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The Cursed Kingdoms #1
The Cruel Fae King
He says I’m his fated mate.
I say I’m his fated enemy.
I was stripped of my royal title because of him. I was banished to a deserted island and left to die because of him.
Only when I’m his last option does he remember I exist at all. Now this cruel king is taking me captive to be his bride, join his people, and save his kingdom from a spreading plague.
The witch claims this is our destiny written in the magic of the flames and the waves of the sea. I choose my own destiny though. And I’ll drown in those cold waters than ever be bound to him.
Because he doesn’t need a fated fae mate. He needs a savior.
And I’d rather die than be either of those things for the Cruel King.
NOTE: The Cruel Fae King is a fiery, panty melting enemies to lovers tale intended for readers 18 and over. Fans of Holly Black, Sarah J Maas, and all things sexy fae will fall in lusty hate with the Cursed Kingdoms Series.
Reading Order
The Cruel Fae King - Releasing Nov 19th
Book Two - Releasing Dec 10th
Book Three - Release date coming soon
I say I’m his fated enemy.
I was stripped of my royal title because of him. I was banished to a deserted island and left to die because of him.
Only when I’m his last option does he remember I exist at all. Now this cruel king is taking me captive to be his bride, join his people, and save his kingdom from a spreading plague.
The witch claims this is our destiny written in the magic of the flames and the waves of the sea. I choose my own destiny though. And I’ll drown in those cold waters than ever be bound to him.
Because he doesn’t need a fated fae mate. He needs a savior.
And I’d rather die than be either of those things for the Cruel King.
NOTE: The Cruel Fae King is a fiery, panty melting enemies to lovers tale intended for readers 18 and over. Fans of Holly Black, Sarah J Maas, and all things sexy fae will fall in lusty hate with the Cursed Kingdoms Series.
Reading Order
The Cruel Fae King - Releasing Nov 19th
Book Two - Releasing Dec 10th
Book Three - Release date coming soon
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2019
662 people are currently reading
1822 people want to read
About the author
A.K. Koonce
104 books883 followersA.K. Koonce is a USA Today best selling author. She's a mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance author by night. She keeps the fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop, while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular but demanding fictional characters who always fill her thoughts
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
February 15, 2020
1.5 stars
The start was promising but fell flat 30 percent into the book. The characters and their behaviors seems disjointed. The story feels like it focused on unnecessary things rather than exploring the reasons why things were happening or what is causing it. The so called “cruel king” is utterly incompetent to lead his people with all his emotional outbursts. The female main character is even worse than him with her childish antics. Like, I get why she’s angry and rightfully so but mentioning how she was rejected over and over again does not solve anything. She’s out here throwing tantrums when people are bleeding out in front of her, at some point she should have realized these people has it worse than her and use it to motivate her to be a queen they need. Also with all the detective work she tried to explore nothing come of it. So I’m confused to what the point of the whole story was :/
Lastly, I did not like how naive both the characters were when we the readers are told to believe they are great leaders and rulers. I felt mislead and clowned on with the story I was presented!
The start was promising but fell flat 30 percent into the book. The characters and their behaviors seems disjointed. The story feels like it focused on unnecessary things rather than exploring the reasons why things were happening or what is causing it. The so called “cruel king” is utterly incompetent to lead his people with all his emotional outbursts. The female main character is even worse than him with her childish antics. Like, I get why she’s angry and rightfully so but mentioning how she was rejected over and over again does not solve anything. She’s out here throwing tantrums when people are bleeding out in front of her, at some point she should have realized these people has it worse than her and use it to motivate her to be a queen they need. Also with all the detective work she tried to explore nothing come of it. So I’m confused to what the point of the whole story was :/
Lastly, I did not like how naive both the characters were when we the readers are told to believe they are great leaders and rulers. I felt mislead and clowned on with the story I was presented!
February 6, 2020
(1.75)
Yikes. That was a mess. Which is a shame because it also had potential.
The writing just really struggled to properly convey the authors intent. The plot itself is a mess that jumped from one thing to the next and nothing was properly explained. I still don't quite know why the North Kingdom was cursed, how the curse works, or why Syren and King Iri being together will stop it.
Today I am coining a term called Dreamscape World-building. This is when a books plot and world building more closely resembles the story telling of dream than a professional writer or story teller.
Dreams aren't logical and can jump from one thing to another, or change things in a snap and it just makes sense because it's a dream and that's what dreams do. They don't need world-building or context, or sometimes even names for people because you as the dreamer just automatically know what's happening in any given situation. For example, in a dream you might be talking to someone in your living room, and then suddenly you're outside with them walking in a park when pterodactyls attack and you have to defend yourselves with the swords you are suddenly carrying. This exact scenario doesn't translate well to a story.
"My what a lovely day it is today" Friend said while sitting on my black, leather couch, in my living room.
"Yes I concur!" I said, sitting next to them as we watched tv, both of us relaxing in our pj's.
"Don't you just wish more days were like this?" They asked as a soft breeze played with their hair, and whipped a few leaves from the trees into the air around us. I smiled into the sun, enjoying the way it warmed my face as we walked through the park.
A screech interrupted us as a pterodactyl flew down, slashing it's claws at us. As one we drew our swords and started swinging at it.
Don't mind my shitty example.
As readers we need context for why the characters changed location and when, why there are pterodactyls in this world, and where the swords came from. I'm not saying The Cruel Fae King was as bad as this, but we were just thrown into a world which as far as I'm aware has an island, a northern kingdom, and somewhere a place where Syren used to live. There are two gods that are worshipped daily, but not by the same people. Aaaaannnd that's about it.
Characters would do things and it was never explained why or what the significance of those actions were. If they did something out of character it was hard to pick up on because they were never well formed in the first place - aside from Syren, but still I don't understand all of her motives or actions. As the author you could read back on these scenes and understand what's happening because you have the context necessary to understand what's going on, but as a reader who knows nothing I was just lost and confused.
