What do you think?
Rate this book
The Fae of Bitter Thorn #4
Queen of Bitter Thorn
Faerie itself is on the brink of destruction.
Alone and frightened, Elora must return to Bitter Thorn to share news of Queen Alessandra’s most recent victory. But the realm is crumbling before her eyes. Frost covers surfaces it should not. Defensive enchantments are not as strong as they should be.
Everyone in Faerie is falling prey to the Fairfrost queen’s manipulation.
Though Elora’s magic sometimes works, she still has no idea how or why. At every turn, Ansel impedes their progress and feeds the fear they can’t escape. Fairfrost Palace is now heavily guarded, which makes it nearly impossible for them to face Queen Alessandra.
To restore Prince Brannick to his rightful place as High King, Elora must learn to trust herself.
It might be easier if her victories would last. It might be easier if she lived.
Queen of Bitter Thorn is the 4th and final book in The Fae of Bitter Thorn series.
Alone and frightened, Elora must return to Bitter Thorn to share news of Queen Alessandra’s most recent victory. But the realm is crumbling before her eyes. Frost covers surfaces it should not. Defensive enchantments are not as strong as they should be.
Everyone in Faerie is falling prey to the Fairfrost queen’s manipulation.
Though Elora’s magic sometimes works, she still has no idea how or why. At every turn, Ansel impedes their progress and feeds the fear they can’t escape. Fairfrost Palace is now heavily guarded, which makes it nearly impossible for them to face Queen Alessandra.
To restore Prince Brannick to his rightful place as High King, Elora must learn to trust herself.
It might be easier if her victories would last. It might be easier if she lived.
Queen of Bitter Thorn is the 4th and final book in The Fae of Bitter Thorn series.
360 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2021
92 people are currently reading
3019 people want to read
About the author
Kay L. Moody
35 books861 followersKay L. Moody is the YA fantasy author of COURT OF BITTER THORN and THE ELEMENTS OF THE CROWN. Her books feature rich world building, slow burn romance, mythical creatures, and twisty plots.
As a lover of strong female characters, books, and the color pink, she enjoys diving into magical worlds where characters can overcome even their darkest struggles. She lives in the western United States with her husband and four sons. Connect with Kay directly when you follow her on social media @kaylmoody
Visit her website to learn more.
www.KayLMoody.com
As a lover of strong female characters, books, and the color pink, she enjoys diving into magical worlds where characters can overcome even their darkest struggles. She lives in the western United States with her husband and four sons. Connect with Kay directly when you follow her on social media @kaylmoody
Visit her website to learn more.
www.KayLMoody.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
October 21, 2021
I was slightly disappointed in this final book. I feel like the first 75 percent of the book was slightly boring and dragged on but the last 100 pages made me not want to put the book down. I wish she had Brannick out of jail for a lot more of the book then what she did. I bet I would have liked it better if she’d done that. Also I hated how repetitive the first half of the book was just re going over everything she had to do and placing her hand always on the hilt of her sword. I got real bored of that phrase fast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2024
5/5 🌟
4/5 ❤️🩹
5/5 🥰
0/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
4/5 😰A
1/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Blood
Death
Injury
Graphic Depictions of Injury
Murder
Violence
Manipulation
Control
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
Don’t miss this enchanting and epic finale to The Fae of Bitter Thorn series where Faerie could be saved…or destroyed forever.
Faerie itself is on the brink of destruction. Alone and frightened, Elora must return to Bitter Thorn to share news of Queen Alessandra’s most recent victory. But the realm is crumbling before her eyes. Frost covers surfaces it should not. Defensive enchantments are not as strong as they should be.
Everyone in Faerie is falling prey to the Fairfrost queen’s manipulation.
Though Elora’s magic sometimes works, she still has no idea how or why. At every turn, Ansel impedes their progress and feeds the fear they can’t escape. Fairfrost Palace is now heavily guarded, which makes it nearly impossible for them to face Queen Alessandra.
To restore Prince Brannick to his rightful place as High King, Elora must learn to trust herself. It might be easier if her victories would last. It might be easier if she lived.
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
Overall this was a delightful little series. Were there times when it dragged a little, yes. But nothing that would put you to sleep. Age rating for this book is 14-18 years of age. I would say that’s appropriate. But I’d be more inclined to say 12-16, 17 or 18 depending on the maturity level of your child.
