She’s marked for a life she doesn’t want. He’s the one compelled to make her comply.
Emilia Daarke has fallen in love with the one person she should never have. After being caught by her father, she is thrust into a deadly game she must win, not just to save herself, but the ones she loves the most.
When Cade Vasara sees the girl he once loved, the one that got away, he’s torn between love and duty.
With betrayal and secrets running riot, and a ticking clock against them both, can they set aside their past, or will their present tear apart their world?
Find out what lurks in the Fae Courts by reading Summer Princess, the latest Dark Fantasy hit readers are comparing to G Bailey and Sarah J Maas.
Buy Summer Princess to start the hauntingly dark adventure today!
Sloane Murphy is a writer, dreamer, fur mom and crime documentary addict who has developed an unhealthy appreciation for cheesy YA Films, cupcakes and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales, ballet and all things supernatural, drinks far too much coffee, and watches an ungodly amount of Netflix.
She loves to write dark, paranormal/fantasy romance and characters who will shatter your heart. Characters who enjoy stomping on the pieces and then laugh before putting you back together again. And she definitely doesn't enjoy readers tears. Nope. Not even a little. If you want to keep up to date with all things Sloane, including where her next book is out, please join her mailing list. You can sign up on her website. www.authorsloanemurphy.com
5*+ I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the next instalment.
Emilia Daarke is our Summer Princess. She's the daughter of Fae King and Queen of the summer court. She's a twin and her brother is loving towards her but has a darker side. As a child, it's easier to play with the other Royal children and the princes of the Winter court are her friends. But one night everything changes. Emilia's future becomes cruel and unrecognisable. Her home life is no longer a desirable place and she seeks friendship with a half-fae. He becomes her light until her father finds out. Now she must try and fix what has gone wrong.
Cade Vasara, prince of the winter court used to adore Emilia. With everything that happened can he trust his feels and hers. Can he find the truth?
This is a dark fantasy romance which will leave you wanting the next instalment. The lines between love and hate are blurred. Everyone has a motive but some are more deadly than others.
The Summer Princess was so addictive and I can't wait for the Winter King.
This is a re-release of A Princess Duty. I haven't read the original story but I know changes have been made to the plot, book cover and title. This book is highly recommended. I really enjoyed it.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This Fae fantasy was a bit repetitive at the start but had a fantastic middle plot wise but then got really mushy and tedious and repetitive towards the end. The story had so much promise, the characters where interesting and the world building was interesting enough. The premise was gripping but once the main tension was through there was over use of “what have I done” and it just started to grate on me. There was so many declarations of love and heartfelt conversations towards the end it was just a mush fest that didn’t fit. It also had fade to black which is fine and great but then at the end had a steamy scene which then felt out of place. It’s all told in present tense which isn’t a favourite of mine but I got used to it. The main character, Emmy, seemed pretty honest but then for no reason whatsoever started keeping things from people And spoiler (kinda) The ending just felt rushed and like a cheap way to ensure a cliffhanger to get people to read on. Overall a great premise and a great middle but the ending ( well last like 25% of the book) just let it down for me.
Summer Princess is the re-launch of a book previously published as A Princess’s Duty.
Although the main plot remains the same, the book has been rewritten, some scenes have been changed and others have been deleted. Scenes extremely dark from the previous book focused on other characters of minor importance to the narrative have been removed. And in fact, they were not missed. They only diminished the aura of sadism and cruelty around the king of the Winter Court, and also removed his prominence, which makes sense and makes the book balanced. In this new version, the book remains focused on Emília and Cade, and on how the facts of the past and present make their relationship complex, their feelings confused and their future uncertain.
Two kingdoms. Barbarian customs. Constant wars. And five teenagers. Five friends and a night that will change their lives forever. Love will become hate. The ceasefire will end. Lives will be taken and souls will be destroyed.
Emilia Daaker is one of the princesses at the Summer Court, who never accepted some of the customs and traditions of her kind at the Seelie Court and will suffer even more from the mourning and the impact of the event on her family. And a forbidden love will make her face feelings relegated to the past again. In order to save the one she loves and set her brother Erion free, she must convince her first love and today worst enemy, Prince Cade Vasara of the Winter Court, to marry her.
Emilia will learn that not everything is as it seems. She will mature, discover the meaning of true love and how difficult some decisions are and some inevitable consequences. An engaging and intense narrative, full of conflicts, controversial emotions, a touch of mystery and a jaw-dropping twist.
It took me awhile to get into this book. I started & stopped quite a few times but I’m really glad I finished it. I think it was because the beginning was really confusing & you really had to concentrate. Plus it was really hard to get the vibe of the supernatural characters. Especially since all authors have different takes on whether each supernatural being is good, evil, powers & etc.