I hope all of this makes sense and I haven't just spent the last god knows how long attempting to describe this thing that I've come across in a few books now for nothing. For all I know there is already a term and explanation, and I would love to know what it is if so.
Aside from that, Iri was also just a douchebag of a love interest. I don't mind it if the love interest is cruel if they have a good reason to be (and I mean actual good reason, not a shitty excuse) but not if they're just ignorant assholes. And physical violence on someone is pretty much never excusable in my books.
I did appreciate some of the puns, and this was such a quick and admittedly fun read that I'll probably continue, but the reason this was such a quick read (as in it only took me a few hours to get through) was because a lot more context and world-building needed to be added to the story to make it not read as an amateur writers first draft. It's not like it needed a huge amount either. I don't expect much from romance/erotica novels, but it certainly needed more than what we got.
Yikes. That was a mess. Which is a shame because it also had potential.
The writing just really struggled to properly convey the authors intent. The plot itself is a mess that jumped from one thing to the next and nothing was properly explained. I still don't quite know why the North Kingdom was cursed, how the curse works, or why Syren and King Iri being together will stop it.
Today I am coining a term called Dreamscape World-building. This is when a books plot and world building more closely resembles the story telling of dream than a professional writer or story teller.
Dreams aren't logical and can jump from one thing to another, or change things in a snap and it just makes sense because it's a dream and that's what dreams do. They don't need world-building or context, or sometimes even names for people because you as the dreamer just automatically know what's happening in any given situation. For example, in a dream you might be talking to someone in your living room, and then suddenly you're outside with them walking in a park when pterodactyls attack and you have to defend yourselves with the swords you are suddenly carrying. This exact scenario doesn't translate well to a story.
"My what a lovely day it is today" Friend said while sitting on my black, leather couch, in my living room.
"Yes I concur!" I said, sitting next to them as we watched tv, both of us relaxing in our pj's.
"Don't you just wish more days were like this?" They asked as a soft breeze played with their hair, and whipped a few leaves from the trees into the air around us. I smiled into the sun, enjoying the way it warmed my face as we walked through the park.
A screech interrupted us as a pterodactyl flew down, slashing it's claws at us. As one we drew our swords and started swinging at it.
As readers we need context for why the characters changed location and when, why there are pterodactyls in this world, and where the swords came from. I'm not saying The Cruel Fae King was as bad as this, but we were just thrown into a world which as far as I'm aware has an island, a northern kingdom, and somewhere a place where Syren used to live. There are two gods that are worshipped daily, but not by the same people. Aaaaannnd that's about it.
Characters would do things and it was never explained why or what the significance of those actions were. If they did something out of character it was hard to pick up on because they were never well formed in the first place - aside from Syren, but still I don't understand all of her motives or actions. As the author you could read back on these scenes and understand what's happening because you have the context necessary to understand what's going on, but as a reader who knows nothing I was just lost and confused.
I hope all of this makes sense and I haven't just spent the last god knows how long attempting to describe this thing that I've come across in a few books now for nothing. For all I know there is already a term and explanation, and I would love to know what it is if so.
Aside from that, Iri was also just a douchebag of a love interest. I don't mind it if the love interest is cruel if they have a good reason to be (and I mean actual good reason, not a shitty excuse) but not if they're just ignorant assholes. And physical violence on someone is pretty much never excusable in my books.
I did appreciate some of the puns, and this was such a quick and admittedly fun read that I'll probably continue, but the reason this was such a quick read (as in it only took me a few hours to get through) was because a lot more context and world-building needed to be added to the story to make it not read as an amateur writers first draft. It's not like it needed a huge amount either. I don't expect much from romance/erotica novels, but it certainly needed more than what we got.
January 10, 2020
It's like the vampire craze all over again; a fantasy race gets popular and suddenly the market is saturated with sub-part stories haphazardly claiming their non-human character is the popular fantasy race so they can try to tap into the market.
The Cruel Fae King is yet another underdeveloped fantasy romance where the heroine is feisty and swears and all she and the love interest, who is an asshole for no reason and has no clue why the heroine hates him, do is stupidly fight until they have sex. It's the worst parts of like a kidnapping and enemies-to-lover romance without a shred of the payoff.
One issue that I have with any book that's set in a fantasy universe is an author failing to commit to immersion. Most notably, in terms of the language used. In a fantasy world of faeries, things like "seven eleven" and the phrase "spoiler alert" are so jarringly modern and contemporary that it hurts the fantasy, it hurts the immersion.
As mentioned it's got parts of a kidnapping/hostage romance and the couple fights in every interaction like an enemy to lovers trope, but we also have the stereotypical "princess who doesn't act like a princess because she fucks guys in the stable and trained with the guards" that's suddenly in literally every fantasy novel because authors can't seem to make the connection that a strong female character doesn't literally have to be physically strong to be a strong character. We also have the male lead be a blandly executed jerk whose motivations and explanations and everything are dumb, especially because he's too prideful or just too plain stupid to realize why things aren't going right.
As for the plot, things aren't well developed. Since we get basically no world building, the sudden drops of witches and dark magic or curses or goddesses don't really impact anything because they're not worked into the story well. Things are just dropped in a necessary to try to form some semblance of a plot amongst the inane fighting.
What's really sad is that there could have been a great story in here. It would have been interesting to explore Syren's banishment and how she handles the rejection; it could have been a great way to dive into her character and give her a vulnerability, like her having a complex about never being good enough and fearing that no one would ever accept her, and this being something and she the king have to work through together, with him repenting how his choices affected her.
Instead, Syren is just... angry. She's angry all the time and when she's not angry, she's petty or aroused.