After reading from greats like Maas and Jackson, it seems a little remedial and slow moving. That being said, I still enjoyed the series and I’m not mad about reading it. I definitely think this is more of a wholesome fae story despite the violence.
Another series finished!! My goal is to start trying to finish series soon after starting them, if possible. I’m old and my memory isn’t what it used to be!!
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
4/5 ❤️🩹
5/5 🥰
0/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
4/5 😰A
1/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Blood
Death
Injury
Graphic Depictions of Injury
Murder
Violence
Manipulation
Control
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
Don’t miss this enchanting and epic finale to The Fae of Bitter Thorn series where Faerie could be saved…or destroyed forever.
Faerie itself is on the brink of destruction. Alone and frightened, Elora must return to Bitter Thorn to share news of Queen Alessandra’s most recent victory. But the realm is crumbling before her eyes. Frost covers surfaces it should not. Defensive enchantments are not as strong as they should be.
Everyone in Faerie is falling prey to the Fairfrost queen’s manipulation.
Though Elora’s magic sometimes works, she still has no idea how or why. At every turn, Ansel impedes their progress and feeds the fear they can’t escape. Fairfrost Palace is now heavily guarded, which makes it nearly impossible for them to face Queen Alessandra.
To restore Prince Brannick to his rightful place as High King, Elora must learn to trust herself. It might be easier if her victories would last. It might be easier if she lived.
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
Overall this was a delightful little series. Were there times when it dragged a little, yes. But nothing that would put you to sleep. Age rating for this book is 14-18 years of age. I would say that’s appropriate. But I’d be more inclined to say 12-16, 17 or 18 depending on the maturity level of your child.
After reading from greats like Maas and Jackson, it seems a little remedial and slow moving. That being said, I still enjoyed the series and I’m not mad about reading it. I definitely think this is more of a wholesome fae story despite the violence.
Another series finished!! My goal is to start trying to finish series soon after starting them, if possible. I’m old and my memory isn’t what it used to be!!
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
September 13, 2021
Queen of Bitter Thorn is the fourth and final book in The Fae of Bitter Thorn series, and it is an action-packed, fantastical adventure. The world-building is amazing and immersive, and I love how vividly described everything is. The characters are also well-developed, especially Elora. She has come so far from the start of the series, and she learns so much about herself and her powers. She is more self-assured, and she proves intelligent, strong, and fierce throughout the book. I like how she slowly becomes a leader and relentlessly fights for the people and places she loves.
The romance is fantastic! I love how far Elora and Brannick have come, both as individuals and as a couple. There is nothing that this pair wouldn’t do for each other, and they prove it over and over again throughout the story. They both also have a deep love of Faerie, and they are as relentless to protect it as Alessandra and the other antagonists are to control it.
There’s so much action in the book! It is the ultimate battle of good vs. evil, and the nail-biting fight scenes are fantastic. There is never a dull moment in the story, from Brannick’s capture and Elora’s desperate struggle to rescue him to Elora and Brannick’s fight to save the kingdom from ruthless villains. Every moment is filled with tension and leads to an epic climax.
Overall, this is a great end to The Fae of Bitter Thorn series! It’s exciting and gripping, and I love the characters, the plot, and the setting. The world is so unique and immersive, and I was thrilled to learn this week that Moody has a spin-off series coming that takes place in the same world as this one. There are so many interesting characters, places, and situations that I’d love to learn more about, and I’m eager to see where the author takes us next! I’m so thankful to Kay L. Moody for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
The romance is fantastic! I love how far Elora and Brannick have come, both as individuals and as a couple. There is nothing that this pair wouldn’t do for each other, and they prove it over and over again throughout the story. They both also have a deep love of Faerie, and they are as relentless to protect it as Alessandra and the other antagonists are to control it.
There’s so much action in the book! It is the ultimate battle of good vs. evil, and the nail-biting fight scenes are fantastic. There is never a dull moment in the story, from Brannick’s capture and Elora’s desperate struggle to rescue him to Elora and Brannick’s fight to save the kingdom from ruthless villains. Every moment is filled with tension and leads to an epic climax.
Overall, this is a great end to The Fae of Bitter Thorn series! It’s exciting and gripping, and I love the characters, the plot, and the setting. The world is so unique and immersive, and I was thrilled to learn this week that Moody has a spin-off series coming that takes place in the same world as this one. There are so many interesting characters, places, and situations that I’d love to learn more about, and I’m eager to see where the author takes us next! I’m so thankful to Kay L. Moody for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
September 12, 2021
3.5 stars
Whew, where to start?
