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Intended
An Adult Romantic Fantasy
“There’s something here, beneath the surface. Something alive. Can’t you feel it? Don’t you want to…join it?”
The last thing Charlie Hope wants is to get into magical politics – especially when she’d rather spend all her time singing in the woods. But when her father gives her an ultimatum she cannot ignore Charlie reluctantly becomes assistant to Mr Silver, immortal magician extraordinaire and one of the biggest political influences in the country.
The last thing Daniel Silver wants is to look after a precocious young woman whilst working to avoid all-out war with foreign magical factions. Yet though Charlie hides the true extent of her abilities from the enigmatic man, it isn’t long before Silver is drawn in by what’s lurking beneath the surface of his unwilling protégé.
As tensions rise between Silver and Charlie and war between factions becomes inevitable, something deep and ancient and forgotten may just be using their petty distractions as a means to crawl back into existence and obliterate them all.
“There’s something here, beneath the surface. Something alive. Can’t you feel it? Don’t you want to…join it?”
The last thing Charlie Hope wants is to get into magical politics – especially when she’d rather spend all her time singing in the woods. But when her father gives her an ultimatum she cannot ignore Charlie reluctantly becomes assistant to Mr Silver, immortal magician extraordinaire and one of the biggest political influences in the country.
The last thing Daniel Silver wants is to look after a precocious young woman whilst working to avoid all-out war with foreign magical factions. Yet though Charlie hides the true extent of her abilities from the enigmatic man, it isn’t long before Silver is drawn in by what’s lurking beneath the surface of his unwilling protégé.
As tensions rise between Silver and Charlie and war between factions becomes inevitable, something deep and ancient and forgotten may just be using their petty distractions as a means to crawl back into existence and obliterate them all.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2021
7 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Macfarlane
25 books235 followersFollow me on Bookbub! https://bit.ly/HLBookb
NOTE: H. L. Macfarlane is currently on a publishing hiatus to focus on her mental health. She hopes to return with new titles in early 2026 and appreciates your understanding in the meantime.
Hayley Louise Macfarlane hails from the very tiny hamlet of Balmaha on the shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland. After graduating with a PhD in molecular genetics she did a complete 180 and moved into writing fiction. Though she loves writing multiple genres (fantasy, romance, sci-fi, psychological fiction and horror so far!) she is most widely known for her enemies-to-lovers STEM rom-com, The Unbalanced Equation, and her Gothic, Scottish fairy tale, Prince of Foxes – book one of the Bright Spear trilogy.
NOTE: H. L. Macfarlane is currently on a publishing hiatus to focus on her mental health. She hopes to return with new titles in early 2026 and appreciates your understanding in the meantime.
Hayley Louise Macfarlane hails from the very tiny hamlet of Balmaha on the shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland. After graduating with a PhD in molecular genetics she did a complete 180 and moved into writing fiction. Though she loves writing multiple genres (fantasy, romance, sci-fi, psychological fiction and horror so far!) she is most widely known for her enemies-to-lovers STEM rom-com, The Unbalanced Equation, and her Gothic, Scottish fairy tale, Prince of Foxes – book one of the Bright Spear trilogy.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 17, 2021
“There’s something here, beneath the surface. Something alive. Can’t you feel it? Don’t you want to…join it?”
The last thing Charlie Hope wants is to get into magical politics – especially when she’d rather spend all her time singing in the woods. But when her father gives her an ultimatum she cannot ignore Charlie reluctantly becomes assistant to Mr Silver, immortal magician extraordinaire and one of the biggest political influences in the country.
The last thing Daniel Silver wants is to look after a precocious young woman whilst working to avoid all-out war with foreign magical factions. Yet though Charlie hides the true extent of her abilities from the enigmatic man, it isn’t long before Silver is drawn in by what’s lurking beneath the surface of his unwilling protégé.
As tensions rise between Silver and Charlie and war between factions becomes inevitable, something deep and ancient and forgotten may just be using their petty distractions as a means to crawl back into existence and obliterate them all.
What I liked about this book
The romance developed at the perfect pace.
Charlie’s power brings a fairytale like quality to the story.