As much as I can appreciate snark and aren't just pure-heated saints 24/7, Syren and Bear (by the way the author has him called Bear all the time and I don't know why, but I hate it regardless) aren't well developed. Their motivations, actions, feelings... it's just not done well. The attraction happened immediately and then somehow love? Like, these two have only ever rubbed up on each other and said some snarky words and I'm supposed to care about their romance?
The sex happens too fast too. She's basically like pouting about a party she doesn't want to attend and then she gets horny and tells him to fuck her and he does and then his like... best friend/advisor dude is like "Oh you smell like sex so did you make up with her?" and the the king is like "Eh, kind of forgot to apologize or like, show my feelings or anything, it was just sex" and it's like...
Sigh.
I saw potential but it didn't live up to it. Chalk it up to another poorly done faerie book this year. This is like... #5. Bleh. I will not be reading the next books in the series because I just didn't care for it. The writing also often had issues with like... repeating words unnecessarily in a sentence that made it feel clunky and juvenile. Plus, the dialogue was often very crass and Syren just came across as bratty more than anything else.
It's like a 1.5
The Cruel Fae King is yet another underdeveloped fantasy romance where the heroine is feisty and swears and all she and the love interest, who is an asshole for no reason and has no clue why the heroine hates him, do is stupidly fight until they have sex. It's the worst parts of like a kidnapping and enemies-to-lover romance without a shred of the payoff.
One issue that I have with any book that's set in a fantasy universe is an author failing to commit to immersion. Most notably, in terms of the language used. In a fantasy world of faeries, things like "seven eleven" and the phrase "spoiler alert" are so jarringly modern and contemporary that it hurts the fantasy, it hurts the immersion.
As mentioned it's got parts of a kidnapping/hostage romance and the couple fights in every interaction like an enemy to lovers trope, but we also have the stereotypical "princess who doesn't act like a princess because she fucks guys in the stable and trained with the guards" that's suddenly in literally every fantasy novel because authors can't seem to make the connection that a strong female character doesn't literally have to be physically strong to be a strong character. We also have the male lead be a blandly executed jerk whose motivations and explanations and everything are dumb, especially because he's too prideful or just too plain stupid to realize why things aren't going right.
As for the plot, things aren't well developed. Since we get basically no world building, the sudden drops of witches and dark magic or curses or goddesses don't really impact anything because they're not worked into the story well. Things are just dropped in a necessary to try to form some semblance of a plot amongst the inane fighting.
What's really sad is that there could have been a great story in here. It would have been interesting to explore Syren's banishment and how she handles the rejection; it could have been a great way to dive into her character and give her a vulnerability, like her having a complex about never being good enough and fearing that no one would ever accept her, and this being something and she the king have to work through together, with him repenting how his choices affected her.
Instead, Syren is just... angry. She's angry all the time and when she's not angry, she's petty or aroused.
As much as I can appreciate snark and aren't just pure-heated saints 24/7, Syren and Bear (by the way the author has him called Bear all the time and I don't know why, but I hate it regardless) aren't well developed. Their motivations, actions, feelings... it's just not done well. The attraction happened immediately and then somehow love? Like, these two have only ever rubbed up on each other and said some snarky words and I'm supposed to care about their romance?
The sex happens too fast too. She's basically like pouting about a party she doesn't want to attend and then she gets horny and tells him to fuck her and he does and then his like... best friend/advisor dude is like "Oh you smell like sex so did you make up with her?" and the the king is like "Eh, kind of forgot to apologize or like, show my feelings or anything, it was just sex" and it's like...
Sigh.
I saw potential but it didn't live up to it. Chalk it up to another poorly done faerie book this year. This is like... #5. Bleh. I will not be reading the next books in the series because I just didn't care for it. The writing also often had issues with like... repeating words unnecessarily in a sentence that made it feel clunky and juvenile. Plus, the dialogue was often very crass and Syren just came across as bratty more than anything else.
It's like a 1.5
November 22, 2019
The h makes a poor first impression but don’t judge her harshly. She turns into a surprising mix of kick ass foul mouthed detective & future queen. The H is an asshole for the full length of the novel. He does make some attempts at wooing the princess but he self sabotages anytime he opens his mouth. The plot itself is full on intrigue & twists. I’ll continue the series.
3 solid stars
3 solid stars
November 21, 2019
HOLY SHIT what did I just read? I am in love with this book and its a kindle unlimited double score!!! So worth reading to those browsing of reviews pondering whether or not it will be worth it, its sooooo effing worth reading! December 10th I will be in my room making no noise pretending I don't exist because I have got a book to read!!!!
December 31, 2019
3.7 stars
March 3, 2020
Good
This was an entertaining start to this series. I can't wait to see what Syren and Iri do in the next books and how they will lift this curse and who is behind it all.
This was an entertaining start to this series. I can't wait to see what Syren and Iri do in the next books and how they will lift this curse and who is behind it all.
June 7, 2020
I didn’t hate it. I actually liked the heroine unlike other reviewers. It was funny, but I just thought it could have gone darker. The potential was there just didn’t happen. Not interested in reading the rest of the books.
March 6, 2021
Oh this was fun. The humour is just perfect. Syren has just the right amount of trauma and the right amount of sass. I loved her little sarcastic moments. She’s always got to have the last word. I seriously could happily read this series again.
November 26, 2019
Wonderfully and surprisingly good!
I dont remember how I stumbled upon this book, but I am sure glad I did!! Hoky cow this book is good. I will say I didnt really have super high Hope's for this book going in. I thought it would just be another boring predictable Fae book. I am so glad I was wrong. This book captured and held my attention the whole way through, and had me wanting more before I reached the end. I truly cannot wait for book two to release. While in the mean time I am going to go check out other books by A.K. Koonce. I have definitely became a new fan.