I have to say, my expectations for this book were super high. Book one hadn't made me fall in love, but it had hooked me onto Elora's world and I downloaded my ARC of book 2 thinking I'd like it—and I loved it. I read books 2 and 3 in a matter of 2 days and I anticipated book 4 with a lot of excitement... But this book just fell short of my expectations. Maybe they were too high? I don't know. I'm going to try and make a list of all the things I loved about it and all those I disliked to convey my feelings about this book.
What I loved
- The final showdown, finally!
- The Crown ended up in the hands I expected and I wanted that to happen so I'm happy
- Vesper FINALLY goes back home!!
- Happy Ever After for most characters
- Fae world was vivid and descriptions were great
- Some good quotes and swoony scenes
What I disliked
- Some romantic scenes were too close to steamy for comfort. Maybe it's just me, but some of them left me uncomfortable after and it felt like a turn-around after the first three installments being squeaky-clean...
- I was happy with the conclusion of the book, but I saw it coming since book 4, which admittedly removed a lot of the thrill.
- This point is entirely personal, but I just couldn't get sucked into the story here
- Some battle scenes had surprisingly gruesome descriptions or words used that generated gorish images that I didn't expect and kinda disturbed me
As you can see, I think the reason the book didn't click with me was that it just wasn't meant for a reader like me. I'm still very much looking forward to the next installment though (surprise surprise!)
Overall, because of the aforementioned elements, I'd push my recommended age range up to 17+ (being conservative)
I want to thank Kay L. Moody and Marten Press for the ARC copy they provided me with. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Whew, where to start?
I have to say, my expectations for this book were super high. Book one hadn't made me fall in love, but it had hooked me onto Elora's world and I downloaded my ARC of book 2 thinking I'd like it—and I loved it. I read books 2 and 3 in a matter of 2 days and I anticipated book 4 with a lot of excitement... But this book just fell short of my expectations. Maybe they were too high? I don't know. I'm going to try and make a list of all the things I loved about it and all those I disliked to convey my feelings about this book.
What I loved
- The final showdown, finally!
- The Crown ended up in the hands I expected and I wanted that to happen so I'm happy
- Vesper FINALLY goes back home!!
- Happy Ever After for most characters
- Fae world was vivid and descriptions were great
- Some good quotes and swoony scenes
What I disliked
- Some romantic scenes were too close to steamy for comfort. Maybe it's just me, but some of them left me uncomfortable after and it felt like a turn-around after the first three installments being squeaky-clean...
- I was happy with the conclusion of the book, but I saw it coming since book 4, which admittedly removed a lot of the thrill.
- This point is entirely personal, but I just couldn't get sucked into the story here
- Some battle scenes had surprisingly gruesome descriptions or words used that generated gorish images that I didn't expect and kinda disturbed me
As you can see, I think the reason the book didn't click with me was that it just wasn't meant for a reader like me. I'm still very much looking forward to the next installment though (surprise surprise!)
Overall, because of the aforementioned elements, I'd push my recommended age range up to 17+ (being conservative)
I want to thank Kay L. Moody and Marten Press for the ARC copy they provided me with. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 11, 2021
DNF- 64%
Let me start by saying that I read the first 3 of these books in 2 days. Absolutely sucked me in and I would read until my eyes couldn’t stay open anymore. I read them so quickly, I didn’t take the time to properly review them, which I’m gonna go back and do after this one.
I think that I kept pushing forward and hoping for something a little different, but I lost my motivation a little over a quarter through.
Each book seemed to just be doom and gloom and doom and gloom and doom and gloom and doom and gloom.
The romance felt forced, and yet… not there at all? I didn’t feel any tenderness or build up or anything. I didn’t read any scenes that gave me giggles or butterflies. I felt a little cheated about it, to be honest.
Because each book was just failure after failure, I really needed a good romance to keep me going.
I think that this series would have been better as a trilogy. I got so tired of reading the same story and didn’t have passion for the characters or the story anymore.
Let me start by saying that I read the first 3 of these books in 2 days. Absolutely sucked me in and I would read until my eyes couldn’t stay open anymore. I read them so quickly, I didn’t take the time to properly review them, which I’m gonna go back and do after this one.
