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Vicious Faeries #1

Kiss the Fae

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Spicy enemies to lovers fantasy romance for fans of Labyrinth, ACOSF, and The Cruel Prince. This is a COMPLETE SERIES with an HEA.

There are three rules to surviving the Fae—and I’m about to break every single one.

Rule #1. Never cross into Faerie.

When I’m chased across the wicked border and caught by its reclusive ruler of the sky, the pretty trickster with a clever tongue offers me a deal.

Rule #2: Never bargain with a Fae.

But I don’t have a choice. For thirteen days, I have to survive in his mountainous maze of sinister paths, deceptive stairways, and devious creatures. Refuse, and my sisters will suffer as punishment.

Rule #3: Never fall for the enemy.

I should have known my sexy captor wouldn’t play fair. The deeper I plunge into this dangerous world of Solitary Fae, the more I’m entangled in their ruler’s seductive web of desire—and the forbidden temptations he offers.

The price of losing this wicked game is everything I love. But winning might just cost me my heart.

WARNING: This is steamy NA/New Adult fantasy romance with explicit sexual content and language. For mature readers 18+.

For fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Holly Black, Laura Thalassa, and Raven Kennedy.

Kiss the Fae is the first book in Natalia Jaster's scorching fantasy romance series, Vicious Faeries. If you like heavy steam, enemies to lovers, and morally grey book boyfriends, be prepared to swoon for the villain.

358 pages, ebook

First published October 24, 2020

2004 people are currently reading
16796 people want to read

About the author

Natalia Jaster

22 books1,545 followers
Natalia Jaster is a romantasy author who routinely swoons for the villain.

She lives in a dark forest, where she writes spicy fantasy romance tales about rakish jesters, immortal deities, and vicious faeries. Wicked heroes are her weakness, and rebellious heroines are her best friends.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Natalia-Jaster...
NEWSLETTER: www.nataliajaster.com/newsletter
TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@nataliajasterauthor
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/nataliajaster

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 681 reviews
Profile Image for Darcy (Daydreamingofbookdragons).
600 reviews134 followers
January 8, 2021
OH MY GOD THIS BOOK HAS THE ABSOLUTE WORST CASE OF PURPLE PROSE I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS!!!!

Here, have some examples:

*clears throat*

"The slap of wings penetrates the bridge. A shadow veers through the area - a splayed pair of fringed panels. Blades of noise rent the scene."

"I flounder, the elevation licking my scarred kneecaps, the wind buffeting my skirt."

"That whisper undulates through the miasma, curling its digit* under my chin."

*Remember this word, it will come back again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, etc.

And now, for my favourite quote of them all:

"Oxygen shaves the tissue from my throat."

It is god fucking awful and CONSTANT. It's so bad I actually struggled to understand what was happening sometimes because the writing was just so convoluted. There were typos and words were swapped out for other words that really shouldn't have been. A word can be a synonym and still mean something slightly or entirely different; take, for example 'butt dial' and 'booty call'.

AND THE THING THAT ABSOLUTELY DROVE ME UP THE WALL WAS THE OVERUSE OF THE FUCKING WORD 'DIGIT'!!!! THAT IS NOT A WORD THAT SHOULD BE USED MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE IN A BOOK OF THIS SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INSTEAD OF THE THIRTY FUCKING TIMES IT WAS USED?!? That's not an exaggeration by the way, I searched the word on my kindle app and that's how many times it popped up in the text.

I got the impression that the author has settled into this writing style, which is so unfortunate because it's the only thing that's letting this story down (I think anyway, it's quite possible I missed something because of the writing). I was super intrigued by the story and the dynamic between Lark and Cerulean, that's why this book isn't one star. Somehow, despite the writing, I still wanted to find out how it ended, and I'm also really curious to read about the other two sisters stories and how they'll get out of their predicaments. My only hesitation is having to put myself through more of this writing style and having to read the word 'digit' one. more. time.
Profile Image for Gracie.
138 reviews4 followers
March 22, 2021
This was a tough read. The author was inconsistent in her writing and I ended up DNFing at 78%
I tried to make it through. The entire thing was cringey. The author's language was jarring.
I'm not talking about graphic sex or swearing. I have no problem with either and will gladly read books with either or both.
What I mean was that the use of language was all over the place. Overly florid one minute then strangely modern the next. It was some Frankenstein of fantasy, crass modern, and yokel, in a way that mocked all three.

From eye rolling purple prose like:
-the sun has risen fully. It’s a great big mouthful of butterscotch hanging overhead and gilding the world.
-Not that I’m paying it much heed. My eyelids flutter open, and I catch merely a glimpse of the vista beyond the thatch of Cerulean’s hair. Over his shoulder, I blink into the shaft of light, then at him.
-if I’ll levitate into the forsaken sky.

To:
-levels me with an I’m-not-fucking-around scowl,
-Fussing only causes my tits to bump into his pecs.
-I’m used to swapping tonsils
-Kissing me must’ve given you the jitters.
-He’s a looker, if there ever was one.
-Ah, shit. I don’t want this to get ugly

Then her obsession with the word "digits" in lieu of "fingers" at almost every chance was a strange choice that stuck out like a sore thumb. The word digets shows up so many times I wanted to shove my digits into my eyes.
The obsession with the word "prick" when there are so many other choices that flow better, was so weird. Combined that with the other descriptions of the male lead, make him sound like a somewhat long Q-tip, especially when he "swabs" her.

-His prick swoops inside,
-I wiggle closer, rubbing myself against his prick.
-a flick of his waist, nudging his prick further.
-swirling his length in that place
-At last, his prick slides, and slides, and slides.

Then there’s this confused disaster:
I stand and wiggle into a pair of skimpy drawers, then wrap a ribbon of cloth into a bandeau around my breasts Once I’ve harnessed the goods, I shrug into my robe

And this “so I had to elbow his funny bone.”
She elbowed his elbow? I’m not sure the author knows what the “funny bone” actually is.

-My nipples pucker, rising into dark pink crusts.
I think she needs a doctor if her nipples are crusty.


The writing was beyond bad. I cringed so hard and I am shocked my eyes didn't fly out of my head from how hard and often I rolled them reading as much of this as I did.
The plot was decent. It could have been worse, but as it stands it's rather shallow.

With the positive reviews I've seen I have to wonder if the author just has a ton of friends she manipulates into giving her books glowing reviews, or if she saves time and simply buys them. Anything else doesn't make sense when the writing is this terrible. The reviews simply don't match with the horrendous writing that overshadowed whatever decent scraps of plot there might have been, and it is suspect AF.

As this is a rather harsh review, I would like to say that this is a reflection of the book and writing. Not the author as a person. The writing was vomit-inducing, but I'm sure the author is probably a really nice person.

I send my regards to the author and pray to whatever deity she worships that she learns to let go of this pretentious, obnoxious prose, and focuses more on the story without drowning it in such florid descriptions that it becomes unclear what the hell she's talking about anymore.
Profile Image for Laura Thalassa.
Author 57 books25.6k followers
Want to read
April 16, 2020
Cannot WAIT for this weekend one!!! Love Natalia’s writing and I have a feeling her take on fairies is going to remind me of all those dark fairytales my mother read to me as a child.
Profile Image for Jennifer Sellers.
182 reviews39 followers
April 28, 2021
I have to be honest, I have spent the last 24 hours going back and forth between three and four stars. Ultimately, I enjoyed the story and I think that is all that counts. So, 4 stars it is!

What I loved, Labyrinth is my favorite movie of ALL TIME! Growing up I dreamed about marrying David Bowie and thought Jareth was the sexiest man of all time. So, I was tickled to read a story loosely based on the movie. And it did not disappoint! Natalia Jaster did such a good job following along with the story while making it completely her own.

I try not to give spoilers in my reviews—but—let’s just say I loved Cerulean, BUT I AM SOOOOO EXCITED ABOUT HIS BROTHERS STORIES!

Now the not so popular opinions . . .

What bugged the ever lovin’ crap out of me . . . and I say this with all the love and respect in the world for the author and all the hard work that went into this book—but girl!!! There were SO many times where unnecessary synonyms were used to the point it would almost make the sentence not make sense. I wanted to shake my kindle and ask to be a Beta reader so I could help avoid this. It does not make you look like a bad writer to use simple words when simple words feel right to the flow of the story. End of tangent.

The other thing that was not my jam was the verb tense. I am not a huge fan of present tense, but that is on me and did not take away from my rating or the enjoyment of the story. Just a thing that would randomly catch me off guard and pull me out of the story.

Lastly, there are a few times (especially in the beginning) where our MC Lark is awkwardly slutty; to the point it feels forced. You can have a promiscuous character without making her talk about sex randomly in the middle of a conversation. But be warned, this book brings the smut! It is New Adult/Adult NOT YA!

Overall, I enjoyed it and very much look forward to the next book that comes out in April!

For more reviews, check out my bookish blog: http://www.toallthebooksivelovedbefor...
Profile Image for Shelby P.
314 reviews68 followers
February 2, 2021
Prick should never be used in sexy times..ever.
Profile Image for Julia (bookish.jka).
935 reviews282 followers
December 24, 2021
ABSOLUTELY DIVINE 💚

I am a huge fan of Natalia Jaster, having fallen in love with Trick and the whole Foolish Kingdoms series, and then Touch and the entire Selfish Myths series, so I was hanging out to see what Natalia would do with her take on the fae - because let's face it, who doesn't love the fae with their magic and beauty and twisty versions of the truth?!

WELL, I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!

If you've read Natalia before, you'll know that her writing is just beautiful, her world building and character development exquisite. She writes with an almost poetic, descriptive quality, that just sucks you in from the first sentence. And if you haven't read her books before, do yourself a favour and read this one 🥰.

Without giving too much away, Lark is one of three sisters who flee into Faerie in desperation and as a result, the sisters have to bargain with three powerful fae, three Solitaries, who rule over sky, woodland and river. Three fae for three sisters. Three separate challenges. This is the story of Lark and Cerulean, ruler of the sky.

If you like your books with a great story, complex characters, lots of low key angst, enemies to lovers, slow-burn romance and steamy scenes (yes, this is 18+ so be prepared for some 🔥🔥🔥) then Kiss the Fae is for you and it's out on 5 November 2020.

p.s. how gorgeous is that cover?!

It's a big 5 ✨✨✨✨✨ recommended read for me.
Profile Image for Beary Into Books.
963 reviews64 followers
January 7, 2022
Rating 4.5

The book “Kiss The Fae” by Natalia Jaster was such a fantastic book! This story grabbed me immediately from the strong female character and the grumpy/mean love interest. They had the best chemistry and the scenes where they’re together were definitely my favorite. I enjoyed them so much I found myself skimming the story until they were interacting with one another. The banter they shared and the steaminess between their teasing and kissing was too much! I couldn’t contain the smile I had while reading this. I also liked that both characters had their own quirks/personality and how both showed growth by the end of the story.

The author did a great job writing a fast paced story with an interesting plot, likable characters, and a romance that will make you blush. Honestly, this story was such a quick read due to how great it was, the flow of the writing and the pacing. I could go on and on about this book but just read it and I promise if you love a good romance then you won’t be disappointed!
Profile Image for Bernie (Geckoreads).
261 reviews35 followers
May 26, 2023
“Under the vicious stars, an Owl crossed paths with a Lark…”


Everyone is different when it comes to deciding your next book to read. Maybe some of you don’t mind what the book is about before picking it up. But in my case, I’m constantly looking for the recipe of a good plot. For me, that is a mind-blowing fantasy, a thrilling adventure, and an epic romance. Natalia Jaster’s Kiss the Fae not only had those three things; she took them to the next level while keeping the right balance to let a rich story, flow swiftly. Kiss the Fae wasn’t a good book—it was a amazing. Definitely one of my top recommendations of the year.

The story takes place in a world where humans suffer under the trickery and cruelty of the Fae. Saying that they are at war is probably taking it too far, so let’s just say that they are basically trying to get rid of the other as much as possible.

Lark is our main character, and she sets the wheels in motion when she unwisely crosses to Faerie. She doesn’t know that she has caught the eye of the enemy until three letters arrive summoning Lark and her two sisters to Faerie. Leaving them with no other choice, each one of them took off in different directions to face whoever signed the letters. One left to explore the eerie darkness of the forest, whereas the other was called by the creatures living in the river. Lark, however, discovered a hidden world in the mountains.

Cerulean, a powerful Fae with a wicked smile, sets Lark off on a deadly quest: she is to survive thirteen nights in the mountains, or her sisters will suffer as punishment. And although Lark might be a skilled, brave warrior, she didn’t count on the distraction of a pretty Fae, nor all the feelings he stirred inside her.

Like many readers of adult books, I have a type for my love interests. Unlike many readers of adult books, it is not the sexy, mysterious guy with a dark past. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy these characters, but when push comes to shove, I’ll choose the charming, dangerous hottie with a clever tongue every time.
Enter Cerulean: ruler of the creatures that were bred in the sky and raised in the mountains. Since he was Fae, he was passionate and alluring, and was by far my favorite character of the book. I adored him.
Then there’s Lark, who is a brave, strong lead character. And who doesn’t like a physically strong heroine? She’s a badass and a little stubborn, but still allows herself to be vulnerable.
Falling for Cerulean wasn’t an absurd insta-love. It was a bittersweet slow burn: not painfully slow, but it wasn’t carelessly rushed either. And I LOVE a good enemies-to-lover romance.
So, here lies an entertaining story settled in a world full of magic and surprises, written with a healthy dose of steamy romance (healthy dose = very steamy), and a thrilling adventure full of unexpected twists and epic fight scenes. I can already tell how amazing the next book is going to be. I can’t wait to read Juniper’s story!
Congratulations, Natalia Jaster! You’ve just earned yourself a new crazy fan.

Under the Vicious stars, an Owl crossed paths with a Lark.
And the Lark said, "We may fly separately, but let our direction be the same."


Other quotes:

“Lots of times, humans and Faeries become enemies. But every once in a while, they become something unexpected, something more. Look closely but keep your wits as wide as the horizon. Carry a weapon but keep your heart open. Because sometimes, they fall in love with you. And sometimes, you love them right back.”
Profile Image for Nikki.
316 reviews257 followers
did-not-finish
December 8, 2020
I’m sad that I couldn’t stay interested enough to push through and learn what happened to Cerulean and Lark but my patience ran out
Profile Image for ✩ Yaz ✩.
700 reviews3,842 followers
January 28, 2021
3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Friend. Villain. Lover. All four guises converge into a smirk that doesn’t reach his irises. Is he tormenting himself or toying with me? Is he being real or not?

Kiss the Fae is the first installment in the Vicious Faeries series. A promising story of Faeries and steamy romance but did not quite hit the jackpot for me.

The overall setting of the book was unique. I liked the strong connection of the Fae with nature (the fauna and flora).

We live on a continent called The Dark Fables. It’s separated into three countries of grim enchantment—The Northern Frosts, The Southern Seas, and Middle Country. Elves, dragons, and an array of mystical wildlife fill these lands to the brim. Being of otherworldly origins, Magic Folk fancy themselves too good for us human peons.

The author does not hold back from adding every mythical creature to the world and it could either be a good thing or a bad thing but the focus does not stray from the Fae.

As for the Fae, we have the Seelie and Unseelie courts but the main story follows the monarchs of the Solitary Wild, the infamous trio: Ruler of the Sky, Ruler of the Woodland, and Ruler of the River.

For your trespass, be our sacrifice—to surrender, to serve, and to satisfy. Under the vicious stars, three sisters must play three games.

Escaping the trade poachers, three sisters cross the forbidden border into Faerie. Lark is captured by ruler of the sky, Cerulean, and her sisters Juniper and Cove are then swept into a devious game that they should not reveal each game to each other and all must win or none win.

Each one will enter one of the Solitary landscapes: Lark to the mountain, Juniper to the Forest, and Cove to the water.

Lark must win to save her sisters and her trial involves going through a labyrinth in the mountain, home of the trickster and ruler of the sky she so despises. Yet, there is a powerful attraction drawing her to Cerulean that she is determined to fight.. for how can she fall for a devious creature like a Fae?

"Mutinous Lark, your task is painfully simple. Don’t look down. Watch your step. Fear the wind. Follow the wind. Lose your path. Find your way. Welcome to The Solitary Mountain."

I had a problem following the story because of the world-building. It feels like the more info-dump the author adds, the more it's hard for me to digest it. While it was very interesting but it was a real struggle.

The writing wasn't the best and the language and tone used by the charcaters just... made it seem like they were living in the 21st century and not in a fantastical world.

The romance had bits that I enjoyed but I would've been more invested if the issues I've highlighted before did not ruin the experience for me.

"You’re worth…” He sucks in a tremulous breath. “…every crack in my soul. You’re worth the loss and longing.”

I found myself skipping through a few pages because there wasn't much that was going on or just to skip the state of confusion I was in for most of the book.

It had a great concept but it wasn't executed in the best way.

It felt that the book, as with most Fae books, draw its inspiration from ACOTAR especially Under the Mountain part.

Will I pick up the next book? nope.
Profile Image for LolliMolly ⫷fiction addiction⫸.
291 reviews18 followers
February 14, 2022
This was written with a thesaurus open the entire time and you can't convince me otherwise.
Needless and excessive word substitutions that don't make sense in the context, rambling "prose" that really ruined the immersion and had me skipping pages and pages of the book.
I hung in there for the plot though! I loved the premise, and I'm sort of tempted to continue with the series, but idk.
Profile Image for Bailey.
1,186 reviews39 followers
December 29, 2020
Reading this was... a choice. The premise (or at least part of it) sounded promising: Labyrinth but make it sexy? You have my attention. I was going to give this three stars, but did I like it? Did I find enough pros to outweigh the many cons and the absolute chore I felt coming back to this book and walking away drained because I kept forcing myself to read it? Despite this low rating of 2.5, I am a Natalia Jaster fan. My copy of Trick is so beloved that after only two years on my shelf, it sports a curled cover, broken spine, and don't even get me started on Tempt; my tear drops splotched the ink. So what went wrong? Let's begin with the good:

Pros
-Initial premise
*Our heroine, Lark ventured into the Fae lands, which is a big no-no. Because of this, she and her adopted sisters are summoned by three adopted Fae brothers to different areas, each given a different task, and told not to divulge any information regarding it or their location to one another. The two catches? If one loses, they all die, and because they're not kept in the loop as to their locale/status, they're flying blind and could simultaneously drop dead at any time (except we all know they won't because mates/true love). And the Fae have their own motive for wanting the mortals to take on the challenge: for every human they get, a fauna that the humans destroyed during a vengeful attack gets restored.
-The opening scene
*Lark getting up from a tumble in the sheets, jumping from the bedroom onto her horse, leaving the guy high and dry/screwing up his poaching plan. Cut Throat Island could never... literally because it was such a bomb it bankrupted an entire studio. Really hope someone gets that reference.
-Pacing/imagery
*Because Lark is on a quest to reach the mountain top, the story utilizes many different settings and Natalia Jaster plays to her strength: description. Lush forests, foods that may glamour themselves into delicious delicacies-tempting as any living Fae- despite their rotten reality. That bit felt very magical.
-Lark isn't your typical fairy tale heroine
*She hasn't any qualms about expressing her sexuality, wields a whip as well as Wonder Woman, and actually pays attention to the rules. Ex: When cornered by Moth, she remembers how to properly phrase her questions, making sure she actually gets an answer rather than a riddle.
-Cerulean
*I mean, he's literally Jareth with blue hair. Enough said.
-The masquerade
*This will bleed over into another list, but reading how Lark gets tossed/spun from dancer to dancer until she meets Cerulean, her dress fanning out in a firestorm of feathers, the tension of knowing if her mask slips, she'll be attacked. And the sweetness of them saying: "It was you?" "It's me." Chef's kiss!
-Their past connection
*Turns out, they met as children when Lark freed Cerulean from an iron cage fashioned by evil humans. Makes their connection easier to swallow.
-Their conflicting ideas as to the other's superiority
*Lark believes humans are innocent/defenseless pawns in a Fae's game (seeing as Cerulean and his brothers have trapped herself and her sisters in realms where not only they rule, but have the advantage of magic). Whereas Cerulean counters this with the idea that Fae were never vengeful; they only became defensive once the humans exacted their cruelty on them, including killing their fauna (which housed the children, a rarity among the Fae).

Labyrinth elements
-The book is literally dedicated to the fictional Goblin King
-Lark's joke about asking the owl to take her sisters so she can have a break kickstarts their tasks, much like Jareth overhearing Sarah telling a story to her baby brother Toby, which ends with her improvising the request that he be taken from her, prompts her expedition into the labyrinth to win the bargain she and Jareth make.
-One of Cerulean's forms is that of an owl. It even flies around Lark before Cerulean himself shows up to make a deal. This exact thing goes down in Labyrinth, even incorporating the owl watching Lark in the fields before she even trespasses (in the film, Sarah is LARPING on her own and notices an owl flitting past as she recites the story).
-Cerulean's attire
*The man wears a billowing white deep V shirt, tight black trousers, black boots, and his only variation is a russet cloak instead of black one.... exactly like you-know-who.
-His mountain comes equipped with oubliettes, one of which Lark is given to sleep in. Jareth in Labyrinth comes across Sarah and Hoggle in what he calls an oubliette.
-The scene where Lark falls into a tunnel and is helped then hurled down by unseen hands is also ripped from Labyrinth
-Lark reciting a fable that enables her to win the challenge is akin to Sarah's: "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child you have stolen, for my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great. You have no power over me!" bit. Although, unlike Jareth and Sarah, Cerulean does have power over Lark, but so does she in the form of true love.
-The masquerade (redux)
*The way she's watching the dancers in a daze, seeing him across the room among the patrons sipping from crystal goblets, dressed in masks with over exaggerated animal features, traipsing from person to person until finally she's in his arms only to run away before they kiss...

This next list may sting a little.

Cons
-Info dumping
*All the clever symbolism is snatched away by having the characters blatantly spell it out for you: from the birds and the avian sanctuary representing the sisters in their adopted father's home, to the book of Fairies being a representation of their love stories.... just let readers make the connection.
-Strange vernacular variants
*In the beginning, I felt that because this was a Fae centric story, the language would be Gothic with a touch of whimsy. But then we get inside Lark's head/hear her speak using words commonly associated with the Southern states: "reckon", "drawers" (undergarments), "hot damn", "gimme" "lemme". And I'm like, "ok, so it's going to be dark imagery/stakes with country slang, a la, Kathryn Bigelow's, Near Dark. But then Lark goes: "wanker", bollocks, "knickers", you know, British slang. And this isn't a one time thing (more on that next). So my question is... where is she supposed to be from? No one else in her family has her switch up, and even their father doesn't speak with either accent.
*Lark's only nineteen or so, yet she repeadtly calls Moth and the other Fae, "whippersnapper". Umm, why? If this was an attempt at condescension, it was a bad one.
-Lark's family horse is named Whinny Badass. The cringe hurts.
-The past connection between Cerulean and Lark should've been the prologue. Instead, it's mentioned nearly a hundred pages in, and because of this, it felt like an after thought that the author had to hammer home every chapter.
-Repetition
*First, the word "tykes" or "tyke" was in so many pages, I wondered if the author had some weird contractual obligation. And the above mentioned vernacular variants also made so many appearances, I could probably make a novella length spin-off with just them.
*There's only so many times I can watch Cerulean and Lark's sexy banter come to nothing. He'd either save her or pop up out of nowhere to taunt her, she'd get mad, spout some generic urban fantasy heroine reply over and over again. If they were clever/giveaways to next task or moved the plot along, that would be great. But mostly they were just about sex. Nothing wrong with sex. But we don't need the same dialogue in a different part of the mountain. Felt like someone forgot to edit or they liked the first scene so much, they copy/pasted a version every twenty pages.
-Their speaking styles were just jarring
*I'll play devil's advocate for a second: could be nice symbolism, human brashness juxtaposed against Fae's upper crust mannerisms. But every time Lark used slang, it took me right out of story. It just didn't work.
-A case of doing too much
* The Goodreads blurb boasts this will appeal to fans of Labyrinth (1986), Sarah J. Maas, and Laini Taylor. I see where they're going (I made a whole list for Labyrinth, we've got ruling Fae as supposed enemies turned lovers-ACOTAR anyone?- and Laini Taylor herself had a short story in her anthology, Lips Touch Three Times entitled "Goblin Fruit", which had a headstrong modern heroine falling for a tricky Goblin who speaks with an old fashioned tongue. That whole anthology was partially inspired by Christina Rossetti's poem "Goblin Market"). This novel tries and fails to be all those things at once while not knowing how to handle their various tones.
*Also, why they gotta be Fae? Was it just to feed off the Sarah J. Maas frenzy? I mean, the clunky bit of him having wings at the very end sure felt like it. When Googling goblins vs. Fae traits, it seems to make more sense for the brothers to be Goblins if you want the trickster/don't trust them angle.

Honestly, I'm more interested in Puck and Juniper; he's eloquent/hedonistic, she's smart and prudish. I can see them meshing. But these two... I saw the chemistry and I didn't. I hated rating this so low. I feel so sad when I don't like an author whose past books have moved me to tears. Pretty sure after Hunt the Fae, I'm out. I'm aware that a third book follows the third sister, but honestly I couldn't even remember her name, only that she was a pickpocket. If you're looking for Labyrinth-esque retellings, go for Wintersong by S. Jae Jones or Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christine Manzari.
Author 15 books1,272 followers
Read
November 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. It’s the delicious mischievous cruelty of the cruel prince with the unique writing style of shatter me. I really loved the world building and the clever characters/ I can’t wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for Danielle.
20 reviews7 followers
November 21, 2020
Loved it!

My first Jaster novel and I am seriously impressed. Lark and Cerulean's story is not to be missed. Very creative and well written. I will definitely be checking out more of Natalia Jaster's work.
Profile Image for Aaryn Flott.
275 reviews30 followers
May 8, 2021

I loved the idea, enjoyed the characters, but the execution just fell flat to me.

Though, I sort of want to read the next one because Puck seems interesting and hot hell. I’m just glutton for punishment 😩


Read as one of my kindle unlimited choices.
Profile Image for Kate.
848 reviews115 followers
February 14, 2021


"Don’t look down. Watch your step. (...) Lose your path. Find your way."

A tale beautifully told.

That's what this was. Once again, Natalia Jaster spins a magical fable of passion and wonder, dazzling me with her poetic prose.

I've been looking forward to discovering this new world ever since the author announced her next series. Needless to say, I do not feel disappointed at all. Jaster's world-building is top notch, and the universe of Dark Fables unfurls before the reader in all its alluring possibilities as the story goes on.

Faerie lore in this book nods towards the traditional - Fae cannot lie but their deceitfulness is notwithstanding, Fae are immortal but not invincible, they love riddles, bargains and a good bawdy revel. Yet, there is an original spin to it, and I love how the Fae are portrayed by the author. Horrifically beautiful and just plain horrific, decidedly n o t human, yet not immune to the full range of human emotions and behaviours. Blue-skinned, covered with fur, antlers, wings and horns; they are not barely a mirror image of unusually pretty humans, just made immortal. They're Vicious Faeries.

And I L-O-V-E it!

Then, there are the characters. Both Lark and Cerulean are extremely likeable, hell, why do I even limit myself to these lukewarm expressions?! I simply adored them, Lark especially. She captured my heart with her free spirit and boisterous, daring demeanor. Together with Cerulean, they make for an intriguing pair, giving as good as they get. Their cat-and-mouse, human-fae, enemies-to-lovers dance makes for a deliciously captivating story.

And their love story has all the enemies-to-lovers goodness one can hope for, with a sparkly red cherry on top that is a mates trope done well. Personally, I've gone from loving to dreading the mates trope in recent years, but I'm still partial to it, if it's executed in a certain way. I truly loved it here, because it leaned towards reinforcing the idea of choice being the driving factor in love and relationships, rather than fate. Yes, it was still magic, and involved serendipity and mythical bonds, but it made for a background to characters' actions and choices without overpowering them.

On top of that, I got a "consent is sexy" tidbit and that couldn't make me happier:

"It asks permission, which makes it the sweetest, sexiest touch I’ve ever known."

Lark's and Cerulean's battle of wills and hearts will wreak havoc on your feels, but it will do it while transporting you to a beautiful and treacherous world of Faerie. The wordy descriptions, alliterations and old tales paint a vivid picture of this universe, and I, for one, loved immersing myself in this world.

Natalia Jaster has this peculiar writing style - a blend of poetry with profanities, fancy old-time expressions fused with explicit ones. It has its own tempo, might be hard to follow sometimes, but its originality never ceases to amaze me.

It also makes me greedy. Just finished reading and I already feel this bookworm's itch to get my next fix, which is the upcoming book in this series. I cannot wait to read Juniper and Puck's story, as well as Cove and Elixir's. More than that, and I truly hope I'm not mistaken, I think what Jaster is setting up here is a part of a bigger universe. So yes, I want to get to know The Solitary Forest and The Solitary Deep. But Middle Country, the home to Vicious Faeries, is only 1/3 of the Dark Fables. So please give me The Northern Frosts and The Southern Seas as well. Elves, dragons and all the magic in between.

As for "Kiss the Fae" - what more can I say? This one gets a strong merry 4.5 stars from me. If you're a fantasy lover, I can only urge you to join Lark on her journey, to cross the border beyond The Triad into the Faerie, and walk along her through all the terrible marvels of that land.

Learn whether the wind has a pulse and heartbeat. "Lose your path. Find your way."

(P.S. As in, your way straight into the *online* store to buy this book!)

*ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Catherine.
478 reviews154 followers
February 8, 2021
This was my first book by Natalia Jaster and I'm charmed! I didn't know what to expect when I started it, I just came across this book while looking for new Fae novels that aren't YA. I can say the marketing isn't really wrong for once, because like Laini Taylor, Natalia Jaster has a beautiful prose, lyrical, enchanting. It doesn't work with every author for me (sometimes it's even something that annoys me), but with a few authors that are truly talented, I love it and this is the case here.

While there are plenty of Fae books out there already, the author still managed to write something that didn't seem like the same story I've already read. Yes, you can find similarities, just like with every genre, but her world-building, her characters and her romance are great and I wasn't bored or making comparison with another Fae novel for one second.

Kiss the Fae is a dark fairytale for readers who love a great Fae book with enemies to lovers, slow-burn and steamy romance, and I can't wait to read the second book in the series and the author's two previous series!
Profile Image for Leeloo (She Sniffs Books).
207 reviews82 followers
December 10, 2020
This hurts, since I tend to love Natalia Jaster, but I just can't continue on. It's overly-done (too much description) and the MC's dialogue gets on my nerves. Oh, and there is one whole chapter dedicated to them just kissing. I like spit-swapping when reading as much as the next but that was just too much.
Profile Image for Sudasha.
645 reviews17 followers
November 30, 2021
DNF at 59%
I really, really tried but the writing style just wasn't for me. The odd mix between older and modern language confused me and made it harder to follow along without getting stuck on the inconsistencies.
Profile Image for Valeria ❅.
348 reviews28 followers
March 24, 2021
↠ 4.0 ★★★★☆

“Don’t look down. Watch your step. Fear the wind. Follow the wind. Lose your path. Find your way…”

Este libro me sorprendió mucho, no pensé que los personajes me fueran a gustar tanto porque al principio me fue un poco difícil poder conectar del todo con la forma en que el libro esta narrado, la forma de escribir de la autora se me hizo un poco difícil de entender en algunas parte donde usaba palabras o frases muy extrañas para describir cosas cuando podía hacerlo de una forma simple, sin embargo al ir avanzando ya me comencé a acostumbrar y una vez que conocí a Cerulean no pude para de leer.

El comienzo en cuanto a la trama estuvo bien, me gusto la protagonista y me generaron bastante curiosidad las hermanas, siento que las cosas introductoria pasaron relativamente rápido y nos presentaron rápido el problema, lo cual personalmente prefiero. Una vez llegamos ya al mundo de los Fae las cosas se pusieron muy buenas, las reglas y los juegos, todo me encanto. La montaña es como un laberinto y seguimos a Lark en travesía para encontrar la cima de una montaña, no se porque pero me dio mucha vibra a Caraval y yo estaba super emocionada viendo como funcionaba la magia y como nada era lo que parecía, toda esta trama fue algo muy positivo para mi.

“There’s a hurt that only one person can put on you. It’s a hurt they’ve invented without knowing it, one created solely for you.”

En cuanto a los personajes , no tenemos muchos que sean muy importantes así que solo hablare de Lark y Cerulean, a las hermanas de Lark no las presentan pero las conoceremos más en los próximos libros donde serán protagonistas. Lark, su actitud me encanto, era tan fuerte y valiente, siempre estaba diciendo lo que pensaba y no le tenia miedo a nada, super decidida a ganar y volver con su familia, esto que su arma preferida fuera el látigo y su personalidad de coqueta 10 de 10. En cuanto a Cerulean, que puedo decir? enamoradisima, mi personaje favorito, me encantaba su misterio y como hablaba en adivinanzas, su amor por su gente y por su mundo. DIVINO, ademas tengo obsesión con todo aquel que tenga alas so...

Si hubieron cositas que le quitaron la ultima estrella a este libro, aunque el romance y el cliché enemigos a amantes es muy bien desarrollado, sentimos la tensión y el slow-burn (ademas que hay por ahí algún plot que no te esperas y conecta todo de una forma perfecta) al final la decisión que toma Lark no es de mis cosas favoritas y es que hablando en general siento que el libro hacia el final tiene muchos clichés o similitudes con otros libros que van por este mismo genero y que si la autora hubiera cambiado o los hechos hubieran transcurrido de otra manera, el libro seria un 5 para mi (al final diré que cosas fueron porque pasan al final y pueden ser spoilers). Hay una cosa que me pareció curiosa y un poco exagerada en mi opinión y es la construcción de las protagonistas, como que representaban demasiado cada lugar del mundo Fae, tenemos bosque, montaña y océano, y yo entiendo que los protagonistas masculinos y las criaturas que viven en cada lugar pues se asemejan al lugar (ej: los Fae de las montañas tienen rasgos de animales que habitan en las montañas, favorecen colores del cielo...) pero en las hermanas fue too much, una tenia el cabello blanco, la otra azul y la otra verde, sus ojos eran de colores similares, a una le gustaban las aves, la otra los peces, la otra los animales terrestres y hasta los nombres, los nombres también tenían relación con estos lugares. No fue algo de mucha importancia pero fue como jummm, okay

“Why can’t I feel just one thing around you?” I ask.
“Why do I feel many things around you?” he replies.
“Why do I hear a hundred different words in a single one?”
“Why does a single word inspire a hundred different reactions?”
“Why the fuck did you block the path?”
“Why am I tempted to reveal it?”


Quiero leerme los siguientes libros, cada libro esta narrado por una hermana en su travesía por un lugar diferente del mundo Fae, el siguiente es de Juniper y aunque al final de este vemos un poco de Puck, el protagonista masculino que no me cayo muy bien, quiero ver como la autora maneja las historias para que no sientan repetitivas, al comienzo del libro todas estas juntas y hay muchas cosas que le pasan a Lark y que también descubrimos en este libro que creo es muy obvio que paso algo similar con las otras hermanas, así que tengo curiosidad.

Para terminar diré las cosas que no me gustaron específicamente:
Profile Image for Ashlee Bree.
789 reviews52 followers
December 1, 2020
FABLES ETERNAL!!! What a viciously lush, mischievous, and sensual read!

Just like that, and Natalia Jaster has ensnared me in warm windy knots, enchanting my heart all over again.

Since I'm already a fan of her writing, as well as the chimerical way she weaves her fantasy romances in delicious paradox and wordplay, I couldn't wait to soar into this fable. I was looking forward to being entwined in elegant tricks, to being swept up in colorful prose and world-building as well as in verbal sparring that would leave my head spinning with seductive pink hearts. And I have to say, I wasn't at all disappointed.

If anything, this story left me floating on air. It tantalized me like the sharp, ticklish, sonorous whips of a summer breeze against my skin. It enveloped me in stunning lyricism and nature's mossy, woefully under-appreciated, arms. I couldn't devour it sooner. Couldn't breathe it in fast enough.

I have a partiality for sparkling tales already, for magical worlds and characters that are woven through with arresting detail, passion, wonder--so imagine my delight to be able to settle into this wicked whimsical fairytale with Lark and Cerulean. They are everything wild, everything dazzling - oh, so succulent and fresh in repartee - that you want them to be!

I promise you their enemies-to-lovers-to-mates journey is full of all the juicy "loss and longing" stuff that'll jolt you straight into the sky. It'll tack you up there like a star where you can shine down with bewitched admiration and greed.

As mortal and faerie respectively, Lark and Cerulean are poised as enemies from the moment she crosses the threshold into Faerie. She's a bawdy mouthy human with a flair for stubbornness, for whips, who just so happens to have a fierce protectiveness of animals in addition to her loved ones. He's a wicked Fae ruler with blue-tinted skin and pointy ears whose words lance, not just drip, with elegant machinations.

While Lark's desperate to win this dangerous game she's fallen into with him and reach the mountaintop, bringing her one step closer to rescuing her sisters, whom she loves dearly, Ceruleans's determined to thwart her with riddles and fatal bargains at every turn, with him on his own quest to restore the fauna that were lost during the Trapping (aka a war-of-sorts). What transpires between them is tons of wrangling "one up me, if you dare" fun.

Seriously, it's impossible not to get swept up in the thrilling "lark" of it all.

And their romance? Well, it's nothing short of feathered serendipity. It's an elaborate dance circling around the edge of chosen circumstance plus desire on top of fate.

Whenever Lark and Cerulean are together, sparks fly. They just do. The lustful volleying back-and-forth is what keeps you on the hook. The even teeter between them, though, that's the element which kicks up the intrigue another notch. Heightens the passion between them, the intensity.

After all, who doesn't it love it when two diametrically opposed beings (one magical, the other not) end up being well-matched in love AND war? I mean, hubba hubba! Can somebody procure me a leafy fan, please? I'm swoooooning!

Their dynamic interplay also explodes into fireworks over and over throughout the story, piercing you with feeling so pointed yet so potent that it lands with the precision of a javelin's tip. Half the time it sneaks up on you. Unraveling expectation. Digging in deeper to reveal hidden meaning or themes.

Then, before you know it, before you realize what's happening, you're spirited away with the characters. You're caught up in the majestic audacity of who Lark and Cerulean are, where they're from, and how they've come to fall in love with one another despite it being strictly forbidden.

Point blank: it's an incredibly sexy, lyrical, action-packed ride from start to finish!

Never has nature felt more provocative, either. I don't know how Jaster accomplished such a feat, but somehow she made wind into the most toe-curlingly erotic element on the planet?? (Like, who the hell needs/wants fingers when there's wind around to compete? 🤣 ) I'm unabashed to say she's likely created a new kink for fantasy romance readers everywhere.

(Oh, and don't get me started on how impatient I am to get my hands on Puck and Juniper's story! His brief appearance here was torture. An appealing tease. I can already tell he's a mischievous git who I'm going to love. Plus, I can't wait to see how Juniper's smarts finagle him into a tangled game of resistance vs. temptation.)

So listen to me now, y'all. Hear me when I say "follow the wind." Chase it. Trail after where it blows against your computer keys...or out the door toward the bookstore, the library, or wherever it is you prefer to procure material for reading...because you need to pick up a copy of this immediately. I mean it. Consider it a mandate.

*screams in every color of the wind until you heed me*

I'm telling you now: there ain't nothing better than this glowing debut into a universe of Vicious Faeries!

BOOK BLOG
Profile Image for Vanessa (bookfairy95).
1,305 reviews141 followers
November 29, 2020
What a wonderful story! ⅘ stars!

It took me a little while to finish, because life kept getting in the way, but now I am done and I am so sad I couldn’t just binge the entire book in one day, because it is definitely binge-worthy material. But first things first!

The beginning was a little difficult for me to get into, which was in part due to me having to look up several words that weren’t familiar to me and in part due to stress. The writing style is beautiful and lush and magical and the story starts slowly, because the world needs to be introduced and here and there is was a little confusing in parts, but I didn’t necessarily thought that was negative, because in many aspects Kiss the Fae reminded me of Laini Taylor - especially writing style and story telling. And that is something very good, because in my eyes Laini Taylor is a genius and hey, it took me 100 pages to really get into Strange the Dreamer and that one is one of my favourite books ever. But back to Kiss the Fae and Natalia Jaster!

What I loved most about this novel was the dialogues. Especially when Cerulean was part of it, because the way Cerulean talked is exactly how I picture the Fae talking. Cruel and deceitful and twisted and with lots of riddles. This vicious side is what I loved the most, because it just felt so REAL. I loved it and the first dialogue between Cerulean and Lark was also when I first felt the book click for me.

And while the story continued and Lark tried to find her way through the labyrinth the story and characters slowly wormed their way into my heart without me realising. I loved the back and forth, I loved the banter and how the two main characters seemed to slowly circle each other, not knowing whether to attack or run or maybe fall into each other’s arms. It felt like a game or a dance and it was twisted and sweet and I really enjoyed it. However, then there was this one scene, where I truly felt how much the characters mean to me and how much I came to love the story. It was completely unexpected and it caught me totally unaware, but there was this one scene (no spoilers, I’m being very vague), where one of the main characters opened up completely, talked about their thoughts and feelings and just bared themselves in front of the other, while at the same time telling them “go”. That character has always been so guarded and distant and seeing them open up like this, also seemed like the book opened up to me. I know this doesn’t make any sense, but that is what is felt like and that’s also when I sat there, holding my kindle, mouth open and felt my heart break, because the sheer amount of feelings overwhelmed me.

A stylistic thing I liked about the book is that beginning and end make a full circle. The story starts as a tale being told and it ends the exact same way. The end feels like the last words of a story told to a child, the reader is being directly addressed, like in the beginning and that just makes the whole thing round and it seems more magical in a way as well!

But that is not all that I love about Kiss the Fae. Natalia also has some very important messages in her book. She shows us that even human have great magic, she shows us how important it is to embrace other cultures and to try and understand them, open up to them. And she teaches us about the importance of wildlife. Because if we think about it, humans endanger animals of going extinct and it is important to restore these.

Now, you might wonder, if I loved this book so much, why do I “only” give it 4 stars. That is because I had difficulties of fully emerging myself in the story, of letting it capture me. That is not Natalia’s fault. It is the fault of a stressful few weeks and I am sure if I had had the time and calm of fully letting myself fall into this book, it would have been a higher rating. As it is, I am pretty sure that I will reread this book at some point and I am positive that I will give it a higher rating when fully diving into it with no disturbances! Until then, I am waiting for book 2 “Hunt the Fae” with great anticipation!
Profile Image for D Kings.
207 reviews5 followers
April 16, 2021
Últimamente los "Fae" están de temporada. Sí, justo como esa temporada de Crepúsculo donde salieron un sinfín de libros de Vampiros.

Y, oh, no me voy a quejar. Me encantan.

Por lo que cuando vi esa linda portada y leí FAE, me tuvo. Luego pasé a la sinopsis, y, sin duda, me atrapó.

Este libro tenía muchos puntos buenos para ser un gran libro. El juego y la narración me recordó a Caraval, todo lleno de misterio y secretos, pero hasta allí llega la similitud porque aunque en Caraval abordan bien la historia y te mantienen en suspenso, aquí la historia llega a tener cambios de ritmos bruscos, o situaciones sin sentido.

Con esto quiere decir que aunque no ha sido la mejor historia, me entretuvo. Y tal vez, incluso llegue a leer su segundo libro.
Profile Image for Andrea.
390 reviews
July 7, 2021
Me costó muchísimo terminar este libro y le tenía muchas ganas porque prometía no algo diferente, pero sí algo relacionado con Faes y amo a esas criaturas, y leería todos los libros relacionados con ellxs, pero vaya sorpresa que me llevé. Al principio me pareció estar leyendo un libro con vibras de El príncipe cruel pero con un toque más sexy, sin embargo, a medida que avanzaba todo se volvió aburrido, monótono y demasiado repetitivo de repente. La prosa y la forma en que está escrita la historia no es nada del otro mundo, y es algo deprimente. Alguna situaciones y momentos me dieron demasiada fatiga porque eran muy repetitivas: Sí, estaba claro que Cerulean era un Fae cruel, sexy, misterioso y buenísimo pero repetirlo cada dos por tres era innecesario, tan innecesario como repetir que Lark se sentía atraída por él, que le revolvía el mundo y la vida cada vez que lo tenía enfrente y que la ponía a temblar con solo pensar en él y que le resultaba familiar, TODO ESTO YA ESTABA MUY CLARO, LA AUTORA LO DEJÓ CLARO DESDE EL PRINCIPIO, no era necesario repetirlo una y otra y otra vez. NO ERA NECESARIO FORZAR LAS COSAS. Por otro lado, no hay mucha emoción en la historia, de verdad que la intensidad es nula, los personajes son planos, no tienen ninguna evolución, son más de lo mismo, Lark es la típica indomable y Cerulean es el típico tipo malo y misterioso que no provocan chispas y se quedan muy cortos, aparte el romance es tan poco creíble y muy forzado, y más que una historia de amor romántica o bonita, hay mucha tensión sexual cada vez que estos dos se encuentran, y al final resulta que SE AMAN CON TODOS SUS CORAZONES. Además de que fue algo turbio que Cerulean estuviera enamorado de Lark desde que ella tenía 10 años, y que la espiaba y la acechaba con su viento solo para marcar territorio sobre ella, o algo así. No, NO PUDE CON ESO. La trama es algo confusa a medida que se lee y se pone más rara a medida que se avanza más, no hay un son y ton, los diálogos me parecieron sosos, infantiles y poco creíbles, al final todo resulta siendo tan absurdo y todo se perdía en los rollos sexuales entre Lark y Cerulean, que bien, no digo que las escenas para +18 están mal, de hecho me gustan y en la sinopsis de entrada te advierten que HAY ESCENAS EXPLICITAS, pero agregarlas una tras otra y de una forma random hacía que se le perdiera MUCHISIMO a la trama real, de repente pasaban ciertas cosas importantes para la historia, cosas con lo que lidiar y en las que pensar cuando de repente LARK Y CERULEAN ESTABAN HABLANDO DE “enrollarse” en momentos realmente importantes, fue realmente agotador. Sentí que hipersexualizaban muchas situaciones que NO TENÍAN QUE SER SEXUALIZADAS y esto hacía que se le perdiera partes importantes a la historia.
Entonces en resumen Kiss the fae es más de lo mismo, hipersexualización en su máximo esplendor, cosas para nada creíbles y absurdas, no es entretenido y la prosa es increíblemente decepcionante.
Profile Image for Kat (Bookish Blades).
295 reviews53 followers
January 3, 2021
read my full review on my blog Bookish Blades

the good:
- sex positive
- the concept

the bad:
- big sigh
- cringey writing
- I mean what is a big, sexy sky???? how is the sky sexy (yes clouds can look good but I only want to read about a sexy sky on the internet)
- the sex scenes ??? or the almost sex scenes idk.
- the love interest can control the wind and he slips a wind into her room ??? and that wind gives her an amazing orgasm and?? what
- it's just too much, too much description, too many flowery expressions

I wanted to like this especially because I was totally in the mood for it but I wanted to dnf it more than once :(
Profile Image for Kagama-the Literaturevixen.
833 reviews137 followers
January 27, 2021

Where to start with this one? For one thing I DNF ed it so this is what I know of the plot. The main characterowns a animal sanctuary together with her two sisters.

I just found the main character very crude and rather dumb. We are introduced to her as she has had sex with a total stranger off the street. ((An one-day stand?))

I tried to keep an open mind but even if an adult fictional woman should be able to have sex without being slut-shamed...she was just so irresponsible with her decision as he not only turns out to be a thief and after her sisters return home to a total stranger in their home things get dangerous.

I mean he didnt even satisfy her so couldnt she have handled it herself?
6 reviews
December 4, 2022
I have lost brain cells attempting to read this book. Lots of typos and missing words. It's very hard to actually understand what is going on in the book . Couldn't even read half way before I gave up
Profile Image for Chiara Cro.
197 reviews4 followers
February 15, 2021
I find it hard to rate this one. I really liked certain aspects of it. I didn't like other aspects of it as much. Nevertheless, I am curious to see what the other books in this series will bring.
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