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The Fallen Fae #1
Court of Ruins
Reyna Darragh despises the scheming ways of the fae courts--she’d rather be on the battlefield. But as the daughter of a High King, her hand in marriage can end the war faster than her sword. So, with her realm in tatters, she agrees to marry her enemy, Prince Thane.
The very same prince who killed hundreds of her kind during the war.
Because Reyna has a far greater scheme in mind. To save her kingdom from the vicious prince, she plans to marry him, make him king, and then murder him, so that she can take the throne herself. But as she grows closer to securing the crown, traitorous desire stirs.
Beyond the storm of passion, intrigue, and betrayal, a greater evil rises in a forgotten realm. In the end, Reyna can help stop it, but she must decide where her loyalties lie: with her duty to her kingdom, or with the vengeance in her heart.
The very same prince who killed hundreds of her kind during the war.
Because Reyna has a far greater scheme in mind. To save her kingdom from the vicious prince, she plans to marry him, make him king, and then murder him, so that she can take the throne herself. But as she grows closer to securing the crown, traitorous desire stirs.
Beyond the storm of passion, intrigue, and betrayal, a greater evil rises in a forgotten realm. In the end, Reyna can help stop it, but she must decide where her loyalties lie: with her duty to her kingdom, or with the vengeance in her heart.
558 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2020
1950 people are currently reading
5739 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Wolfhart
57 books1,544 followersJenna Wolfhart spends her days dreaming up stories about swoony fae kings and rugged blacksmiths. When she's not writing, she loves to do CrossFit competitions, rewatch Game of Thrones, collect Taylor Swift vinyls, and drink far too much coffee.
Jenna has always had a passion for writing, books, and publishing. Previously, she worked for an academic publisher in New York and then completed her PhD in Librarianship, focusing on young adult fiction.
Jenna now lives in England with her husband and her two dogs.
Jenna has always had a passion for writing, books, and publishing. Previously, she worked for an academic publisher in New York and then completed her PhD in Librarianship, focusing on young adult fiction.
Jenna now lives in England with her husband and her two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
August 19, 2020
Join me in a chorus, friends: This was not as bad as Throne of Glass. On to the actual review.
I got a third of the way through this book so understand that the rating is for that third.
I went into this with low expectations, got those expectations raised by the first few chapters, and then had the same expectations hurled onto sharp sharp rocks at the bottom of a deep ravine.
I genuinely enjoyed the first few chapters. The author seems to actually have researched some sidhe/fae/aos si/ whatever we're calling them today, along with the fisher king mythos and some interesting 'otherness' surrounding the ice fae, like not ever getting cold (once Reyna gets into a bathtub kindly readied by servants in another fae court and is SHOCKED to realize it is hot water, and is genuinely confused about why it would be). I liked the sisters' relationships too. Sure there were some funky typos and a lot of Interesting Choices when it came to commas, but it was self published, I was giving it a lot of leeway.
Unfortunately it went downhill quickly. For one thing the book is just Too Damn Long (it's more than 500 pages. That is unnecessary if the amount of story that happened in the first 33% is indicative of the rest of the book). For another the editor appears to have given up entirely probably a fourth of the way through the book. The author either payed entirely too little and got her money's worth or paid entirely too much and her editor screwed her over.
Diversity was nil up to the point I stopped, though I will admit that Ladies Doing Shit abounded. They're just, you know. All white ladies. And all straight ladies. And all cis ladies. Their hair colors varied sometimes.
Also the author seems to have given up on research when it came to fighting and researched Sarah J Maas' approach to romance entirely too much. At least we know that no fae named Lorcan in fiction will ever respect his love interest, though I believe Maas managed not to have her Lorcan burst into his love interest's bath, ogle her while she tells him to go away, and continue to ogle her purposefully to make a point. I could be wrong though, that seems like something ToG Lorcan would do.
Anyway, I'm less angry than I am disappointed. The beginning showed promise.