But once I got into the book... I realized it is Dark! Way darker than I was expecting. Plus there’s so much more going on then you first expect. I never would have guessed that ending at the beginning of this book, but the last few chapters had me leaning towards some of it. I love books where i‘m constantly surprised by what happens.
The characters are so different than any others I’ve read lately. You don’t know whose good or bad or who their allegiances are with. Makes for a very interesting read. I’m still slightly confused by some of the things that happened & maybe it’s because I still don’t fully grasp the nature of their world. Maybe a prologue detailing the world beforehand would be helpful. Nevertheless I’m excited for book two because I can’t wait to see what unravels.
I received an arc of this book in return for an honest review.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one as I went into it fairly blind but I loved it. Once I started I was completely captivated by this dark Fae world. It paced well and there is so much going on that completely holds your interest. The twists and turns in this were clever and well throughout and some of them you never see coming
Sloane really brought her characters to life. You became quite invested in them. The main character Emilia has been broken and ripped apart by the people who are supposed to love her. Shes a pawn in all their games but has remained so strong even though she doesn't think she is.
After the way Sloane left this book off I am really wanting the next one next. It took me a while to pick my jaw up off the floor. Poor genesis
ARC received in exchange for an honest review from the Author and Wildfire Marketing
Summer Princess (Dark Fae Book 1) by Sloane Murphy is a dark paranormal fantasy book. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnndddddd the ending, DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! Absolute total surprise and colour me Gobsmacked, very clever Sloane, very clever. The plot is very well thought out and cleverly orchestrated. There are some pretty barbaric and gruesome ways of the people of the world in which Sloane has created but you are unable to put it down.
They were all friends as children until a cruel and vicious execution of one of their own tore them apart. It seems what they have seen in front of them is certainly all a lie.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will certainly be following up on other works.
Summer and Winter courts are fighting. Emilia character is very well written, she has circumstances change overnight alternating her world Emilia has beeb used by people she trusted. She fell in lobe with the wrong person and now she's got to make a descions. If you want action packed fighting, sibling love and more you need to read this book. Dark Fae if you adore Fae lore and the faes this book is for you.
I've read it probably last year or in 2018... and had been wondering when the second book would come... I just kept on waiting, lol. I didn't know it was going to be re-released... it is essentially the same story—give or take, just longer, and I loved it. I've always felt the previous book was short.
It's dark, angsty and riveting!
I can't wait to read what happens next. That plot twist left my heart in knots.
Welcome to the world of Fae where the hunters are bound to protect and we just can’t trust the elves. So I did not see that ending coming at all. I’m so relieved that this is a duet and book 2 is due soon. Because I need to know what the hell is going on.
Growing up, the Summer Court Princes and Princess were best friends with the Winter Court Princes. When tragedy is helped along by a controlling and twisted fae Emelia is left broken. This book sets the background for this universe. We meet the characters and learn some of the inner workings of the Courts. Then just as you make a decision on who you like and hate, the rug is completely pulled out from under you. This book likes to keep you in the dark about some of the main peoples motives. That ending though, was not expecting that at all. Now I can’t wait for book 2 - I NEED to find out if Cade ever get his queen? So does that mean we trust ***** - No spoilers sorry.
I really liked the plot. I went in thinking that it was going to be solely about one thing, and I was totally surprised when it wasn't. Even though the main characters friendship and relationship was strained, their chemistry wasn't. I loved that you're left with a cliffhanger because there's still some things that need to be answered... But that ending, I was totally not expecting it. Can't wait to read "Winter King."😮💓
Damn. I was not expecting that twist at the end. This book delivers the CLIFF of all cliffhangers as well as a twist that I was in no way expecting.
When I read the summary for this novel, I was immediately taken back to the world that Sarah J Maas created in A Court of Thorns as well as the cruelty and deviousness found in Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince. This book had soo many tropes happening all at once that at times it did feel a bit overwhelming but it didn’t take away from how interested and captivated I was from the very beginning.
Told through mainly the female lead Emilia’s point of view, we follow this character from the very beginning when the summer and winter courts who had been enemies for so long are at a ceasefire due to the friendship between their children. One night though, ruins it all, plunging both courts into war and leaving Emilia terribly alone and left to deal with the repercussions of that night. She’s left hating Cade, the male lead we’ve grown to love in the first couple pages and she has to face the terrible wrath of her father.
