Realms Of Stone And Gold

by C.E. Olson

Varis Kester goes by many names: Human, Killer, Bastard — but a knack for killing Fae has ensured he’s known across the realms as “The Fae Hammer.” Trained from a young age by the greatest knight in all of Ostusen, Varis fulfilled his first mission as the King’s assassin at age sixteen. Ten years later, he's perfected his craft. He's ruthless, unattached, and ready for whatever the King throws his way… until he's not.

His latest assignment is Queen Aine of the Sun Court. Gorgeous, witty, and more powerful than he was told, she proves to be Varis’ most dangerous target yet. She’s also the first one to ever gain the upper hand against him.

When she traps him inside the Sun Court, she offers him a choice: betray his King and set his sights on a different target, or watch his brother die. If he succeeds, the realms will be at war. If he fails, the magic of the oath he swears to her will kill him.

With everything to lose, Varis makes a plan of his own, but following through with it might be harder than he thinks.

362 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2021

About the author

C. E. Olson has a love of writing, reading, and all things fantasy… and they’re just getting started.

Reviews

[Henry Fairnington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how inclusive this world it- it makes a pleasant change for fantasy! Very enjoyable story, and Varis and Reeve are my favourites. Good kids, the lot of them :D

AND this book has the accolade of being the first book I've ever recorded as an audiobook, so definitely a special place in my heart!

[Sarah Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Varis Kester is a warrior and assassin known as the Fae Hammer. Sold to a mortal king with a hatred of the Fae at a young age, Varis becomes Balian’s puppet, destined to kill every Fae (or suspected Fae) found in Balian’s lands. But when Varis is tasked with the assassination of Queen Aine of the Sun Court, he discovers that the Faerie Queen is far more smart and competent than either of them expected. Aine turns the tables on Varis when she offers him another job - in exchange for his own life and that of his brother, Reeve’s. Much to Varis’ chagrin, he agrees to kill another Fae monarch for Queen Aine in order to save his brother’s life. But along the way, Varis starts seeing Aine as less annoying, and more enticing. Meanwhile, Aine is hiding secrets of her own.

Wow! I can’t believe how much I loved this book. Varis is my new fictional husband, please and thank you. He’s broody and slightly arrogant, yet he also has a big heart and would do anything for the people he loves - no matter how short that list is. Aine is a little piece of sunshine, and I love her. She’s so incredibly sassy, and she totally keeps Varis in line. But she also has just enough of an awkward streak to keep her realistic and adorable. She and Varis have the best relationship. I also want to give a shoutout to Reeve and Laix, two side characters in the book that also happen to be a couple, for being extremely adorable. I completely recommend!

[Morgan Rutherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was freaking fantastic! I absolutely loved it and the ending was perfect! There was so much humor in this book and so much angst! The romance was perfectly balanced with the action. I don’t have just one favorite character, I loved them all so much. Varis is so complex, Reeve is hilarious, Aine I want to hug and be besties with, and Laix seems like the best person to hang with. They’re all so amazing. The fae kingdoms were fascinating. I also really loved the fact that the authors wrote a nonbinary character and other lgbt characters! I really loved everything about this book and the one thing I wish was different was that I wish I had read it sooner! Everything was brilliant! And this was enemies to lovers! With assassins and faeries.

[Devika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realms of Stone and Gold is a book about family, friendships and revenge. The story also has some romance which had a high pace. C.E.Olson has a nice writing style and knows how to work out the characters really well. However, sometimes I felt like the story could have been worked out better. All in all Realms of Stone and Gold is a fun read

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realm of Stone and Starlight by C.L. Mecca.
Boldwood Books, thank you for the ARC, and thanks to NetGalley for once again sabotaging my sleep schedule with zero remorse.

I cracked this book open expecting a perfectly pleasant romantasy. Maybe a little angst, maybe a little kissing, maybe a curse or two. Instead, the story stepped out of the shadows like Terran himself and said, “Sit down; you’re not ready.” Spoiler: I wasn’t. Elydor isn’t just a setting. It feels like the author sneaked into my house, lit a candle made of political tension and forbidden longing, and told me to enjoy myself. I did. Too much.

Terran, heir of Gyoria and champion of emotional constipation, carries himself like a man who knows the world expects him to be a weapon. He’s sharp, disciplined, and about as warm as a frostbitten throne room until Lyra storms in. She’s fierce in that quietly powerful way that drives brooding men straight into character development. Her secrets pulse under every scene they share, and even when she tries to keep him at arm’s length, the pages disagree. The tension between them isn’t slow burn so much as a simmering pot someone keeps nudging the heat on. And honestly, bless them for that.

The magic of Elydor feels grounded, tied to the land in a way that’s easy to follow but still gorgeous. Mecca knows when to describe something and when to let the reader feel it instead. That balance kept the story from slipping into the dreaded “fantasy info fog.” The relic hunt adds movement without ever dragging, and the looming Aetherian Gate gives the whole plot a ticking clock you can practically hear.

One of my favorite moments comes when Lyra says, “Stone can be shaped, but it’s the cracks that tell the truth.” I had to stop and admire how unfairly good that line was. It sums up the whole book: strength shifting, truth slipping through where the light gets in, and two people learning that vulnerability isn’t a weakness but a door they’ve both been too stubborn to open.

Their chemistry is delicious. Terran falls first with the enthusiasm of a man who has spent years avoiding feelings and now can’t locate the brakes. Lyra, meanwhile, tries to convince herself she has better things to do than fall for a man trained to hate her people. The universe laughs and refuses to assist. Every glance, every near-touch, every begrudging alliance feeds that satisfying arc from wary opponents to partners who’d tear realms apart for each other.

As the relics awaken and loyalties split, the plot tightens like a bowstring. What impressed me most is how Mecca keeps the emotional thread steady while the political landscape shifts under everyone’s feet. Terran and Lyra’s choices feel heavy because the world around them feels real. You understand what they stand to lose, and why loving each other might be the bravest or stupidest thing they’ve ever done.

By the final chapters, I wasn’t reading so much as clutching the book like it owed me answers. It’s dramatic, it’s heartfelt, and it delivers exactly what romantasy promises: danger, desire, and the possibility that love might change destiny itself. I closed the last page satisfied and slightly annoyed that I have to wait for the next installment. Classic reader problem.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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[Cherokee - Books With A Chance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the cover art for this book, it caught my attention right away.
I though the synopsis was well done, and that it sounded like an interesting plot.
I enjoyed the relationship our MC, Varis, has with his brother Reeve. The strong ties between them, it was beautiful.
I felt the action was waylaid, and pushed to the side. There wasn't enough for me, especially with a nickname like Fae Hammer.
I felt the romance was a little too fast, even with a "mate bond."
There are too many questions left unanswered, about the brothers past, the queens past, ideal, etc.
I did enjoy how the author included non binary people in the story, as well as representing others in the LGBTQ community. I could have done without all the sex scenes though, they didn't add much to the story.

[Chey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Varis is known as the Fae Hammer, killing Fae for the King without question. When he is sent on a mission to kill Queen Aine, he doesn't think this will be any different. But he is very wrong. After meeting her, he finds himself on another mission, with a few surprises and twists waiting for him.

I loved this story. The author created characters that were fun and easy to imagine. Aine is sassy and I adored her character. Her and Varis are sweet together and their story was a little unique with the situation of her wings

I wish the fight in the endbwas longer. It was so quick it almost felt pointless. I would've liked to see a little more action.

[Sebastian O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended to me as a queer romance, and it didn’t disappoint despite being m/f. The bi-erasure in the world is real, so seeing two canonically bi characters keep their identities even when in a straight-passing relationship was awesome. I loved broody Varis and sassy Aine, but Reeve and Laix were a chef’s kiss addition. Brotherly love, a non-binary character, unique animals and a war? Yes, please. Especially since the characters didn’t leave their soldiers to die while they boned in a tent like a certain other Fae book we won’t name.

Wasn’t quite a 5 star for me, but I definitely recommend giving it a go.

[EllenZReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for the ARC!

This was a fun, fast-paced fantasy with elves, kings, queens, and fantastical animals and creatures.
It incorporated the familiar but enjoyable trope of enemies to lovers. The development of the romantic relationship between the two main characters was done well. I also appreciated the appearance of a non-binary side character. Good story and I would read more from this author in the future.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the beginning, Veris and his relationship with his brother and that was it. It wasn't interesting enough and though Queen Aline was described as powerful, she felt like a teen and her immediate desire for Veris was such a turn off.