I think that I kept pushing forward and hoping for something a little different, but I lost my motivation a little over a quarter through.
Each book seemed to just be doom and gloom and doom and gloom and doom and gloom and doom and gloom.
The romance felt forced, and yet… not there at all? I didn’t feel any tenderness or build up or anything. I didn’t read any scenes that gave me giggles or butterflies. I felt a little cheated about it, to be honest.
Because each book was just failure after failure, I really needed a good romance to keep me going.
I think that this series would have been better as a trilogy. I got so tired of reading the same story and didn’t have passion for the characters or the story anymore.
September 13, 2021
i absolutely loved the queen of bitter thorn. i'm a little disappointed that it's the end of the series, but it was a good ending.
as per usual, i loved all the characters (the sisters were still annoying, but less so in this book). something i noticed in the other books but never really pointed out: i felt the cast was too big. there were too many people, making it hard to keep track of what was going on.
the plot was fast paced and engaging. the lead up to the "big plot point" at the end was well developed, and very well throughout. it was entertaining.
for a series finale, i felt that everything was rounded off nicely. it made me feel satisfied with the ending. the only thing i wish i could change is there being more development with the relationship between brannick and elora. otherwise, it was a fantastic book, and i'm going to miss all my favourite characters.
as per usual, i loved all the characters (the sisters were still annoying, but less so in this book). something i noticed in the other books but never really pointed out: i felt the cast was too big. there were too many people, making it hard to keep track of what was going on.
the plot was fast paced and engaging. the lead up to the "big plot point" at the end was well developed, and very well throughout. it was entertaining.
for a series finale, i felt that everything was rounded off nicely. it made me feel satisfied with the ending. the only thing i wish i could change is there being more development with the relationship between brannick and elora. otherwise, it was a fantastic book, and i'm going to miss all my favourite characters.
December 5, 2021
Honestly this series feels like it wasn't even edited at all which was super disappointing. All the errors were incredibly distracting and I put off finishing this book for quite a while BUT despite that it was a very cute series 😌
September 18, 2021
OMG I LOVE IT! 🥰
THIS IS THE FINALE OF BITTER THORN SERIES! After the last battle with High Queen Alessandra, Elora was being separated with Brannick (who was captured again by Alessandra) and her sisters and friends. She has to go through various obstacles to find them, and even after she was able to reunited with them, there were even more challenge to face! Not only she fought her way to share information with Brannick while helping him escape Alessandra’s dungeon, all in very tight and dangerous situations, but she also needs to help her sisters, her friends, and all the other fairies to overcome the severe despair feelings caused by Alessandra’s magic 🤯 And one more thing… Ansel the cruel fairy was planning something bad by using the ancient power of “creation magic” 😱 With the help of Alessandra’s brother Severin and his beloved Tindra, who didn’t stop perfecting their invention to dispel Alessandra’s despair magic, Elora and the others will face the unavoidable final battle to beat the evil High Queen and bring peace to fairy forever!
From all four books in this series, this was the one where I can feel the cute romance between Elora and Brannick the most, I’m so happy everytime their scenes appeared 🥰
Many of us LOVE nice character developments, and this book totally has them! I really enjoyed seeing the growth of everyone including Elora’s sisters and Quintus 😄
I’m really satisfied with the ending of this series! I’m looking forward to read Kay’s future series ✨
THIS IS THE FINALE OF BITTER THORN SERIES! After the last battle with High Queen Alessandra, Elora was being separated with Brannick (who was captured again by Alessandra) and her sisters and friends. She has to go through various obstacles to find them, and even after she was able to reunited with them, there were even more challenge to face! Not only she fought her way to share information with Brannick while helping him escape Alessandra’s dungeon, all in very tight and dangerous situations, but she also needs to help her sisters, her friends, and all the other fairies to overcome the severe despair feelings caused by Alessandra’s magic 🤯 And one more thing… Ansel the cruel fairy was planning something bad by using the ancient power of “creation magic” 😱 With the help of Alessandra’s brother Severin and his beloved Tindra, who didn’t stop perfecting their invention to dispel Alessandra’s despair magic, Elora and the others will face the unavoidable final battle to beat the evil High Queen and bring peace to fairy forever!