When unexpected circumstances and a suspicious love go awry, Emilia is forced to go back to the Winter Court to fight for the man she’s claimed to love for so many reason. But just when you think everything is gonna end in roses, that feeling in the pit of your stomach grows and you realize these characters have walked right into a trap.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The plot was good, but I hated the character development. Emilia basically explains everything she feels out loud, so we never really know what she is thinking until she blurts it out. Cade changed way too quickly for it to be plausible, and her understanding of her feelings for the hunter took exactly 3 seconds. She claimed a lot of things that changed way too quickly for me to believe it, so this book just did not work for me.
Summer Princess, previously known as A Princess’ Duty, is revised and revamped with an additional 12K words (if memory serves). It was just as engaging as the first time around. That twist at the end! Omg I’d forgot about that twist, though! Oooh the double betrayal is real! I feel more hurt by the second betrayal than I do about the first. The second cut deeeeep! Yeah, you bet I felt it just as much as poor Emilia did!
Emilia, her twin brother, Edimere, and older brother Erion, have been friends with Rowan and Cade for years. Each month, the Summer or Winter fae court hosts a party. It’s not like your normal human party. These parties are brutal and bloody, a time for the fae to embrace their darker side. 19 year old Emilia’s world is turned upside down when her twin brother, Edimere, meets his death after he kills a Summer court villager who, unbeknownst to him, is Rowan’s love and was set up by Rowan and Cade’s father in an effort to show Rowan that the villagers are beneath them.
5 years later Emilia’s life is not what it was. Her parents blame her for the death of her brother and have been and done awful things to her ever since. She seeks love in the form of Oberon, a half fae Hunter, but keeps it secret because no one would approve of her being with a hunter. One day her father finds out and Oberon is captured and sent to the cages. Emilia is told the only way she can save him is to go to the Winter court and win Cade’s hand in marriage, forming a truce between the two courts. Emilia has never forgiven Cade so it’s the last thing she wants to do but she does it in an effort to save Oberon. But can she?
You’re really pulled into this story, feeling all the emotions the characters do, feeling as though you’re right there with them. The twists and turns were fantastic! I loved the character development of Emilia and Cade. Her friendship with Rowan was so precious. The writing is beautiful and really grips you, keeping you reading and not wanting it to end. I can’t wait for book two to be released. I need to know what happens! If you love a dark fantasy read then this one is for you!
The only negative I’d have to comment about is the grammar/spelling mistakes I came across. However, I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review so I’m hoping they will have been smoothed out in the mean time ready for the final copy to be released to the public.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Why, oh why haven’t I discovered Ms. Murphy’s books before now? I am kicking myself for missing out all this time!!! Summer Princess is the first book in the Dark Fae series by Sloane Murphy. I loved this story, and absolutely can not wait for the release of Book #2. I don’t know if it is even been written yet- but I am willing to camp out in the author’s yard just to get snippets as they come!!! And don’t get me started on the ending- OMG!!! The mother of all cliff-hanger’s…. I definitely didn’t see that coming. SO well woven, and cleverly crafted!!! Well played Ms. Murphy! Well Played indeed! I must admit that it took me a little bit to warm to Emilia as she irked me somewhat in the beginning. But I soon found myself caught up in the story, following along avidly- and on “team Amelia” all the way! This is definitely darker than I expected- even with the hint in the form of the series title “Dark Fae”- I still didn’t catch on lol. The darker elements gave this story added intrigue- and made for riveting reading. I so want to divulge everything in this book that caught my attention and had me so engrossed- but I really don’t want to spoil it for you. All I can say is that if you love a great fantasy story- with interesting characters, a riveting storyline- and cleverly crafted intrigue, and twists and turns- then you really don’t want to miss out on reading this book!!! Bring on Book #2!!! Now to explore the rest of Ms. Murphy’s work while I wait…
Summer Princess (Dark Fae Book 1) By Sloane Murphy 5 out of 5 stars
The story Summer Princess (Dark Fae Book 1) by Sloane Murphy is a paranormal/dark fantasy book. It is a story that had me hooked from the start and I found myself not wanting to put it down until I had finished the last page. It is a story that includes secrets, betrayal, and family ties. I enjoyed reading about the character of Emilia Daarke. She is a young woman who has fallen for the wrong person and finds herself being manipulated into a deadly game. Emilia is headstrong and independent. Will she be able to save the one that she loves? Cade Vasara is still in love with Emelia. He finds himself having to choose between his love for her and his duties. What does the future hold for Emilia and Cade? Read this book to find out. This story has some dark themes and very emotional moments. There are heartbreaking moments that left me angry with what was happening and also feeling for Emilia and what she is having to go through. There are twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I was always wondering what was going to happen or be revealed next. This is a story that you don’t want to miss out on. Highly recommended reading.