I dont remember how I stumbled upon this book, but I am sure glad I did!! Hoky cow this book is good. I will say I didnt really have super high Hope's for this book going in. I thought it would just be another boring predictable Fae book. I am so glad I was wrong. This book captured and held my attention the whole way through, and had me wanting more before I reached the end. I truly cannot wait for book two to release. While in the mean time I am going to go check out other books by A.K. Koonce. I have definitely became a new fan.
November 20, 2019
Couldn’t put it down
I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. Love Fae stories. Syren is pretty coo coo but fun and funny. And Bear is a sexy jerk. Great ending. I can’t wait to see what happens once they unite in the next book.
I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. Love Fae stories. Syren is pretty coo coo but fun and funny. And Bear is a sexy jerk. Great ending. I can’t wait to see what happens once they unite in the next book.
April 17, 2022
I have one thing to say to you A.K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey, and that is what in the name of Goddess Celeste have you done to me??
I have never been so confused in my life! One minute I'm thinking I know who's doing what & who can be trusted and the next *BOOM* I'm back to being clueless.
It's taken me three days to process my thoughts on The Cruel Fae King, so here goes nothing!
The forgotten princess and the cruel king are the epitome of a power couple. They complement one another so well it's uncanny, especially considering how much hate was harbored between them in the beginning.
Bear didn't know what hit him when Syren came like a swift wave, crashing into his life and literally knocking him on his butt. He was expecting a spoiled princess who couldn't do anything for herself, and now that she's proven his assumptions inaccurate and shown him just how much an ally she truly is, nothing should dare stand in their way. Separate they are dangerous, together they will be unstoppable.
I have never been so confused in my life! One minute I'm thinking I know who's doing what & who can be trusted and the next *BOOM* I'm back to being clueless.
It's taken me three days to process my thoughts on The Cruel Fae King, so here goes nothing!
The forgotten princess and the cruel king are the epitome of a power couple. They complement one another so well it's uncanny, especially considering how much hate was harbored between them in the beginning.
Bear didn't know what hit him when Syren came like a swift wave, crashing into his life and literally knocking him on his butt. He was expecting a spoiled princess who couldn't do anything for herself, and now that she's proven his assumptions inaccurate and shown him just how much an ally she truly is, nothing should dare stand in their way. Separate they are dangerous, together they will be unstoppable.
November 23, 2019
just didnt hook me, I was very confused at the start but then I thought had potential from the island portion, but that ended really quick. I just didnt like the direction of both characters. H was an ass most of the time and I could see potential chemistry when they had it some moments but he would just ruin it. FMC seemed like she was supposed to be this super trained bad ass but sometimes it just felt flat and she seemed like a child to me. I am conflicted with this one.
also FMC like randomly made friends with a dude except I'm super confused why she thought he was a friend she was suspicious of him the entire time and he was creepy.
I just wasnt sure where they stood the entire time, at some points it seemed like both could be friends even but then it was like they were almost reminded that they needed to hate each other
also FMC like randomly made friends with a dude except I'm super confused why she thought he was a friend she was suspicious of him the entire time and he was creepy.
I just wasnt sure where they stood the entire time, at some points it seemed like both could be friends even but then it was like they were almost reminded that they needed to hate each other
November 21, 2019
Nothing but perfection
Princess Syren deserves to be the free spirited head strong woman she is but from what she’s heard the Cursed King will not allow that for her. So to her surprise King Iri is a man she hates to desire but desire she does and the heat between these two will burn you! Could not put down this story.
Princess Syren deserves to be the free spirited head strong woman she is but from what she’s heard the Cursed King will not allow that for her. So to her surprise King Iri is a man she hates to desire but desire she does and the heat between these two will burn you! Could not put down this story.
November 24, 2019
Fantasy Romance
An exiled Princess, A cursed king and his kingdom are the heart of this story. What is this plague ,that has taken over the Northern Kingdom? Is it black magic, a curse or poison? It is up to the ice princess and fire king to find out. There is more to come it book 2. If you enjoy the fae and mystery , I recommend you read this series.
An exiled Princess, A cursed king and his kingdom are the heart of this story. What is this plague ,that has taken over the Northern Kingdom? Is it black magic, a curse or poison? It is up to the ice princess and fire king to find out. There is more to come it book 2. If you enjoy the fae and mystery , I recommend you read this series.
January 3, 2020
Absolutely gripping
From the very gripping prologue to the very gripping end, it's a ride of fury you won't be able to put down.
From the very gripping prologue to the very gripping end, it's a ride of fury you won't be able to put down.
December 1, 2019
Misunderstood and too dominant to compromise
Always a fan of A.K. Koonce and she did not disappoint. In this collaboration, the two main characters are so at odds with each other and in denial of any common ground that they have with each other. I feel like there could have been a little bit more development of the plot surrounding the cursed king, and I wanted to find out more about what happened to the kings first fiancé, but I’m guessing there might be a little bit more exploration of that in book 2? (Please?) Anyway, I highly recommend if you’re interested in two dominant and complex characters that are so at odds and misunderstood but still manage to come together. The tension between these two is almost palpable.
Always a fan of A.K. Koonce and she did not disappoint. In this collaboration, the two main characters are so at odds with each other and in denial of any common ground that they have with each other. I feel like there could have been a little bit more development of the plot surrounding the cursed king, and I wanted to find out more about what happened to the kings first fiancé, but I’m guessing there might be a little bit more exploration of that in book 2? (Please?) Anyway, I highly recommend if you’re interested in two dominant and complex characters that are so at odds and misunderstood but still manage to come together. The tension between these two is almost palpable.
September 25, 2020
I really wanted to love this series, but it was slow and sometimes meh.
January 15, 2020
https://coffeefortwobookreview.wordpr...
Title: The Cruel Fae King: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 1)
Authors: A.K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey
Retailers: Amazon
Date of Publication: November 19, 2019
Length: 274 pages
Genre: Mythology and Folk Tales; Fairytale Fantasy; Sea Stories
Audience: Young Adult
Collective Favorite Quote: “I am your Cursed King. Mr. Not Handsome, Legendary Werewolf Keeper, Could Pick Me Up At A Seven Elven Market, King.”
Sensitivities: Language, Violence
Other books within the series: The Cursed Fae King: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 2); The Crowned Fae Queen: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 3)
Disclaimer: There may be some “spoilers” in our detailed banter below:
Hello readers!
Today we will be reviewing The Cruel Fae King: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 1) by author A.K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey.
Please see above for more details on the book.
This story is about a princess who was chosen for a king, then banished. He now needs her because the witch says they are mates. She wants nothing to do with this Cruel King. This book will take you on an adventure, a steamy one at that!
This isn’t our first Fae romance, how does this one compare to others?
Bridgette– This is not our first fae romance and certainly won’t be our last, if Amy and I have anything to say about the matter. I love fantastical romance full of supernatural mystery. This book wanted to be that for me; however, I have to say I anticipated the truth behind the mystery at the start of it all. I loved the bickering, budding romance between the two characters and yet I would have enjoyed more mystery or a bigger plot twist. Am I greedy? Maybe.
Amy– Not our first and won’t be our last!! I think it’s easy to see that this is one of my favorite genres! I love all the mystery in this book and it left me wanting more. It had me diving right into book two. I think this tale was well written and I enjoyed it!!
Claire– I think Fae storylines are taking romance novels, especially young adult ones, by storm. Even if the plot isn’t centered on a romantic ploy, they are intimate by nature. From their beautiful and detailed glamour to their fierce nature, fae novels have complex characters and storylines that really draws readers into a world of fantastic beasts and where to find them.
Pick two characters and talk about their relationship.
Bridgette- Bear and Syren’s father was an interesting relationship for me. Spoiler alert *Bear declines a match with his daughter and yet there was no real focus on her father being deciding to hate him. I think, even if I didn’t like my child for whatever crazy reason he had, I would be very put off by a man who felt she was not worthy of marrying him. I would have liked to see some more of her father’s hatred to be directed toward Bear.
Amy- Syren and her father. I thought it was very interesting that she played a big part in saving another kingdom and instead of valuing that her father chose to throw her away and treat her like scum.
Claire- Syren and Aisha had the typical old flame, new flame dynamic. However, it wasn’t quite that clear cut. Aisha still had a thing for Bear while Syren wanted nothing to with either but still felt compelled to covet him. I think this particular relationship helped Syren form and identify her true and rather confusing feelings for the King. Aisha has a Regina George vibe with her deliberate lies to Syren making her look like a fool. I can just hear her behind Syren’s back, “Stop trying to make brown happen. It’s never going to happen.” Typical mean girl but a necessary relationship to develop the plot.
How well do you think the author built the world in the book?
Bridgette- I loved the makeup of the world itself and the fact Syren was lost out on an island alone to make one lonely friend. However, I would have loved more description of the island and the world she went back to with Bear. I think this book has the potential to really let readers get lost in it if the world is more fully developed and built in the following books.
Amy- I think she did a very good job of giving descriptions and details of what each place looked like.
Claire- Maybe it was just my unstimulated brain starting the book but I thought the story began rather slow and I felt confused by the state of the kingdom and the island Syren was occupying. However, time and attention to detail brought me the answers I needed and I found the story really unfolding into a world of supernatural characters with fascinating, and possibly frightening, abilities.
Which characters in the book did you like best?
Bridgette- The character standing out against the rest most for me was Miranda. He was a character full of strong personality and someone who is likely able to get along with just about anyone. I loved his eccentricities and would love to read more of his background and future.
Amy- I think my favorite was Miranda he brought a little bit of humor to the story and I thought he was fun to read about!
Claire- I thought Donovan’s character was rather underrated. He reminded me of Varys from Game of Thrones, a confidant that knows the ins and outs of the castle and how power works. Although, I did not see that fate coming. I know the Cell Block Tango asserts “he had it coming” but I don’t think it was only him to blame.
What did you think about the cover and the title of this book?
Bridgette- I think the book cover was eye catching and maybe just a bit cheesy, but hey I like corny. Let me pull a page out of Claire’s book here and quote Iris in the The Holiday, “I like corny. I’m looking for corny in my life.” As for the title, I thought it was a tad bit too straight to the point. I miss titles where you really had to read the book and get into it for it all to come together. This book is exactly what the cover and title state.
Amy- The cover is very appealing to readers I think, and the title fits perfectly. If your wondering what the book is about both of those give very good perspective!
Claire- The cover certainly draws the target demographic for this genre. However, I doubt I would have picked up this book on a whim. It has a rather steamy alpha male spanning the entire page with an acute focus on his abdominal muscles that draw the eye away from his WINGS. I mean the guy has feathers coming out of his back but the first thing I notice is his chiseled stomach. The world we live in… The artwork is stunning, though. I think an equal balance between those aspects would attract more readers. The title fits the story but leaves room for lingering assumptions that compels potential readers to pick it up.
Do you think this book brought everything you look for in a book or did you find it lacking in places?
Bridgette- As stated in a previous question here, I wanted more descriptions of the place and how it all fit together. There was plenty of banter between characters; however, overall the development of the story based on the location seemed lacking to me. Otherwise, the book has really fun characters and an interesting premise.
Amy- I think this book was very good! The only thing I found lacking was that it ended! Give me more!!! I enjoyed the surprises, the character building, and the descriptions in this book.
Claire- I believe the only thing that I found lacking in this book was the overall detail and pace. The pace picked up early in the plot and I eventually found myself unable to put it down. Again, I would have liked some more detail about the kingdom, its inhabitants, and both Syren’s and Bear’s backgrounds but I suppose that is why authors write series of books instead of standalones! I look forward to seeing the rest of these details unveiled.
Have you read books by either of these authors? If not will you?
Bridgette- I have not read other books by either author. However, they have shown they do understand what readers of sexy fae fantasy are looking for and my interest is piqued. I will be checking out their other books to compare.
Amy- I have not but I will be adding to my TBR list!!
Claire- I have not read other books by these authors and that may be one of the greatest tragedies of my life. Alright, I have a flair for the dramatics but I will be adding their books to my ASAP reading lists!
Would you recommend this book?
Bridgette- I stand by my evaluation of this book being rated at about three cups of coffee for me on our five cup scale. It didn’t have me thinking I need to immediately start the next one, but I am interested enough to add the next book to my TBR. I want to know where this story will lead, yet it is not the type of book to keep me up all night reading to the end. I think anyone who enjoys fae fantasy with a bit of sexual tension will enjoy this book.
Amy- You mean you haven’t got it yet??? Go GET this book!!!
Claire- Is water wet? Of course, this book deserves all the recommendations!
Thanks for reading. Comment below if you have read The Cruel Fae King: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 1) by author A.K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey or if you are going to put it on your TBR!
Disclosure: We are in no way affiliated with the author and are not being compensated for this review.
Amy & Bridgette & Claire
Amy’s Rating: 5
Bridgette’s Rating: 3
Claire’s Rating: 4
Title: The Cruel Fae King: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 1)
Authors: A.K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey
Retailers: Amazon
Date of Publication: November 19, 2019
Length: 274 pages
Genre: Mythology and Folk Tales; Fairytale Fantasy; Sea Stories
Audience: Young Adult
Collective Favorite Quote: “I am your Cursed King. Mr. Not Handsome, Legendary Werewolf Keeper, Could Pick Me Up At A Seven Elven Market, King.”
Sensitivities: Language, Violence
Other books within the series: The Cursed Fae King: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 2); The Crowned Fae Queen: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 3)
Disclaimer: There may be some “spoilers” in our detailed banter below:
Hello readers!
Today we will be reviewing The Cruel Fae King: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 1) by author A.K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey.
Please see above for more details on the book.
This story is about a princess who was chosen for a king, then banished. He now needs her because the witch says they are mates. She wants nothing to do with this Cruel King. This book will take you on an adventure, a steamy one at that!
This isn’t our first Fae romance, how does this one compare to others?
Bridgette– This is not our first fae romance and certainly won’t be our last, if Amy and I have anything to say about the matter. I love fantastical romance full of supernatural mystery. This book wanted to be that for me; however, I have to say I anticipated the truth behind the mystery at the start of it all. I loved the bickering, budding romance between the two characters and yet I would have enjoyed more mystery or a bigger plot twist. Am I greedy? Maybe.
Amy– Not our first and won’t be our last!! I think it’s easy to see that this is one of my favorite genres! I love all the mystery in this book and it left me wanting more. It had me diving right into book two. I think this tale was well written and I enjoyed it!!
Claire– I think Fae storylines are taking romance novels, especially young adult ones, by storm. Even if the plot isn’t centered on a romantic ploy, they are intimate by nature. From their beautiful and detailed glamour to their fierce nature, fae novels have complex characters and storylines that really draws readers into a world of fantastic beasts and where to find them.
Pick two characters and talk about their relationship.
Bridgette- Bear and Syren’s father was an interesting relationship for me. Spoiler alert *Bear declines a match with his daughter and yet there was no real focus on her father being deciding to hate him. I think, even if I didn’t like my child for whatever crazy reason he had, I would be very put off by a man who felt she was not worthy of marrying him. I would have liked to see some more of her father’s hatred to be directed toward Bear.
Amy- Syren and her father. I thought it was very interesting that she played a big part in saving another kingdom and instead of valuing that her father chose to throw her away and treat her like scum.
Claire- Syren and Aisha had the typical old flame, new flame dynamic. However, it wasn’t quite that clear cut. Aisha still had a thing for Bear while Syren wanted nothing to with either but still felt compelled to covet him. I think this particular relationship helped Syren form and identify her true and rather confusing feelings for the King. Aisha has a Regina George vibe with her deliberate lies to Syren making her look like a fool. I can just hear her behind Syren’s back, “Stop trying to make brown happen. It’s never going to happen.” Typical mean girl but a necessary relationship to develop the plot.
How well do you think the author built the world in the book?
Bridgette- I loved the makeup of the world itself and the fact Syren was lost out on an island alone to make one lonely friend. However, I would have loved more description of the island and the world she went back to with Bear. I think this book has the potential to really let readers get lost in it if the world is more fully developed and built in the following books.
Amy- I think she did a very good job of giving descriptions and details of what each place looked like.
Claire- Maybe it was just my unstimulated brain starting the book but I thought the story began rather slow and I felt confused by the state of the kingdom and the island Syren was occupying. However, time and attention to detail brought me the answers I needed and I found the story really unfolding into a world of supernatural characters with fascinating, and possibly frightening, abilities.
Which characters in the book did you like best?
Bridgette- The character standing out against the rest most for me was Miranda. He was a character full of strong personality and someone who is likely able to get along with just about anyone. I loved his eccentricities and would love to read more of his background and future.
Amy- I think my favorite was Miranda he brought a little bit of humor to the story and I thought he was fun to read about!
Claire- I thought Donovan’s character was rather underrated. He reminded me of Varys from Game of Thrones, a confidant that knows the ins and outs of the castle and how power works. Although, I did not see that fate coming. I know the Cell Block Tango asserts “he had it coming” but I don’t think it was only him to blame.
What did you think about the cover and the title of this book?
Bridgette- I think the book cover was eye catching and maybe just a bit cheesy, but hey I like corny. Let me pull a page out of Claire’s book here and quote Iris in the The Holiday, “I like corny. I’m looking for corny in my life.” As for the title, I thought it was a tad bit too straight to the point. I miss titles where you really had to read the book and get into it for it all to come together. This book is exactly what the cover and title state.
Amy- The cover is very appealing to readers I think, and the title fits perfectly. If your wondering what the book is about both of those give very good perspective!
Claire- The cover certainly draws the target demographic for this genre. However, I doubt I would have picked up this book on a whim. It has a rather steamy alpha male spanning the entire page with an acute focus on his abdominal muscles that draw the eye away from his WINGS. I mean the guy has feathers coming out of his back but the first thing I notice is his chiseled stomach. The world we live in… The artwork is stunning, though. I think an equal balance between those aspects would attract more readers. The title fits the story but leaves room for lingering assumptions that compels potential readers to pick it up.
Do you think this book brought everything you look for in a book or did you find it lacking in places?
Bridgette- As stated in a previous question here, I wanted more descriptions of the place and how it all fit together. There was plenty of banter between characters; however, overall the development of the story based on the location seemed lacking to me. Otherwise, the book has really fun characters and an interesting premise.
Amy- I think this book was very good! The only thing I found lacking was that it ended! Give me more!!! I enjoyed the surprises, the character building, and the descriptions in this book.
Claire- I believe the only thing that I found lacking in this book was the overall detail and pace. The pace picked up early in the plot and I eventually found myself unable to put it down. Again, I would have liked some more detail about the kingdom, its inhabitants, and both Syren’s and Bear’s backgrounds but I suppose that is why authors write series of books instead of standalones! I look forward to seeing the rest of these details unveiled.
Have you read books by either of these authors? If not will you?
Bridgette- I have not read other books by either author. However, they have shown they do understand what readers of sexy fae fantasy are looking for and my interest is piqued. I will be checking out their other books to compare.
Amy- I have not but I will be adding to my TBR list!!
Claire- I have not read other books by these authors and that may be one of the greatest tragedies of my life. Alright, I have a flair for the dramatics but I will be adding their books to my ASAP reading lists!
Would you recommend this book?
Bridgette- I stand by my evaluation of this book being rated at about three cups of coffee for me on our five cup scale. It didn’t have me thinking I need to immediately start the next one, but I am interested enough to add the next book to my TBR. I want to know where this story will lead, yet it is not the type of book to keep me up all night reading to the end. I think anyone who enjoys fae fantasy with a bit of sexual tension will enjoy this book.
Amy- You mean you haven’t got it yet??? Go GET this book!!!
Claire- Is water wet? Of course, this book deserves all the recommendations!
Thanks for reading. Comment below if you have read The Cruel Fae King: A Sexy Fantasy Romance Series (The Cursed Kingdoms Series Book 1) by author A.K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey or if you are going to put it on your TBR!
Disclosure: We are in no way affiliated with the author and are not being compensated for this review.
Amy & Bridgette & Claire
Amy’s Rating: 5
Bridgette’s Rating: 3
Claire’s Rating: 4
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2019
Syren and Iri
Yes, this is what I'm talking about! Captivating and compelling, the authors wove us a story too good to put down. Syren is awesome and funny and determination wrapped up in a sassy package. Iri is a strong, powerful, and hard man just trying to fix a mess and take care of his kingdom. I love the sparks that fly and the undeniable chemistry that exists between these two and it'll be entertaining to watch this relationship develop. Definitely recommend.
Yes, this is what I'm talking about! Captivating and compelling, the authors wove us a story too good to put down. Syren is awesome and funny and determination wrapped up in a sassy package. Iri is a strong, powerful, and hard man just trying to fix a mess and take care of his kingdom. I love the sparks that fly and the undeniable chemistry that exists between these two and it'll be entertaining to watch this relationship develop. Definitely recommend.
November 20, 2019
The Cruel Fae King pulled me in from the very first page and didn't let go! The main character Syren is strong willed and stubborn and doesn't bend to others expectations. Love her big time. And then there is Bear... there is no way to dislike this guy reguardless of his reputation! Together I have a feeling they are going to be a force their enemies will regret igniting. Definately hooked and cannot wait to see what happens next in book2!
November 21, 2019
💭
Syren is ready to get revenge for her king and I am soooo here for it. Syren and Bear fight like crazy but they want each other. Their chemistry is sooo hot! Bear will do anything to save his kingdom but you know there’s evil doings going on trying to stop him. I can’t wait to read what’s next for them!!
Syren is ready to get revenge for her king and I am soooo here for it. Syren and Bear fight like crazy but they want each other. Their chemistry is sooo hot! Bear will do anything to save his kingdom but you know there’s evil doings going on trying to stop him. I can’t wait to read what’s next for them!!
November 20, 2019
Syren, 2019's Crowned Clapback Queen.
This m/f enemies to slightly disgruntled mutually crabby feck buddies...eh we'll get there.
Character wise, I loved Syren. Bear suffers from typical man "foot in mouth" syndrome. He's working on it though.
Fantastic storyline, interesting and amusing characters. I can't wait to see what these to have planned in book 2.
This m/f enemies to slightly disgruntled mutually crabby feck buddies...eh we'll get there.
Character wise, I loved Syren. Bear suffers from typical man "foot in mouth" syndrome. He's working on it though.
Fantastic storyline, interesting and amusing characters. I can't wait to see what these to have planned in book 2.
November 19, 2019
Yasss!! I could not stop reading this! Oh Syren I love this MC. She tells how she sees it which is why she's on an island after all. Her and the King-thats a whirlwind for sure! The ending though! I was not expecting that! Can't wait to see what A.K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey have in store for book 2!
December 14, 2019
Fantastic book!
This book is fantastic. Syren is awesome. She made me laugh so many times. King Iri is misunderstood. I can't wait for Syren and Iri to realize how much they love each other. Can't wait to start the next book!
This book is fantastic. Syren is awesome. She made me laugh so many times. King Iri is misunderstood. I can't wait for Syren and Iri to realize how much they love each other. Can't wait to start the next book!
January 19, 2020
2.5. The story has potential but it's handled poorly - there are lots of interesting characters and plot lines that are integral to the story but they're not nearly as fleshed out as they should be. As a result, it feels like the authors cut their novel in half. (After having read The Cursed Fae King, book #2, I strongly suspect this to be the case.)
November 18, 2019
This book is very addictive. It's hot and steamy even with the characters hating each other. The characters are amazing and very detailed in their love / hate relationship. The book is so amazing I couldnt put it down, it just sucks you in and doesn't let you go. I love it and highly recommend it.
October 14, 2021
DNF 10%
Not vibing with the writing and what I read so far... And seeing all these 1-2 stars just doesn't encourage me. She's fae but can lie?
Not vibing with the writing and what I read so far... And seeing all these 1-2 stars just doesn't encourage me. She's fae but can lie?
May 31, 2020
4 Mr. Not Handsome Stars
The Cruel Fae King is the first book in The Cursed Kingdoms series by A. K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey.
Why did this book have to be so short!? I honestly loved it. It sucked me in from the first page, devouring any willpower I had to be a responsible adult and go to sleep at a normal time.
Only daughter of King Caspian of the Southern Kingdom, Princess Syren was betrothed to the infamous Cursed King of the Northern Kingdom. Before their fortuitous meeting could come to fruition, and dispel his kingdom he sent her away, banished Syren to live on a deserted island. A death sentence. For most. In her banishment, she prospered. Befriended a mermaid named Agatha, and traded fresh caught chickens for the current gossip. Living in the freedom she always desired, even still living with a burning hatred for the man who could humiliate her in such a way without ever having graced her with his presence. Until the day Bear arrives on her island, with news of her reinstatement and impending nuptials.
The people of the Northern Kingdom believe Goddess Celeste has cursed their kingdom with illness and plague. Even while some whisper of black magic and the deal the king made to sell his soul, therefore cursing him and his people. Even while others blame such fate on his ousting his father from the throne, killing him for the title. What is behind this kingdoms woes? Who could be such a black magic practitioner? Why have they targeted The Cruel King? Will Syren and he be able to conquer such odds?
The Cruel Fae King is the first book in The Cursed Kingdoms series by A. K. Koonce and Rebecca Grey.
Why did this book have to be so short!? I honestly loved it. It sucked me in from the first page, devouring any willpower I had to be a responsible adult and go to sleep at a normal time.
Only daughter of King Caspian of the Southern Kingdom, Princess Syren was betrothed to the infamous Cursed King of the Northern Kingdom. Before their fortuitous meeting could come to fruition, and dispel his kingdom he sent her away, banished Syren to live on a deserted island. A death sentence. For most. In her banishment, she prospered. Befriended a mermaid named Agatha, and traded fresh caught chickens for the current gossip. Living in the freedom she always desired, even still living with a burning hatred for the man who could humiliate her in such a way without ever having graced her with his presence. Until the day Bear arrives on her island, with news of her reinstatement and impending nuptials.
The people of the Northern Kingdom believe Goddess Celeste has cursed their kingdom with illness and plague. Even while some whisper of black magic and the deal the king made to sell his soul, therefore cursing him and his people. Even while others blame such fate on his ousting his father from the throne, killing him for the title. What is behind this kingdoms woes? Who could be such a black magic practitioner? Why have they targeted The Cruel King? Will Syren and he be able to conquer such odds?
December 1, 2020
Not your typical kingdom romance
So this was a surprise...I mean...I thought this would be a " need a wife, got a wife, now we need to like each other" book. Plain, simple and straightforward was definitely not happening here. It's a thick plot with lots of betrayal. Actually, layers of betrayal. Syren and her dad (need more on that and why he won't let her use her magic), Sheen and Beat (seriously why did he turn her away), Syren and Aisha (obviously the spurned woman with herb knowledge is the evil one), Bear and his dad (it might explain his scars), Bear and Donovan (lots of underhanded plots there) and Bear and his people (delicate balance). Soooo many layers. I like it. Keeps you guessing. You know what I also liked? Syrens' grit and sometimes her snark. We meet her straightaway and get lots of description about her situation and background. Total story building there. I love our introduction to both her and Bear. Spot on. Overall, this was definitely intriguing and took unexpected turns in the story. However, there were a few moments intended to add details to the plot that just felt like they were a spur of the moment idea making me confused...unnecessary. I don't feel those moments added much. Overall I enjoyed this book.
So this was a surprise...I mean...I thought this would be a " need a wife, got a wife, now we need to like each other" book. Plain, simple and straightforward was definitely not happening here. It's a thick plot with lots of betrayal. Actually, layers of betrayal. Syren and her dad (need more on that and why he won't let her use her magic), Sheen and Beat (seriously why did he turn her away), Syren and Aisha (obviously the spurned woman with herb knowledge is the evil one), Bear and his dad (it might explain his scars), Bear and Donovan (lots of underhanded plots there) and Bear and his people (delicate balance). Soooo many layers. I like it. Keeps you guessing. You know what I also liked? Syrens' grit and sometimes her snark. We meet her straightaway and get lots of description about her situation and background. Total story building there. I love our introduction to both her and Bear. Spot on. Overall, this was definitely intriguing and took unexpected turns in the story. However, there were a few moments intended to add details to the plot that just felt like they were a spur of the moment idea making me confused...unnecessary. I don't feel those moments added much. Overall I enjoyed this book.
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