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A Feud So Dark and Lovely #1
The Goblin’s Bride
He thinks I’m an innocent bride. He’ll learn the truth with my knife to his throat.
The goblin prince killed my sister. Twisted with grief, I’ve waited for a chance to get justice for years, and the perfect opportunity presents itself: the goblin prince will agree to a ceasefire with his human enemies, but only if a sacrifice is given. A human woman. A bride.
Veiled and shrouded, I offer myself as the prince’s sacrifice, wearing a liar’s smile as I wait for sundown so I can cut his throat in his sleep.
But the goblin prince is indestructible. And worse—he’s cultured and charming. If I’m not careful, I’ll lose my head.
Or my heart.
The Goblin’s Bride is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance for fans of Sylvia Mercedes and Sarah J. Maas, with a revenge-sworn heroine and a brooding goblin prince. There’ll be kisses, sizzling tension, and a dark mystery that lovers of Hades & Persephone and Beauty & The Beast will enjoy.
This book is medium burn, with moderate heat, and a single love interest.
The goblin prince killed my sister. Twisted with grief, I’ve waited for a chance to get justice for years, and the perfect opportunity presents itself: the goblin prince will agree to a ceasefire with his human enemies, but only if a sacrifice is given. A human woman. A bride.
Veiled and shrouded, I offer myself as the prince’s sacrifice, wearing a liar’s smile as I wait for sundown so I can cut his throat in his sleep.
But the goblin prince is indestructible. And worse—he’s cultured and charming. If I’m not careful, I’ll lose my head.
Or my heart.
The Goblin’s Bride is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance for fans of Sylvia Mercedes and Sarah J. Maas, with a revenge-sworn heroine and a brooding goblin prince. There’ll be kisses, sizzling tension, and a dark mystery that lovers of Hades & Persephone and Beauty & The Beast will enjoy.
This book is medium burn, with moderate heat, and a single love interest.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2022
456 people are currently reading
1221 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Kelsey
110 books494 followersLeigh Kelsey is the author of romance and reverse harem books for anyone with a soft spot for steely women and the tortured men who love them. No matter what stories she's writing - vampires or shifters or bad boys - they all share a common thread of love, heart, and action. She is the author of the Lili Kazana series, the Moonlight Inn series, the Dead Space stand alone, and the Blacktower Prison for Supernaturals series, plus many more books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
July 3, 2022
This was a great story. I enjoyed it from the beginning. The ending was unexpected, I'm shocked by the things that were revealed. I can't believe it, i need to read the next one ASAP.
December 30, 2024
I saw this on ku and thought I'd have a quick fun read I absolutely loved this I loved the two main characters the banter between the love interests is so good the plot is strong I flew through this book I think it's only a duology I already downloaded the next book it ended so good and I will be diving straight back in I would highly recommend this we follow a human woman who wants revenge on the goblin prince for killing his sister and she gets her chance to get close enough to him to get her revenge they get married and that is when it all starts I'm giving no spoilers read this the writing is good the pacing is good and I thoroughly enjoyed this and the goblin prince I think I've found another book boyfriend .
June 30, 2022
Authors Leigh Kelsey and Lysandra Glass have come together in the new high fantasy series A Feud So Dark and Lovely. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance as an unlikely pairing comes together, it's filled with strife as the humans and Goblins war with each other, has a unique, almost scientific, magic, and has a dash of mystery.
Since the story is told from Zabaletta "Letta" Stellara's perspective I got a better feel of her than that of her love interest, Keir Kollastus. From what I gather Keir is a great prince, he's there for his people and is respected. He's part of a great friend group and has a dark but steamy edge to him, which might help out with Letta.
So Lette is batshit crazy, no joke. She's an assassin who has a prejudice against all goblins and pretty much would do anything to anyone if it served her purposes. For whatever reason, I like her. It probably has something to do with her internal monolog, it's funny as hell, she's crazy remember. However, I think she also has a bigger heart than she let's on and her time with the goblins changes her.
There was a fair amount of banter between Letta, Keir, and his friends. Not to mention the barbs Keir and Letta exchanged for most of the book, were very entertaining. Hearing inside of Letta's head was a little terrifying with bloodthirsty rants but seeing her look past what she has felt for goblins was insightful. Then there is the wild magic that is roaming about the goblins' land adding a little mystery to the story. However, it was the magic that was really interesting. Gemstone magic is used in almost scientific productive ways instead of a wish for all. Used to bake the bread, chop veggies, and heat water, it was very practical and something I haven't come across before.
The Goblin's Bride had me on edge the entire time because I just knew something was gonna happen and it did. The ended on a devastating note that leaves me afraid about what could possibly be coming next but I have to know. Things can't get worse for them, right?