This book! Like I am legit struggling with how to properly blubber on about it with as much passion and excitement that I want to without giving away too much and spoiling this gem for anyone else. This is a new author to me and honestly I went in blind solely based off the bada** cover that graces it. I was so glad to find that the contents behind that cover would blow me away just as much as it did. This book will take you on a journey you didn’t know was missing from your life and leave you addicted and craving the next fix/book as soon as you possibly can get your hands on it. I know that is exactly where I am right now. Only saving grace for me was I can go read other released novels of hers while I wait!
Summer Princess is quite the tale of love, drama, danger, fae, and mystical creatures that will surely steal your heart away. Almost immediately you are thrust into this dark and disparaging world with the main character, Emilia. She is forced to find a way to survive in the darkness right along with the fae themselves. What will ensue will be an adventure and a romance you don’t want to miss. I can’t say enough good about this book so go read it for yourself and find out just what you are missing!
Before I begin my review for Summer Princess (Dark Fae book one) by Sloane Murphy, I would personally like to thank the author, publishers and Booksprout for the opportunity to read this ARC and I have reviewed it honestly.
Emilia has fallen in love with a being deemed lesser then the fae. When her father catches her with her lover and threatens his life, Emilia must return to the Winter Court and woo the Prince who destroyed her life. But the deadly game has just begun as past mistakes burn between the childhood sweethearts, secrets are exposed and sinister plots are about to begin...
Summer Princess features, but is not limited to, the following themes: ○ YA fantasy ○ Fae royalty ○ Forbidden love ○ Corrupt kings ○ Love triangle ○ War ○ Abuse
My overall rating for Summer Princess is…
3 Stars!
This book had so much potential, but it just didn't work for me! The blurb drew me in for an exciting and romantic tale, but what I read was dull and uninspiring. I craved more character interaction but when I got it was awkward and rushed. As I said, this story has a lot of room for improvement, however I do think some people will love it as it is. Have a read and decide for yourself!
I had the immense pleasure of reading an ARC of this book. What makes it better was I also read A Princess Duty which this is a rewrite of. I loved this version as parts have been changed and more details added. I still love the character development of Emilia and Cade. The events that both separated and then bought them back together only to separate them again and who knows what's going to happen. The deception and betrayal is strong in the one, but will Cade and Emilia' love be able to conquer their foes and stop another war from breaking out. Is happiness too great a feat for this unlikely duo... so many questions I desperately need the answers to. I need The Winter King in my life.
* Although I read this as an ARC, just want to point out there were a few mistakes in wording and punctuation as well as parts of sentences repeated. I do hope this was corrected before the final release. This however did not take away from the overall story.
Summer Princess (Dark Fae Book 1) by Sloane Murphy. This story is full of everything. Love, drama, danger, fantasy & mystical creatures. It is the story of Emilia Daarke who is head strong, loving, and different from everyone else. There is also Emilia's twin brother Edimere and older brother Erion and they have been friends with Cade and Rowan for years. Each month the Summer or Winter fae court hosts a party and its not your typical party. This party has blood and death and when her twin brother is killed after he kills someone else. Emilia's life has been destroyed and her parents blame her for Edimere's death. Being bribed into marrying Cade by her father she is not sure she can go thru with it. Cade loves her but his fate doesn't line up with being married to Emilia. This book is full of twist and turns that keep you guessing and turning pages. Read Summer Princess you won't be disappointed.
Set in the dark and sadistic dystopian land of Eressa where cruelty against the lower class Fae and humans is a way of life. A royal feud is still raw between the seasonal courts. In a half hearted attempt to bridge wounds balls are held between the courts that revel in barbaric blood sports. During one of these events Emilia, a Princess of the summer court, has her life ripped to peices. A poorly held together cease fire is shattered and Emilia finds herself subject to years of abuse.
Parts of the plot are a bit difficult to digest and unfortunately the middle really confused me. Everyone seems to be playing a dark and dangerous game that doesn't make sence. Some of the principal characters of the summer and winter Court are convincingly repulsive. They are dripping with venom and simply put diabolical. What Emilia suffers is pure sadistic and makes my blood boil. This book is so dark at times even shadows shy away from it.
Wow! What a great story, I couldn’t resist to keep going. I enjoyed every second and chapter.
Emilia Daarke is our Princess from the Summer Court. Emilia has a twin brother and one older brother. Falling in love with the wrong person, and she was forced to make a difficult life decision. The decision can change everything for her and the people around her.