From all four books in this series, this was the one where I can feel the cute romance between Elora and Brannick the most, I’m so happy everytime their scenes appeared 🥰
Many of us LOVE nice character developments, and this book totally has them! I really enjoyed seeing the growth of everyone including Elora’s sisters and Quintus 😄
I’m really satisfied with the ending of this series! I’m looking forward to read Kay’s future series ✨
September 28, 2021
As always, Kay has blown me away with her writing! Everything has built perfectly to this moment. To Elora learning not only about dealing with the power of emotions and her magic, but how despite not being born to a great destiny, she can be great anyway. The love between her and Brannick is more evident than ever in this last book, and I'm again very impressed with our two villains, Ansel and High Queen Allessandra. They are truly terrifying in their own ways, and we can feel Elora's feelings throughout the book with absolute clarity. Crazy how a fantasy book can be so realistic, right?
My only complaint is that I feel we could- and should- have had a little more to the ending after the climax. Even just one more chapter. It wrapped up really fast, so wasn't quite as satisfying of an ending to a 4-book series we've been dedicated to for so long now. It was a great ending, of course, I just wish there was more!
Absolutely fantastic as always. I know endings are bittersweet, especially in such a great, fun series, but don't put this one off! Every bit of it is supremely satisfying. You don't want to miss out!
My only complaint is that I feel we could- and should- have had a little more to the ending after the climax. Even just one more chapter. It wrapped up really fast, so wasn't quite as satisfying of an ending to a 4-book series we've been dedicated to for so long now. It was a great ending, of course, I just wish there was more!
Absolutely fantastic as always. I know endings are bittersweet, especially in such a great, fun series, but don't put this one off! Every bit of it is supremely satisfying. You don't want to miss out!
September 15, 2021
Queen of Bitter Thorn is the fourth and final part in the Fae of Bitter Thorn series and the sequel of Crown of Bitter Thorn. What will Kay L Moody have in store for the reader in this fourth and final part?
With Brannick imprisoned by the High Queen, Elora will do anything to stop Alessandra. Meanwhile, she must learn her own magic and stay out of Ansel’s hands. Elora and her friends try to free Brannick, but will they get past the strict guards of Fairfrost Castle? Can Elora control her own magic and stop Alessandra?
Find out in my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
With Brannick imprisoned by the High Queen, Elora will do anything to stop Alessandra. Meanwhile, she must learn her own magic and stay out of Ansel’s hands. Elora and her friends try to free Brannick, but will they get past the strict guards of Fairfrost Castle? Can Elora control her own magic and stop Alessandra?
Find out in my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
January 1, 2022
Great finish to this story. Epic final battle. I love Brannick's character growth throughout the series. Just overall a very entertaining story.
December 18, 2021
I received a copy of this book from Kay L Moody as an ARC. This is my honest review.
What an ending!
This book was full of action and adventure. We got to watch Elora learn her powers, and with all her ability try to save Prince Brannick from High Queen Alessandra, and try to save Faerie itself.
These characters have really grown into themselves. They continue to grow and do better with each battle they encounter, and every obstacle they face. I went from not really liking Elora in the beginning, to loving her.
This series is definitely a must read. I cannot stress this enough!
Kay L Moody has yet to write a series I don’t love. I’m excited to see what she does next!
What an ending!
This book was full of action and adventure. We got to watch Elora learn her powers, and with all her ability try to save Prince Brannick from High Queen Alessandra, and try to save Faerie itself.
These characters have really grown into themselves. They continue to grow and do better with each battle they encounter, and every obstacle they face. I went from not really liking Elora in the beginning, to loving her.
This series is definitely a must read. I cannot stress this enough!
Kay L Moody has yet to write a series I don’t love. I’m excited to see what she does next!
September 18, 2021
Disappointing
This is the story that would not end. It droned on and on. Very anticlimactic. The story should have been wrapped up with book 3.
This is the story that would not end. It droned on and on. Very anticlimactic. The story should have been wrapped up with book 3.
September 3, 2021
Goodness gracious glorious me! What a fitting conclusion to a wonderful series! I was spellbound from the very 1st book and continued to be enchanted with each new book! So cool how Elora comes into her own, how she finally manages to understand her magic. It is emotional, at times tense as she tries to keep the despair from taking hold. Every time Elora got thwarted by Ansel, I was like, NOOOOOOO! My heart was pounding! That's how immersed I was! It is a tale of love and diversity, of preconceived notions and how Elora comes to dispel these notions. Faerie will never be the same again, emotions will not be feared and love will not be diminished. I loved the characters, I loved the plot and the different worlds are so magically beautiful, I have a hard time deciding which is my favourite Court! All I do know is that I loved being a part of this adventure! I felt a bit like Tansy, observing every event, feeling every single action and rejoicing in the outcome! Wonderful series!