Immortal folk
I couldn’t put this book down from the moment I started reading. If you like fantasy romances that include fae, then this book is right up your street.
5 stars
✭✭✭✭✭
Find this review and others on my blog
The last thing Charlie Hope wants is to get into magical politics – especially when she’d rather spend all her time singing in the woods. But when her father gives her an ultimatum she cannot ignore Charlie reluctantly becomes assistant to Mr Silver, immortal magician extraordinaire and one of the biggest political influences in the country.
The last thing Daniel Silver wants is to look after a precocious young woman whilst working to avoid all-out war with foreign magical factions. Yet though Charlie hides the true extent of her abilities from the enigmatic man, it isn’t long before Silver is drawn in by what’s lurking beneath the surface of his unwilling protégé.
As tensions rise between Silver and Charlie and war between factions becomes inevitable, something deep and ancient and forgotten may just be using their petty distractions as a means to crawl back into existence and obliterate them all.
What I liked about this book
The romance developed at the perfect pace.
Charlie’s power brings a fairytale like quality to the story.
Immortal folk
I couldn’t put this book down from the moment I started reading. If you like fantasy romances that include fae, then this book is right up your street.
5 stars
✭✭✭✭✭
Find this review and others on my blog
October 2, 2021
3.5 stars
“There’s something here, beneath the surface. Something alive. Can’t you feel it? Don’t you want to…join it?”
I love stories involving faes and magic so when I got the chance to request a book from BookSiren again, I chose this one. The thing about Intended is it’s very atmospheric. I love the fairytale vibe in the narrative. It’s so magical. The author didn’t shy away from using various mythical creatures and she uses them to the story’s advantage. And even though they’re not new creatures in fictional worlds, the author certainly made them appear unique in her story. And I love the fact that there are magical and non-magical people in the story. It’s not every day, I read a fantasy book that also features non-magical people who also act like modern people in real life.
The world is intricate and fascinating. It’s very well-crafted and not just because of the magic system. I also like the political system of the fictional world. The back story is amazing and made the whole world more interesting. The past really gave sense to everything in the present world.
The magic system is really very clear. I liked the concept of the different magic powers in the story. Of course, Charlie’s magic is the best. She can basically do some great things in the forest. I also think that her father using her magic for his advantage but at the same time being nice to her is a refreshing concept. It’s because I’m so used to reading parents using their children to their advantage and still being cruel to them. In this book, Charlie is being spoiled by her dad greatly.
Speaking of spoiling, that’s the only reason I see why Charlie seems so childish and immature. She sounds like a fifteen-year-old rather than a twenty-four-year-old. Her actions are juvenile and even her inner monologue sounds like she’s a spoiled teenager. Her reasoning in circumstances is that of a child. So I don’t really like her that much even though I love her magic. But I do love her interactions with Daniel. Daniel is a human and a magician, who willingly became immortal to do greater things. I love that he really cares for his world and for others. He’s more likable than Charlie.
But like I said, I love their interactions. The development of the characters is good enough. The story also flowed at a nice pace. The nice pacing didn’t just show the smooth flow of the plot but also of the growth of the characters. There is also a romance but I love that it didn’t take over the main story. I love it when romance in books didn’t steal the spotlight from more interesting aspects of the story.
If you like magical stories with faes and various mythical creatures, I highly recommend this book.
“There’s something here, beneath the surface. Something alive. Can’t you feel it? Don’t you want to…join it?”
I love stories involving faes and magic so when I got the chance to request a book from BookSiren again, I chose this one. The thing about Intended is it’s very atmospheric. I love the fairytale vibe in the narrative. It’s so magical. The author didn’t shy away from using various mythical creatures and she uses them to the story’s advantage. And even though they’re not new creatures in fictional worlds, the author certainly made them appear unique in her story. And I love the fact that there are magical and non-magical people in the story. It’s not every day, I read a fantasy book that also features non-magical people who also act like modern people in real life.
The world is intricate and fascinating. It’s very well-crafted and not just because of the magic system. I also like the political system of the fictional world. The back story is amazing and made the whole world more interesting. The past really gave sense to everything in the present world.
The magic system is really very clear. I liked the concept of the different magic powers in the story. Of course, Charlie’s magic is the best. She can basically do some great things in the forest. I also think that her father using her magic for his advantage but at the same time being nice to her is a refreshing concept. It’s because I’m so used to reading parents using their children to their advantage and still being cruel to them. In this book, Charlie is being spoiled by her dad greatly.
Speaking of spoiling, that’s the only reason I see why Charlie seems so childish and immature. She sounds like a fifteen-year-old rather than a twenty-four-year-old. Her actions are juvenile and even her inner monologue sounds like she’s a spoiled teenager. Her reasoning in circumstances is that of a child. So I don’t really like her that much even though I love her magic. But I do love her interactions with Daniel. Daniel is a human and a magician, who willingly became immortal to do greater things. I love that he really cares for his world and for others. He’s more likable than Charlie.
But like I said, I love their interactions. The development of the characters is good enough. The story also flowed at a nice pace. The nice pacing didn’t just show the smooth flow of the plot but also of the growth of the characters. There is also a romance but I love that it didn’t take over the main story. I love it when romance in books didn’t steal the spotlight from more interesting aspects of the story.
If you like magical stories with faes and various mythical creatures, I highly recommend this book.
August 3, 2021
Oh man! this story is one of a kind. I read about nymphs, dryad and different immortal folks of nature but not something this good. It’s a different perspective and story keeps you engaged all the time. I liked how the relationship developed between the main characters, Charlie & Daniel. One is an innocent girl with very rare & powerful powers, which if found out, can be used for wrong purposes. Another is an immortal human who has lived a century and has evolved the powers that he has, so that no one can beat him. Daniel is delight to the thoughts. His oldest and only friend Kit, a Drus is wonderful and plays an important role in the lives of main characters. You can’t see the climax coming but once it’s there you realise all hints given in the story. Overall i recommend this book to the readers, you will not get disappointed.
August 14, 2021
I LOVE THIS BOOK! I may have found a new author that I just want to read all their books!
This book follows Charlotte(or Charlie as she prefers) who lives with her father, a magician and the mayor of Mt. Duega. Charlie also has magic, and has a particular ability her and her father use for their political meetings. Because it is a dangerous ability that people will take advantage of, her and her father have kept it secret for many years. For those years, they’ve been trying to prevent war, and now Charlie is at that age that means she needs to start doing something with her life. Thus, her father basically makes her go work for Daniel Silver, another magician who “ascended” and became immortal. While there, she learns a lot more about her own ability and other abilities, and works together with Daniel to try to stop the inevitable war that is coming. Little do they know the true cause to what is bringing war to their borders.
This book was utterly magical 🤩 There are unique mythical creatures known as the Immortal Folk, like the Drus, drayads, fauns, and many more that are mentioned. There are the magical ones and non-magical ones. And then the world itself with the woods just sounds beautiful and magical!
I will say I was not a fan of Charlie, like at all 😅 Her father definitely spoiled her, and I had a hard time grasping the fact that she’s 24, not 15 , based on the way she acted alone. She did grow A LOT, though. She definitely became an adult, and you can see how much she cares about people and the Immortal Folk and what she would do to help them. Daniel reminded me of the Dragon from Uprooted, rather uptight and arrogant, no heart, but then softens and becomes basically a whole other person after Charlie is introduced into his life. The romance is also a slow burn, and was beautifully written.
I never truly connected with any of the characters. I do love the side characters, though, like Luca and Jean, and Crimson. They really added to the story and to Charlie’s growth as a person. My favorite character is Kit! He is a fantastic character! He reminded me of Calcifer from Howl’s Moving Castle.
Although I did not connect much with the characters, the world, the story, and the way the book was written made up for it. The way the world is described, and the way the POVs are written was flawlessly done, and made me think of Strange the Dreamer in the matter the story was written out. And that twist! I had an inkling of what was to come, but the actual twist did surprise me which just made the book even better! And that ending! 😫
This is definitely a unique fantasy, and I recommend it for those who love Howl’s Moving Castle and Uprooted! I received an advance review copy for free(thank you to BookSirens and the author), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book follows Charlotte(or Charlie as she prefers) who lives with her father, a magician and the mayor of Mt. Duega. Charlie also has magic, and has a particular ability her and her father use for their political meetings. Because it is a dangerous ability that people will take advantage of, her and her father have kept it secret for many years. For those years, they’ve been trying to prevent war, and now Charlie is at that age that means she needs to start doing something with her life. Thus, her father basically makes her go work for Daniel Silver, another magician who “ascended” and became immortal. While there, she learns a lot more about her own ability and other abilities, and works together with Daniel to try to stop the inevitable war that is coming. Little do they know the true cause to what is bringing war to their borders.
This book was utterly magical 🤩 There are unique mythical creatures known as the Immortal Folk, like the Drus, drayads, fauns, and many more that are mentioned. There are the magical ones and non-magical ones. And then the world itself with the woods just sounds beautiful and magical!
I will say I was not a fan of Charlie, like at all 😅 Her father definitely spoiled her, and I had a hard time grasping the fact that she’s 24, not 15 , based on the way she acted alone. She did grow A LOT, though. She definitely became an adult, and you can see how much she cares about people and the Immortal Folk and what she would do to help them. Daniel reminded me of the Dragon from Uprooted, rather uptight and arrogant, no heart, but then softens and becomes basically a whole other person after Charlie is introduced into his life. The romance is also a slow burn, and was beautifully written.
I never truly connected with any of the characters. I do love the side characters, though, like Luca and Jean, and Crimson. They really added to the story and to Charlie’s growth as a person. My favorite character is Kit! He is a fantastic character! He reminded me of Calcifer from Howl’s Moving Castle.
Although I did not connect much with the characters, the world, the story, and the way the book was written made up for it. The way the world is described, and the way the POVs are written was flawlessly done, and made me think of Strange the Dreamer in the matter the story was written out. And that twist! I had an inkling of what was to come, but the actual twist did surprise me which just made the book even better! And that ending! 😫
This is definitely a unique fantasy, and I recommend it for those who love Howl’s Moving Castle and Uprooted! I received an advance review copy for free(thank you to BookSirens and the author), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 13, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this, hence the average rating.
There were definitely parts I liked - Daniel (duh), the magic elements, the evil villainess which made for the best part of the story. Serena was by far the best character created for this story and I actually felt her short appearance really made this story alive. Much more so than the romance it proposes to be. I really think the story could have developed more if Serena had played a bigger role and had more content which could have potentially made this turn into a series.
And then the parts I didn’t like - the pacing of the plot (slow. Slow. SLOW.), Charlie’s immaturity and childish nature, Charlie’s birthday in the woods complete with being under the influence leading to unwanted sexual acts (rape anyone?)…I don’t think Charlie was a good match for Daniel because of her nature - if their romance was meant to be an enemies-to-lovers, well it kind fell flat with it. And if this was supposed to be a romance, I wanted chemistry!! This was a slower than molasses burn and left me unsatisfied.
There were definitely parts I liked - Daniel (duh), the magic elements, the evil villainess which made for the best part of the story. Serena was by far the best character created for this story and I actually felt her short appearance really made this story alive. Much more so than the romance it proposes to be. I really think the story could have developed more if Serena had played a bigger role and had more content which could have potentially made this turn into a series.
And then the parts I didn’t like - the pacing of the plot (slow. Slow. SLOW.), Charlie’s immaturity and childish nature, Charlie’s birthday in the woods complete with being under the influence leading to unwanted sexual acts (rape anyone?)…I don’t think Charlie was a good match for Daniel because of her nature - if their romance was meant to be an enemies-to-lovers, well it kind fell flat with it. And if this was supposed to be a romance, I wanted chemistry!! This was a slower than molasses burn and left me unsatisfied.
July 27, 2022
I really enjoy H.L. Macfarlane ethereal writing style. Her characters are amazing and her world building is even better.
Intended takes place in a land that is propelling towards war. Magic users are trying to keep the peace. Something is always destroying their progress though.
The mayor of one small town has a daughter who is always in the woods, running wild. Charlie has the ability to steer people's thoughts and intentions which she uses to help her dad keep order in peace talks. Like I said she is wild though, so her dad sends her off to work for an immortal for a year.