I got a third of the way through this book so understand that the rating is for that third.
I went into this with low expectations, got those expectations raised by the first few chapters, and then had the same expectations hurled onto sharp sharp rocks at the bottom of a deep ravine.
I genuinely enjoyed the first few chapters. The author seems to actually have researched some sidhe/fae/aos si/ whatever we're calling them today, along with the fisher king mythos and some interesting 'otherness' surrounding the ice fae, like not ever getting cold (once Reyna gets into a bathtub kindly readied by servants in another fae court and is SHOCKED to realize it is hot water, and is genuinely confused about why it would be). I liked the sisters' relationships too. Sure there were some funky typos and a lot of Interesting Choices when it came to commas, but it was self published, I was giving it a lot of leeway.
Unfortunately it went downhill quickly. For one thing the book is just Too Damn Long (it's more than 500 pages. That is unnecessary if the amount of story that happened in the first 33% is indicative of the rest of the book). For another the editor appears to have given up entirely probably a fourth of the way through the book. The author either payed entirely too little and got her money's worth or paid entirely too much and her editor screwed her over.
Diversity was nil up to the point I stopped, though I will admit that Ladies Doing Shit abounded. They're just, you know. All white ladies. And all straight ladies. And all cis ladies. Their hair colors varied sometimes.
Also the author seems to have given up on research when it came to fighting and researched Sarah J Maas' approach to romance entirely too much. At least we know that no fae named Lorcan in fiction will ever respect his love interest, though I believe Maas managed not to have her Lorcan burst into his love interest's bath, ogle her while she tells him to go away, and continue to ogle her purposefully to make a point. I could be wrong though, that seems like something ToG Lorcan would do.
Anyway, I'm less angry than I am disappointed. The beginning showed promise.
Want to read
January 28, 2021This book is free today on Amazon (01/28/2021). 🙂
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March 19, 2020I’m going to be as nice as possible but this book was a big no for me. I won’t be rating it cause I don’t think that’s fair for most KU books that don’t work for me.
This book follows multiple perspectives as an arranged marriage between the Ruin-ravaged ice court and the ambitious air court. Main character Reyna is suspicious and wary of the union, and is thrust into the middle of it all.
This read like a really predictable mashup of GoT and ACoTaR - the main “twist” was guessed by the first time Lorcan’s POV happened. I would have stopped reading (this book is obscenely long in comparison to what I was expecting) if I wasn’t reading with a friend. The cliffhanger ending did nothing to compel me to read further.
I won’t be continuing the series.
This book follows multiple perspectives as an arranged marriage between the Ruin-ravaged ice court and the ambitious air court. Main character Reyna is suspicious and wary of the union, and is thrust into the middle of it all.
This read like a really predictable mashup of GoT and ACoTaR - the main “twist” was guessed by the first time Lorcan’s POV happened. I would have stopped reading (this book is obscenely long in comparison to what I was expecting) if I wasn’t reading with a friend. The cliffhanger ending did nothing to compel me to read further.
I won’t be continuing the series.
August 22, 2022
I really liked the Fae lore in this book. But overall I enjoyed how flushed out the whole book was. The plot was strong, the romance was strong and everything made sense.. nothing super over the top fantasy wise. It was slow getting into the story but once it got going I couldn’t put it down.
Reyna is a badass and she reminds me of Aelin from Throne of Glass. Lorcan reminds me of Azriel and Rhys. So I mean if you like SJM you will like this book.
Reyna is a badass and she reminds me of Aelin from Throne of Glass. Lorcan reminds me of Azriel and Rhys. So I mean if you like SJM you will like this book.
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November 20, 2020Shelving for now...
Can't seem to tap into this. Revisiting in the future.
Can't seem to tap into this. Revisiting in the future.
April 29, 2021
2.5 Stars
I have to be honest and admit that I skimmed through most of the book - I tried in the beginning but as I got further and further along, the more dull it became especially with all the POV changes. I would get invested in one POV and then it would suddenly switch.
I have to be honest and admit that I skimmed through most of the book - I tried in the beginning but as I got further and further along, the more dull it became especially with all the POV changes. I would get invested in one POV and then it would suddenly switch.
March 12, 2023
This might not be the most well-written book that's out there, but to me, it felt like a solid foundation for an epic/high fantasy series.
Court Of Ruins really surprised me when I realised it ticked every box of what I love in fantasy. Fae, lore, court intrigue, political skirmishes, impending war, magic, betrayals, a little bit of romance, and my favourite...multiple POVs. There were like 7-8 points of view and, while others tend to find more than two povs tiring and confusing and whatnot, I love books that are written like that. I also loved the fact that it was written in 3rd person.
And, above all else, I enjoyed that this book was heavier on the plot rather than the romance. But that's just my preference, and other may not like it.
Court Of Ruins really surprised me when I realised it ticked every box of what I love in fantasy. Fae, lore, court intrigue, political skirmishes, impending war, magic, betrayals, a little bit of romance, and my favourite...multiple POVs. There were like 7-8 points of view and, while others tend to find more than two povs tiring and confusing and whatnot, I love books that are written like that. I also loved the fact that it was written in 3rd person.
And, above all else, I enjoyed that this book was heavier on the plot rather than the romance. But that's just my preference, and other may not like it.
May 3, 2021
This wasn’t as bad as I thought after I’ve read some reviews but it isn’t great. I really thought I was going to end up suffering through another live triangle but that didn’t happen thank goodness. I am so much more interested in Thane and Eislyn’s relationship than Lorcan and Reyna. All four MC’s are likable but I find Thane and Eislyn more lovable. They are sweet and I’m glad that they have fallen in love.
I’m a little overwhelmed with the many POV’s and a couple, I just don’t feel they need and I found myself skimming those chapters 🤷🏻♀️ Imogen is interesting though as well as Mariel.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m a little overwhelmed with the many POV’s and a couple, I just don’t feel they need and I found myself skimming those chapters 🤷🏻♀️ Imogen is interesting though as well as Mariel.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2020
DNF about 45% in.
I can’t continue. Maybe someday I’d revisit this review and be curious/open-minded enough to finish it. However, today, the weird form of the phrases in the book, the excessively repetitive formal speech, the forced snarks and the boring schemes being plotted, plus the not-so-great editing... I’ve just had enough. I can’t do it.
The FMC is not exactly grounded in the central plot either, and as if that isn’t enough, I can’t figure out what the central plot is, among all the running plots.
The book is just a little all over the place and my brain is not having it.
I can’t continue. Maybe someday I’d revisit this review and be curious/open-minded enough to finish it. However, today, the weird form of the phrases in the book, the excessively repetitive formal speech, the forced snarks and the boring schemes being plotted, plus the not-so-great editing... I’ve just had enough. I can’t do it.
The FMC is not exactly grounded in the central plot either, and as if that isn’t enough, I can’t figure out what the central plot is, among all the running plots.
The book is just a little all over the place and my brain is not having it.
July 31, 2021
DNF at 13% because right when we started that fifth point of view…oh, heck no. We already had a mediocre plot with mediocre writing; didn’t need some strange twisted love triangle and seven points of view in a first novel.
The story is not bad, per se, but it’s certainly nothing that stands out. Arranged marriage, spies, rebellions, warrior princesses, fae courts. If you’ve been reading YA fantasy then there are better options out there that have probably already been read.
The story is not bad, per se, but it’s certainly nothing that stands out. Arranged marriage, spies, rebellions, warrior princesses, fae courts. If you’ve been reading YA fantasy then there are better options out there that have probably already been read.
June 19, 2021
Sadly, DNF
I read this thru KU. I LOVED the synopsis. And then I began reading... and it was a DNF at 68% after picking it up and putting it down several times because I really loved the main female character.
*****SPOILERS*****
Pros:
The world is unique, intriguing and fun. The primary female character is bad-a** but not a b*tech or a mary sue. The primary female has depth. I really want to know what happens to her even tho it's been weeks and I don't remember her name. The villains to the point I read are pretty good -- an ever present threat of mysterious and possibly many culprits.
Cons:
Way, way too many points of view. I stopped counting at 7. It's the prime reason why I don't care about most of the characters or remember their names even when I like them. There's just too many points of view so almost none of the characters have enough book space for the author to properly develop them. This literally killed the book for me. Actually it killed my desire to read. For weeks.
The main male is more villain than hero. He agreed to marry the main female then locks her up & eschews her for her sister, all while bad mouthing her as unfit to rule when he never spent any time with her getting to know her. He is actually unfit to rule as he is blind to the woes of his own kingdom and starts off a peace mission to secure a ceasefire through marriage by murdering an inn full of people in her country for no real reason. Plus, he constantly makes promises he does not keep. And it's gross of him to pine for the sister behind the main female's back.
*****
As much as I really wanted to see what happened to the main female character, it wasn't enough for me to keep trying to slog thru this book. There was a lot of potential here that just fell short.
Hence, 3 stars.
I read this thru KU. I LOVED the synopsis. And then I began reading... and it was a DNF at 68% after picking it up and putting it down several times because I really loved the main female character.
*****SPOILERS*****
Pros:
The world is unique, intriguing and fun. The primary female character is bad-a** but not a b*tech or a mary sue. The primary female has depth. I really want to know what happens to her even tho it's been weeks and I don't remember her name. The villains to the point I read are pretty good -- an ever present threat of mysterious and possibly many culprits.
Cons:
Way, way too many points of view. I stopped counting at 7. It's the prime reason why I don't care about most of the characters or remember their names even when I like them. There's just too many points of view so almost none of the characters have enough book space for the author to properly develop them. This literally killed the book for me. Actually it killed my desire to read. For weeks.
The main male is more villain than hero. He agreed to marry the main female then locks her up & eschews her for her sister, all while bad mouthing her as unfit to rule when he never spent any time with her getting to know her. He is actually unfit to rule as he is blind to the woes of his own kingdom and starts off a peace mission to secure a ceasefire through marriage by murdering an inn full of people in her country for no real reason. Plus, he constantly makes promises he does not keep. And it's gross of him to pine for the sister behind the main female's back.
*****
As much as I really wanted to see what happened to the main female character, it wasn't enough for me to keep trying to slog thru this book. There was a lot of potential here that just fell short.
Hence, 3 stars.
May 6, 2023
A great start to the Fallen Fae series. Others may find multiple point of views in one book to be confusing and overwhelming, but with a lot of things and personal vendetta going on, reading in more than two perspectives is absolutely thrilling. They all tied up well in the end. Wolfhart has set up the world well, giving the reader a clear picture of how the realms are divided up and the differences that have led to war. The characters are very real, with not one but two heroines emerging in Reyna and her sister but in very different ways. Reyna is very passionate but outspoken, and clearly a warrior. Her sister Eislyn much quieter but still determined to save her people all the same. The male counterparts, Lorcan and Prince Thane are great characters opposite these wonderful females, although deeply immersed in the politics and subterfuges of war. Both clearly enthralled by the sisters, so the situation they find themselves in becomes difficult to say the least. I love Jenna's writing, engaging, with strong well built characters and world's, although this is the first completely fantasy world I have read by her.
August 29, 2025
I enjoyed this book. I was thrown off by the multiple POVs because I thought I was reading a romantasy. However, I would honestly classify this book as a fantasy with a romance subplot which I love and prefer over a pure romantasy. So that was a really nice surprise. I liked Reyna as a character but she didn't get to shine as much in terms of her skills given the events of the book. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and see her actually fight in battles instead of the just hearing about it cause I'm sure it's going to be quite fun.
In terms of worldbuilding, I thought it was fairly thorough but I also had occasional moments of confusion because things weren't explained as clearly as they could have been. It seems like there are so many problems plaguing this world and I'm excited to read more to see how all this stuff gets resolved.
The ending was a bit of a twist for me but I had already figured out the identity of a certain someone given the clues and cause I looked at the titles of all the books in the series. But the ending has me really excited to read the next books!
In terms of worldbuilding, I thought it was fairly thorough but I also had occasional moments of confusion because things weren't explained as clearly as they could have been. It seems like there are so many problems plaguing this world and I'm excited to read more to see how all this stuff gets resolved.
The ending was a bit of a twist for me but I had already figured out the identity of a certain someone given the clues and cause I looked at the titles of all the books in the series. But the ending has me really excited to read the next books!
July 13, 2021
The book wasn’t as good as I thought, but at least the world has a map, nevertheless the words/place in the middle between the two pages were unreadable. Also everything was damn too convenient every time and Reyna wasn’t even able to stick with her plan. Btw it would have been so good and exciting if Reyna, Thane and Lorcan turned out to be lover, had a threesome that would have been a great story to read.
Thane wasn’t at all as the rumours said he would (cunning, wicked and revelrous), because of course he turned out to be a good guy as always.
Tarrah first introduced at chapter 7 doesn’t have a background at all. We don’t know her story, where she comes from? What happened to her to obtain those visions?
How convenient that before the wedding night the betrotheds were supposed to remain chaste (page 143).
Also, since page 169 Reyna discovered the true identity of Lorcan, “You answered a yes and no question plainly. (…) Only those who can lie do that. Such as the shadow fae, or the wielder of Mochta’s Axe.” And what does mean “the wielder of Mochta’s Axe” because it is not mentioned in the glossary of terms.
Speaking of Reyna Darragh, she is the type of heroine that can vanquish everything and everyone, but apparently she cannot marry the prince, get him on the throne and then kill him so that she could take his kingdom as her own that would have been so damn good if she would have done that.
But apparently the only way for Lorcan to find a way to undress Reyna was the excuse to warm her by his body heat because of course if her owl isn’t with her, she loses all her power and feels the cold (page 366 to 368). Honestly qu’est-ce qu’’il ne faut pas entendre comme connerie. Losing her virginity in the mud is not romantic at all and disgusting (page 371).
Also, WTF, at page 377, “She had felt like hot silk around his cock”, that doesn’t mean anything at all!! So NO!
Again how convenient that Lorcan took his fae powers after his father and not her mother as it should be (page 374).
How convenient that Reyna with her owl can fly to escape the tower (page 467). A small owl cannot transport a tall and muscular human.
Lorcan poisoning Reyna to abduct her and even worst leaving her sister Eislyn behind in the dangerous web of the Air Court (page 510).
Furthermore, there were too much repetitions such as “even as the magic had vanished from the kingdoms, ….” or other facts that we already knew from the beginning.
To this point, I still don’t understand why Imogen hasn’t killed her lover Aengus, it is beyond comprehensible from me, and beyond stupid.
Where is the Court of Death, not shown on the map, so frustrating.
Some good quotes:
- p. 32 : “With the inability to lie, fae were often clever with their words, and there were unspoken rules on what could and could not be asked.”
- p. 259 : “I thought you realized that not all those rumors are true”. “Rumors must be based in truth, or they wouldn’t exist at all.”
- p. 265: “First, ask a series of yes or no questions where the answer is clearly a no. Lull them into a false sense of security. Allow them to get cocky. And then, when they have relaxed, lob your real question. If they refuse to answer it, then you have your truth.”
- p. 293 : “In polite society, one never demands the answer to a yes or no question.” (…) “In polite society, fae dismiss yes or no questions because they know that one day they will be asked something that would reveal a deep, dark secret.”
- p. 514 : “But he did have a choice. There was always a choice, even if it was a difficult one.”
Bonsoir.
Thane wasn’t at all as the rumours said he would (cunning, wicked and revelrous), because of course he turned out to be a good guy as always.
Tarrah first introduced at chapter 7 doesn’t have a background at all. We don’t know her story, where she comes from? What happened to her to obtain those visions?
How convenient that before the wedding night the betrotheds were supposed to remain chaste (page 143).
Also, since page 169 Reyna discovered the true identity of Lorcan, “You answered a yes and no question plainly. (…) Only those who can lie do that. Such as the shadow fae, or the wielder of Mochta’s Axe.” And what does mean “the wielder of Mochta’s Axe” because it is not mentioned in the glossary of terms.
Speaking of Reyna Darragh, she is the type of heroine that can vanquish everything and everyone, but apparently she cannot marry the prince, get him on the throne and then kill him so that she could take his kingdom as her own that would have been so damn good if she would have done that.
But apparently the only way for Lorcan to find a way to undress Reyna was the excuse to warm her by his body heat because of course if her owl isn’t with her, she loses all her power and feels the cold (page 366 to 368). Honestly qu’est-ce qu’’il ne faut pas entendre comme connerie. Losing her virginity in the mud is not romantic at all and disgusting (page 371).
Also, WTF, at page 377, “She had felt like hot silk around his cock”, that doesn’t mean anything at all!! So NO!
Again how convenient that Lorcan took his fae powers after his father and not her mother as it should be (page 374).
How convenient that Reyna with her owl can fly to escape the tower (page 467). A small owl cannot transport a tall and muscular human.
Lorcan poisoning Reyna to abduct her and even worst leaving her sister Eislyn behind in the dangerous web of the Air Court (page 510).
Furthermore, there were too much repetitions such as “even as the magic had vanished from the kingdoms, ….” or other facts that we already knew from the beginning.
To this point, I still don’t understand why Imogen hasn’t killed her lover Aengus, it is beyond comprehensible from me, and beyond stupid.
Where is the Court of Death, not shown on the map, so frustrating.
Some good quotes:
- p. 32 : “With the inability to lie, fae were often clever with their words, and there were unspoken rules on what could and could not be asked.”
- p. 259 : “I thought you realized that not all those rumors are true”. “Rumors must be based in truth, or they wouldn’t exist at all.”
- p. 265: “First, ask a series of yes or no questions where the answer is clearly a no. Lull them into a false sense of security. Allow them to get cocky. And then, when they have relaxed, lob your real question. If they refuse to answer it, then you have your truth.”
- p. 293 : “In polite society, one never demands the answer to a yes or no question.” (…) “In polite society, fae dismiss yes or no questions because they know that one day they will be asked something that would reveal a deep, dark secret.”
- p. 514 : “But he did have a choice. There was always a choice, even if it was a difficult one.”
Bonsoir.
March 4, 2020
After taking a deep breath and taking in that wicked twist of an ending, I have finally composed myself. My first thought when I started this book was that I love Reyna's character. I was intrigued by her connection with her familiar and the Ruin that is plaguing her land. It came as no surprise that she took her sister's place in an attempt to protect her. When they reach the Air Court everything slows down. This is where it was iffy for me. First of all, I like multiple POV's in books however 7 is a bit much. It starts to interrupt the story line. I felt like I was finally making progress connecting with one character, then it was switched to another person. I felt they all had necessary or pertinent information but not necessarily were they all POV worthy. The only other thing that annoyed me was that Reyna constantly was " trapped." She would rush off without thinking, only to need rescuing. She is brilliant in a fight, but she really doesn't think through anything. Lorcan is amazing. I know he might be on the "bad" list, but his background is so interesting. Eislyn(Reyna's sister) is really so sweet, but calculating. I enjoyed her and Thane's dialogue. The author did an amazing job with the imagery in this book. Everything was so detailed it was easy to fall into the scene. I love unexpected twists and while part of the ending I expected, I wasn't expecting how it took place. All in all, I found it very entertaining and I am very invested in continuing this series.
Favorite quotes:
"The truth may be twisted but never false."