Cade Vasara is the Prince from the Winter Court. Cade sees Emilia for the first time after 5 years, since the terrible event at the Winter Court. Cade is next in line to become the King of the Winter Court.
Will the event, the secrets and lies bring Emila and Cade together again? Is their relationship strong enough?
Ending with an unexpected twist and it changes everything. I NEED more of the story!
I absolutely loved Summer Princess and can’t wait for Winter King, the next installment to the series.
Every decision you make in life has consequences and it’s the way of life.
In this opposites attract story, we are introduced to Emilia Daarke and Cade Vasara. Emilia is destined for a life she doesn’t want but Cade has to make her acquainted with her new lifestyle. Emilia was caught by her father but thrown into a deadly game where she has to win for herself and her loved ones as well. Cade is caught between a rock and a hard place as he struggles to find balance between love and his sworn duty. Can Cade have the best of both worlds? This book will answer this question as the story continues to unfold for the reader. Betrayal and secrets will either push these two to work together or push them apart. Another action-packed read for me from the start to the finish. It’s full of romance, action, unpredictable, and steamy scenes to keep you captivated till the end.
4.5 stars The first book in the Dark Fae Series is a solid fantasy book with wonderful characters and storyline. It is a re-release of the book A Princess Duty that has been re-written and edited. Emilia is a fae with an amazing destiny that awaits her. However, there are forces of darkness around her that will require sacrifices to keep her from succumbing. Cade is her adversary whose clan has been at war with Emilia’s. Ms. Murphy has once again penned a remarkable storyline filled with betrayal and secrets that will keep readers riveted in their seats as the suspense builds throughout the pages until it feels as if one is going to explode. If you think you know what to expect, let me tell you, you will never see the ending coming! This is one to add to your tbr list. I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.
I give Summer Princess (Dark Fae Book 1) by Sloane Murphy, 5 stars.
This is an amazing fantasy book obviously inspired the works of George R. R. Martin. This is not a happy-go-lucky book. There is so much tragedy and emotions of all kind in this book. Emilia goes through so much but she learns and grows as the story goes on. But she is not the only character in this book and the other characters are just as interesting. You may not like them all, but the author does a wonderful job of making them real. Then there is the story itself. This general type of story has been told before, but that will not deter you at all. The world this author creates is spectacular and you will be drawn in immediately. I cannot wait to read the next book.
If you are a fan of fantasy that has some darker elements to it, this book is for you.
Sloane Murphy is one of my go to authors and once again she delivers with this release. As the first book of the Dark Fae series, it is full of drama, heartache and love that will have any reader glued to his or her seat until the end. It is a spellbinding world of intrigue that Cade and Emilia must wade through and following their journey is nothing short of heart wrenching. There are twists and turns that will leave you gasping for breath and the cliffhanger ending will have you speechless. This is an addictive, well written storyline that will put you through your paces. The dark elements contained within are vividly described so read with care. If you are prone to reading fantasy and dark romance, then this is one series to ensure you have on your tbr list. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The start to a series by Sloane Murphy and I'm already waiting on baited breath for book 2!!
Summer Princess is the story of a Fae princess, Emilia. I haven't read many books that included fae but I was sucked in from the very beginning and couldn't wait to read what was going to happen next.
Emilia, who is from the Summer Court, hung out with her brothers and their friends from the Winter court as a child. When one day, a tragic event happened that changed everything.
Now, years later, her twisted and evil father makes her take part in something that could change the future for their world. The events that happen throughout this book will keep you on the edge of your seat and pleading for book 2 to release already!!
I enjoyed this book. It is a dark fantasy story that has a lot happening but it kept me turning pages just to see what will happen next with the characters. This story is written in such a way that you can picture the vivid details of the story. This is a well developed story with creative characters that are strong and connectable. Emilia has fallen in love but the problem is she can’t have him. Her father has other plans for her that puts her in a game that if she loses, she could lose those she loves. Cade is torn between duty and the one person he has loved. This story is full of secrets, betrayal and love which made it really easy to read. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens with Emilia and Cade.
A very compelling read from a new-to-me author. Immediately the reader is thrust into the action and meets the protagonist, Emilia. We get brief flashbacks of her youth that help build her character and show her motivations. One of my favorite things was seeing Emilia evolve into the person she eventually becomes at the end of the book. She's not a perfect character, which is great because perfect characters are boring. No, she's flawed but vulnerable and loyal and watching her grow into herself was awesome. I liked Cade as well and look forward to his book. There's a twist ending, which I always love, and it leads perfectly to the next book in the series. Fans of dark fantasy and romance will enjoy this one immensely! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.