Since the story is told from Zabaletta "Letta" Stellara's perspective I got a better feel of her than that of her love interest, Keir Kollastus. From what I gather Keir is a great prince, he's there for his people and is respected. He's part of a great friend group and has a dark but steamy edge to him, which might help out with Letta.
So Lette is batshit crazy, no joke. She's an assassin who has a prejudice against all goblins and pretty much would do anything to anyone if it served her purposes. For whatever reason, I like her. It probably has something to do with her internal monolog, it's funny as hell, she's crazy remember. However, I think she also has a bigger heart than she let's on and her time with the goblins changes her.
There was a fair amount of banter between Letta, Keir, and his friends. Not to mention the barbs Keir and Letta exchanged for most of the book, were very entertaining. Hearing inside of Letta's head was a little terrifying with bloodthirsty rants but seeing her look past what she has felt for goblins was insightful. Then there is the wild magic that is roaming about the goblins' land adding a little mystery to the story. However, it was the magic that was really interesting. Gemstone magic is used in almost scientific productive ways instead of a wish for all. Used to bake the bread, chop veggies, and heat water, it was very practical and something I haven't come across before.
The Goblin's Bride had me on edge the entire time because I just knew something was gonna happen and it did. The ended on a devastating note that leaves me afraid about what could possibly be coming next but I have to know. Things can't get worse for them, right?
June 27, 2022
A marriage of not only convenience but also one that will broker peace between the humans and the goblins. Only Zaba (Zabalette FMC) isnt getting into for that reason she had revenge in mind against her husband - The Goblin Prince - Kier. These two characters definitely love to hate each other and the banter that they had together made me laugh in places too. It was also fast paced and action packed. Blimey that cliffhanger ending was a goody and i cant wait for book 2 now. A flaming great read
August 11, 2022
So good! I couldn’t put it down. All the buildup to the end was perfectly done; I didn’t see it coming! And even though the cliffhanger was brutal, it was also fantastic. So sad there’s a wait for the next one, haha - I want to dive into it right this minute! - but also so excited for it when it’s finally here. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Absolutely recommend!
December 29, 2024
This was insufferable.
Idk where to start other than I'm glad I got this for free because I'd be pissed as hell if I actually spent money on this.
The FMC's characterization was inconsistent and made no sense, the already clunky writing was made even more stilted by dropping f-bombs literally everywhere, worldbuilding who?? Don't know her, the chemistry between the leads was nonexistent and came out of nowhere, and just overall this felt like a BookTo Enemies To Lovers Romantasy Book™️ and I hated it. I didn't expect to like it as this kind of romantasy isnt a genre I gravitate towards but I was hoping it would at least be fun! But this wasn't. I was just annoyed with the FMC and writing most of the time.
If I weren't buddy reading this I would've DNF'd after the first chapter.
Idk where to start other than I'm glad I got this for free because I'd be pissed as hell if I actually spent money on this.
The FMC's characterization was inconsistent and made no sense, the already clunky writing was made even more stilted by dropping f-bombs literally everywhere, worldbuilding who?? Don't know her, the chemistry between the leads was nonexistent and came out of nowhere, and just overall this felt like a BookTo Enemies To Lovers Romantasy Book™️ and I hated it. I didn't expect to like it as this kind of romantasy isnt a genre I gravitate towards but I was hoping it would at least be fun! But this wasn't. I was just annoyed with the FMC and writing most of the time.
If I weren't buddy reading this I would've DNF'd after the first chapter.
June 14, 2023
I picked this ebook up free on Amazon and it was great I enjoyed it from the very beginning I really liked the characters and the enemy to lovers trope in this was really well done I felt like you could feel the inner conflicts of the characters as I read although they definitely felt drawn together they both had a lot of baggage to unpack and will they be able to move past that will the draw to each other be enough to overcome everything else. The magic system was interesting and the plot had me hooked it had some fun twists and turns along the way I am definitely planning to pick up the next book in this series
July 10, 2023
Initially I didn't think I'd like this book book because even though it's set in a fantasy realm, there's elements that seem anachronistic and that kind of annoys me. But the story was interesting and compelling the further I got into it and so I'm reading the sequel now.
March 2, 2025
I went into The Goblin’s Bride with exactly zero expectations—honestly, I picked it up purely because it was short. But surprise, surprise—I actually had a great time!
This book delivers a solid enemies-to-lovers romance with a slow burn, plenty of mystery, and some clever plotting. But the real star of the show? Zabletta’s inner monologue and her snarky, razor-sharp banter. She’s sarcastic, witty, and just the right amount of feral, making the story incredibly entertaining.
Then there’s Keir—who, let’s be real, isn’t winning "Best MMC Name of the Year"—but he is my first goblin love interest, so points for uniqueness. And unlike some so-called enemies-to-lovers romances, these two actually start as enemies. Think The Cruel Prince but with a marriage of convenience twist, wrapped up in a fun, easy-to-read Romantasy package.
Is it a literary masterpiece? No. Is it the best thing I’ve ever read? Also no. But did I enjoy the heck out of it? Absolutely. If you’re in the mood for a snarky, fast-paced fantasy romance with vibes, this one’s worth a read!
This book delivers a solid enemies-to-lovers romance with a slow burn, plenty of mystery, and some clever plotting. But the real star of the show? Zabletta’s inner monologue and her snarky, razor-sharp banter. She’s sarcastic, witty, and just the right amount of feral, making the story incredibly entertaining.
Then there’s Keir—who, let’s be real, isn’t winning "Best MMC Name of the Year"—but he is my first goblin love interest, so points for uniqueness. And unlike some so-called enemies-to-lovers romances, these two actually start as enemies. Think The Cruel Prince but with a marriage of convenience twist, wrapped up in a fun, easy-to-read Romantasy package.
Is it a literary masterpiece? No. Is it the best thing I’ve ever read? Also no. But did I enjoy the heck out of it? Absolutely. If you’re in the mood for a snarky, fast-paced fantasy romance with vibes, this one’s worth a read!
January 9, 2025
FMC has trained for years to avenge the murder of her sister at the hands of the Goblin Prince. In order get her revenge she goes along with a plan to marry him so she can fulfill her destiny by killing the prince. Pretty typical fantasy enemy to lovers romance story. Was an enjoyable book, although the over use of the author referencing the FMC need to kill the MMC in every other sentence was extremely overdone. Honestly would have taken the page count down 25 pages if the excess was removed. We get it, she wants to murder him lol. Will definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
“I’d wanted to die bathed in the blood of my worst enemy, but that was no longer as appealing, given I had awful, genuine feelings for him”
“I’d wanted to die bathed in the blood of my worst enemy, but that was no longer as appealing, given I had awful, genuine feelings for him”
September 10, 2025
Loved the FMC. At first I felt she was obsessive and unhinged with her plot to avenge her sister, but she had such a fiery personality, good witty comeback and actual compassion as the story developed. There were parts I was on edge, parts I laughed. The ending was almost heartbreaking, I was speculating the whole book whether it was Kier but it’s nicely written on how their lives have been interlinked, looking forward to the next book.
July 10, 2024
Read book 2 asap
April 24, 2025
3.5 Stars
Okay, yes, I enjoyed this. It was a little bit hard to get into at first, most because Zabaletta was pretty annoying and couldn’t see past her own prejudices. Nonetheless, I started liking this and was soon sucked in. I’ll definitely be picking up Book 2.
Okay, yes, I enjoyed this. It was a little bit hard to get into at first, most because Zabaletta was pretty annoying and couldn’t see past her own prejudices. Nonetheless, I started liking this and was soon sucked in. I’ll definitely be picking up Book 2.
July 17, 2025
Wicked Revenge
Fun banter, slow burn build up of two enemies falling for each other. It was an enjoyable read. I gobbled it up in a couple days! Can't wait to read the next book! It definitely ends on a cliffhanger and I'm happy that book two is already out!
Fun banter, slow burn build up of two enemies falling for each other. It was an enjoyable read. I gobbled it up in a couple days! Can't wait to read the next book! It definitely ends on a cliffhanger and I'm happy that book two is already out!
March 30, 2023
The premise seemed good. We have a human who is out from revenge against a Goblin prince. She is a thief and assassin who is broken over the death of her sister, supposedly at the prince's hands.
What unbalanced the whole thing for me was her calling her uncle and dick and him a dick and giving the finger and using the f word as the chosen curse. If it fit it would be different, but it took me right out of the story. Surely these lands of castles, mystic fogs and blue-skinned goblins must have their own curse words and expressions. Even in our world, depending on the country, hand motions mean different things. Also, aside from her auburn hair, I never got a sense of her appearance. She just seemed amazingly unpleasant. Her constant foul mouth just didn't pass as someone trying to pretend to be princess material. I just wish that the authors would have been more original with the language. Even her talking about making money writing a book about her experiences sounded more modern and out of step with the world of magic. It just didn't mesh well. By the end of the book I didn't care what happened to her, which is a shame, because the plot had some great twists.
What unbalanced the whole thing for me was her calling her uncle and dick and him a dick and giving the finger and using the f word as the chosen curse. If it fit it would be different, but it took me right out of the story. Surely these lands of castles, mystic fogs and blue-skinned goblins must have their own curse words and expressions. Even in our world, depending on the country, hand motions mean different things. Also, aside from her auburn hair, I never got a sense of her appearance. She just seemed amazingly unpleasant. Her constant foul mouth just didn't pass as someone trying to pretend to be princess material. I just wish that the authors would have been more original with the language. Even her talking about making money writing a book about her experiences sounded more modern and out of step with the world of magic. It just didn't mesh well. By the end of the book I didn't care what happened to her, which is a shame, because the plot had some great twists.
June 25, 2022
The Goblin’s Bride was an amazing read!
Zaba is a smart mouthed, sassy, and fierce FMC, who is determined to get revenge for her sister’s death. Kier is a broody prince who lost his sister years ago because of the humans, yet will put his hatred aside to bring peace by marrying a human.
This was an exciting story with characters that will make you laugh with their witty banter. The story is full of mystery, action, danger and has a few twists and turns at the end. The book does end on a cliffhanger and will definitely leave you wanting more. I highly recommend reading it!
Zaba is a smart mouthed, sassy, and fierce FMC, who is determined to get revenge for her sister’s death. Kier is a broody prince who lost his sister years ago because of the humans, yet will put his hatred aside to bring peace by marrying a human.
This was an exciting story with characters that will make you laugh with their witty banter. The story is full of mystery, action, danger and has a few twists and turns at the end. The book does end on a cliffhanger and will definitely leave you wanting more. I highly recommend reading it!
June 28, 2022
The drama, the buildup, the ultimate truths and the irony of it all! I did NOT see that coming at all. I wouldn’t change it for the world but I’m sad I don’t have book two because I NEED IT LIKE RIGHT NOW! Yes! Yes! Yes! That was amazing. Great world building, amazing characters and character growths. Perfectly timed betrayals and a magic taking the nation. This book sucked me right in and drowned me with how amazing it was. I will have the worst book hangover from this I’m sure of it! SO WORTH THE READ!!!!
July 5, 2022
The F-word was used in the first 2 pages of the book. I stopped reading right then and there because that's a red flag to me of more swearing to come.
In a storyline I don't appreciate strong emotions being conveyed through the use of swear words. I think it shows a lack of imagination & artistic ability.
To me it makes the story feel shallow & distracts from a potentially great storyline. But that's just my personal preference & opinion.
In a storyline I don't appreciate strong emotions being conveyed through the use of swear words. I think it shows a lack of imagination & artistic ability.
To me it makes the story feel shallow & distracts from a potentially great storyline. But that's just my personal preference & opinion.
June 20, 2023
Good but missing
This was a good start and ends on a cliffhanger. Just when the two find a connection. Bam! An d no love scenes really made this a two stars. Some kissing but other then that, its as if it's PGA 12. You can't call this a romance. Lots of action but no love.
This was a good start and ends on a cliffhanger. Just when the two find a connection. Bam! An d no love scenes really made this a two stars. Some kissing but other then that, its as if it's PGA 12. You can't call this a romance. Lots of action but no love.
July 1, 2023
Tropes/ Key Points:
Marriage of Convenience
Fated Mates
Unlikely Magic
Revenge
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Review:
I think I got this book when it was free one day and honestly, I'm glad I gave it a chance. It sounded like an interesting read and it definitely delivered. There were some great things about it and also some slightly not so great things, but it kept me turning the pages and I even got the sequel.
Firstly, I really love the premise behind the story and this mystery we are provided as a reader. The FMC has spent her entire life thinking that the Goblin Prince killed her sister. She uses this as motivation for revenge, leading her to great heights within the military, even though it's more of a vapid position than a real one. The chance arises for her to become the bride of the Goblin Prince and she jumps on it, taking out her competition and marries him.
Her plan to take him out quickly and return home hits a snag when she realizes he is only vulnerable one night a year and it's a ways away. She is forced to live in this world and interact with the Goblins for some time. This allows her opinions of them to be changed and as she gets closer to the King, she realizes he isn't what she thought he was and feelings begin to develop. -- Overall such a great plot line and the way it ended was on a cliffhanger and I had to dive into book two.
Secondly, the characters themselves feel a little vapid? The MMC wasn't interested in our FMC because he thought she was a simpleton, but as she starts to let her true colors shine, suddenly she is all he thinks about. She is made out to be this warrior, thief and great warrior, but we see none of that outside of her sneaking around and climbing walls of buildings. There are no fight scenes for her even though the book felt like there should have been. Everything just felt like it was tied up in this neat little bow and like the characters were going through the motions they should be, but I was missing a bit of the tension I would have liked to see. A bit of the challenge. They are meant to be enemies, but they get over it really quickly. There's a bit of banter, and while I'm a sucker for banter, it felt a bit forced at times. Their sexual chemistry though was top notch and it did fill the hole for some of the heat I felt the book was missing.
Thirdly, I have to give these women credit that the world they have built is amazing. I like the subtle nuances they provide that you give this understanding that the humans and Goblins are both prejudiced against each other, despite not knowing really anything about them. They are so much alike, something we learn alongside our FMC, and I think it would solve a lot of the worlds issues if they just came to that conclusion themselves.
Regardless, the way the author sets up the world and what I suspect to be the second book, was in my opinion, pretty flawless.
Lastly, I will say the book felt a bit predictable. Normally I'm not one to hate on predicability, especially considering there are only so many new books that can be created at this point in time. All books deal with the same tropes and twists, but the journey there is what is different. In this case, the ending was surprising but the journey there (meaning the little twists along the way) was a bit expected.
Overall I really did enjoy this book, and I have started the sequel and can't wait to finish it!
Marriage of Convenience
Fated Mates
Unlikely Magic
Revenge
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Review:
I think I got this book when it was free one day and honestly, I'm glad I gave it a chance. It sounded like an interesting read and it definitely delivered. There were some great things about it and also some slightly not so great things, but it kept me turning the pages and I even got the sequel.
Firstly, I really love the premise behind the story and this mystery we are provided as a reader. The FMC has spent her entire life thinking that the Goblin Prince killed her sister. She uses this as motivation for revenge, leading her to great heights within the military, even though it's more of a vapid position than a real one. The chance arises for her to become the bride of the Goblin Prince and she jumps on it, taking out her competition and marries him.
Her plan to take him out quickly and return home hits a snag when she realizes he is only vulnerable one night a year and it's a ways away. She is forced to live in this world and interact with the Goblins for some time. This allows her opinions of them to be changed and as she gets closer to the King, she realizes he isn't what she thought he was and feelings begin to develop. -- Overall such a great plot line and the way it ended was on a cliffhanger and I had to dive into book two.
Secondly, the characters themselves feel a little vapid? The MMC wasn't interested in our FMC because he thought she was a simpleton, but as she starts to let her true colors shine, suddenly she is all he thinks about. She is made out to be this warrior, thief and great warrior, but we see none of that outside of her sneaking around and climbing walls of buildings. There are no fight scenes for her even though the book felt like there should have been. Everything just felt like it was tied up in this neat little bow and like the characters were going through the motions they should be, but I was missing a bit of the tension I would have liked to see. A bit of the challenge. They are meant to be enemies, but they get over it really quickly. There's a bit of banter, and while I'm a sucker for banter, it felt a bit forced at times. Their sexual chemistry though was top notch and it did fill the hole for some of the heat I felt the book was missing.
Thirdly, I have to give these women credit that the world they have built is amazing. I like the subtle nuances they provide that you give this understanding that the humans and Goblins are both prejudiced against each other, despite not knowing really anything about them. They are so much alike, something we learn alongside our FMC, and I think it would solve a lot of the worlds issues if they just came to that conclusion themselves.
Regardless, the way the author sets up the world and what I suspect to be the second book, was in my opinion, pretty flawless.
Lastly, I will say the book felt a bit predictable. Normally I'm not one to hate on predicability, especially considering there are only so many new books that can be created at this point in time. All books deal with the same tropes and twists, but the journey there is what is different. In this case, the ending was surprising but the journey there (meaning the little twists along the way) was a bit expected.
Overall I really did enjoy this book, and I have started the sequel and can't wait to finish it!
July 5, 2022
Another book to add to my eye-candies list.
Not me going crazy on this book
Geez, where do I even start? The blurb is so vague about this fantastic book. It doesn't do it justice. It's so much better than I expected! The plot, the storyline, and the writing were so well-paced. Kier & Zabaletta both stole my heart the moment I read about them. It gave me similar vibes to The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. but note it, I'm not anywhere near saying that they're the same. They have their own uniqueness and individuality. I'm just saying that they have the same arranged marriage, enemies to lovers trope.
Zabaletta is a badass motherfucker assassin and she had this tempting unhinged-ness about her. I mean, who would think murderous thoughts and fantasies in the dead daylight to calm themself? Not any sane person and I LOVED IT. And her sassy banter with Kier? E-P-I-C.
Kier on another hand, really did a number on me because I thought he would be some boring-ass dude who would be gentle with her but his Ire and fire-Oomph made my day. And their sexual chemistry? Ooh-Lala. There wasn't much of anything remotely smutty in this book and the smut is something I need in every book I read otherwise I get bored but this book??? It kept me entertained till the last.
The cliffhanger? It fucking obliterated me. Full stop. I can't wait till the next book comes out. I might be six feet under the ground by then because I would be dead.
Headlines: Silly Shanaya dies because she couldn't wait till the release of the next book in the, A Feud So Dark & Lovely Series
Cause of death: Hyperventilation & tremendous stress
I swear I'm not this dramatic. Usually.
Okay, jokes aside, the reason why I gave it 4 stars is that there were some grammatical errors and they need to be checked again. As we were told that the female MC is an assassin but not once did I see her fight. Granted, she couldn't do much against the goblins and their magic but still, the authors should've at least showcased her fighting abilities and not only wall climbing. Because? Duh assassins do not only do wall climbing right? So yeah.
Not me going crazy on this book
Geez, where do I even start? The blurb is so vague about this fantastic book. It doesn't do it justice. It's so much better than I expected! The plot, the storyline, and the writing were so well-paced. Kier & Zabaletta both stole my heart the moment I read about them. It gave me similar vibes to The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. but note it, I'm not anywhere near saying that they're the same. They have their own uniqueness and individuality. I'm just saying that they have the same arranged marriage, enemies to lovers trope.
Zabaletta is a badass motherfucker assassin and she had this tempting unhinged-ness about her. I mean, who would think murderous thoughts and fantasies in the dead daylight to calm themself? Not any sane person and I LOVED IT. And her sassy banter with Kier? E-P-I-C.
Kier on another hand, really did a number on me because I thought he would be some boring-ass dude who would be gentle with her but his Ire and fire-Oomph made my day. And their sexual chemistry? Ooh-Lala. There wasn't much of anything remotely smutty in this book and the smut is something I need in every book I read otherwise I get bored but this book??? It kept me entertained till the last.
The cliffhanger? It fucking obliterated me. Full stop. I can't wait till the next book comes out. I might be six feet under the ground by then because I would be dead.
Headlines: Silly Shanaya dies because she couldn't wait till the release of the next book in the, A Feud So Dark & Lovely Series
Cause of death: Hyperventilation & tremendous stress
I swear I'm not this dramatic. Usually.
Okay, jokes aside, the reason why I gave it 4 stars is that there were some grammatical errors and they need to be checked again. As we were told that the female MC is an assassin but not once did I see her fight. Granted, she couldn't do much against the goblins and their magic but still, the authors should've at least showcased her fighting abilities and not only wall climbing. Because? Duh assassins do not only do wall climbing right? So yeah.
September 20, 2025
I wasn’t so sure about this at first, but I liked the cover, and I love well-written fantasy, so I was willing to give this a shot. I wasn’t super sure about Zabaletta at first either— she seemed pretty one-dimensional and revenge-fueled. While I sympathized with her about her sister’s murder, there wasn’t a lot of background given about her so that you could start to really gel with her. The marriage happened super fast, and it seemed rushed, but since the story didn’t really pick up speed until after she went to the Goblin royal city, I was okay with it. Both Zaba and Kier were very reluctant about the marriage. There was no forced intimacy or acting like a real married couple— they both knew the marriage was a means to try to end the Human-Goblin war. Kier quickly realized the debutante he thought he married was not Zaba at all when she demanded to be in the thick of village attacks by the Haar (a murderous fog). He started to like her more and more, and Zaba realized that both Kier and the other goblins were not as bad as she first thought. I loved the development of their relationship, or their attraction, or realizing they were “mates”. Zaba follows through on her objective or killing Kier (her sister’s killer) on the night of the Goblin Moon, but in the end she just can’t do it. But the damage is done, and Kier no longer trusts her. She is exiled by Kier, but not before realizing that she has power over the Haar— because the Haar is a piece of Kier that splintered away in his grief over his sister’s murder… by Zaba’s sister. THAT is why he killed Zaba’s sister, and Zaba is crushed to realize that her sister that she loved and idolized was a child-killer. Kier only did what she herself was going to do, and when he discovered that his sister’s killer was Zaba’s sister, he exiled her from the city and put a price on her head. I had to immediately start the second book to find out what happened next. I really enjoyed this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
The Goblins Bride review 💙
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Tropes:
• marriage of convenience 💍
• fated mates ♥️
• enemies to lovers ❤️🔥
• slow burn 🔥
• fantasy romance 💕
• fiesty, stabby fmc 😜
• forced proximity 🖤
Triggers:
• explicit language 🤫
• death
Zabaletta Stellara, a thief and assassin, plans to marry Goblin Prince Kier Kollastus to exact revenge for killing her sister. But as she lives among the goblins, she finds they share the same desires and aspirations, and she's drawn to the prince…
The book's writing and storyline weren't particularly impressive, but I was hooked nonetheless. I enjoyed this book, which featured a delightfully crude and morally ambiguous female lead in Zabaletta. While the writing and plot were nothing special and there’s several ‘issues’, the character growth and familiar tropes kept me hooked.
One main issue for me, is that we lack background information. We're never shown the female main character's relationship with her sister, so her desire for revenge feels unearned. Additionally, her circumstances at the beginning of the story are unclear. We're dropped into the middle of the plot without context. While we do get some information about the goblin kingdom, the mmc remains rather underdeveloped, which impedes on the chemistry between them.
This is book 1 and it does end on a cliffhanger. Into book 2 I go!
If you're in the mood for a lighthearted read and a “I don’t want to think too much”, with enemies-to-lovers and marriage of convenience themes - this is a great choice!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Tropes:
• marriage of convenience 💍
• fated mates ♥️
• enemies to lovers ❤️🔥
• slow burn 🔥
• fantasy romance 💕
• fiesty, stabby fmc 😜
• forced proximity 🖤
Triggers:
• explicit language 🤫
• death
Zabaletta Stellara, a thief and assassin, plans to marry Goblin Prince Kier Kollastus to exact revenge for killing her sister. But as she lives among the goblins, she finds they share the same desires and aspirations, and she's drawn to the prince…
The book's writing and storyline weren't particularly impressive, but I was hooked nonetheless. I enjoyed this book, which featured a delightfully crude and morally ambiguous female lead in Zabaletta. While the writing and plot were nothing special and there’s several ‘issues’, the character growth and familiar tropes kept me hooked.
One main issue for me, is that we lack background information. We're never shown the female main character's relationship with her sister, so her desire for revenge feels unearned. Additionally, her circumstances at the beginning of the story are unclear. We're dropped into the middle of the plot without context. While we do get some information about the goblin kingdom, the mmc remains rather underdeveloped, which impedes on the chemistry between them.
This is book 1 and it does end on a cliffhanger. Into book 2 I go!
If you're in the mood for a lighthearted read and a “I don’t want to think too much”, with enemies-to-lovers and marriage of convenience themes - this is a great choice!
June 25, 2022
Great Goblins…😁
Wow what a story and I definitely didn’t see that coming at the end…..I’m shook!! 😧😧
With revenge as her only agenda in life Letta offers herself to the Goblin Prince Keir as a bridal sacrifice for a ceasefire between the humans and goblins….and boy is there some underlying hate and prejudices going on there!
Yet her ulterior motive is to kill the Goblin Prince who brutally murdered her sister the only family she had left 😩
There’s snark, banter and threats thrown by both her and Kier but boy is there some underlying sexual tension 😍 honestly love the way they are with each other it’s all….even with no smut in this one it’s 🥵
Letta begins to really become a part of the Goblin Kingdom even coming up with ways to help save the from the Haar, yet still working out ways to take down Kier…..with the feelings between them developing and a suggestion they maybe mates can she really do it…..or will Kier truly turn his back on her when her past reveals all??!!
Wow what a story and I definitely didn’t see that coming at the end…..I’m shook!! 😧😧
With revenge as her only agenda in life Letta offers herself to the Goblin Prince Keir as a bridal sacrifice for a ceasefire between the humans and goblins….and boy is there some underlying hate and prejudices going on there!
Yet her ulterior motive is to kill the Goblin Prince who brutally murdered her sister the only family she had left 😩
There’s snark, banter and threats thrown by both her and Kier but boy is there some underlying sexual tension 😍 honestly love the way they are with each other it’s all….even with no smut in this one it’s 🥵
Letta begins to really become a part of the Goblin Kingdom even coming up with ways to help save the from the Haar, yet still working out ways to take down Kier…..with the feelings between them developing and a suggestion they maybe mates can she really do it…..or will Kier truly turn his back on her when her past reveals all??!!
June 28, 2023
The Goblin's Bride
A Feud So Dark and Lovely #1
Fantasy
Leigh Kelsey & Lysandra Glass
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was a great read. The pacing was just right and I couldn't put this book down.
The characters were great. Zabaletta was hell bent on revenge. She's fierce and determined but she also has a big heart. I'd like some more character development for Kier because I feel like I didn't get to know him as well. Some chapters from his POV would've been great. I liked Rook's personality and his constant teasing too.
I liked the world building but I'd like to know more about the history of the war and the Goblin kingdom.
The slow burn was very well done and the tension between Zabaletta and Kier was palpable. I wish they had actually passed the sneaky kisses and teasing stage though 😂.
The ending surprised me and I felt Zabaletta's fear and pain. I can't wait to read the next book.
A Feud So Dark and Lovely #1
Fantasy
Leigh Kelsey & Lysandra Glass
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was a great read. The pacing was just right and I couldn't put this book down.