"Who was she if she was not the enemy of the Air Court? What was her purpose of she no longer has that?"
"In a war-torn land, love was always a lie."
Favorite quotes:
"The truth may be twisted but never false."
"Who was she if she was not the enemy of the Air Court? What was her purpose of she no longer has that?"
"In a war-torn land, love was always a lie."
July 2, 2025
I had a hard time getting into this book, mostly because I didn’t find myself relating to either of the two main sisters, one violent, the other bookish. Their personalities just didn’t connect with me, and unfortunately, the same goes for the two love interests: a stoic guard and a royal prince. Neither drew me in emotionally or romantically.
The overall plot and worldbuilding also felt a little too reminiscent of the recent wave of elf-lore fantasy, headed up by Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series. The similarities in tone, structure, and character tropes made this feel a bit overdone rather than fresh.
I also struggled with the audiobook version. The narrator, Laura Horowitz, has a subdued and low delivery during narration, but voices the characters with a very emphatic tone, the shift between the two felt jarring and made it harder for me to settle into the story. The narration didn’t build tension well, and the character voices often felt overly excitable and out of sync with the mood.
There is a cliffhanger at the end that piqued my interest slightly, but otherwise, I finished the book more out of a sense of completion then out of enjoyment.
The overall plot and worldbuilding also felt a little too reminiscent of the recent wave of elf-lore fantasy, headed up by Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series. The similarities in tone, structure, and character tropes made this feel a bit overdone rather than fresh.
I also struggled with the audiobook version. The narrator, Laura Horowitz, has a subdued and low delivery during narration, but voices the characters with a very emphatic tone, the shift between the two felt jarring and made it harder for me to settle into the story. The narration didn’t build tension well, and the character voices often felt overly excitable and out of sync with the mood.
There is a cliffhanger at the end that piqued my interest slightly, but otherwise, I finished the book more out of a sense of completion then out of enjoyment.
Read
March 2, 2020Feb 28, 2020
Not gonna lie, when I saw the girl on the cover my first thought was Daenerys Targaryen 😆
Feb 29, 2020
DNF @ 18%
I think the multiple POVs isn’t really my thing. I don’t mind it interspersed among the chapters but it’s getting really excessive and annoying.
I DNFed this book because I just couldn’t get into it. The writing and world building is not bad or anything. On the contrary it’s actually quiet good and interesting. However, *SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER*
It’s minor but *SPOILER SPOILER**
Lorcan is her love interest NOT Thane. I admit I didn’t really like even when I thought he was her love interest. Okay ‘didn’t really like’ is too strong. More like... something was off. But hey, I love the two-people-from-enemy-kingdoms-marry-and-fall-in-love troupe which was what I thought was happening here (a la The Winter King [C. L. Wilson]). Except she’s betrothed to Thane while Lorcan is her lurveeee. So yeah.
Not really fan of that. Maybe I’ll give this a read in the future but at this moment of have other books I’ve been waiting on 😜.
Not gonna lie, when I saw the girl on the cover my first thought was Daenerys Targaryen 😆
Feb 29, 2020
DNF @ 18%
I think the multiple POVs isn’t really my thing. I don’t mind it interspersed among the chapters but it’s getting really excessive and annoying.
I DNFed this book because I just couldn’t get into it. The writing and world building is not bad or anything. On the contrary it’s actually quiet good and interesting. However, *SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER*
It’s minor but *SPOILER SPOILER**
Lorcan is her love interest NOT Thane. I admit I didn’t really like even when I thought he was her love interest. Okay ‘didn’t really like’ is too strong. More like... something was off. But hey, I love the two-people-from-enemy-kingdoms-marry-and-fall-in-love troupe which was what I thought was happening here (a la The Winter King [C. L. Wilson]). Except she’s betrothed to Thane while Lorcan is her lurveeee. So yeah.
Not really fan of that. Maybe I’ll give this a read in the future but at this moment of have other books I’ve been waiting on 😜.
March 8, 2020
OUTSTANDING
This was very, very good. The world is vast and characters are complex. There is a good plot with a whole lot going on. This is well written. Good twists and turns and some heart breaking moments. You will love these characters, they have heart and loyalty. I am hoping that there will be several more books. We've yet to see anything from the Sea Court but only a mention of them here and there. The Wood Court was given a quick couple of scenes, and only as far as some warriors, we've yet to enter their court and the Shadow Court, I'm not sure if they will be a force for good or bad, but they definitely will play a much bigger role moving forward. This is primarily the Ice and Air Courts. Told in multiple views, which I loved, it gives you a chance to see things from different eyes. There's alot of political maneuvering and deception. I loved it and will pick up the next book as it becomes available. If you like The Fae and the courts, you should love this. I think the author has mucn in store for us.
This was very, very good. The world is vast and characters are complex. There is a good plot with a whole lot going on. This is well written. Good twists and turns and some heart breaking moments. You will love these characters, they have heart and loyalty. I am hoping that there will be several more books. We've yet to see anything from the Sea Court but only a mention of them here and there. The Wood Court was given a quick couple of scenes, and only as far as some warriors, we've yet to enter their court and the Shadow Court, I'm not sure if they will be a force for good or bad, but they definitely will play a much bigger role moving forward. This is primarily the Ice and Air Courts. Told in multiple views, which I loved, it gives you a chance to see things from different eyes. There's alot of political maneuvering and deception. I loved it and will pick up the next book as it becomes available. If you like The Fae and the courts, you should love this. I think the author has mucn in store for us.
December 3, 2020
I really wasn't sure what to make of this book at first, I found Reyna and Thane a little annoying to begin with but as the story progressed and Lorcan became more of a feature it peaked my intrigue more as I felt he was definitely more of a character to follow. I instantly had to read the next book straight after especially with how it ended... wow
May 3, 2025
Lorcan you fuckin dickhead
February 26, 2020
This is a brand new series by Jenna and what a smashing start. Reyna the MC is everything you would want from a warrior princess, who wants frills and heels when you can have sward’s and daggers. I partially love the world this series is set in.. with all the Fae split into different courts it has allowed an amazing array of characters and the way the POV is shared allows you to see the story unfold from all sides, I had a lot of shouting.. “OH. MY. GOD.” And “WHAT”. The story is completely unique and unpredictable, it is fast paste and completely stuffed full of action, and of course a couple of sexy Fae. It is written beautifully and I can’t recommend it enough. Roll on may I need more!!!!
February 25, 2020
Court of Ruins
A daring epic fantasy filled with adventure, action, romance, betrayal and so much more! I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the concept and so many twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I can’t wait for more!!
A daring epic fantasy filled with adventure, action, romance, betrayal and so much more! I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the concept and so many twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I can’t wait for more!!
Read
March 19, 2020RTC....
July 7, 2024
2.50
DNF’d @ 25%
DNF’d @ 25%
April 27, 2025
reread: no character depth, storyline is choppy
June 26, 2025
very enjoyable
September 3, 2025
Mixed feelings, I see a lot of potential in where this story could go, but I can't say I loved this first book. I did like it enough to continue, and to see if it hopefully gets better🤞🏼.
June 19, 2020
Kept me up all night.
This was such a good story that my eyes went blurry before I stopped reading just before dawn. I slept and went right back to reading it.
There are some truly wicked characters in this book and some who are a mix of both. I love it. No one is a bore.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
This was such a good story that my eyes went blurry before I stopped reading just before dawn. I slept and went right back to reading it.
There are some truly wicked characters in this book and some who are a mix of both. I love it. No one is a bore.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
April 19, 2023
Slow beginning and middle. Changing character perspectives made for sometimes confusing reading. Overall I liked it and am starting the second book.
Read
October 10, 2025DNF at 4%. The characters are annoying and this is not going to change. Also, the audiobook actors aren’t helping.
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