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The Darkest Court #2
The Marked Prince
Torn between two worlds, desperate to save one love.
The Summer Court is nothing like Sebastian remembers. The oppressed lower classes are drained of their magick, and around every corner political intrigues threaten an already unstable regime. Sebastian’s only hope of surviving the Court and bringing home Prince Lyne’s traitorous brother lies with Duine, a magickless Unseelie servant desperate to win his freedom. A servant for whom Sebastian, an estranged Seelie royal himself, is developing a dangerous and deepening affection.
But behind the mask Duine wears are secrets as dangerous as what’s smoldering between them. And the more Duine helps Sebastian navigate Court life, the more it becomes clear the servant is not who he appears to be. How he came to be the whipping boy of one of the most powerful and corrupt faeries in the Summer Court is a truth Sebastian is determined to uncover, even if it puts him at odds with the very people who can lead him to the missing Unseelie prince.
When a powerful enemy steps from the shadows, it could spell the end not just for the Unseelie, but for both faerie Courts. Sebastian must complete the mission and earn his place among the Unseelie who took him in, or risk his very life to ensure freedom for the man he loves.
This book is approximately 100,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
The Summer Court is nothing like Sebastian remembers. The oppressed lower classes are drained of their magick, and around every corner political intrigues threaten an already unstable regime. Sebastian’s only hope of surviving the Court and bringing home Prince Lyne’s traitorous brother lies with Duine, a magickless Unseelie servant desperate to win his freedom. A servant for whom Sebastian, an estranged Seelie royal himself, is developing a dangerous and deepening affection.
But behind the mask Duine wears are secrets as dangerous as what’s smoldering between them. And the more Duine helps Sebastian navigate Court life, the more it becomes clear the servant is not who he appears to be. How he came to be the whipping boy of one of the most powerful and corrupt faeries in the Summer Court is a truth Sebastian is determined to uncover, even if it puts him at odds with the very people who can lead him to the missing Unseelie prince.
When a powerful enemy steps from the shadows, it could spell the end not just for the Unseelie, but for both faerie Courts. Sebastian must complete the mission and earn his place among the Unseelie who took him in, or risk his very life to ensure freedom for the man he loves.
This book is approximately 100,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2019
142 people are currently reading
757 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Grant
29 books345 followersM.A. Grant fell in love with the romance genre while working at an independent bookstore. She spent a decade in the rugged beauty of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula before moving to the mountains of Eastern Washington. When she’s not calling out to passing ravens or making a cup of tea, she’s writing dark and moving stories.
She is represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency.
She is represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
September 18, 2020
GAH! There was wave after wave after wave of bad guys and fresh, new challenges to overcome in this one, folks.
Since reading "Prince of Air and Darkness" around Christmas of 2018, I hadn't really thought much about Sebastian, thinking of him only as the fairly-quiet, outsider, college roommate of Finn and Roark, but oh boy, was I ever wrong on that account.
Seb's history with both the Summer and Winter Courts was much more involved than I ever could've imagined, and as those details were divulged, I found myself completely riveted and dying to discover more.
He’s so open, so honest in his emotions. He’ll never survive unless he learns to harden himself, to hide himself. I should be disgusted by his weakness. Instead, I’m drawn to him because of it.Duine and Sláin, though? Wow, I didn't see that coming at all. That plot point blew me away and left my jaw dropping, but I don't dare say anything else.
And then there was Aoife, High Princess of the Summer Court, Oberon and Tatiana's eldest daughter. OMMFG. What. A. Fucking. C-WORD. (And I only reserve that term for a very special, truly-awful few, but trust me, she earned it.)
Aoife's level of remorseless cruelty, the things she did to get what she wanted, all while hiding behind a glamor of innocent, caring beauty, I found it all extremely shocking that someone that vile could still inspire loyalty from her people.
I was thrilled to see that this story included more Finn and Roark, mostly toward the very beginning and the very end, with them still very happy, but also in extreme danger.
“He’s kind of protective of you.”In an attempt to save Finn from certain-death, Roark requested that Sebastian go on an undercover mission that could possibly avert the coming war, which was how Seb found himself behind enemy lines and surrounded by danger on all sides.
He growls and I wince when frost covers my hand. “So protective he’d rather die than make me choose between him and the Court.”
“And you would choose--?”
The look Roark gives me is pure confusion, as if my question is so stupid he can’t believe I asked. “Him.”
“Even if--”
“Every time.”
This book had much more world building than book 1, which I thoroughly enjoyed, as we finally got a first-hand look at the beautiful, but highly-political inner workings of the Summer Court.
The pacing of the story was pretty spot-on, but my only real complaint was that, like a lot of fantasy stories, there were so many problems facing the MC's that there wasn't a lot of time for truly deep feels to be slowly and carefully worked through. There was always something around the next corner ready to slit their throats.
This story did have a bit of a separation for Duine and Seb, but unlike usual, I didn't mind it so much here. Their time apart actually added to the story, instead of coming across as part of a "do this when you write a novel" check list.
In regards to steam, the book only had one short scene, which wasn't overly-explicit, but I wasn't looking for sexy bits at all, so it was one more than I'd expected.
I'm not sure exactly why, but while reading this book, I kept having flashbacks to the "A Captive Prince" series, possibly due to all of the gruesome torture that Duine, as a prisoner of war, had to endure. Dunno, but it was "a thing" for me. I'm weird like that, I guess.
As the book ended, the war still wasn't over, but Seb and Duine had made their feelings and commitment to one another known, so I'm counting that as them being well on their way to an HEA -- surviving the war withstanding.
“I can’t offer you anything but a broken kingdom.”I'd rate this book at around 4.25 stars and recommend it for fans of M/M fantasy.
“I’m a broken prince,” he counters. He swallows and offers me the shy smile I thought I’d never see again. “But whatever is left of me is yours.”
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review
See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)
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September 21, 2025
Heartbreaking
Love the plot, very rich, full of facets and intrigues, interesting characters the good and the bad guys, the chemistry between the MCs is incredible!
Overall I was really engaged, had a lump in my throat almost all the story, I was feeling with them the struggle, really well done!
I have this book on Audible too, incredible performance from John Solo, gorgeous voice, committing acting!! I loved it! Kudos!!!
4⭐️
Love the plot, very rich, full of facets and intrigues, interesting characters the good and the bad guys, the chemistry between the MCs is incredible!
Overall I was really engaged, had a lump in my throat almost all the story, I was feeling with them the struggle, really well done!
I have this book on Audible too, incredible performance from John Solo, gorgeous voice, committing acting!! I loved it! Kudos!!!
4⭐️
December 18, 2019
Oh, that was good, even better than the exceptionally good series opener for me and absolutely jam-packed with everything I want in a fantasy novel.
It's no secret to anyone who follows my reviews what a massive fan of this genre I am, and one of the overlooked gems for inspiration is Irish Mythology.
MA Grant has firmly established her world's heritage in the legends of the Sidhe (Irish Fae) and this instalment focuses its gaze on the Summer Court of the Seelie.
I love the Fae, they're my favourite paranormal inspiration and the Seelie/Unseelie in particular have such a wealth of stories that it's a challenge to create something new but with a deep foundation in the mythology.
With this narrative we get a glorious and, at times, viciously cruel tale of the Unseelie High Prince Sláine and his captivity at the hands of the Summer Court's High Princess.
There's a huge plot twist which I absolutely loved and which fits so perfectly with the character of the villain inhabiting that role that I cheered even though he's an absolute bastard because it so brilliantly exposes the trickster part of his history.
The romance, like book one, drives the narrative but in an incredibly subtle fashion, it's what underpins everything without ever being the direct focus.
I loved Sebastian. He's conflicted, hesitant and desperately naive but also so brave and compassionate and kind.
His friendship with the man he doesn't know is Sláine trapped behind a Thrall and mask is slow burning but compelling and I loved how their dedication and devotion to each other grew throughout.
The book goes in directions I'd never have guessed and I loved that it surprised me from start to finish.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
It's no secret to anyone who follows my reviews what a massive fan of this genre I am, and one of the overlooked gems for inspiration is Irish Mythology.
MA Grant has firmly established her world's heritage in the legends of the Sidhe (Irish Fae) and this instalment focuses its gaze on the Summer Court of the Seelie.
I love the Fae, they're my favourite paranormal inspiration and the Seelie/Unseelie in particular have such a wealth of stories that it's a challenge to create something new but with a deep foundation in the mythology.
With this narrative we get a glorious and, at times, viciously cruel tale of the Unseelie High Prince Sláine and his captivity at the hands of the Summer Court's High Princess.
There's a huge plot twist which I absolutely loved and which fits so perfectly with the character of the villain inhabiting that role that I cheered even though he's an absolute bastard because it so brilliantly exposes the trickster part of his history.
The romance, like book one, drives the narrative but in an incredibly subtle fashion, it's what underpins everything without ever being the direct focus.
I loved Sebastian. He's conflicted, hesitant and desperately naive but also so brave and compassionate and kind.
His friendship with the man he doesn't know is Sláine trapped behind a Thrall and mask is slow burning but compelling and I loved how their dedication and devotion to each other grew throughout.
The book goes in directions I'd never have guessed and I loved that it surprised me from start to finish.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
July 24, 2019
HUGE shoutout to Carina Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read this masterpiece early!
After the magnificence that was Prince of Air and Darkness, I was a little nervous that the sequel wouldn't be able to live up to it. Although the prologue gave us a huge, giant plot twist, I was also worried that the reveal of this twist so early would take away some of the tension.
I am glad to report that I was horrifically wrong on both accounts.
The Marked Prince somehow manages to be even better than its predecessor, and that huge prologue reveal made the tension even better. Grant also managed to throw us at least two more absolutely insane plot twists that changed the whole foundation of the story and that I'm pretty sure not even Sherlock Holmes could have seen coming.
Once more, the characters and the plot are both absolutely sublime. Duine is a fantastic, well-rounded character with deep flaws and virtues, and Sebastian's development towards being a strong leader throughout the book felt organic and well-written.
I'm obsessed with this series, and I'm so sad that a) the third book won't come out for AGES and b) it's the last book in the series. Excuse me while I stalk Grant's bibliography now and forever amen.
After the magnificence that was Prince of Air and Darkness, I was a little nervous that the sequel wouldn't be able to live up to it. Although the prologue gave us a huge, giant plot twist, I was also worried that the reveal of this twist so early would take away some of the tension.
I am glad to report that I was horrifically wrong on both accounts.
The Marked Prince somehow manages to be even better than its predecessor, and that huge prologue reveal made the tension even better. Grant also managed to throw us at least two more absolutely insane plot twists that changed the whole foundation of the story and that I'm pretty sure not even Sherlock Holmes could have seen coming.
Once more, the characters and the plot are both absolutely sublime. Duine is a fantastic, well-rounded character with deep flaws and virtues, and Sebastian's development towards being a strong leader throughout the book felt organic and well-written.
I'm obsessed with this series, and I'm so sad that a) the third book won't come out for AGES and b) it's the last book in the series. Excuse me while I stalk Grant's bibliography now and forever amen.
Read
May 10, 2021CONTENT WARNINGS
- violence
- blood and intense bodily harm
- kidnapping and abduction
- hateful language tied to classism and Faerie Court divisions
- death
- descriptions of battles/war
- references to suicide and parental death
- violence
- blood and intense bodily harm
- kidnapping and abduction
- hateful language tied to classism and Faerie Court divisions
- death
- descriptions of battles/war
- references to suicide and parental death
June 23, 2019
When I saw this was up on Netgalley I was so excited. Despite my frustrations with the ending of Roark and Finn's book, I loved it and I was eagerly awaiting this. I don't remember Sebastian much from the first book, I vaguely remember him as Finn's friend, but I absolutely adored him in this book.
From the beginning of this book, we found out a surprising fact.
Sebastian is a kind, gentle, sweet man who has kept the secret that he's a Seelie prince and the nephew of King Oberon of the Seelie's, and even before that secret is out, Roark asks - more like orders him (after having manipulated him) - Sebastian to invade the Seelie Court to get his brother, Slaine back so they can lock him up, kill, what have you. If he does it, he'll grant Sebastian protection for the rest of his life. Roark does it all so Finn won't be killed, because Finn is the most important thing to him (oh and also they got the Seelie equivalent of married between books, so...wish we could have seen the handfasting ceremony for that :()
So Sebastian does it and while there he meets Duine, and they start to slowly fall for each other while political intrigue abounds and Sebastian has to try to keep his true purpose for being among the Seelie court a secret and Duine has his own secrets that he literally cannot tell anyone.
I personally felt the connection between these two was slow to take hold. I just didn't feel like they felt more than friendship at first, and the low steam and romance when they eventually do feel things didn't help. Even though the last book had low steam, I felt like the love between Roark and Finn was quite clear and quite passionate.
Sebastian and Duine never felt passionate enough for me, even though I grew to like them together by the second half. They were sweet together and hold a great love for each other. I just wish the book had taken some more time away from the politics and given us more scenes of these two just together, falling in love.
They were around each other, sure, but they rarely, in my opinion, talked about anything other than the politics and mind games they were surrounded with. It took a long while for me to really feel it between them.
But then of course just when I was really getting into these two together and loving them, they get separated. And that was part of why I took a star off of this because I don't remember exactly how long, but it was around 15% or so of this near the end where they're separated - and since this is a long book, that was a LOT of pages. It got so frustrating that I actually started shouting at my screen to just get the separation over with already.
I can handle separation, especially if it makes sense for the story - but it just felt like this continued to drag it out and drag it out for such a long time just for the sake of angst and making the readers and these two suffer and make the ending as dramatic as possible. It bothered me and affected my enjoyment of this novel. Because honestly? That last 20% or so before Seb and Duine are reunited was just a lot of It got too repetitive and boring for me before long and I just wanted the reunion to happen already. It was stretched out too long just for some angst and making us bite our nails and the ~drama of it all. It was too much for me to give this a full 5 stars because of that.
Also, again the ending didn't feel quite satisfying. I was happy for where Seb and Duine were (although I could have used a little more of them, just like I felt like with Roark and Finn) and for other circumstances concerning Roark and Slaine, but I wanted more so it didn't feel 100% satisfying for me.
I get that these three books have an overarching plot and that plot doesn't end with each book, but the stories end with a HFN/HEA for our couples, so their story is over, so I wanted just a little more to give Seb and Duine a more satisfying HFN, at least. I know they're together and happy and strong, but after the horrible separation we barley get just them, alone, together, and that also bothered me.
So mainly my big problems with this were at the end, the last fourth or so of this book. It was of course still very well written and engaging, but that didn't mean I was enjoying it as fully as I should have been - or enjoying it at all at times. Everything before it was amazing and I loved it and was riveted, and although Seb and Duine could have used more passion, more chemistry, eventually that came after the slow build for me to feel it between them, so that didn't bother me as much as what happens in the last 25% or so.
So yes, I absolutely recommend this, and Seb and Duine did earn a special place in my heart by the end of this, even if it took me a while to connect with them, but there were also frustrations with this from me that didn't make me love it as I wanted to. I still enjoyed it overall, but that last 25% or so almost pissed me off in a way. Just too much filler that could have been skipped over with a little room left over to really give Seb and Duine a satisfying ending.
I would have been fine with the open ending plot wise, but it is frustrating to see the non-closure for the main couple, just like in book one. They deserve more than what the ending gave them after having a whole book dedicated to their romance.
So I would recommend this just for the great world Grant has given us, the exciting adventures, the rich and amazing writing, the amazing characters, this exciting and interesting plot, and a really good romance in this book. It was still a good book, it just wasn't great like I wanted it to be and wished it would be.
That ending could have just been a little less "drama for drama's sake" (or more angst for angst's sake) and more about giving this couple a much stronger HFN than we were given and more scenes to solidify it for the readers at the end.
Still very much worth a read though, despite my own personal frustrations with it.
***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***
From the beginning of this book, we found out a surprising fact.
Sebastian is a kind, gentle, sweet man who has kept the secret that he's a Seelie prince and the nephew of King Oberon of the Seelie's, and even before that secret is out, Roark asks - more like orders him (after having manipulated him) - Sebastian to invade the Seelie Court to get his brother, Slaine back so they can lock him up, kill, what have you. If he does it, he'll grant Sebastian protection for the rest of his life. Roark does it all so Finn won't be killed, because Finn is the most important thing to him (oh and also they got the Seelie equivalent of married between books, so...wish we could have seen the handfasting ceremony for that :()
So Sebastian does it and while there he meets Duine, and they start to slowly fall for each other while political intrigue abounds and Sebastian has to try to keep his true purpose for being among the Seelie court a secret and Duine has his own secrets that he literally cannot tell anyone.
I personally felt the connection between these two was slow to take hold. I just didn't feel like they felt more than friendship at first, and the low steam and romance when they eventually do feel things didn't help. Even though the last book had low steam, I felt like the love between Roark and Finn was quite clear and quite passionate.
Sebastian and Duine never felt passionate enough for me, even though I grew to like them together by the second half. They were sweet together and hold a great love for each other. I just wish the book had taken some more time away from the politics and given us more scenes of these two just together, falling in love.
They were around each other, sure, but they rarely, in my opinion, talked about anything other than the politics and mind games they were surrounded with. It took a long while for me to really feel it between them.
But then of course just when I was really getting into these two together and loving them, they get separated. And that was part of why I took a star off of this because I don't remember exactly how long, but it was around 15% or so of this near the end where they're separated - and since this is a long book, that was a LOT of pages. It got so frustrating that I actually started shouting at my screen to just get the separation over with already.
I can handle separation, especially if it makes sense for the story - but it just felt like this continued to drag it out and drag it out for such a long time just for the sake of angst and making the readers and these two suffer and make the ending as dramatic as possible. It bothered me and affected my enjoyment of this novel. Because honestly? That last 20% or so before Seb and Duine are reunited was just a lot of It got too repetitive and boring for me before long and I just wanted the reunion to happen already. It was stretched out too long just for some angst and making us bite our nails and the ~drama of it all. It was too much for me to give this a full 5 stars because of that.
Also, again the ending didn't feel quite satisfying. I was happy for where Seb and Duine were (although I could have used a little more of them, just like I felt like with Roark and Finn) and for other circumstances concerning Roark and Slaine, but I wanted more so it didn't feel 100% satisfying for me.
I get that these three books have an overarching plot and that plot doesn't end with each book, but the stories end with a HFN/HEA for our couples, so their story is over, so I wanted just a little more to give Seb and Duine a more satisfying HFN, at least. I know they're together and happy and strong, but after the horrible separation we barley get just them, alone, together, and that also bothered me.
So mainly my big problems with this were at the end, the last fourth or so of this book. It was of course still very well written and engaging, but that didn't mean I was enjoying it as fully as I should have been - or enjoying it at all at times. Everything before it was amazing and I loved it and was riveted, and although Seb and Duine could have used more passion, more chemistry, eventually that came after the slow build for me to feel it between them, so that didn't bother me as much as what happens in the last 25% or so.
So yes, I absolutely recommend this, and Seb and Duine did earn a special place in my heart by the end of this, even if it took me a while to connect with them, but there were also frustrations with this from me that didn't make me love it as I wanted to. I still enjoyed it overall, but that last 25% or so almost pissed me off in a way. Just too much filler that could have been skipped over with a little room left over to really give Seb and Duine a satisfying ending.
I would have been fine with the open ending plot wise, but it is frustrating to see the non-closure for the main couple, just like in book one. They deserve more than what the ending gave them after having a whole book dedicated to their romance.
So I would recommend this just for the great world Grant has given us, the exciting adventures, the rich and amazing writing, the amazing characters, this exciting and interesting plot, and a really good romance in this book. It was still a good book, it just wasn't great like I wanted it to be and wished it would be.
That ending could have just been a little less "drama for drama's sake" (or more angst for angst's sake) and more about giving this couple a much stronger HFN than we were given and more scenes to solidify it for the readers at the end.
Still very much worth a read though, despite my own personal frustrations with it.
***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***
August 5, 2019
4/1/19 - WE HAVE A COVER AND IT’S GLORIOUS!
"I will kneel for you. Only you, from this moment until my last."
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. In a heartbeat. IN A HEARTBEAT. ALL the freaking stars for this book! The truly funny thing about all of this is that after reading it's predecessor, Prince of Air and Darkness (PAD), I was So In Love with Roark and Finny and their love story, that I thought there was No Way I could possibly buy into any other love stories in this universe. Boy oh boy was I Wrong.
This about sums up my emotional evolution while reading this book:
Me before starting The Marked Prince: I hope I can get into this book, but I'm honestly worried I won't like them as much a I liked Finny and Roark.
Me about 96% into The Marked Prince: OMG Roark, stop being such a self-righteous ass and LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!! My babies Seb and Slaine need some space!!!
I won't say too much about the plot itself, because it's all one big, massive, mind-blowing spoiler. Long story short - Sebastian (who we don't really get to know too well in PAD), is more or less forced to return to the Seelie Court on a secret undercover mission to retrieve Roark's traitorous older brother, Slaine. Upon his arrival, he discovers an Unseelie slave, Duine, who is being mercilessly tortured by Sebastian's truly awful cousin, Aoife. Sebastian convinces his uncle (Aoife's father) to turn Duine over to him to be his personal manservant. As Duine helps Sebastian navigate court life, and Sebastian attempts to show Duine that not all Seelie Fae are terrible monsters, it becomes clear that both men are not who they at first appeared to be.
This book....This Book. I've put off writing this review because I was so overwhelmed with how much I loved it, and how much it made me feel - I was worried (and still am) that I wouldn't be able to do it justice or put it all into words.
So, if you couldn't tell, I ended up (more than) buying into the love story in this book. Do I like this pair better than Roark and Finny? It's hard to say, but maybe? I loved these two characters, and I loved how much I felt like they needed each other. It's probably best to not compare them because both couples are glorious in their own way.
We learn so much in this book, so many secrets, so much backstory. About Sebastian, Slaine, the driving forces behind the imbalance in magic between the courts...we even learn some new (and super shocking) things about Roark. I felt like this book did a great job answering some of the questions I had from PAD, and really fleshing out the story in a cohesive way. It's tone is very different from PAD, though - this book gets a bit darker and grittier. And our main characters are actually separated for good portion of the book (which is such a heart-breaking section of the book but so necessary - we see just how connected these two have become, just how much they need each other).
His call echoes into my bones, and I obey because he's my prince, my king, the only man I ever wish to kneel before and he's here, waiting for me. "Seb," I whisper, and the leaves stretch toward me. "I've come back."
I'm excited and nervous for the next installment. I'm no longer worried in the least that I won't completely fall for the new love story (Kieran and Lugh). I know I will. I'm nervous, however, to see how the impending Civil War between the Courts plays out. I have my fingers crossed that we won't lose any of the characters we've come to love, but what's an epic story without some loss? All I know is I will for sure have the tissues on hand when I start reading The Iron Crown.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for providing me with a free advance review copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. And a HUGE thank you to author M. A. Grant who actually personally granted me access to the ARC!*
"I will kneel for you. Only you, from this moment until my last."
If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. In a heartbeat. IN A HEARTBEAT. ALL the freaking stars for this book! The truly funny thing about all of this is that after reading it's predecessor, Prince of Air and Darkness (PAD), I was So In Love with Roark and Finny and their love story, that I thought there was No Way I could possibly buy into any other love stories in this universe. Boy oh boy was I Wrong.
This about sums up my emotional evolution while reading this book:
Me before starting The Marked Prince: I hope I can get into this book, but I'm honestly worried I won't like them as much a I liked Finny and Roark.
Me about 96% into The Marked Prince: OMG Roark, stop being such a self-righteous ass and LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!! My babies Seb and Slaine need some space!!!
I won't say too much about the plot itself, because it's all one big, massive, mind-blowing spoiler. Long story short - Sebastian (who we don't really get to know too well in PAD), is more or less forced to return to the Seelie Court on a secret undercover mission to retrieve Roark's traitorous older brother, Slaine. Upon his arrival, he discovers an Unseelie slave, Duine, who is being mercilessly tortured by Sebastian's truly awful cousin, Aoife. Sebastian convinces his uncle (Aoife's father) to turn Duine over to him to be his personal manservant. As Duine helps Sebastian navigate court life, and Sebastian attempts to show Duine that not all Seelie Fae are terrible monsters, it becomes clear that both men are not who they at first appeared to be.
This book....This Book. I've put off writing this review because I was so overwhelmed with how much I loved it, and how much it made me feel - I was worried (and still am) that I wouldn't be able to do it justice or put it all into words.
So, if you couldn't tell, I ended up (more than) buying into the love story in this book. Do I like this pair better than Roark and Finny? It's hard to say, but maybe? I loved these two characters, and I loved how much I felt like they needed each other. It's probably best to not compare them because both couples are glorious in their own way.
We learn so much in this book, so many secrets, so much backstory. About Sebastian, Slaine, the driving forces behind the imbalance in magic between the courts...we even learn some new (and super shocking) things about Roark. I felt like this book did a great job answering some of the questions I had from PAD, and really fleshing out the story in a cohesive way. It's tone is very different from PAD, though - this book gets a bit darker and grittier. And our main characters are actually separated for good portion of the book (which is such a heart-breaking section of the book but so necessary - we see just how connected these two have become, just how much they need each other).
His call echoes into my bones, and I obey because he's my prince, my king, the only man I ever wish to kneel before and he's here, waiting for me. "Seb," I whisper, and the leaves stretch toward me. "I've come back."
I'm excited and nervous for the next installment. I'm no longer worried in the least that I won't completely fall for the new love story (Kieran and Lugh). I know I will. I'm nervous, however, to see how the impending Civil War between the Courts plays out. I have my fingers crossed that we won't lose any of the characters we've come to love, but what's an epic story without some loss? All I know is I will for sure have the tissues on hand when I start reading The Iron Crown.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for providing me with a free advance review copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. And a HUGE thank you to author M. A. Grant who actually personally granted me access to the ARC!*
September 2, 2024
I'm glad I still took a chance at this second book. The first book may have been lukewarm and a bit lacking for me but THIS! This was definitely the heartbreaking romance I was looking for. I liked Sebastian and his temperament a lot and his beliefs of what's right and wrong made him a great prince. He also had a lot of love to give to the people which seemed like a weakness to the aristocrats but turned out to be one of his biggest attributes. Duine/Slaine has definitely crawled his way up to my heart though. His loyalty, resilience, and confidence were admirable but what endeared him to me was his faith on Sebastian's return. He took a stand and took care of Seb and his people while he's gone and never faltered on his belief that Seb will come home.
August 1, 2020
I wavered between a 4 and a 5 on this one. I really loved it but I was thrown by some aspects of the story that I can't mention due to spoilers.
Seb and Slaine were an amazing couple. I felt that their relationship was as organic as it could have possibly been due to the circumstances. Seb was a ray of light especially for Slaine. It was so good for him to see a way of ruling that would benefit all of the people and even the lessons from his mother's rule helped Seb.
This has stacked up to be a very interesting storyline I don't even mind the lack of heat because the rest is so good.
Lastly, I had issues with John Solo's narration in the first book in the series but I felt his voices were very fitting of the characters in this book.
Seb and Slaine were an amazing couple. I felt that their relationship was as organic as it could have possibly been due to the circumstances. Seb was a ray of light especially for Slaine. It was so good for him to see a way of ruling that would benefit all of the people and even the lessons from his mother's rule helped Seb.
This has stacked up to be a very interesting storyline I don't even mind the lack of heat because the rest is so good.
Lastly, I had issues with John Solo's narration in the first book in the series but I felt his voices were very fitting of the characters in this book.
June 15, 2019
"If you'll allow it, I would stand by your side until the end."
If you already didn't catch this from reading the first book in the series - Prince of Air and Darkness - then let me tell you something. This isn't Tinkerbell we're dealing with. The Marked Prince, broader in its scope and expansive on its worldbuilding and political intrigue, is more Brothers Grimm than Disney. If the Brothers Grimm ever wrote happy endings, that is.
I can't say much because there's so many things I might give away - and trust me, you'll get whiplash from the amount of revelations in this book. Even the prologue itself is one giant bag of spoilers. But I can say that through all the intrigue and the civil war happening all around, it was absolutely fantastic to read the romance develop. Seb and Sláine come together and grow into the people they're meant to be, with each other's help. As everything unfolds, you slowly realize that Seb and Sláine are both contrasts to and complements of each other. In Seb's own words, he and Sláine would find each other in this world and the next.
There's less steam in this one than usual readers of the M/M romance genre have probably come to expect, but that's fine by me. There's intimacy and growing love and affection expressed through actions - and, eventually, words - and I found myself not really seeking out any of the steamy stuff. (Really, I just wanted more tender moments to cut through the pain. If I have any complaint about The Marked Prince, besides my usual playful complaints about how much pain Seb and Sláine go through before their happy ending, it would be that I really just wanted more domesticity. But we're in the middle of a war, so.)
Most of all, I just think it's so easy to get attached to the characters, either to Seb or Sláine or both, and it makes the experience of reading this book that more powerful. I myself have been attached to Sláine since the first book, intent in my belief that there's something beneath the surface. And there is. Remember that we only got half - or even less than that - the story about Sláine in Prince of Air and Darkness; it's easy to fall for Sláine here when the layers get peeled away to reveal who he truly is. And Seb. Seb is a wonder. I dare you to find anyone who wouldn't love Seb.
My advice is to read carefully, look between the lines, and don't rush (a hardship for me, since I find the author's narrative style to be so engaging that I just want to power through the book). If you're unfamiliar with the Celtic mythology woven into this book, it might take a while to understand a few things. (By the way, there's a pronunciation guide at the end of the book, if you're having trouble with the names!) Things aren't as they seem, and the only way to unravel the threads of this book is to keep your eyes sharp. But don't forget to enjoy the ride of this fantasy world too, no matter how painful it gets.
I'm so excited - and maybe a little impatient - for the final book in this trilogy. We get a happy ending for our two boys, but the situation with the war in the ending of The Marked Prince makes me itch. Is it April 2020 yet?
The Marked Prince really hits it out of the ballpark for me, with both the fantasy and the romance aspects. Are there flaws? Yes, probably. And maybe this book won't work for others because it develops differently from Prince of Air and Darkness. But this one is perfect for me, and Seb and Sláine are probably among my favorite book couples ever now. They've carved a permanent place in my heart.
I'll be reading this one again after the official release in August!
Note: I received an ARC from the author and am writing this review of my own free will.
If you already didn't catch this from reading the first book in the series - Prince of Air and Darkness - then let me tell you something. This isn't Tinkerbell we're dealing with. The Marked Prince, broader in its scope and expansive on its worldbuilding and political intrigue, is more Brothers Grimm than Disney. If the Brothers Grimm ever wrote happy endings, that is.
I can't say much because there's so many things I might give away - and trust me, you'll get whiplash from the amount of revelations in this book. Even the prologue itself is one giant bag of spoilers. But I can say that through all the intrigue and the civil war happening all around, it was absolutely fantastic to read the romance develop. Seb and Sláine come together and grow into the people they're meant to be, with each other's help. As everything unfolds, you slowly realize that Seb and Sláine are both contrasts to and complements of each other. In Seb's own words, he and Sláine would find each other in this world and the next.
There's less steam in this one than usual readers of the M/M romance genre have probably come to expect, but that's fine by me. There's intimacy and growing love and affection expressed through actions - and, eventually, words - and I found myself not really seeking out any of the steamy stuff. (Really, I just wanted more tender moments to cut through the pain. If I have any complaint about The Marked Prince, besides my usual playful complaints about how much pain Seb and Sláine go through before their happy ending, it would be that I really just wanted more domesticity. But we're in the middle of a war, so.)
Most of all, I just think it's so easy to get attached to the characters, either to Seb or Sláine or both, and it makes the experience of reading this book that more powerful. I myself have been attached to Sláine since the first book, intent in my belief that there's something beneath the surface. And there is. Remember that we only got half - or even less than that - the story about Sláine in Prince of Air and Darkness; it's easy to fall for Sláine here when the layers get peeled away to reveal who he truly is. And Seb. Seb is a wonder. I dare you to find anyone who wouldn't love Seb.
My advice is to read carefully, look between the lines, and don't rush (a hardship for me, since I find the author's narrative style to be so engaging that I just want to power through the book). If you're unfamiliar with the Celtic mythology woven into this book, it might take a while to understand a few things. (By the way, there's a pronunciation guide at the end of the book, if you're having trouble with the names!) Things aren't as they seem, and the only way to unravel the threads of this book is to keep your eyes sharp. But don't forget to enjoy the ride of this fantasy world too, no matter how painful it gets.
I'm so excited - and maybe a little impatient - for the final book in this trilogy. We get a happy ending for our two boys, but the situation with the war in the ending of The Marked Prince makes me itch. Is it April 2020 yet?
The Marked Prince really hits it out of the ballpark for me, with both the fantasy and the romance aspects. Are there flaws? Yes, probably. And maybe this book won't work for others because it develops differently from Prince of Air and Darkness. But this one is perfect for me, and Seb and Sláine are probably among my favorite book couples ever now. They've carved a permanent place in my heart.
I'll be reading this one again after the official release in August!
Note: I received an ARC from the author and am writing this review of my own free will.
September 10, 2021
I liked it, but not as much as the first book. There was too much war-talk and not enough romance, in my opinion. Also, Seb and Slaine were just too sweet sometimes; I missed Roar and Finn’s snark.
August 23, 2019
Reread was just as amazing on audio! What a wonderful narrator! Also, I may never look at bathtubs the same again. 🙈🎧📚💙💚
ORIGINAL REVIEW
2019 really is the year of the RainbowRoyals™
We had Her Royal Highness, Red, White & Royal Blue, and now we have The Marked Prince. 🌈👑
Dare I say I liked The Marked Prince even more than Prince of Air and Darkness??? 👀
I just spent the majority or the day reading this book. I didn't even want to put it down long enough to eat. It was so good! In Prince of Air and Darkness we got Roark and Finny's story. The Marked Prince picks up not long after the ending of PAD but this time we get Sláine (Roark's older brother) and Seb's (Finn's friend from book one) story. The stakes are definitely higher and the story progresses to a somewhat satisfying conclusion even if I didn't want it to end. The thing I love most about The Darkest Court series is how real and flawed and complicated the characters are.
There is one more book in the series coming next year which I literally can't wait for! Add it here: The Iron Crown
I recommend this series to anyone who likes Fae stories or enjoyed The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare.
Now can we PLEASE get physical editions of The Darkest Court books? 🤞📚🙏🏼💕
***Thank you to Carina Press and M.A. Grant for allowing me to be a part of the official cover reveal earlier this year and for providing me with a review copy.***
ORIGINAL REVIEW
2019 really is the year of the RainbowRoyals™
We had Her Royal Highness, Red, White & Royal Blue, and now we have The Marked Prince. 🌈👑
Dare I say I liked The Marked Prince even more than Prince of Air and Darkness??? 👀
“You are Sláine,” I tell him. The laugh is bitter enough that even his tears can’t lessen how it cuts the air.
“The Prince of Earth and Ruin and the High Prince of the Unseelie Court. An inherited title for a role I don’t want.”
“Then don’t take it.” I pull back, force his chin up until we’re looking at each other. I smile. “Create your own title. Just... do it here, with me.”
I just spent the majority or the day reading this book. I didn't even want to put it down long enough to eat. It was so good! In Prince of Air and Darkness we got Roark and Finny's story. The Marked Prince picks up not long after the ending of PAD but this time we get Sláine (Roark's older brother) and Seb's (Finn's friend from book one) story. The stakes are definitely higher and the story progresses to a somewhat satisfying conclusion even if I didn't want it to end. The thing I love most about The Darkest Court series is how real and flawed and complicated the characters are.
There is one more book in the series coming next year which I literally can't wait for! Add it here: The Iron Crown
He shakes his head. “A better brother would have trusted you.”
“A better brother may have,”I counter slowly, “but my brother sent a good man to rescue me. When that failed, he stole me an army.”
It earns me a sharp bark of surprised laughter.
I recommend this series to anyone who likes Fae stories or enjoyed The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare.
Now can we PLEASE get physical editions of The Darkest Court books? 🤞📚🙏🏼💕
***Thank you to Carina Press and M.A. Grant for allowing me to be a part of the official cover reveal earlier this year and for providing me with a review copy.***
August 4, 2019
I will be honest and admit that I didn't really pay much attention to Sebastian in Prince of Air and Darkness . He was mentioned here and there but wasn't someone who caught my attention.I actually had to go through the previous book to reacquaint myself with him.
First thing I will say is I can't tell you any specifics about this book. I know I know but you deserve to experience all the ups and downs, twists and turns and the REVEALS. Trust me, it made the book soooo good!
Look out for Duine's past ... it comes out and hits you right up the side of your head. Man! I cannot even HINT at something because it will totally spoil the book but it was a healing and redemption story as well for him. He was not as expected and I totally loved him and the sweetheart that was Sebastian.
The relationship first started as a means of survival then morphed to friendship, attraction and then love... *Happy Sigh**
The baddies were truly evil in this one and blew my mind with their casual cruelty. I thought I hated Queen Mab of the Unseelie Court(and still cannot stand that woman) but the nobility of the Seelie Court really took the cake... What cruel beings; ESPECIALLY Aoife. I mean she deserves a special hell because of the "purity" of her evil. My skin crawled every time she came on page. *Shudders*
As I've said, I loved all the twists and turns in this book but once again(like in Book #1) the ending left much to be desired.It wasn't a cliff hanger but it was the most HFN ending to ever HFN.
There was No epilogue, No extra chapter with our MCs being in love... it was just an end with the threat of another conflict on the horizon. I just stared at the last line of the book completely dazed.
Fortunately, there are extra scenes on her website (with Finny and Roark) which somewhat appeased me. But like the greedy reader I am, I hope we get more from them, and more from the MCs of this book!
***eARC Graciously Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in Exchange for An Honest Review***
First thing I will say is I can't tell you any specifics about this book. I know I know but you deserve to experience all the ups and downs, twists and turns and the REVEALS. Trust me, it made the book soooo good!
Look out for Duine's past ... it comes out and hits you right up the side of your head. Man! I cannot even HINT at something because it will totally spoil the book but it was a healing and redemption story as well for him. He was not as expected and I totally loved him and the sweetheart that was Sebastian.
The relationship first started as a means of survival then morphed to friendship, attraction and then love... *Happy Sigh**
The baddies were truly evil in this one and blew my mind with their casual cruelty. I thought I hated Queen Mab of the Unseelie Court(and still cannot stand that woman) but the nobility of the Seelie Court really took the cake... What cruel beings; ESPECIALLY Aoife. I mean she deserves a special hell because of the "purity" of her evil. My skin crawled every time she came on page. *Shudders*
As I've said, I loved all the twists and turns in this book but once again(like in Book #1) the ending left much to be desired.It wasn't a cliff hanger but it was the most HFN ending to ever HFN.
There was No epilogue, No extra chapter with our MCs being in love... it was just an end with the threat of another conflict on the horizon. I just stared at the last line of the book completely dazed.
Fortunately, there are extra scenes on her website (with Finny and Roark) which somewhat appeased me. But like the greedy reader I am, I hope we get more from them, and more from the MCs of this book!
***eARC Graciously Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in Exchange for An Honest Review***
January 30, 2022
I liked this one as well as the first. For anyone questioning just who Duine is, the plot twist in the prologue will turn the expectations upside down in an unexpected way and will explain everything. When that happened I couldn't put this story down. The emotional angst, all the feels and the love of ages between two unlikely beings was everything I didn't know I needed. The writing sucked me in, the characters were wonderfully drawn and put together to compliment each other. OMG, I loved it.
Roark and Finn made appearances that brought everything together so satisfyingly in the end. There was some steam but the best part was trust and intimacy developed between Seb and Duine. One does not read about that kind of emotions every day. The author really went all out here. The court intrigue was amazingly complicated and I was so stoked to delve into all the ins and outs for there were many. All in all, the effect is still lingering in me and I highly recommend it to anyone.
Roark and Finn made appearances that brought everything together so satisfyingly in the end. There was some steam but the best part was trust and intimacy developed between Seb and Duine. One does not read about that kind of emotions every day. The author really went all out here. The court intrigue was amazingly complicated and I was so stoked to delve into all the ins and outs for there were many. All in all, the effect is still lingering in me and I highly recommend it to anyone.
September 28, 2019
4.5 stars
THANK YOU GOODREADS FOR LOSING MY GODDAMN REVIEW OF THE KINDLE EDITION OF THIS BOOK.
This brief review is for both the ebook (Kindle ed.) and the audiobook:
I remember loving the story when I read the ebook, but found it a bit slow-going through all the time in Sebastian's head in the last quarter of the book. In retrospect, it was necessary for the reader to fully understand Seb's dilemma. Other than that it was a strong 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
The audiobook delivered an even more vibrant tale. John Solo's portrayal of Sláine was brilliant. His deep, gravely, sexy performance added another heartfelt, emotional dimension to the story. His narration bumped the story up to a solid 5 stars. Highly recommend to fans of urban fantasy.
THANK YOU GOODREADS FOR LOSING MY GODDAMN REVIEW OF THE KINDLE EDITION OF THIS BOOK.
This brief review is for both the ebook (Kindle ed.) and the audiobook:
I remember loving the story when I read the ebook, but found it a bit slow-going through all the time in Sebastian's head in the last quarter of the book. In retrospect, it was necessary for the reader to fully understand Seb's dilemma. Other than that it was a strong 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
The audiobook delivered an even more vibrant tale. John Solo's portrayal of Sláine was brilliant. His deep, gravely, sexy performance added another heartfelt, emotional dimension to the story. His narration bumped the story up to a solid 5 stars. Highly recommend to fans of urban fantasy.
July 31, 2022
DNF at 45% and sadly because this had soooo much potential.
I mean you have a tortured prince who can't reveal who he is and you have a good guy trying to help him with all his warmth.
But it dragged, the angst needed to be turned up and maybe the book should have been shorter. Dunno! Maybe I'll pick it up later.
But God, I had high hopes on this 😮💨😮💨
I mean you have a tortured prince who can't reveal who he is and you have a good guy trying to help him with all his warmth.
But it dragged, the angst needed to be turned up and maybe the book should have been shorter. Dunno! Maybe I'll pick it up later.
But God, I had high hopes on this 😮💨😮💨
July 15, 2019
I was a little disappointed when I saw that this sequel didn't follow Roark and Finny, but I was pleasantly surprised by this! I so enjoyed the world that Grant created, fae are always a favourite of mine because of the politics and the subterfuge.
Seb is so sweet and pure, he deserves all the good things. I liked that he stayed straightforward and honest throughout the book no matter the circumstances.
Slain pulled on my heart strings with his past and the fact that he was essentially all alone. Seeing them heal together was cathartic and everyone must just leave them alone to be happy.
Bonus - lovely cameo's by Roark and Finny!
Can't wait to read the third book!
*Thank you to Edelweiss for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Seb is so sweet and pure, he deserves all the good things. I liked that he stayed straightforward and honest throughout the book no matter the circumstances.
Slain pulled on my heart strings with his past and the fact that he was essentially all alone. Seeing them heal together was cathartic and everyone must just leave them alone to be happy.
Bonus - lovely cameo's by Roark and Finny!
Can't wait to read the third book!
*Thank you to Edelweiss for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 10, 2019
Whereas it took some time to get into the world and atmosphere of the first book in this series, this one meshed a lot sooner. That is in part due to the hard work done in Prince of Air and Darkness to build a complete and believable fairy world, with duelling kingdoms.
Sebastian's confidence and ability to help his people grows as naturally as the plants he tends to. Our masked prince, defeated and disguised learns to hope and love. The twisty turny political intrigue is well handled and balances well with the romantic thread.
Now we know what we're facing (oooh, no spoilers), I can't wait to see how it all turns out and get to know the third brother in this remarkably noble family.
Thanks Netgalley and Carina Press for advanced copy. It was out earlier this week.
Sebastian's confidence and ability to help his people grows as naturally as the plants he tends to. Our masked prince, defeated and disguised learns to hope and love. The twisty turny political intrigue is well handled and balances well with the romantic thread.
Now we know what we're facing (oooh, no spoilers), I can't wait to see how it all turns out and get to know the third brother in this remarkably noble family.
Thanks Netgalley and Carina Press for advanced copy. It was out earlier this week.
January 31, 2020
The second book in the series develops secondary characters from the first book and extends the overall plot. This is a dual point of view story written largely in the first person. Characterisation remains strong with a solid approach to the development of emotion. The difficulty is that there is not a great separation in personality and it is quite easy to get confused as to who is speaking particularly when they are in the same scenes. Nevertheless, they are interesting and it is possible to develop empathy for their experiences. Whilst in the first book the lead characters were human and fae, here they are from opposing Courts. The author is able to develop a larger plot through their different perspectives and experiences.
The world building and magic system are interesting and develop established characters and locations from traditional literature. Whilst some secondary characters are enriched, some of the more familiar names remain in the background or lack depth. This is a shame, though I am sure that the author has a reason for this. Locations are richly drawn and easily visualised, this aids in the effectiveness of the plot.
The flow of the story is pretty straightforward for the first half of the book. However, as the tension begins to rise, so does the level of complexity. There is only a single storyline, but different levels of consciousness are introduced. This, added to the lack of distinction between the characters, affects the clarity of the plot. Once you get your head around this, the story offers some interesting ideas and the resolution to one of the repeated problems outlined throughout. Of course, the resolution of one thing leads to the revelation of another, but such is literature.
This is not a story based around sex and much like the first book, it relies on the fade to black and hints rather than anything particularly explicit. The book doesn’t need sex to be successful, but I think it would have been a positive addition. The relationship between the central characters is pretty standard but benefits from a lack of angst. Things obviously get in the way, but overall it is a traditional fantasy profound love that is destined to be revelatory.
There is a steady pace throughout the first half of the book as the setting is explained and characters introduced as well as the dynamic. In the second half, what the reader has been led to believe unravels and plots are revealed. Here the pace increases and remains quite fast. Readers need to take care here as the point of view changes can be missed.
By the end of the book, it is clear that there is to be at least one more book as the stage is set with a quest to be undertaken and baddies to thwart. In addition, it also provides a new character focus. Overall, the story ends neatly with one problem resolved and the pieces laid out for what feels like a denouement. I look forward to the next book.
The world building and magic system are interesting and develop established characters and locations from traditional literature. Whilst some secondary characters are enriched, some of the more familiar names remain in the background or lack depth. This is a shame, though I am sure that the author has a reason for this. Locations are richly drawn and easily visualised, this aids in the effectiveness of the plot.
The flow of the story is pretty straightforward for the first half of the book. However, as the tension begins to rise, so does the level of complexity. There is only a single storyline, but different levels of consciousness are introduced. This, added to the lack of distinction between the characters, affects the clarity of the plot. Once you get your head around this, the story offers some interesting ideas and the resolution to one of the repeated problems outlined throughout. Of course, the resolution of one thing leads to the revelation of another, but such is literature.
This is not a story based around sex and much like the first book, it relies on the fade to black and hints rather than anything particularly explicit. The book doesn’t need sex to be successful, but I think it would have been a positive addition. The relationship between the central characters is pretty standard but benefits from a lack of angst. Things obviously get in the way, but overall it is a traditional fantasy profound love that is destined to be revelatory.
There is a steady pace throughout the first half of the book as the setting is explained and characters introduced as well as the dynamic. In the second half, what the reader has been led to believe unravels and plots are revealed. Here the pace increases and remains quite fast. Readers need to take care here as the point of view changes can be missed.
By the end of the book, it is clear that there is to be at least one more book as the stage is set with a quest to be undertaken and baddies to thwart. In addition, it also provides a new character focus. Overall, the story ends neatly with one problem resolved and the pieces laid out for what feels like a denouement. I look forward to the next book.
July 22, 2019
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
Title: The Marked Prince
Author: M.A Grant
Rating: 4 stars
Rep: M/M romance (no sexuality stated)
Trigger Warnings: violence, prisoner of war, descriptions of war, torture, gore.
After reading "Prince of Air and Darkness" last year (also through NetGalley), I have been eagerly anticipating this second book, it was definitely one of my most anticipated for 2019 and it didn't disappoint!
M.A Grant has a way with writing, as soon as I started this I knew I wouldn't be able to stop reading until I finished. I stayed up until 2 AM to finish and I have zero regrets! I absolutely love the writing style, so fast-paced and engaging, with loads of twists and turns I really didn't see coming!
Seb and Slaine's relationship, I loved it so much. A connection built on trust, understanding and tenderness, these two worked so well together and they were so in sync. They built a friendship before a romantic relationship. One of my bookish pet peeves is miscommunication, I was a little worried, with a plotline like this one, that there would be a lot of miscommunication, lying etc between the MCs, but there was none at all! Seb & Slaine trusted each other, worked as a team and leaned on each other. I absolutely loved them as individuals and the relationship they formed.
The plot went a completely different way than I was expecting (in a good way), the twists I really did not see coming! The "villain" of the story is hard to pin down, but one thing is for sure, Aoife was pure evil. You know a villain is written well when you get literally angry whenever their name appears on your page.
A couple of reasons I didn't rate this 5 stars:
-It took a while for me to get into the story and immerse myself in this world again as I was a little confused, but still completely hooked from page 1.
-The plot dragged a little around the 80% mark and the ending was very abrupt, I honestly don't feel like Seb and Slaine's story is over yet, but I have no clue who the next book will focus on.
Overall, I am so happy I had the opportunity to read this one, I will 100% be reading more by this author and I am so excited about book 3! I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes diverse characters, fantasy romance and loads of twists.
Title: The Marked Prince
Author: M.A Grant
Rating: 4 stars
Rep: M/M romance (no sexuality stated)
Trigger Warnings: violence, prisoner of war, descriptions of war, torture, gore.
After reading "Prince of Air and Darkness" last year (also through NetGalley), I have been eagerly anticipating this second book, it was definitely one of my most anticipated for 2019 and it didn't disappoint!
M.A Grant has a way with writing, as soon as I started this I knew I wouldn't be able to stop reading until I finished. I stayed up until 2 AM to finish and I have zero regrets! I absolutely love the writing style, so fast-paced and engaging, with loads of twists and turns I really didn't see coming!
Seb and Slaine's relationship, I loved it so much. A connection built on trust, understanding and tenderness, these two worked so well together and they were so in sync. They built a friendship before a romantic relationship. One of my bookish pet peeves is miscommunication, I was a little worried, with a plotline like this one, that there would be a lot of miscommunication, lying etc between the MCs, but there was none at all! Seb & Slaine trusted each other, worked as a team and leaned on each other. I absolutely loved them as individuals and the relationship they formed.
The plot went a completely different way than I was expecting (in a good way), the twists I really did not see coming! The "villain" of the story is hard to pin down, but one thing is for sure, Aoife was pure evil. You know a villain is written well when you get literally angry whenever their name appears on your page.
A couple of reasons I didn't rate this 5 stars:
-It took a while for me to get into the story and immerse myself in this world again as I was a little confused, but still completely hooked from page 1.
-The plot dragged a little around the 80% mark and the ending was very abrupt, I honestly don't feel like Seb and Slaine's story is over yet, but I have no clue who the next book will focus on.
Overall, I am so happy I had the opportunity to read this one, I will 100% be reading more by this author and I am so excited about book 3! I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes diverse characters, fantasy romance and loads of twists.
August 4, 2019
High Prince Slaine of the Unseelie Court appears to have defected to the Summer (Seelie) Court and become betrothed to Princess Aoife. In reality he has been put under a Thrall and his face has been given to an imposter, unable to tell the truth. He spends his days being tortured and ridiculed by Aoife as a political prisoner, his identity hidden by a gold mask and the name Duine.
Sebastian has hidden his real identity for many years, half-Seelie, half-Unseelie and son of King Oberon's beloved sister, he hasn't been in the Seelie Court for years, not even after his mother's death. But when bringing Slaine back is the only thing that is likely to prevent war between the two courts he is the obvious choice.
Sebastian is shocked at the lack of glamour in the Sidhe when he returns to the Summer Court, his cousin Aoife is advocating war and gathering supporters, King Oberon appears afraid of Aoife and the nobles seem indifferent to the suffering of the ordinary fae. When he sees Aoife torturing an Unseelie prisoner he requests him as a manservant.
Despite not wanting to be designated a prince of the Seelie court Seb cannot ignore the suffering of the fae and with Duine's help he starts to muster support for peace and a more equitable sharing of the Sidhe's glamour. But he has made a dangerous enemy in Aoife and there are forces at work that neither of them understand that threaten the very existence of both courts.
This is a deep contrast to the first book which I likened to Harry Potter with the fae. This is set entirely within the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Despite the abrupt change of focus I enjoyed this book, once I realised that it was not about the couple from the first book, but Prince Roark's older brother (poor memory for names). These novels are not for the faint hearted, the fae can be frighteningly imaginative with their tortures but the writing was engaging and Seb and Slaine/Duine are a charming couple as the prince turned servant teaches the new prince how to win over the nobility.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Sebastian has hidden his real identity for many years, half-Seelie, half-Unseelie and son of King Oberon's beloved sister, he hasn't been in the Seelie Court for years, not even after his mother's death. But when bringing Slaine back is the only thing that is likely to prevent war between the two courts he is the obvious choice.
Sebastian is shocked at the lack of glamour in the Sidhe when he returns to the Summer Court, his cousin Aoife is advocating war and gathering supporters, King Oberon appears afraid of Aoife and the nobles seem indifferent to the suffering of the ordinary fae. When he sees Aoife torturing an Unseelie prisoner he requests him as a manservant.
Despite not wanting to be designated a prince of the Seelie court Seb cannot ignore the suffering of the fae and with Duine's help he starts to muster support for peace and a more equitable sharing of the Sidhe's glamour. But he has made a dangerous enemy in Aoife and there are forces at work that neither of them understand that threaten the very existence of both courts.
This is a deep contrast to the first book which I likened to Harry Potter with the fae. This is set entirely within the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Despite the abrupt change of focus I enjoyed this book, once I realised that it was not about the couple from the first book, but Prince Roark's older brother (poor memory for names). These novels are not for the faint hearted, the fae can be frighteningly imaginative with their tortures but the writing was engaging and Seb and Slaine/Duine are a charming couple as the prince turned servant teaches the new prince how to win over the nobility.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2019
Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for this ARC.
Admittedly, I had not read the first book in the series. BUT this didn't create any issues, which is, I think a credit to the writer. It probably also helped that the Seelie and Unseelie court business is a familiar setting in many urban fantasies.
This book has the feel of a modern fairy tale with a dash of Tam Lin. There's Sebastian a Seelie prince who is more than he appears, though he doesn't know this. And then there's Duine, an Unseelie prisoner and whipping boy, who, of course, has a mysterious past. Though to be fair, the mystery doesn't stay a mystery for long from the reader's PoV.
What's done well? The characters are engaging and interesting. Each MC's relationship with their family is fascinating to read. In particular Duine's, which is definitely a very tough kind of love with a hefty dose of "do not disappoint me." I love complicated family dynamics so this was right up my alley. That there was no insta-boner and lust at first sight is refreshing in this genre. Duine and Sebastian's relationship is built on trust and empathy and damn we need more of that in romance.
What did I have trouble with? Probably the timeline. I could not for the life of me tell how long the book spans over. Particularly in the first two thirds. And then it felt a bit rushed in the last third.
That said, however, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of political urban fantasy romance.
Admittedly, I had not read the first book in the series. BUT this didn't create any issues, which is, I think a credit to the writer. It probably also helped that the Seelie and Unseelie court business is a familiar setting in many urban fantasies.
This book has the feel of a modern fairy tale with a dash of Tam Lin. There's Sebastian a Seelie prince who is more than he appears, though he doesn't know this. And then there's Duine, an Unseelie prisoner and whipping boy, who, of course, has a mysterious past. Though to be fair, the mystery doesn't stay a mystery for long from the reader's PoV.
What's done well? The characters are engaging and interesting. Each MC's relationship with their family is fascinating to read. In particular Duine's, which is definitely a very tough kind of love with a hefty dose of "do not disappoint me." I love complicated family dynamics so this was right up my alley. That there was no insta-boner and lust at first sight is refreshing in this genre. Duine and Sebastian's relationship is built on trust and empathy and damn we need more of that in romance.
What did I have trouble with? Probably the timeline. I could not for the life of me tell how long the book spans over. Particularly in the first two thirds. And then it felt a bit rushed in the last third.
That said, however, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of political urban fantasy romance.
June 30, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
So I have to definitely go hunt down Finn and Roark's story (which sounds kind of like a grown up version of Carry On, but with faeries), which is the first in this series.
The fact that I had not read that did not detract at all from my enjoyment of this story. Some of the themes of captivity and secrets were similar to other stories I've read recently, but the twists within the faerie story were new to me.
I adored Sláine and Seb both as individual characters and together and enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they navigated court rules and politics.
The ending was a little abrupt, but I'm eagerly awaiting the next story, The Iron Crown.
So I have to definitely go hunt down Finn and Roark's story (which sounds kind of like a grown up version of Carry On, but with faeries), which is the first in this series.
The fact that I had not read that did not detract at all from my enjoyment of this story. Some of the themes of captivity and secrets were similar to other stories I've read recently, but the twists within the faerie story were new to me.
I adored Sláine and Seb both as individual characters and together and enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they navigated court rules and politics.
The ending was a little abrupt, but I'm eagerly awaiting the next story, The Iron Crown.
March 4, 2020
This was a great addition to the series. However, to me, the big climax happened extremely early (like 53%...idk the % really don’t make me math), and then the characters had...some things to deal with. The things were very important, but they dragged the action and the story out. I’ve given this a lot of thought and chatted about it at length, and I truthfully don’t see another way the author could have told this story. But I still was waiting for more action toward the end.
I loved the surprises and the characters and am beyond excited about book three.
My absolute newest favorite thing is when everyone needles Roark. It’s so fucking funny, and he needs to be lovingly teased.
I loved the surprises and the characters and am beyond excited about book three.
My absolute newest favorite thing is when everyone needles Roark. It’s so fucking funny, and he needs to be lovingly teased.
October 6, 2024
I think I liked this better than the first. Mainly I feel it made more sense to me. Maybe.
It was good. I'll probably have more to say after I finish the Trilogy since I need to jump right into the next one. Now.
It was good. I'll probably have more to say after I finish the Trilogy since I need to jump right into the next one. Now.
May 11, 2020
So much better than the first
October 18, 2020
4.5 stars
July 28, 2019
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
Content notes:
I enjoyed The Marked Prince a lot more than The Prince of Air and Darkness. It felt less dark and grim, and I found it easier to get through. Sebastian is a half-Seelie, half-Unseelie Prince of the Seelie court and when the threat of war caused the courts to seal their borders he went to the Unseelie court because of the friends he had from Mather’s. Unfortunately because of his mixed lineage and his use of Seelie glamour he was unwelcome in the Winter Court, so Roark and Finny offer him protection if he’ll help them reclaim/rescue the defected High Prince. Sláine was sent to the Seelie court to help negotiate accords and keep the threat of war minimized, but was tricked by the High Princess and held in Thrall as a prisoner of war, and unable to reveal his true identity. When Sebastian returns to the Seelie court to rescue who he thinks is Sláine he ends up claiming the prisoner Duinne from Aoife as his personal attendant. As Duinne helps Sebastian navigate politics and social niceties in order to prevent war and equalize the treatment of lower Fae, they become close and form a bond.
One thing I really enjoyed is the politics in this story. I think because this story takes place at court we see more of the intrigue and machinations that go into the different end goals characters have. I especially like how it shows the Summer Court, thought to be the good fae, is full of more backstabbing and manipulation than the Winter Court, though Winter Court politics are mainly only glimpses from Sláine’s recollections.
The romance has a wonderful slow burn quality to it because Sebastian and Duinne have to learn to trust each other and transform the developed friendship into a romantic bond. They don’t kiss until 60% into the story and their relationship is never a point of contention for them, though it is a concern if known because Sebastian is trying to get the Seelie court on his side, and if he’s known to be consorting with an Unseelie prisoner it could undermine all his carefully cultivated alliances.
Overall, this was a really good read. There’s a lot of fae politics and well done world building that added new layers after Prince of Air and Darkness. I really enjoyed the romance and the way when Sebastian finally learned who was under the mask and that Duinne was Sláine it didn’t change his feelings because it was still the same person he’d fallen in love with. If you enjoy court intrigue and slow burn romances, this may be right up your alley.
Content notes:
I enjoyed The Marked Prince a lot more than The Prince of Air and Darkness. It felt less dark and grim, and I found it easier to get through. Sebastian is a half-Seelie, half-Unseelie Prince of the Seelie court and when the threat of war caused the courts to seal their borders he went to the Unseelie court because of the friends he had from Mather’s. Unfortunately because of his mixed lineage and his use of Seelie glamour he was unwelcome in the Winter Court, so Roark and Finny offer him protection if he’ll help them reclaim/rescue the defected High Prince. Sláine was sent to the Seelie court to help negotiate accords and keep the threat of war minimized, but was tricked by the High Princess and held in Thrall as a prisoner of war, and unable to reveal his true identity. When Sebastian returns to the Seelie court to rescue who he thinks is Sláine he ends up claiming the prisoner Duinne from Aoife as his personal attendant. As Duinne helps Sebastian navigate politics and social niceties in order to prevent war and equalize the treatment of lower Fae, they become close and form a bond.
One thing I really enjoyed is the politics in this story. I think because this story takes place at court we see more of the intrigue and machinations that go into the different end goals characters have. I especially like how it shows the Summer Court, thought to be the good fae, is full of more backstabbing and manipulation than the Winter Court, though Winter Court politics are mainly only glimpses from Sláine’s recollections.
The romance has a wonderful slow burn quality to it because Sebastian and Duinne have to learn to trust each other and transform the developed friendship into a romantic bond. They don’t kiss until 60% into the story and their relationship is never a point of contention for them, though it is a concern if known because Sebastian is trying to get the Seelie court on his side, and if he’s known to be consorting with an Unseelie prisoner it could undermine all his carefully cultivated alliances.
Overall, this was a really good read. There’s a lot of fae politics and well done world building that added new layers after Prince of Air and Darkness. I really enjoyed the romance and the way when Sebastian finally learned who was under the mask and that Duinne was Sláine it didn’t change his feelings because it was still the same person he’d fallen in love with. If you enjoy court intrigue and slow burn romances, this may be right up your alley.
August 17, 2019
4.5 Stars..
One fear that all readers have when they start a new series is that the rest of the books won’t live up to first book. That was most definitely not the case with The Marked Prince. This is one of those rare times that the sequel was even better than the first book in a series. I really enjoyed The Prince of Air and Darkness, but The Marked Prince not only continued the action and intrigue of the first book, but added so many layers that it was pretty much impossible to put down.
Sebastian was introduced in The Prince of Air and Darkness and even though I liked him, readers weren’t given a clue as to how involved he was with both faerie courts. Then there was Duine, who was even more involved. Just when I thought I had things figured out… well let’s just say, nothing was exactly how it seemed.
I loved the relationship between Sebastian and Duine, but their relationship with the supporting characters was just as satisfying. Sebastian had no intention of claiming his place as a royal, but when he returned, he wasn’t given much choice. His relationship with those who served him and his subjects wasn’t typical, but the mutual respect that they shared was refreshing – and annoying to those who didn’t understand.
Some questions that I had at the end of The Prince of Air and Darkness were answered, but by the end of The Marked Prince there I still wanted more. There’s at least one book left in the tale of Mab’s three sons and I can’t wait to see how M.A. Grant wraps things up in The Iron Crown.
I received The Marked Prince in exchange for a fair and honest review.
One fear that all readers have when they start a new series is that the rest of the books won’t live up to first book. That was most definitely not the case with The Marked Prince. This is one of those rare times that the sequel was even better than the first book in a series. I really enjoyed The Prince of Air and Darkness, but The Marked Prince not only continued the action and intrigue of the first book, but added so many layers that it was pretty much impossible to put down.
Sebastian was introduced in The Prince of Air and Darkness and even though I liked him, readers weren’t given a clue as to how involved he was with both faerie courts. Then there was Duine, who was even more involved. Just when I thought I had things figured out… well let’s just say, nothing was exactly how it seemed.
I loved the relationship between Sebastian and Duine, but their relationship with the supporting characters was just as satisfying. Sebastian had no intention of claiming his place as a royal, but when he returned, he wasn’t given much choice. His relationship with those who served him and his subjects wasn’t typical, but the mutual respect that they shared was refreshing – and annoying to those who didn’t understand.
Some questions that I had at the end of The Prince of Air and Darkness were answered, but by the end of The Marked Prince there I still wanted more. There’s at least one book left in the tale of Mab’s three sons and I can’t wait to see how M.A. Grant wraps things up in The Iron Crown.
I received The Marked Prince in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 22, 2019
Color me surprised, but the first book apparently wasn't a fluke for me, because I liked The Marked Prince just as much and I'm pretty such I still dislike fae themes in other books.
It looks like it is just this series that is the exception and I really don't know why. Still I really liked The Marked Prince. It was different and kind of dark. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the book but I at the same time I was kept on my toes while reading it, always wondering if the scene I'm reading at the moment would be the scene where Seb would finally find out the truth.
I will definitely pick up the third book of the series as well, which according to Goodreads is namen The Iron Crown, and I'm quite curious who this book will be about.
Rating: 3,75 stars
~ copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion
It looks like it is just this series that is the exception and I really don't know why. Still I really liked The Marked Prince. It was different and kind of dark. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the book but I at the same time I was kept on my toes while reading it, always wondering if the scene I'm reading at the moment would be the scene where Seb would finally find out the truth.
I will definitely pick up the third book of the series as well, which according to Goodreads is namen The Iron Crown, and I'm quite curious who this book will be about.
Rating: 3,75 stars
~ copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion
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