January 29, 2023
4.5/5 stars! What a conclusion! I love this series and have been drawn to Brannick and Elora from the beginning of book one. Watching Elora have to face her own self-doubts was painful but necessary. I appreciated the growth and maturity in this book. I've been waiting for a little spice for 3 books and am so glad we got some here. I also felt the character development across the board was really strong in this finale. I really enjoyed it and am just sad there isn't more Elora and Brannick in my future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 31, 2021
I'm sure everyone saw the ending of Elora's story coming, even before this title was released. But the journey! This book gave me every feeling and about halfway though I had to stop just to process a single line.
"So you were not born for greatness. Who cares? Be great anyway."
I am also so happy to see a new series continuing in this world, even if some of my favorite characters may not be involved. I'm not ready to say goodbye to Elora yet.
"So you were not born for greatness. Who cares? Be great anyway."
I am also so happy to see a new series continuing in this world, even if some of my favorite characters may not be involved. I'm not ready to say goodbye to Elora yet.
September 18, 2021
" Be great anyway." The perfect analogy for this final book of the series. Fast-paced action, magic and adventure with a bit of romance make this a bitter sweet ending to this series. Sad to see it end.
I look forward to reading more from this author as I thoroughly enjoy her writing style.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I look forward to reading more from this author as I thoroughly enjoy her writing style.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 5, 2022
Great 4th installment
I've been waiting ages to find out how Elora would save fairy and stop the decay. This story is very clean and YA. It moves quickly thruout and ties up all the problems in a neat happy bow at the end. Lots of magic, love and emotion in this story. You will enjoy the action and fast pace. Lots of the same characters that you have come to know in the previous books in the series.
I've been waiting ages to find out how Elora would save fairy and stop the decay. This story is very clean and YA. It moves quickly thruout and ties up all the problems in a neat happy bow at the end. Lots of magic, love and emotion in this story. You will enjoy the action and fast pace. Lots of the same characters that you have come to know in the previous books in the series.
January 19, 2023
This was a bit of a rushed mess... Fine, mire than a bit BUT
I was here for Brannick&Elora hea,
and hea I've recieved 🤗
I was here for Brannick&Elora hea,
and hea I've recieved 🤗
December 21, 2024
Very underwhelming ending :(
August 24, 2021
This had to be the most perfect ending to a book I have ever read! Queen Elora!!! And finally Brannick got the place in his life he needed to have! And elora’s sisters! Oh man this was just such a journey and I’m sad it’s over but I have loved every second of it!
July 9, 2024
At last, the final battle is upon us. Elora must rescue Prince Brannick, stop a deadly enchantment, and discover her magic in order to bring down High Queen Alessandra - but no pressure! Time to see if she can achieve her happily ever after.
Like the other books in this series, "Queen of Bitter Thorn" is fast-paced and exciting. The story and world are easy to get lost in, and the ending was a fitting finish to the saga. I was entertained and enjoyed myself, devouring the whole thing in a matter of days.
Now that I've finished the whole series, I think I would recommend this series to people who enjoy Holly Black's Folk of the Air and Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean saga - an enemies to lovers romance, an ongoing battle against evil, and a race against time with some great action. 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to BookSirens and Kay L. Moody for the advance reader copy. This review is completely voluntary. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Like the other books in this series, "Queen of Bitter Thorn" is fast-paced and exciting. The story and world are easy to get lost in, and the ending was a fitting finish to the saga. I was entertained and enjoyed myself, devouring the whole thing in a matter of days.
Now that I've finished the whole series, I think I would recommend this series to people who enjoy Holly Black's Folk of the Air and Rebecca Yarros's Empyrean saga - an enemies to lovers romance, an ongoing battle against evil, and a race against time with some great action. 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to BookSirens and Kay L. Moody for the advance reader copy. This review is completely voluntary. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
July 9, 2024
Queen of Bitter Thorn by Kay L. Moody is the fourth book in the Fae of Bitter Thorn series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It has a great cast of characters and an engaging world.
Elora and Brannick spend a lot of this book separated. Elora has a lot of her own securities to get over as she discovers her own powers. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel series about Elora's sister Chloe.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It has a great cast of characters and an engaging world.
Elora and Brannick spend a lot of this book separated. Elora has a lot of her own securities to get over as she discovers her own powers. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel series about Elora's sister Chloe.
September 29, 2021
*deep breath* Okay. It's been a few days so I can now think straight about it. Let me start by saying that Brannick and Elora are one of my favorite literary couples ever. The unspoken trust they have in each other and the love that binds them even when they were apart is so beautiful. They have both come so far from where they were in the first book - a prince who refused to feel anything and was focused on a singular goal and a girl who just wanted to be allowed to compete in sword competitions. Brannick is truly worthy of what he achieves. Elora's ending couldn't have been anything else. I loved it.
And that's to say nothing of the side characters - Kaia, Blaz, Lyren, Quintus, Vesper, Chloe, Grace, Severin and Tindra, Fifer. They each have their flaws and issues to overcome as well. I tried to think of who would be my favorite and I don't think I could choose. I have a soft spot for Lyren though and I LOVE her character arc in this book in particular.
Alright, I think that's enough of my ramblings. This series will be reread many times and I will recommend it until my voice is hoarse. Thank you, Kay L. Moody, for sharing this world with us.
June 24, 2022
I don't know... I was bored while listening.
It felt like a lot of plot points were unnecessary, wrapped up far too easily, or contrived.
Honestly, I was a bit over this series by the third book, but I gave it a chance. It was an overall fine conclusion for the characters.
It felt like a lot of plot points were unnecessary, wrapped up far too easily, or contrived.
Honestly, I was a bit over this series by the third book, but I gave it a chance. It was an overall fine conclusion for the characters.
September 10, 2021
Last in this series - quite good but too much repetition.
This novel completes the "Fae of Bitter Thorn " series, admittedly aimed at a YA readership so any criticism that I may have is because i read it as an adult. It tells of Elora's final conflict with High Queen Alessandra and Ansel. There are a lot of supporting cast to help her out, although there are many setbacks along the way. As one would expect with a final volume, there's happy endings all round and resolution for most of the characters which are well-developed. The plot moves along well and generally the novel works well. However there's a lot of repetition: much huffing, tears in eyes, tightening of jaws, evidence of despair etc.. - which is a bit tedious in the end. The YA readership will no doubt find this more worthy than me and it's a fitting end to the series. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
This novel completes the "Fae of Bitter Thorn " series, admittedly aimed at a YA readership so any criticism that I may have is because i read it as an adult. It tells of Elora's final conflict with High Queen Alessandra and Ansel. There are a lot of supporting cast to help her out, although there are many setbacks along the way. As one would expect with a final volume, there's happy endings all round and resolution for most of the characters which are well-developed. The plot moves along well and generally the novel works well. However there's a lot of repetition: much huffing, tears in eyes, tightening of jaws, evidence of despair etc.. - which is a bit tedious in the end. The YA readership will no doubt find this more worthy than me and it's a fitting end to the series. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2021
Wow what an intense ride ….. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted someone to get stabbed more than the villains in this story. There were quite a few pages that had me holding my breath. I love Elora and her growth through the pages has been so good. The ending, well I have to say it was fulfilling in every way. The author wrapped everything up so well and in such a way that I couldn’t hope for anything more. This is magical and fantastic and will give you all the feels.
November 1, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm a binge reader, and I read the first 3 books a few months ago. I was worried that I would have some difficulty getting into this one; at the same time I wanted to know how the story ended. Turns out I didn't have to worry after all. Once I started reading, all the details kept coming to me, and before I knew it I was sucked in completely.
I liked the character development that happened over time, and I was happy with how far Elora had come. She finally found out about her magic and her rightful place in Faerie. I also liked the way she worked through her trauma, and even though she was still affected by it, she didn't let it become an obstacle in her mission.
I loved Brannick even more in this book, especially when he admits that he wants to keep Elora safe, at the same time he does not want to smother her with his over protectiveness. The supporting characters were amazing, and did a great job in helping the story move forward. I had so much hate for the villains that I had the urge to murder them myself, so you can imagine how great the writing was to make me feel this way.
I did feel that the story dipped a little mid way, but it quickly picked up. The romance was limited but still great. The magical aspects were well explained and the book did not only rely on physical strength but also clever strategies that kept things interesting.
The final battle scene was fleshed out and action packed. I loved every bit of it, but what came after that was even more amazing. I'm definitely going to read more books by the author. I recommend it to all fantasy romance lovers who enjoy fast-paced books with adventure.
I'm a binge reader, and I read the first 3 books a few months ago. I was worried that I would have some difficulty getting into this one; at the same time I wanted to know how the story ended. Turns out I didn't have to worry after all. Once I started reading, all the details kept coming to me, and before I knew it I was sucked in completely.
I liked the character development that happened over time, and I was happy with how far Elora had come. She finally found out about her magic and her rightful place in Faerie. I also liked the way she worked through her trauma, and even though she was still affected by it, she didn't let it become an obstacle in her mission.
I loved Brannick even more in this book, especially when he admits that he wants to keep Elora safe, at the same time he does not want to smother her with his over protectiveness. The supporting characters were amazing, and did a great job in helping the story move forward. I had so much hate for the villains that I had the urge to murder them myself, so you can imagine how great the writing was to make me feel this way.
I did feel that the story dipped a little mid way, but it quickly picked up. The romance was limited but still great. The magical aspects were well explained and the book did not only rely on physical strength but also clever strategies that kept things interesting.
The final battle scene was fleshed out and action packed. I loved every bit of it, but what came after that was even more amazing. I'm definitely going to read more books by the author. I recommend it to all fantasy romance lovers who enjoy fast-paced books with adventure.
December 17, 2022
Audiobook, 2.5x speed because I just wanted it to end.
Very disappointed in this final book. And I could barley pay attention I just wanted it to end so I power read through it.
1. The beginning is boring and the finale feels rushed. I do think that the author could have reworked this story for a trilogy and it would have been better.
2. The romance feels rushed and forced. I get that it’s a slow burn but the two main characters have basically no chemistry. I don’t know why they like each other other than some supernatural eye twirly thing. I think it’s kinda strange that the only “tell” for them being in love is the change in brannicks eyes. He has done nothing to really earn her love.
3. Anyone else think it’s super gross (I have learned that this is a set up for her next series) that quintus is making eyes at 15-year-old Chloe. This is a bigger issue in the industry but I’m not a huge fan of all these 17-year-old girls falling in love with ancient fae, but this is kinda pushing it too far. I don’t care that there’s “no time in faerie” and they “measure age with experience” but that’s a really shitty excuse in my opinion. Age your characters up even if it’s YA or have your character fall in love with more age appropriate fae…
Very disappointed in this final book. And I could barley pay attention I just wanted it to end so I power read through it.
1. The beginning is boring and the finale feels rushed. I do think that the author could have reworked this story for a trilogy and it would have been better.
2. The romance feels rushed and forced. I get that it’s a slow burn but the two main characters have basically no chemistry. I don’t know why they like each other other than some supernatural eye twirly thing. I think it’s kinda strange that the only “tell” for them being in love is the change in brannicks eyes. He has done nothing to really earn her love.
3. Anyone else think it’s super gross (I have learned that this is a set up for her next series) that quintus is making eyes at 15-year-old Chloe. This is a bigger issue in the industry but I’m not a huge fan of all these 17-year-old girls falling in love with ancient fae, but this is kinda pushing it too far. I don’t care that there’s “no time in faerie” and they “measure age with experience” but that’s a really shitty excuse in my opinion. Age your characters up even if it’s YA or have your character fall in love with more age appropriate fae…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2023
Wow! What a satisfying, action-packed finale to the Bitter Thorn series this was. As always, Kay Moody leaves hints and clues and still manages to throw in a number of surprising twists. And as always, it was a fantastic story.
Elora is on her own, her allies have been captured, and she is unable to use her magic. All the plans Brannick had made to overthrow High Queen Alessandra have failed and she has filled the land with despair. But hope is not entirely lost. There are some who still resist, who still choose to fight regardless of the dire circumstances. And Elora has a plan to rescue Brannick...again.
I'm sad that the series has wrapped up, but am excited to see that there is a spinoff series already in the works.
I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
Elora is on her own, her allies have been captured, and she is unable to use her magic. All the plans Brannick had made to overthrow High Queen Alessandra have failed and she has filled the land with despair. But hope is not entirely lost. There are some who still resist, who still choose to fight regardless of the dire circumstances. And Elora has a plan to rescue Brannick...again.
I'm sad that the series has wrapped up, but am excited to see that there is a spinoff series already in the works.
I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews