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Forsaken Fae #2
Forsaken Fae: Book Two
Len needs to track down a handbasket ASAP, because things are going straight to hell.
In the aftermath of the disastrous battle to close the rip between realms, he's stuck with a Fae who seems convinced that the only way to fix things is to leap directly into the maw of the Wild Hunt.
Len recognizes martyrdom when he sees it, and he's not about to let Albigard of the Unseelie sacrifice himself on the altar of his own guilty conscience.
After the events of the past few weeks, it's looking more and more like Len's ghosts may hold the key that can lock the Hunt back inside its box of horrors. But when circumstances trap him alone with Albigard in a dead pocket realm, it becomes increasingly clear that the Fae is every bit as damaged inside as Len is.
Before they can stop the Hunt and save the lost souls of their closest friends, they'll have to glue their broken edges together somehow. Only then will Len have a shot at undoing the damage that's already been done.
He just has to keep himself—and Albigard—alive long enough to get the chance.
* * *
Forsaken Fae is an M/M urban fantasy trilogy. It's set in the same world as the bestselling series The Last Vampire and its other spinoff, Vampire Bound . Download Book Two today, and enter a world shared by humans, fae, demons, and vampires. It’s a place where the supernatural threatens the mundane, nothing is as it seems, and enemies must overcome their tangled pasts in order to save the future.
In the aftermath of the disastrous battle to close the rip between realms, he's stuck with a Fae who seems convinced that the only way to fix things is to leap directly into the maw of the Wild Hunt.
Len recognizes martyrdom when he sees it, and he's not about to let Albigard of the Unseelie sacrifice himself on the altar of his own guilty conscience.
After the events of the past few weeks, it's looking more and more like Len's ghosts may hold the key that can lock the Hunt back inside its box of horrors. But when circumstances trap him alone with Albigard in a dead pocket realm, it becomes increasingly clear that the Fae is every bit as damaged inside as Len is.
Before they can stop the Hunt and save the lost souls of their closest friends, they'll have to glue their broken edges together somehow. Only then will Len have a shot at undoing the damage that's already been done.
He just has to keep himself—and Albigard—alive long enough to get the chance.
* * *
Forsaken Fae is an M/M urban fantasy trilogy. It's set in the same world as the bestselling series The Last Vampire and its other spinoff, Vampire Bound . Download Book Two today, and enter a world shared by humans, fae, demons, and vampires. It’s a place where the supernatural threatens the mundane, nothing is as it seems, and enemies must overcome their tangled pasts in order to save the future.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2021
74 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Steffan
86 books504 followersUSA Today bestselling author R. A. Steffan lives in New Mexico, where the sunsets paint the mountains purple, and roadrunners roam the desert endlessly in search of their coyote victims. When she’s not busy writing stories about people loving each other in all sorts of different and interesting ways, she can be found taking care of her small menagerie of critters.
A rebel to the core, she is currently sticking it to the man by illegally harvesting graywater from the kitchen and bathroom sinks to water trees outside. This fearless disregard for societal norms extends to her writing, as well. There, you will find polyamory along with straight, gay, bisexual, and non-gender conforming love of all flavors. You will also find families of choice, profound friendships, adventure, danger, and good triumphing over evil.
That, and sex. Lots of sex. Most of which is not the vanilla variety.
If any of that appeals, sign up at http://www.rasteffan.com/ to get a free starter library featuring the first books in several of her series. You can also follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RASteffanAut..., or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RA_Steffan.
A rebel to the core, she is currently sticking it to the man by illegally harvesting graywater from the kitchen and bathroom sinks to water trees outside. This fearless disregard for societal norms extends to her writing, as well. There, you will find polyamory along with straight, gay, bisexual, and non-gender conforming love of all flavors. You will also find families of choice, profound friendships, adventure, danger, and good triumphing over evil.
That, and sex. Lots of sex. Most of which is not the vanilla variety.
If any of that appeals, sign up at http://www.rasteffan.com/ to get a free starter library featuring the first books in several of her series. You can also follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RASteffanAut..., or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RA_Steffan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 2, 2021
Wonderful second book of the series!
This second book of the series manages to take the suspense and drama up a notch with a wonderful result. The author also does a great job with taking Len's and Abilard's relationship into new territory.
This second book of the series manages to take the suspense and drama up a notch with a wonderful result. The author also does a great job with taking Len's and Abilard's relationship into new territory.
June 10, 2021
I will review this series after the third book (which is not due to be released until the end of July).
This isn't actually three books, but 1 lengthier novel divided into three. (I would have preferred tackling 600 pages, but apparently, most readers balk at anything over 300 pages these days.) This ends on quite the cliff-hanger.
This isn't actually three books, but 1 lengthier novel divided into three. (I would have preferred tackling 600 pages, but apparently, most readers balk at anything over 300 pages these days.) This ends on quite the cliff-hanger.
July 25, 2021
Rating (All ratings use a Scale of 1-5) = 4 stars; if you read the 1st book but are debating the 2nd; consider giving this one a chance. (More under rating notes).
Blurb = 4
My Genre Scale = 5
Odds if not your genre = 2
Development of: =
*World = 4
*Plot = 4
*Characters = 3.5
What stood out = The pocket realm
Mood Type / Appeal to those looking for = Enemies to lovers, fantasy, with the emphasis on the couple but more about saving the world than their relationship.
Warnings = This book is not light or fluffy. It is also the 2nd of a trilogy, so it ends on a cliffhanger. It is not about the "sexy" times. Though one of the 2 is a seriously smoking hot scene. For me, it was almost worth the "price of admission" itself. I've been reading exclusively m/m for so long that rarely do I find sex scenes even slightly "titillating".
HFN/HEA = Nope but expected for the 3rd and final installment.
Series Notes =
*Reading on? Definitely
*Reading back to back? For the most part, I read 4 books in between this and the 1st waiting on the 3rd installment to drop.
*Can be easily read without the previous? More so than the 1st could without the previous series, because it was more focused on the m/c's.
Rating Notes = (SubPlots, thoughts, etc... )
After book 1, which could not even be called a "slow burn"; there was absolutely no movement in the relationship much less anything resembling chemistry or romance. In book 2, there is finally movement and chemistry in the m/c's relationship. Surprisingly, I even found it believable. But... at this point it is still barely nipping at would be considered a traditional romance.
I find it a shame that I'm guessing a lot of readers did not or will not pick up this 2nd installment for multiple reasons.
For those of us that read the 2 previous series (set in this same world), this 2nd installment is probably more along what we'd expected from the 1st, and it actually focused on the m/c's.
For the people who started with this series, this installment had very little of the rest of the scooby gang, so they would have probably not felt as lost or like they were picking a book up in the middle of a series.
I strongly feel that if the 1st book had been edited aggressively and then combined with this one; the author could have held on to more of the exclusively m/m readers and gained momentum for this series. I only read the the other 2 series, due to them being bundled on Kindle & not realizing they were both m/f before purchasing. (The blurb for the 1st was in 1st person & the cover of a single male. I never even read the blurb or looked at the cover of the 2nd series after establishing the 1st sounded interesting.) If I had started reading about this "world" with the 1st Fae book, I probably would not have continued on with the series, so I am glad I did. Hopefully the last of this trilogy will get even better.
---------------------------
Since my mother had a major stroke (while we were in the starting stages of moving from GA to SC) , I really haven't been able to find the time or energy to review. I've also been doing a lot of rereading. I'm going to try and get back into the "swing" of things. Just maybe not at my usual pace
**************
Below is my philosophy on reviewing!
***************
1. I try to take into account and note common pet peeves often bemoaned by others.
2. "Brain candy' does not necessarily carry a negative connotation. (What is brain candy? Publishing industry 's version of pop music - Typically: formulaic, from a prolific author published often and quickly (like monthly), things escalate fast, and are often solved easily etc..) It has its uses: to pass time whet tired, on the beach, etc... The problem comes when "brain candy" is unexpected or even disguised.
3. Blurb rating purpose:
Like many readers, I do not like to think I'm reading one kind of story; just to end up with another. But...I also don't think a book should be docked stars for being as stated. If I don't like stories about "_________", and I choose to read it; I shouldn't give it 2 stars based JUST on my preferences. Unless... it wasn't clear in the blurb.
4. Other Factors that effect my perspective when reviewing:
Since 2009, I have exclusively read m/m. My 1st was in 2007. I am a Kindle diehard, and I never do audio for m/m. I read at least 100+ books a year - with an average length of 220± pages; but the total number of books is usually much higher. My Goodreads lifetime rating (at the start of 2021) was a 3.64 average for 1527 books. Which considering, one should be better at picking out books the more one reads, I feel is an accurate average. I have over 795 reviews within the m/m genre here on Goodreads.
Blurb = 4
My Genre Scale = 5
Odds if not your genre = 2
Development of: =
*World = 4
*Plot = 4
*Characters = 3.5
What stood out = The pocket realm
Mood Type / Appeal to those looking for = Enemies to lovers, fantasy, with the emphasis on the couple but more about saving the world than their relationship.
Warnings = This book is not light or fluffy. It is also the 2nd of a trilogy, so it ends on a cliffhanger. It is not about the "sexy" times. Though one of the 2 is a seriously smoking hot scene. For me, it was almost worth the "price of admission" itself. I've been reading exclusively m/m for so long that rarely do I find sex scenes even slightly "titillating".
HFN/HEA = Nope but expected for the 3rd and final installment.
Series Notes =
*Reading on? Definitely
*Reading back to back? For the most part, I read 4 books in between this and the 1st waiting on the 3rd installment to drop.
*Can be easily read without the previous? More so than the 1st could without the previous series, because it was more focused on the m/c's.
Rating Notes = (SubPlots, thoughts, etc... )
After book 1, which could not even be called a "slow burn"; there was absolutely no movement in the relationship much less anything resembling chemistry or romance. In book 2, there is finally movement and chemistry in the m/c's relationship. Surprisingly, I even found it believable. But... at this point it is still barely nipping at would be considered a traditional romance.
I find it a shame that I'm guessing a lot of readers did not or will not pick up this 2nd installment for multiple reasons.
For those of us that read the 2 previous series (set in this same world), this 2nd installment is probably more along what we'd expected from the 1st, and it actually focused on the m/c's.
For the people who started with this series, this installment had very little of the rest of the scooby gang, so they would have probably not felt as lost or like they were picking a book up in the middle of a series.
I strongly feel that if the 1st book had been edited aggressively and then combined with this one; the author could have held on to more of the exclusively m/m readers and gained momentum for this series. I only read the the other 2 series, due to them being bundled on Kindle & not realizing they were both m/f before purchasing. (The blurb for the 1st was in 1st person & the cover of a single male. I never even read the blurb or looked at the cover of the 2nd series after establishing the 1st sounded interesting.) If I had started reading about this "world" with the 1st Fae book, I probably would not have continued on with the series, so I am glad I did. Hopefully the last of this trilogy will get even better.
---------------------------
Since my mother had a major stroke (while we were in the starting stages of moving from GA to SC) , I really haven't been able to find the time or energy to review. I've also been doing a lot of rereading. I'm going to try and get back into the "swing" of things. Just maybe not at my usual pace
**************
Below is my philosophy on reviewing!
***************
1. I try to take into account and note common pet peeves often bemoaned by others.
2. "Brain candy' does not necessarily carry a negative connotation. (What is brain candy? Publishing industry 's version of pop music - Typically: formulaic, from a prolific author published often and quickly (like monthly), things escalate fast, and are often solved easily etc..) It has its uses: to pass time whet tired, on the beach, etc... The problem comes when "brain candy" is unexpected or even disguised.
3. Blurb rating purpose:
Like many readers, I do not like to think I'm reading one kind of story; just to end up with another. But...I also don't think a book should be docked stars for being as stated. If I don't like stories about "_________", and I choose to read it; I shouldn't give it 2 stars based JUST on my preferences. Unless... it wasn't clear in the blurb.
4. Other Factors that effect my perspective when reviewing:
Since 2009, I have exclusively read m/m. My 1st was in 2007. I am a Kindle diehard, and I never do audio for m/m. I read at least 100+ books a year - with an average length of 220± pages; but the total number of books is usually much higher. My Goodreads lifetime rating (at the start of 2021) was a 3.64 average for 1527 books. Which considering, one should be better at picking out books the more one reads, I feel is an accurate average. I have over 795 reviews within the m/m genre here on Goodreads.
March 31, 2021
My review is written voluntarily after listening to the audio version of this book.
Len and Albigard's story continues in this second book, I wish I could tell you things are going well for them but they really aren't. After the battle to close the rip between realms, which took the lives of Rans and Zorah they have taken refuge in Alibigard's warded house on the outskirts of Chicago. But when they notice that the Wild Hunt has followed them Alibigard becomes convinced that the only way to stop the Wild Hunt is to go back to Dine and allow himself to be sacrificed to it.
Len is determined to stop this, he's not about to let Albigard sacrifice himself especially as they both acknowledge that the Hunt could still come back and ravage earth regardless. Len's particular curse seems to be the only thing that might help but it's not going to be enough, they are going to need help. Whilst trapped alone in another realm both Len and Albigard reveal more of their secrets to each other and the dynamics of their relationship changes yet again. It seems they have more in common than either believed, both damaged, both broken by the attitudes of their parents and both alone and in order to stop the Hunt they'll have to face their demons somehow. Only then will Len have a shot at undoing the damage that's already been done if that's even possible.
There's a cliffhanger, one which left me reaching for my tissues, and even though I've gotten used to the cliffhangers R A Steffan always leaves us on, this one seemed to be the most desperate to date and left me wondering just how things could improve. You'll feel the same I guarantee it when you read or listen to this incredible instalment. As always the descriptive writing, the world-building and the character development could not be improved upon. I love the way the characters we thought we knew are changing before our eyes or in my case ears, I love the changes taking place in both Len and Albigard, but especially Albigard who in previous books I found hard to like. I so want these two tortured souls to find happiness!
The narration of this book by Nick Hudson is excellent, he has done an incredible job of taking on characters previously interpreted so well by Gwendolyn Druyor who narrated the earlier series. That said he brings an added depth to both Len and Albigard, in particular, which I don't think could be bettered.
I can hardly wait for the next instalment!
Len and Albigard's story continues in this second book, I wish I could tell you things are going well for them but they really aren't. After the battle to close the rip between realms, which took the lives of Rans and Zorah they have taken refuge in Alibigard's warded house on the outskirts of Chicago. But when they notice that the Wild Hunt has followed them Alibigard becomes convinced that the only way to stop the Wild Hunt is to go back to Dine and allow himself to be sacrificed to it.
Len is determined to stop this, he's not about to let Albigard sacrifice himself especially as they both acknowledge that the Hunt could still come back and ravage earth regardless. Len's particular curse seems to be the only thing that might help but it's not going to be enough, they are going to need help. Whilst trapped alone in another realm both Len and Albigard reveal more of their secrets to each other and the dynamics of their relationship changes yet again. It seems they have more in common than either believed, both damaged, both broken by the attitudes of their parents and both alone and in order to stop the Hunt they'll have to face their demons somehow. Only then will Len have a shot at undoing the damage that's already been done if that's even possible.
There's a cliffhanger, one which left me reaching for my tissues, and even though I've gotten used to the cliffhangers R A Steffan always leaves us on, this one seemed to be the most desperate to date and left me wondering just how things could improve. You'll feel the same I guarantee it when you read or listen to this incredible instalment. As always the descriptive writing, the world-building and the character development could not be improved upon. I love the way the characters we thought we knew are changing before our eyes or in my case ears, I love the changes taking place in both Len and Albigard, but especially Albigard who in previous books I found hard to like. I so want these two tortured souls to find happiness!
The narration of this book by Nick Hudson is excellent, he has done an incredible job of taking on characters previously interpreted so well by Gwendolyn Druyor who narrated the earlier series. That said he brings an added depth to both Len and Albigard, in particular, which I don't think could be bettered.
I can hardly wait for the next instalment!
April 3, 2021
Excellent work. Promising to have a firecracker of an ending. Yes, there's a cliffhanger, but that's part of RA Steffan's style. She always gives an HEA after the characters have suffered for a while.
April 27, 2021
If you loved the first book in this series and you're trying to decide whether to proceed, the answer is yes... except remember that Len is kinky so if you're not into that, then no.
I can't believe the third book doesn't come out until July. :(
I can't believe the third book doesn't come out until July. :(
April 26, 2021
I'll write a more eloquent review later but holy sh*t this was good!
September 7, 2021
I liked this much better than the first book, though the dubious consent part got a bit close to the line, but at least the author and thus Len was aware of it and regretted it. I applaud that he took responsibility for his actions and didn't play it off as something Albigard wanted.
This book is still as well written as the first one, it doesn't degrade into porn, the feelings come along nicely and slowly. I really appreciate that it's mostly show and not much of the tell. We (Len) don't have to be told that Albigard likes him. Even when he says in front of a lot of people that he doesn't care about Len, Len doesn't fall into despair and starts teenage angsting. Len knows it's not true and puts his faith into Albigard's actions rather than his words.
I'm really excited to see where this all will end. But I have to say, I'm not interested in the previous series in the world that feature straight couples. Not even after seeing them as secondary characters.
This book is still as well written as the first one, it doesn't degrade into porn, the feelings come along nicely and slowly. I really appreciate that it's mostly show and not much of the tell. We (Len) don't have to be told that Albigard likes him. Even when he says in front of a lot of people that he doesn't care about Len, Len doesn't fall into despair and starts teenage angsting. Len knows it's not true and puts his faith into Albigard's actions rather than his words.
I'm really excited to see where this all will end. But I have to say, I'm not interested in the previous series in the world that feature straight couples. Not even after seeing them as secondary characters.
April 28, 2021
I was afraid we would only get a little glimpse into where Len and Albigard's relationship was headed based on the last book, but boy was I wrong. And what a dynamic these two have together, it was everything I hoped for but really couldn't see how it would happen. I had a feeling Alby could be a secret sub but no idea how he would ever reveal that part of himself to anyone. Well, the author really brought that out and brought the two of them together perfectly. As it turns out, constantly thinking you're going to die breaks down some barriers, who knew? I loved everything about this book, so much happened in such a short period of time and it was so fast pased, it had my head spinning. I only wish that it was longer. I could read Len and Albigard's story forever and there is so much more I want to know about Albigard's past and so many more ways I want to see him open up. I know the author will not disappoint, but I can't believe I have to wait almost 3 months for more!
April 17, 2022
the story is still very interesting to me and this book is definitely better than the first one when it comes to interactions between the two romantic interests. though the relationship still feels incredibly disconnected to me I can’t put my finger on why that is but yeah just doesn’t feel like an actual relationship to me.
all of it feels very superficial. there’s an attempt at the banter you usually see in enemies to lovers but without all the charm you need to make that work.
all of it feels very superficial. there’s an attempt at the banter you usually see in enemies to lovers but without all the charm you need to make that work.
April 1, 2023
Forsaken Fae: Book 2 picks up where book 1 left off, except this time, allows and even forces Len and Albigard to spend a lot more time alone together while the Wild Hunt continues trying to erase its unfortunate prey, Albigard, from existence and the options for keeping both Albigard and the the worlds from being destroyed in the Wild Hunt's wake narrow further and further.
Trigger Warnings for Forsaken Fae: Book 2 at the bottom of the review
What I really love about this book (there are actually MANY things) is that the characters act and react in their own characteristic ways how real people would when thrown into these complicated and dangerous situations with people they trust in varying degrees.
Relationships of all kinds can be very complicated, and Steffan not only gets that but weaves it into every character in her books. There's no one throwaway, and this spider's web of relationships and traversing histories in the present is part of what makes this story so incredibly strong and utterly satisfying.
Obviously, this dynamic is especially important with our protagonists and love interests, the princling fae who's always held himself to a rigid standard, secret desires all bound up with his responsibility, never having let himself feel anything close to love, now cast out and hunted, not only be his people but his own father; and Len, haunted by his ghosts both literally and figuratively, desperately seeking a little control, needing to save this one person while the world is threatening to burn down around him because he's already lost too much.
Somehow, some way, it turns out a forsaken princling fae and an ex-paramedic with a drug problem might just fit together far better than anyone, especially them, expected.
This dynamic is so patiently constructed, it weaves together strand by strand until they're both halfway to meaning something more to each other before they realized they took the first step.
And when I say this growing dynamic had my heart pounding at times when they were doing nothing more than talking, I mean it. When I say my toes curled every time Albigard spit out something mildly possessive, his green eyes narrowed, or he found a way to protect Len at great cost to himself, I mean it.
This pair are so beautifully wounded in their own unique ways, and the balance of protectiveness, power, and comfort is so lovingly done, I could feel this bond in the depths of my sould, and I'm absolutely in love with these two and terrified for their futures.
Which, with Albigard still on the run, danger is a constant in this book, from dead universes to the Fae wanting Albigard as bait. The few times they have time when they're not in iminent danger is devoted to character development and growth, and learning a little more about Albigard's painful childhood and secret desires.
Desires which Steffan writes... painfully well with a real understanding of what healthy dom/sub dynamic looks like and how important communication is. Everything that's done in this book is done... deliciously with needs and emotions making the lust something powerful and sweet.
The slow burn is done excruciatingly well, especially considering the overwhelming plot necessarily prioritized, but still allowing in this book enough time for Len and Albigard to start figuring each other out.
Altogether, this book is utterly outstanding. I had goosebumps reading this more often than I didn't. The writing style is superb and the dialogue is effortless, with sharp, vivid scenes making everything stark in my mind's eye to the point I've almost thought "I want to watch that again" before remembering it was an audiobook, not a gorgeous tv series. 6/5 stars if it were possible. A new favorite series for me, and absolute recommend to anyone who likes fantasy and can endure a slow burn.
Trigger Warnings for Forsaken Fae: Book 2 (possible mild spoilers ahead):
~Homophobic society (The Fae are adamently against anything other than heterosexuality since their numbers have been steadily dropping)
~Attempting to "scare" children into being straight via stories of kidnapping and non-consent
~Fatalistic character (he thinks death is inevitable a few times throughout the book)
~Imprisonment/chained to the wall/unable to move
~Past drug addict/recovering drug addict
Trigger Warnings for Forsaken Fae: Book 2 at the bottom of the review
What I really love about this book (there are actually MANY things) is that the characters act and react in their own characteristic ways how real people would when thrown into these complicated and dangerous situations with people they trust in varying degrees.
Relationships of all kinds can be very complicated, and Steffan not only gets that but weaves it into every character in her books. There's no one throwaway, and this spider's web of relationships and traversing histories in the present is part of what makes this story so incredibly strong and utterly satisfying.
Obviously, this dynamic is especially important with our protagonists and love interests, the princling fae who's always held himself to a rigid standard, secret desires all bound up with his responsibility, never having let himself feel anything close to love, now cast out and hunted, not only be his people but his own father; and Len, haunted by his ghosts both literally and figuratively, desperately seeking a little control, needing to save this one person while the world is threatening to burn down around him because he's already lost too much.
Somehow, some way, it turns out a forsaken princling fae and an ex-paramedic with a drug problem might just fit together far better than anyone, especially them, expected.
This dynamic is so patiently constructed, it weaves together strand by strand until they're both halfway to meaning something more to each other before they realized they took the first step.
And when I say this growing dynamic had my heart pounding at times when they were doing nothing more than talking, I mean it. When I say my toes curled every time Albigard spit out something mildly possessive, his green eyes narrowed, or he found a way to protect Len at great cost to himself, I mean it.
This pair are so beautifully wounded in their own unique ways, and the balance of protectiveness, power, and comfort is so lovingly done, I could feel this bond in the depths of my sould, and I'm absolutely in love with these two and terrified for their futures.
Which, with Albigard still on the run, danger is a constant in this book, from dead universes to the Fae wanting Albigard as bait. The few times they have time when they're not in iminent danger is devoted to character development and growth, and learning a little more about Albigard's painful childhood and secret desires.
Desires which Steffan writes... painfully well with a real understanding of what healthy dom/sub dynamic looks like and how important communication is. Everything that's done in this book is done... deliciously with needs and emotions making the lust something powerful and sweet.
The slow burn is done excruciatingly well, especially considering the overwhelming plot necessarily prioritized, but still allowing in this book enough time for Len and Albigard to start figuring each other out.
Altogether, this book is utterly outstanding. I had goosebumps reading this more often than I didn't. The writing style is superb and the dialogue is effortless, with sharp, vivid scenes making everything stark in my mind's eye to the point I've almost thought "I want to watch that again" before remembering it was an audiobook, not a gorgeous tv series. 6/5 stars if it were possible. A new favorite series for me, and absolute recommend to anyone who likes fantasy and can endure a slow burn.
Trigger Warnings for Forsaken Fae: Book 2 (possible mild spoilers ahead):
~Homophobic society (The Fae are adamently against anything other than heterosexuality since their numbers have been steadily dropping)
~Attempting to "scare" children into being straight via stories of kidnapping and non-consent
~Fatalistic character (he thinks death is inevitable a few times throughout the book)
~Imprisonment/chained to the wall/unable to move
~Past drug addict/recovering drug addict
April 28, 2025
This series is a continuation of the world built in previous series. In fact, I kind of felt dropped in on action from another book at the beginning. After that, though, the references to previous books weren’t that bad and by the end of the first book, this series was standalone.
But not from each other. This felt like one long book broken into three parts. I think that was silly but even two parts would have been better, probably these last two together which is why I’m reviewing them as one. I won’t give anything away though. But know that the cliffhanger at the end of book two is so pronounced, I started book three before I’d even taken notes for book two.
In this segment, the relationship between Len and Albigard became real; almost overnight they went from hating each other to intense caring. Yet it didn’t feel too fast once that changeover to liking one another occurred. It felt real and intense. I loved them together.
There were several plots going on: getting rid of the hunt, solving the imbalance in faerie power in the two worlds, and a couple of other things I don’t want to mention since they might be spoilers. I'll add that there was a lot of action and excitement and some really emotional moments too. But the epilogue was completely unnecessary and added nothing to the storyline.
Faerie was different than I expected and it remained different. The ending was satisfactory in most ways but stuff continued to be weird in some areas. Other things were not fully spelled out. Some of what happened was a little too convenient, I thought, a little too easy. Most was resolved with an hour and a half left on the audiobook. The rest was the explanation of how things worked out and the resolution of the relationship. But the epilogue was completely unnecessary and added nothing to the storyline.
I think it important to mention that there is some kink here. No pain or abuse either verbal or physical but definitely a power dynamic I didn’t expect. It worked if you like mild kink.
I would read the other books set in this world if they were M/M but I’m really not interested in het romance.
The reader, Nick Hudson, was amazing in some parts and not good in others. In an emotional discussion between two characters I was amazed at how he made it seem like things were loud and intense and then an empty silence except for one soft voice. Then he did a contentious debate between a large group of people, and a bunch sounded the same and there wasn’t any variation in tone, it was all at the same level. All of them the same um musical note? Pitch?
But not from each other. This felt like one long book broken into three parts. I think that was silly but even two parts would have been better, probably these last two together which is why I’m reviewing them as one. I won’t give anything away though. But know that the cliffhanger at the end of book two is so pronounced, I started book three before I’d even taken notes for book two.
In this segment, the relationship between Len and Albigard became real; almost overnight they went from hating each other to intense caring. Yet it didn’t feel too fast once that changeover to liking one another occurred. It felt real and intense. I loved them together.
There were several plots going on: getting rid of the hunt, solving the imbalance in faerie power in the two worlds, and a couple of other things I don’t want to mention since they might be spoilers. I'll add that there was a lot of action and excitement and some really emotional moments too. But the epilogue was completely unnecessary and added nothing to the storyline.
Faerie was different than I expected and it remained different. The ending was satisfactory in most ways but stuff continued to be weird in some areas. Other things were not fully spelled out. Some of what happened was a little too convenient, I thought, a little too easy. Most was resolved with an hour and a half left on the audiobook. The rest was the explanation of how things worked out and the resolution of the relationship. But the epilogue was completely unnecessary and added nothing to the storyline.
I think it important to mention that there is some kink here. No pain or abuse either verbal or physical but definitely a power dynamic I didn’t expect. It worked if you like mild kink.
I would read the other books set in this world if they were M/M but I’m really not interested in het romance.
The reader, Nick Hudson, was amazing in some parts and not good in others. In an emotional discussion between two characters I was amazed at how he made it seem like things were loud and intense and then an empty silence except for one soft voice. Then he did a contentious debate between a large group of people, and a bunch sounded the same and there wasn’t any variation in tone, it was all at the same level. All of them the same um musical note? Pitch?
September 17, 2021
The beginning of the end
Len never saw this coming sure his gotten into some bad situation become envolved with things that go bump in the night and fought his addictions but never did he think for a moment that his need to protect others would make him his enemies champion.
Albiguard may have just run out of Fae luck betrayal everywhere and his only help is Len a Necromancer also half human and he will commit one of the Fae's greatest sins lying even to protect now he truly is Forsaken and the Hunt is just waiting to make its move. How do they save there friends souls and beat a monster that's slipped its chains. As for Len and Albiguard they're on a different path now and there boundaries are fading by the day Albiguards truth and Lens disgust with the Fae deepen the more he learns of there treatment of Fae who step out of line and love were they shouldn't.
This series gets better with ever book the snark between both Albiguard and Len is still there but it's developed into something more as Albiguard starts to loosen up and let Len see him and not just the person he shows to everyone else. The romantic aspect is slowly building with some more intense moments and the mystery behind the hunt and why it's becoming more powerful can't wait to find that out.
Len never saw this coming sure his gotten into some bad situation become envolved with things that go bump in the night and fought his addictions but never did he think for a moment that his need to protect others would make him his enemies champion.
Albiguard may have just run out of Fae luck betrayal everywhere and his only help is Len a Necromancer also half human and he will commit one of the Fae's greatest sins lying even to protect now he truly is Forsaken and the Hunt is just waiting to make its move. How do they save there friends souls and beat a monster that's slipped its chains. As for Len and Albiguard they're on a different path now and there boundaries are fading by the day Albiguards truth and Lens disgust with the Fae deepen the more he learns of there treatment of Fae who step out of line and love were they shouldn't.
This series gets better with ever book the snark between both Albiguard and Len is still there but it's developed into something more as Albiguard starts to loosen up and let Len see him and not just the person he shows to everyone else. The romantic aspect is slowly building with some more intense moments and the mystery behind the hunt and why it's becoming more powerful can't wait to find that out.
February 1, 2023
I listened to the omnibus that contained all three of the books in this series.
Although I didn't listen to the other books in this 'verse first, I was able to follow along (mostly).
Overall, I found the series interesting, and the magic system was just different enough that it presented something new. I also liked that the author went "nah" when asked to choose between vampires, demons, fae, and eldritch abominations and shoved all of them together in this one 'verse.
There is some kink in this - one of the leads is into shibari (decorative rope tying) and is very clearly a Dom. The other lead has subby tendencies and there's a slightly dubcon scene in one book, but in my opinion, it's well-handled and doesn't happen again.
Note: This review will be the same for each of the three books in the omnibus.
Although I didn't listen to the other books in this 'verse first, I was able to follow along (mostly).
Overall, I found the series interesting, and the magic system was just different enough that it presented something new. I also liked that the author went "nah" when asked to choose between vampires, demons, fae, and eldritch abominations and shoved all of them together in this one 'verse.
There is some kink in this - one of the leads is into shibari (decorative rope tying) and is very clearly a Dom. The other lead has subby tendencies and there's a slightly dubcon scene in one book, but in my opinion, it's well-handled and doesn't happen again.
Note: This review will be the same for each of the three books in the omnibus.
November 4, 2022
The biggest issue for me is the plot. It feels like nothing is happening. From the first book the plot has been protect Albigard and stop the Wild Hunt. However, besides running away from problems, nothing gets solved and we don’t find out more about any of the problems. The Wild Hunt keeps on devouring. Shit keeps dying. While we meet an assortment of characters nothing ever happens. I am so bored reading this book. Shit, I would at least like to see some character development. But really all I’ve gotten is Len feeling sorry for Albigard and protecting him like a mother protecting a wounded animal.
September 17, 2022
undeniably special
Definitely a series all its own. With a fae hating human male breaking for another he never expected…. Isn’t that how it usually happens…?! We looove us some Len! &&& weve been waiting seems like FOREVER for HIS HEA… THIS is NOT stand-alone… You virtually could read this series by in of itself BUT you would miss out on a few things. The epic saga continues….HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!
!!! Warning!! Its M/M sexually explicit & has possible Triggers…. HAPPY READING!!
Definitely a series all its own. With a fae hating human male breaking for another he never expected…. Isn’t that how it usually happens…?! We looove us some Len! &&& weve been waiting seems like FOREVER for HIS HEA… THIS is NOT stand-alone… You virtually could read this series by in of itself BUT you would miss out on a few things. The epic saga continues….HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!
!!! Warning!! Its M/M sexually explicit & has possible Triggers…. HAPPY READING!!
January 9, 2023
Len and alby
The poor fae alby really don't belong in the fae world it's to cruel for him.This is book two in lens journey he has always been a side kick before and not in the books to much along with alby. I love albys relationship with Rans I think of them as soul brothers in a lost cruel worlds.both of them have lived long lives so know each other well and can relate to each other.Len is young but has suffered harsh lesson in the world.I would of liked more fun banter and tells of other times from many and Ran after all they are dirt old.it would be funny and cool.
The poor fae alby really don't belong in the fae world it's to cruel for him.This is book two in lens journey he has always been a side kick before and not in the books to much along with alby. I love albys relationship with Rans I think of them as soul brothers in a lost cruel worlds.both of them have lived long lives so know each other well and can relate to each other.Len is young but has suffered harsh lesson in the world.I would of liked more fun banter and tells of other times from many and Ran after all they are dirt old.it would be funny and cool.
April 28, 2021
Who would have thought it, a gay fae
I missed the usual characters in this series, I missed the excitement we usually get, but albigard and Len are great, it was good to see albigard drop his grisly demeanor with Len, fighting for their lives together from the hunt brought them closer and the sexual tension was amazing. Can't wait to see if they get closer after their imprisonment, asumming they both escape, and can Albigard outwit his dispicable father, let's hope so
I missed the usual characters in this series, I missed the excitement we usually get, but albigard and Len are great, it was good to see albigard drop his grisly demeanor with Len, fighting for their lives together from the hunt brought them closer and the sexual tension was amazing. Can't wait to see if they get closer after their imprisonment, asumming they both escape, and can Albigard outwit his dispicable father, let's hope so
July 14, 2021
Forsaken Fae :Book 2
Albigard and Len are really in for it now, after all the things the experience in a short time, now the final hurdle is to survive the Corrupt Fae court bent on their destruction but there might be a way out.
Love how this book put them in “equal” footing per se and allow us to see, how the relationship is developing. Big change for both of them and OH BOY does Oren ever earns the Father of the Year award.
Albigard and Len are really in for it now, after all the things the experience in a short time, now the final hurdle is to survive the Corrupt Fae court bent on their destruction but there might be a way out.
Love how this book put them in “equal” footing per se and allow us to see, how the relationship is developing. Big change for both of them and OH BOY does Oren ever earns the Father of the Year award.
April 28, 2021
Noooooo!!! I NEED the next book now!!!
This series has been so great and I’m hooked!! I could hardly put this one down to do normal everyday adulting. I will definitely be impatiently waiting for the next book. I love the two MCs so much. The storyline is wonderful. Read it trust me!!
This series has been so great and I’m hooked!! I could hardly put this one down to do normal everyday adulting. I will definitely be impatiently waiting for the next book. I love the two MCs so much. The storyline is wonderful. Read it trust me!!
April 28, 2021
Len and Albigard are in the thick of the problem now. Trying to save their friends and the world, things go from bad to worse. It's a cliffhanger and I am dying to get the next book! I love this series. Steffan makes her characters believable and the story moves at a rapid pace. It was over too soon. Beware there are some steamy M/M sex scenes, but you can skip over those if you are so inclined.
April 28, 2021
That felt really short. Also pretty heavy on personal interaction as opposed to saving the world action. But after the start, I got into that groove where it felt pretty great and I am really looking forward to the next book, which is supposed to be the last one?? NO! Here I was really started to like the MCs and their dynamic.
May 13, 2021
Ugh!!
Got to wait over 2 months for next book in series! Calendar ready! ✔
I have no brains for review. Took day off since didn't get any sleep. Wasted day. This is a slow romance. Book one was about friendship, ghosts of past and present. Don't think my TBR will go down. Started original series. Then there's another spin off after that. Need coffee.
Got to wait over 2 months for next book in series! Calendar ready! ✔
I have no brains for review. Took day off since didn't get any sleep. Wasted day. This is a slow romance. Book one was about friendship, ghosts of past and present. Don't think my TBR will go down. Started original series. Then there's another spin off after that. Need coffee.
June 6, 2021
Love this second book in the series. Things are starting to heat up in the search for The Wild Hunt and Albigard and Len are in the thick of it. The relationship between our two MCs also steps up a gear and the final few chapters are heartwrenching.
Well written fantasy with great characters, I am looking forward to the last book inthe series.
Well written fantasy with great characters, I am looking forward to the last book inthe series.
October 31, 2021
I was surprised by how much I liked this series. Me reading the entire series and not just the first book is a testament to that LOL. Even when I like the first book in a series, I have a very hard time to commit to read the next. But Albigard is a great character, and I wanted to know more about him. It's not often I read fae books, but this series makes me want to read more. Loved it!
January 13, 2024
The heady power trip of watching someone decide whether to struggle or submit to bondage rushed through Len’s veins, banishing the hunger pangs and brain fog like mist beneath the sun. Some people liked to fight against sexual restraint and fail, Len knew, while others liked to sink into it and lose themselves.
I was surprised enough that the first book caught my attention despite barely having a wisp of chemistry and absolutely no romance. This book definitely rewarded my patience not with actual heat, although there a little steam, but with deep, complicated chemistry. I was salivating to see Albigard give in and let himself have what he wanted, maybe even what he needed.
April 25, 2021
Fae men can be such jerks!
Wow this is getting darker and darker. Is there any hope for Rans and Zorah? Fae politics are scary and weird, the fact they don't consider humans to be worth much is very worrying. Can't wait for the next instalment.
Wow this is getting darker and darker. Is there any hope for Rans and Zorah? Fae politics are scary and weird, the fact they don't consider humans to be worth much is very worrying. Can't wait for the next instalment.
April 27, 2021
I am enjoying this series. This book picks up more or less where the last one ends. Len and Abligard are going on a mission to Dhuinne to save the world from The Hunt.
A little light BDSM in this book, Len likes tying people up.
A little light BDSM in this book, Len likes tying people up.
April 28, 2021
Wow
To be something easily and quickly read so much happened !! This books picks up right where we left off with Len and Abi things turn dire quickly then heat up then turn dire again action packed it was a great addition to this series
To be something easily and quickly read so much happened !! This books picks up right where we left off with Len and Abi things turn dire quickly then heat up then turn dire again action packed it was a great addition to this series
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