The characters were great. Zabaletta was hell bent on revenge. She's fierce and determined but she also has a big heart. I'd like some more character development for Kier because I feel like I didn't get to know him as well. Some chapters from his POV would've been great. I liked Rook's personality and his constant teasing too.
I liked the world building but I'd like to know more about the history of the war and the Goblin kingdom.
The slow burn was very well done and the tension between Zabaletta and Kier was palpable. I wish they had actually passed the sneaky kisses and teasing stage though 😂.
The ending surprised me and I felt Zabaletta's fear and pain. I can't wait to read the next book.
March 24, 2025
Loved it
What a refreshing MFC!
And also, not a HEA yet. I'm so pleased.
I went into this with really low expectations because, well, everything in this genre is pretty much the same thing over and over. The MFC is always meek. Well, that's not the case here!
I immediately liked Letta. I still do; she's still herself, even though she's grown so much throughout this book. I love that she attempted her goal rather than abandoning it and that there were consequences!
I enjoyed the banter. My only gripe is the lack of real interaction and connection with the side characters.
It was a very fun read. I had thought this was going to close out, and the next book would be about someone else, so I was prepared to bail out, but that isn't the case either. Bravo. I needed this book.
What a refreshing MFC!
And also, not a HEA yet. I'm so pleased.
I went into this with really low expectations because, well, everything in this genre is pretty much the same thing over and over. The MFC is always meek. Well, that's not the case here!
I immediately liked Letta. I still do; she's still herself, even though she's grown so much throughout this book. I love that she attempted her goal rather than abandoning it and that there were consequences!
I enjoyed the banter. My only gripe is the lack of real interaction and connection with the side characters.
It was a very fun read. I had thought this was going to close out, and the next book would be about someone else, so I was prepared to bail out, but that isn't the case either. Bravo. I needed this book.
August 3, 2023
Zabaletta Stellara, a thief and assassin for hire, carries a toxic hatred and grudge against the Goblin Prince, Kier Kollastus, who killed and violently mutilated her sister. Now that she has the opportunity to marry him, she plans her deadly revenge and safe escape from the Goblin realm. As in all things relating to vengeance and hatred, you lose a piece of your humanity when you forsake it for violence. Living in the Goblin community, Zaba discovers people are the same everywhere with the same wants, needs, and aspirations. She even admits to her new-found attraction to the infuriatingly handsome and mysterious Prince Kier. All of these new revelations just complicate her mission more and more. Good Read!!!! Note: Prepare to buy book 2 because this one is a cliffhanger!
February 23, 2025
4/5. what? i feel severely unfulfilled. why does every book i get on a sykd end up with a cliff hanger? like, can i not just get a fantasy book with a happy ending in the FIRST BOOK? is that so hard to ask for? must be because it literally doesn’t happen!!!! anyways, that plot twist? did not see that coming like, at all. kinda hate her sister now but regardless. kier you sly dog (it’s okay pookie i still love you). he’s literally RAHHHHHH i need him. give me a goblin husband who’s slightly obsessed with me and talks to me the way kier does. i would simply ✨pass away✨. anyways, i probably would continue this series, but ill wait and see if curiosity comes to bite me in the rear for not counting the series. Toodles! 😘🫶💋
July 17, 2023
This book was not only fun to read, it was also fucking hilarious. I have a thing for morally grey, crude, stab-happy FMCs, and Zabaletta definitely fit the bill.
Okay, the writing wasn't amazing and the story line was nothing new. But I was still totally hooked. I loved Zabaletta and her growth. I loved all the tropes (enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, a couple others I won't mention for spoiler reasons).
If you're looking for a book that's a ton of fun and you like the enemies-to-lovers and marriage of convenience tropes (and don't need top notch writing), I definitely recommend this one!
Okay, the writing wasn't amazing and the story line was nothing new. But I was still totally hooked. I loved Zabaletta and her growth. I loved all the tropes (enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, a couple others I won't mention for spoiler reasons).
If you're looking for a book that's a ton of fun and you like the enemies-to-lovers and marriage of convenience tropes (and don't need top notch writing), I definitely recommend this one!
June 18, 2024
I enjoyed reading The Goblin's Bride. Keir and Zabaletta are two grumpy peas in a pod with tragic backstories. A marriage of convenience with grumpy love interests and a dark secret between them, what could go wrong?! everything. A mysterious cloud/fog ravages the goblin lands, the Haar is vicious and all-consuming. Zaba and Keir bond over the destruction and the helplessness of Keir's (and now Zaba's) people. Zaba hopes to kill her husband for his killing of her sister, while Keir mourns for his sister's death. Both are angry at the world and each other. The ending was surprising but good. I will be continuing the series.
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