Hetta’s family think when they find out she is more than just friends with her stand-in steward?
As well as keeping their relationship quiet Wyn is also keeping his identity under wraps and this is only made more difficult when his siblings and ex fiancee descend upon Stariel soil. It seems his past is finally catching up with him and in dramatic form. Will Wyn spill the beans? How will the land of Stariel react? Will Wyn ever be released from his debt?
I really enjoyed this book. I found The Lord of Stariel was a bit of a ‘set up’ book with a lot of character shaping but the second book in the series dived straight back in to where book 1 left off. It was gritty and explored the fae a lot more than book 1 and I felt it really enveloped the fantasy genre with all the action.
The slow burning relationship between Hetta and Wyn in the first book finally develops and it was one of my favourite parts of this novel. I really can’t wait for book 3 and all that’s yet to come! I would give this book a solid 4 (maybe even 4 and a half star review!) Well done Lancaster!
February 11, 2020
Maybe I'll try again someday, but the first 20% of this book really wasn't working for me. The fae stuff was really, really boring, and framed more as an infodump than in an interesting way. I think I also didn't like Wyn's POV - he worked a lot better being mysterious.
September 1, 2021
How do the pages turn this fast?? The tension ramps up in this second volume, as Hetta learns exactly what it means to romance a faerie prince.
I love the focus on family and feelings in this series, which revolves around a sprawling family on a magical estate.
I love the focus on family and feelings in this series, which revolves around a sprawling family on a magical estate.
January 10, 2022
5 stars bc I’m mid-series and terribly invested. We had a lot of downs - but my goodness did we have some ups. And a very satisfying ending.
August 23, 2025
3.5/5
Loved the overall story
Hated the love story
Will not be continuing 🤍
Loved the overall story
Hated the love story
Will not be continuing 🤍
August 18, 2020
Woooop that was WILD. I want more.
December 28, 2020
This remains one of the most underrated series I've read to date! This little fantasy gem picks up quite literally where its predecessor left off, not two weeks after our protagonist Hetta became the official Lord of Stariel estate in a whirlwind series of events. This one focuses on her secret lover slash steward of Stariel, Wyn. Complicating things is his status as Fae, undercover at the estate since childhood while on the run from his conniving family.
I loved getting a look inside Wyn's head! As much as Hetta is my favorite fantasy protagonist in recent memory, Wyn's combination of earnestness, bravery, and dedication are charming to behold. I adored his relationship with Hetta, and further enjoyed his interactions with his capricious siblings. While machinations of Stariel and its residents took a backseat to Wyn's family predicaments, I still enjoyed the small moments with various aunts and uncles and cousins. I find stories centered around a specific building to have a lot of charm, and Stariel Estate begins to assert itself more as a character here. Lancaster's writing has echoes of Diana Wynne Jones, with magic that is as practical and domestic as it is eye-catching. This series is definitely on the romantic side of the fantasy genre, but neither of the characters stories suffer for it. Wyn and Hetta are the perfect amount of sweet, and I can't wait to read more about them and the rest of the Stariel gang.
I loved getting a look inside Wyn's head! As much as Hetta is my favorite fantasy protagonist in recent memory, Wyn's combination of earnestness, bravery, and dedication are charming to behold. I adored his relationship with Hetta, and further enjoyed his interactions with his capricious siblings. While machinations of Stariel and its residents took a backseat to Wyn's family predicaments, I still enjoyed the small moments with various aunts and uncles and cousins. I find stories centered around a specific building to have a lot of charm, and Stariel Estate begins to assert itself more as a character here. Lancaster's writing has echoes of Diana Wynne Jones, with magic that is as practical and domestic as it is eye-catching. This series is definitely on the romantic side of the fantasy genre, but neither of the characters stories suffer for it. Wyn and Hetta are the perfect amount of sweet, and I can't wait to read more about them and the rest of the Stariel gang.
January 22, 2024
It's a 'sweet' fantasy, with a mix of earnest people trying to do the right thing and others who 'know better' judging them. Slow pace, lots of looks but little action. I like the fantasy and the h and H. He's a virgin, she's not but their connection is all looks, no touch. So well suited to young readers.
October 19, 2023
Still a sweet, easy listen. I am feeling quite invested in these characters now.
January 17, 2026
Wow, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much!
August 11, 2021
Rounding up to 4
The sequel to the Lord of Stariel did not disappoint, but there was a lot going on. There were a lot of new characters and action. This book moved along quicker than Book 1, but I think I preferred Book 1 over Book 2.
The sequel to the Lord of Stariel did not disappoint, but there was a lot going on. There were a lot of new characters and action. This book moved along quicker than Book 1, but I think I preferred Book 1 over Book 2.
November 28, 2021
More action here and a lot more fantasy/fae in forefront.
Again dammit onto next book. Cliffhangers..
Again dammit onto next book. Cliffhangers..
May 1, 2021
This book continues the adventures of Hetta and Wyn, started in the first book of the series, The Lord of Stariel. While the previous book was predominantly Hetta's story, this one is all about Wyn.
For the last ten years, Wyn has been a servant on the Valstar estate, rising from a footman to a steward. Before that, he was a fae prince. He escaped from Faeland to the mortal realm when he realized that his father, the Fae King, wanted to kill him. Fae are like that sometimes. So, Wyn hid as a servant on a mortal estate, until his true family found him again, and the threat of death still hangs over his head. His situation is further complicated by the love he feels for Hetta, a mortal woman and the lord of Stariel.
In this novel, Hetta and Wyn battle the murderous fae and the estate's financial woes. Reluctant to endanger Stariel and Hetta, Wyn contemplates leaving, but Hetta's stubborn love holds him, until his bloodthirsty relatives interfere and force a bloody confrontation. Magic flows freely, as Wyn risks his life for the mortal woman he loves.
The pacing is much faster than it was in the first book. The story is much more action-oriented, and the stakes are higher, too. Wyn and Hetta are still a charming couple as they deal with their mounting problems. Their love is all-consuming, and their characters come into sharper relief as their relationship progresses.
Overall: enjoyable. I want to read the next book in the series. I'm going to buy it.
For the last ten years, Wyn has been a servant on the Valstar estate, rising from a footman to a steward. Before that, he was a fae prince. He escaped from Faeland to the mortal realm when he realized that his father, the Fae King, wanted to kill him. Fae are like that sometimes. So, Wyn hid as a servant on a mortal estate, until his true family found him again, and the threat of death still hangs over his head. His situation is further complicated by the love he feels for Hetta, a mortal woman and the lord of Stariel.
In this novel, Hetta and Wyn battle the murderous fae and the estate's financial woes. Reluctant to endanger Stariel and Hetta, Wyn contemplates leaving, but Hetta's stubborn love holds him, until his bloodthirsty relatives interfere and force a bloody confrontation. Magic flows freely, as Wyn risks his life for the mortal woman he loves.
The pacing is much faster than it was in the first book. The story is much more action-oriented, and the stakes are higher, too. Wyn and Hetta are still a charming couple as they deal with their mounting problems. Their love is all-consuming, and their characters come into sharper relief as their relationship progresses.
Overall: enjoyable. I want to read the next book in the series. I'm going to buy it.
decided-not-to-read
February 13, 2022I am giving up on this, without prejudice though I guess I am giving up also the rest of the series.
There was nothing I disliked here, or I would have given it up long ago. It is just long and slow and detailed. I kept reading a few pages, putting it down, moving to something else and only picking up with a sense of duty and not much of a sense of "oh, what will happen next?".
There was nothing I disliked here, or I would have given it up long ago. It is just long and slow and detailed. I kept reading a few pages, putting it down, moving to something else and only picking up with a sense of duty and not much of a sense of "oh, what will happen next?".
July 12, 2024
Reread: yup, still great.
.
I dont know how to review this without spoilers. Many secrets. Much fey. So much *delightful* dry humor.
I am definitely buying the entire series in physical copies, shelf room be damned.
.
I dont know how to review this without spoilers. Many secrets. Much fey. So much *delightful* dry humor.
I am definitely buying the entire series in physical copies, shelf room be damned.
January 3, 2020
Reading for the second time - and I love it, even better than the first time ! great characters, great story, great writing.
July 29, 2021
I am officially addicted to this series. Wyn and Hetta are the best. Anything else I might say would be spoilers. This book seriously ramped up the stakes like whoa, though.
May 1, 2020
This and other reviews at superstardrifter.com!~
You know a book is a good one when you’re drafting up squee-filled blog posts when you’re only halfway through it.
This is the continuing story of Henrietta “Hetta” Valstar, the brand new, magically bonded Lord of Stariel, and Wyn Tempest, the long-serving butler and now steward of the estate.
A relationship between them would cause a scandal, not the least of which because Wyn is technically Hetta’s employee, but if anyone important finds out that Wyn is in fact a fae, and a royal fae at that, then things could get very, very scandalous indeed. But love rarely cares for the scandal it will cause, and Hetta and Wyn are falling pretty hard for each other. So they’re going to try very hard to keep their relationship a secret, while trying to secure funds to help bring Stariel back from the brink of bankruptcy. Wyn has enemies in the fae courts though, and after a decade of searching, they now know where he is. So, not only do they have to avoid scandal, they have to avoid the wicked fae as well.
I liked The Lord of Stariel a lot. It nearly became my SPFBO finalist, only being nudged out by a fraction of a point. I can safely say that I loved The Prince of Secrets. Love, love, loved. I love Hetta so much. She was snarky and didn’t take anyone’s shit in book one, and that Hetta is still very much a part of book two. I still absolutely love Wyn as well, and enjoyed that we get to see so much more of his real nature in this one. So, now that the two of them are together, and adorable together, at that, it’s easy for me to say that this one was hard for me to put down once I picked it up. These two banter absolutely excellently and I was a thousand percent here for it the entire time.
There was action, and intrigue, and really interesting new characters added to the mix. This is a story of two people trying to be together despite huge differences and tons of barriers between them, and it was often sweet, and even sexy once in a while.
Lancaster also brought this interesting world to life for me once again. It’s not quite steampunk, and not quite gaslight, but it’s sort of adjacent to both. There are cars, and trains, telephones, and electricity, but they are only just brand new. There are fae, and magic, and adorable unicorns. It’s cold, and sometimes it is dark and full of danger, but ultimately there is hope, and love, and togetherness. For Hetta, this is her family. For Wyn, it is a found family.
I love a book with dark fae. The fae in folklore have usually struck me as beings who would be, at the very least curious of humans, but ultimately use their power to trick them into things, and this is very well represented here. We see Wyn in his natural form a lot in this one, and I found it very intriguing and compelling to read about. Little things, like the names of different feathers from different parts of a wing made it feel, if not real, then as close as it could come.
Some of Wyn’s family, and a few more of the non-related fae make appearances in this volume, and it’s quite interesting to see what his siblings are like, as compared to him.
I have so many quotes highlighted in this book that the clippings page makes up a bit of a novella of its own. I love it when that happens in a book, when I find dialog between character that makes me chuckle, or deep thoughts between bits of dialog that make me smile. This volume is full of that sort of stuff.
So, all told, I have to say that I enjoyed my time with The Prince of Secrets a lot! It took characters I already loved and made them among my most favorite characters ever. I wasn’t even halfway through it before I was hitting up the internet for book three. SPFBO or not, other reviewing obligations or not, fucking clear my schedule for as much of this series as I can shove in my brain ASAP.
You know a book is a good one when you’re drafting up squee-filled blog posts when you’re only halfway through it.
This is the continuing story of Henrietta “Hetta” Valstar, the brand new, magically bonded Lord of Stariel, and Wyn Tempest, the long-serving butler and now steward of the estate.
A relationship between them would cause a scandal, not the least of which because Wyn is technically Hetta’s employee, but if anyone important finds out that Wyn is in fact a fae, and a royal fae at that, then things could get very, very scandalous indeed. But love rarely cares for the scandal it will cause, and Hetta and Wyn are falling pretty hard for each other. So they’re going to try very hard to keep their relationship a secret, while trying to secure funds to help bring Stariel back from the brink of bankruptcy. Wyn has enemies in the fae courts though, and after a decade of searching, they now know where he is. So, not only do they have to avoid scandal, they have to avoid the wicked fae as well.
I liked The Lord of Stariel a lot. It nearly became my SPFBO finalist, only being nudged out by a fraction of a point. I can safely say that I loved The Prince of Secrets. Love, love, loved. I love Hetta so much. She was snarky and didn’t take anyone’s shit in book one, and that Hetta is still very much a part of book two. I still absolutely love Wyn as well, and enjoyed that we get to see so much more of his real nature in this one. So, now that the two of them are together, and adorable together, at that, it’s easy for me to say that this one was hard for me to put down once I picked it up. These two banter absolutely excellently and I was a thousand percent here for it the entire time.
There was action, and intrigue, and really interesting new characters added to the mix. This is a story of two people trying to be together despite huge differences and tons of barriers between them, and it was often sweet, and even sexy once in a while.
Lancaster also brought this interesting world to life for me once again. It’s not quite steampunk, and not quite gaslight, but it’s sort of adjacent to both. There are cars, and trains, telephones, and electricity, but they are only just brand new. There are fae, and magic, and adorable unicorns. It’s cold, and sometimes it is dark and full of danger, but ultimately there is hope, and love, and togetherness. For Hetta, this is her family. For Wyn, it is a found family.
Their faces were only inches apart, his eyes cold and boring into hers. The smell of thunderstorms spiked thick enough to choke on, and when he spoke his voice held dark echoes of the night.
“I am stronger than you, faster. I could snap your spine if I wished. I know fae magics that would let me ensnare your senses, bind you to do my bidding. I am not tame, Henrietta Isadore Valstar.”
I love a book with dark fae. The fae in folklore have usually struck me as beings who would be, at the very least curious of humans, but ultimately use their power to trick them into things, and this is very well represented here. We see Wyn in his natural form a lot in this one, and I found it very intriguing and compelling to read about. Little things, like the names of different feathers from different parts of a wing made it feel, if not real, then as close as it could come.
Some of Wyn’s family, and a few more of the non-related fae make appearances in this volume, and it’s quite interesting to see what his siblings are like, as compared to him.
“You don’t want me dead.”
Rakken rolled his eyes. “I’ve already said your death profits me nothing. To repeat the sentiment seems excessive.”
“That has to be the lowest bar for familial affection I’ve yet encountered,” Caroline said. “Ahh… not to take away from what is clearly a sentimental moment for the two of you.”
I have so many quotes highlighted in this book that the clippings page makes up a bit of a novella of its own. I love it when that happens in a book, when I find dialog between character that makes me chuckle, or deep thoughts between bits of dialog that make me smile. This volume is full of that sort of stuff.
So, all told, I have to say that I enjoyed my time with The Prince of Secrets a lot! It took characters I already loved and made them among my most favorite characters ever. I wasn’t even halfway through it before I was hitting up the internet for book three. SPFBO or not, other reviewing obligations or not, fucking clear my schedule for as much of this series as I can shove in my brain ASAP.
February 3, 2019
Last year I requested a review copy of The Lord of Stariel on a whim and loved it! So when the author contacted me a month ago asking me to review the second book in the series, The Prince of Secrets, I jumped at the chance. I am happy to report that I loved the second book just as much as the first. I do want to make it clear that my review is 100% my own thoughts and is in no way influenced by the author’s decision to give me a review copy. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s begin!
The story picks up a week or two after the end of the first book. It opens with Wyn trying to find a pregnant cat before she has her kittens where she shouldn’t. I thought this was a great way to begin the book because it gives the reader a chance to refamiliarize themselves with Stariel House and the characters Wyn interacts with while he searches.
We get a lot more fae creatures in this book, which was awesome! While we get some familiar-sounding ones, such as brownies, we also are introduced to some creatures I’ve never heard of! For example, Hetta and Wyn discover a starcorn, which is kind of like a unicorn, but it is purple and blue and indigo and is only about the size of a large dog. It sounded so pretty! I wish we could have had a drawing of it!
We also get a look at the world of Faerie itself. I’d been curious about Wyn’s home realm since we first found out he was fae, so when I got to the chapter that showed the capital city of Aerest in ThousandSpire, I was really excited. We didn’t get much more than a glimpse of the city from afar, though. I was hoping to get to learn more about how the fae live. I wanted answers to questions like: How do they decorate their homes? What do they wear, fashion-wise? Do they use money to buy necessities or do they barter? These are just some of the things I was curious about.
One thing I’d like to mention is the author’s choice of fae names. Sometimes when I read a fantasy book, the author will try to come up with unique-sounding names for their characters/creatures and end up with an unpronounceable name that I inevitably just skip over every time it appears. In Lancaster’s books, however, the names are unique without being unpronounceable. For example, Wyn has a brother named Rakken and a sister named Aroset. I thought the author did a marvelous job at finding the balance between generic and unique when choosing the fae names in this book.
I found a couple of typos in The Prince of Secrets. There was also a scene where the senior housekeeper comes to tell Wyn something despite a previous sentence that stated she left earlier in the day due to a family emergency. These mistakes didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story, though. Also, keep in mind that I am very good at spotting errors in books, so most people probably won’t even notice these things.
I really enjoyed The Prince of Secrets and give it four stars! Now for the hard part: Waiting for the next book to come out!
The story picks up a week or two after the end of the first book. It opens with Wyn trying to find a pregnant cat before she has her kittens where she shouldn’t. I thought this was a great way to begin the book because it gives the reader a chance to refamiliarize themselves with Stariel House and the characters Wyn interacts with while he searches.
We get a lot more fae creatures in this book, which was awesome! While we get some familiar-sounding ones, such as brownies, we also are introduced to some creatures I’ve never heard of! For example, Hetta and Wyn discover a starcorn, which is kind of like a unicorn, but it is purple and blue and indigo and is only about the size of a large dog. It sounded so pretty! I wish we could have had a drawing of it!
We also get a look at the world of Faerie itself. I’d been curious about Wyn’s home realm since we first found out he was fae, so when I got to the chapter that showed the capital city of Aerest in ThousandSpire, I was really excited. We didn’t get much more than a glimpse of the city from afar, though. I was hoping to get to learn more about how the fae live. I wanted answers to questions like: How do they decorate their homes? What do they wear, fashion-wise? Do they use money to buy necessities or do they barter? These are just some of the things I was curious about.
One thing I’d like to mention is the author’s choice of fae names. Sometimes when I read a fantasy book, the author will try to come up with unique-sounding names for their characters/creatures and end up with an unpronounceable name that I inevitably just skip over every time it appears. In Lancaster’s books, however, the names are unique without being unpronounceable. For example, Wyn has a brother named Rakken and a sister named Aroset. I thought the author did a marvelous job at finding the balance between generic and unique when choosing the fae names in this book.
I found a couple of typos in The Prince of Secrets. There was also a scene where the senior housekeeper comes to tell Wyn something despite a previous sentence that stated she left earlier in the day due to a family emergency. These mistakes didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story, though. Also, keep in mind that I am very good at spotting errors in books, so most people probably won’t even notice these things.
I really enjoyed The Prince of Secrets and give it four stars! Now for the hard part: Waiting for the next book to come out!
August 29, 2023
Here's the thing with the Stariel books. Nothing happens for the first 75%, and then everything happens all at once. The build up takes too long and then the climax rushes through too quickly.
I feel kinda bored by the first 3/4s of the book, and then am so invested by the end that I don't know for sure if I really enjoyed the book as a whole. Or am I so swept up by the ending that I've been tricked into liking it more than I really do? Is Wyn compelling me to like this it? Why am I having a Marius level existential crisis over a book?
The world though is magnificent. The characters are loveable. The Fae are interesting. All the elements are fantastic, its just the pacing that's off.
My favourite character by far is the jealous Stariel land. It's like a super grumpy yet overly enthusiastic puppy. Imagine your home basically hugging you every time you return because it missed you? That seems lovely. I too want to 'sense' my home and everything down to the roots outside. I want to chat with the land and ask it to move the rain away from my drying clothes and see if it can speed up my cherry tree while it's at it.
My second favourite character is He is cheeky, charming, gets under everyones skin, and you just know he and are gonna do the dirty and fall in love. And by god does need that.
Hetta is not quite as kick-ass in this book as she was previously. She's diminished to more of a bossy, lovesick, starry eyed, brat. But the badass is still in there, waiting to shine again.
I feel kinda bored by the first 3/4s of the book, and then am so invested by the end that I don't know for sure if I really enjoyed the book as a whole. Or am I so swept up by the ending that I've been tricked into liking it more than I really do?
The world though is magnificent. The characters are loveable. The Fae are interesting. All the elements are fantastic, its just the pacing that's off.
My favourite character by far is the jealous Stariel land. It's like a super grumpy yet overly enthusiastic puppy. Imagine your home basically hugging you every time you return because it missed you? That seems lovely. I too want to 'sense' my home and everything down to the roots outside. I want to chat with the land and ask it to move the rain away from my drying clothes and see if it can speed up my cherry tree while it's at it.
My second favourite character is He is cheeky, charming, gets under everyones skin, and you just know he and are gonna do the dirty and fall in love. And by god does need that.
Hetta is not quite as kick-ass in this book as she was previously. She's diminished to more of a bossy, lovesick, starry eyed, brat. But the badass is still in there, waiting to shine again.
March 2, 2022
5 stars
What an incredible ride this world continues to be. Whilst there is still some of the wonderfully mundane moments that occurred in The Lord of Stariel that made me fall in love with this series, the added aspects of the Fae in The Prince of Secrets really elevated this world for me.
I adored that this was told from multiple POVs, as opposed to mostly just Hetta's in the first book. Having Wyn's inner dialogue made him so much more enjoyable this time around, and I loved how the reader gets to glimpse his fears and insecurities under all the dry and evasive wit Hallowyn is known for. I especially enjoyed everyone calling him out on those behaviours in this book also and seeing him open up to the Valstars, people who have called him one of their own for so long now. His connection with the Fae that came to visit was a good contrast to see how he values himself and his place at Stariel. I really liked Rakken's interactions with Wyn, and I look forward to seeing their sibling interactions in future novels.
I also enjoyed watching Hetta and Wyn's relationship evolve, and further, how it became a strength for them through the numerous events that happened in this book. Their love for one another is beautiful, and reading them accept how they feel for the other was rewarding. I am sure, since this is only the beginning of their romance, and with only a few people knowing of their relationship, that there will be a whole lot of drama to unfold in following books regarding their union, but within The Prince of Secrets, I found the balance of their connection executed well.
The magic in this was intriguing, and I liked learning more about both Fae and land magic. Stariel's connection to Wyn and Hetta was unlike anything I've ever read before, and I found it refreshing. Understanding the Fae side of this book was equally thrilling, especially with the new characters that entered this world.
Overall, this was another delightful read by this author, and I cannot wait to continue onto book three!
What an incredible ride this world continues to be. Whilst there is still some of the wonderfully mundane moments that occurred in The Lord of Stariel that made me fall in love with this series, the added aspects of the Fae in The Prince of Secrets really elevated this world for me.
I adored that this was told from multiple POVs, as opposed to mostly just Hetta's in the first book. Having Wyn's inner dialogue made him so much more enjoyable this time around, and I loved how the reader gets to glimpse his fears and insecurities under all the dry and evasive wit Hallowyn is known for. I especially enjoyed everyone calling him out on those behaviours in this book also and seeing him open up to the Valstars, people who have called him one of their own for so long now. His connection with the Fae that came to visit was a good contrast to see how he values himself and his place at Stariel. I really liked Rakken's interactions with Wyn, and I look forward to seeing their sibling interactions in future novels.
I also enjoyed watching Hetta and Wyn's relationship evolve, and further, how it became a strength for them through the numerous events that happened in this book. Their love for one another is beautiful, and reading them accept how they feel for the other was rewarding. I am sure, since this is only the beginning of their romance, and with only a few people knowing of their relationship, that there will be a whole lot of drama to unfold in following books regarding their union, but within The Prince of Secrets, I found the balance of their connection executed well.
The magic in this was intriguing, and I liked learning more about both Fae and land magic. Stariel's connection to Wyn and Hetta was unlike anything I've ever read before, and I found it refreshing. Understanding the Fae side of this book was equally thrilling, especially with the new characters that entered this world.
Overall, this was another delightful read by this author, and I cannot wait to continue onto book three!
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