Charlie is pulled to the woods though. Budding love, friends and duty are a personal battle she has to fight. Will the mysterious creatures in the woods or the people she loves win? Will the world survive her choice?
I love the way H.L. Macfarlane writes. It has the feel of old folktales with those larger than life characters that are perfectly individual and totally memorable. Her world building is superb.
I received this ARC from Booksirens all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Intended takes place in a land that is propelling towards war. Magic users are trying to keep the peace. Something is always destroying their progress though.
The mayor of one small town has a daughter who is always in the woods, running wild. Charlie has the ability to steer people's thoughts and intentions which she uses to help her dad keep order in peace talks. Like I said she is wild though, so her dad sends her off to work for an immortal for a year.
Charlie is pulled to the woods though. Budding love, friends and duty are a personal battle she has to fight. Will the mysterious creatures in the woods or the people she loves win? Will the world survive her choice?
I love the way H.L. Macfarlane writes. It has the feel of old folktales with those larger than life characters that are perfectly individual and totally memorable. Her world building is superb.
I received this ARC from Booksirens all thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 29, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first few chapters of this book had me really interested, although I found the MC vaguely annoying in a way I couldn't quite put my finger on.
Then I got further in and it just... wasn't the book for me. I was really interested in the world the author created and felt there was so much potential, but it fell a bit flat for me. I found myself not really understanding the magic system or what was appealing about the love interest - actually found that some of their interactions felt a lot like dubious consent and I'm just really not a fan of that at all.
I'm a fan of a slow burn, but this romance felt incredibly slow and I found it lacking in chemistry. This could be my own personal opinion getting in the way though, as I just did not find Daniel a compelling love interest at all.
I finished the book, so it wasn't a complete miss for me, but I think it just wasn't my thing.
The first few chapters of this book had me really interested, although I found the MC vaguely annoying in a way I couldn't quite put my finger on.
Then I got further in and it just... wasn't the book for me. I was really interested in the world the author created and felt there was so much potential, but it fell a bit flat for me. I found myself not really understanding the magic system or what was appealing about the love interest - actually found that some of their interactions felt a lot like dubious consent and I'm just really not a fan of that at all.
I'm a fan of a slow burn, but this romance felt incredibly slow and I found it lacking in chemistry. This could be my own personal opinion getting in the way though, as I just did not find Daniel a compelling love interest at all.
I finished the book, so it wasn't a complete miss for me, but I think it just wasn't my thing.
October 6, 2022
This is a fairly well written new and unique fairytale/fantasy story. Humans and magical folk co-exist and the premise is unusual. The characters are interesting but I found the “romance” uninspired. That said, I did enjoy the story and all the magical abilities of the characters. It does have a semi-sweet HEA that works in the context of the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and BookSirens and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and BookSirens and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
August 12, 2021
An incredible slow-burn that is SO worth the wait! The worldbuilding was flawless, I felt as if I’d been a part of this universe for years even though I’d gone in knowing absolutely nothing about it. A beautiful, realistic mixture of politics and magic. I enjoyed every bit of it, and found myself rushing towards the end in a frantic sprint. Twists and turns that will keep you hooked until the very end! Highly recommend!!
August 14, 2021
Intended is a fantasy romance that focuses on the political aspect of two countries on the brink of war. While I didn’t love this side to the story, it was really interesting to read how the character of Charlie grew and developed relationships with those around her. This book is very well written and keeps a good pace that makes it very easy to read. This book would be a perfect choice for readers who like their fantasy based on mythology and fairy tales, with a touch of romance
August 10, 2021
Intended was a unique story that makes you think about how much politics has control over our own lives. The main character Charlie is incredibly relatable and the magic system is different from any books I have read. This is a slow burn but very worth the read.
December 14, 2021
The first couple of chapters I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy the storyline due to the main character. She was very immature and as a adult the way she would speak to her father made me cringe. As I continued I became more in tune with the character and the plot that allowed me to start enjoying the story. Sadly, once I began to enjoy it, certain events happened in the woods that turned me off from the whole storyline. I felt like I was starting to understand the characters but it wasn't to the point in having a connection with them that I cared what happened to them. It just wasn't a book for me and fell flat.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews