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Courts of Faery #1
A Bargain with the Fae King
For Lia Ashmore, the only thing keeping her grief and guilt in check after an accident nearly killed her little sister, May, are her recurring dreams of Riven, a shadowed man who’s become her confidant, a pleasant escape from the pain of reality.
When May is taken by animalistic dark Fae, Lia journeys to Faery, desperate to save her sister. There, she comes face to face with three shocking truths: Riven is real, he’s not human, and in fact, he’s the King of the Forest Fae. They strike a bargain. He’ll help her save May in exchange for what he wants: Lia as his consort.
But saving her sister is not as easy as either expected, and a failed rescue attempt reignites an age-old conflict between Fae courts. As her relationship with Riven blossoms, Lia becomes increasingly entangled in bitter rivalries and political power plays.
In a world where no one can lie but everyone has secrets, Lia will have to decide who to trust. The choice alone could cost her heart, but the wrong one may demand her life—and her sister’s.
When May is taken by animalistic dark Fae, Lia journeys to Faery, desperate to save her sister. There, she comes face to face with three shocking truths: Riven is real, he’s not human, and in fact, he’s the King of the Forest Fae. They strike a bargain. He’ll help her save May in exchange for what he wants: Lia as his consort.
But saving her sister is not as easy as either expected, and a failed rescue attempt reignites an age-old conflict between Fae courts. As her relationship with Riven blossoms, Lia becomes increasingly entangled in bitter rivalries and political power plays.
In a world where no one can lie but everyone has secrets, Lia will have to decide who to trust. The choice alone could cost her heart, but the wrong one may demand her life—and her sister’s.
378 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2022
557 people are currently reading
4917 people want to read
About the author
Megan Van Dyke
18 books585 followersMegan Van Dyke is a fantasy romance author with a love for all things that include magic and kissing. Many of her stories include themes of family (whether born into or found) and a sense of home and belonging, which are important aspects of her life as well. Megan also watched way too many Disney movies as a child, and adult, and has a deep love for fairytales and happily-ever-afters.
Megan is a former IT risk and security executive and current stay-at-home mom. When not writing, Megan loves to cook, play video games, explore the great outdoors, and spend time with her family. A southerner by birth and at heart, Megan currently lives with her family in Colorado.
Megan is a former IT risk and security executive and current stay-at-home mom. When not writing, Megan loves to cook, play video games, explore the great outdoors, and spend time with her family. A southerner by birth and at heart, Megan currently lives with her family in Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
November 22, 2022
Okay, listen...I really wanted to like this. Like really, really wanted to. But I didn't...for a lot of reasons.
It started well - with Megan Van Dyke's effortless prose and steady flow that I've come to appreciate with her writing style. But, unfortunately, that's where the positives ended for me.
Let's start with our main character, Lia. Right off the bat, she comes off as naive and remarkably fickle. She goes from being credulously besotted with Riven to doubtful and jealous so fast I got emotional whiplash. When she's not busy getting upset over the actions of a male she barely knows, she's self-deprecating and yet somehow very entitled at the same time? When she does decide to have moments of authority, it comes off more like...misplaced cockiness than actual self-assuredness. I don't know; she just came off as immature and considerably younger than her character is supposed to be.
And then there's Riven. Ugh. He gave me manipulative, two-faced Tamlin vibes right off the bat - which is absolutely not the way that you want to perceive a proposed love interest. He's just such...a dick! He just comes off as duplicitous and, for lack of a better word, asshole-y.
A part of me also felt like the overall story was derivative of ACOTAR. There are attempts at being different and making it unique, but it just didn't work. I can see the pieces that were placed to make the story more distinctive, but they don't fit together.
Overall, the book was wholly predictable. Which isn't always a bad thing - I've said before that sometimes predictability is just what the doctor ordered; there's comfort in it, especially when a story is executed well. But predictability tied in with characters you can't bring yourself to like is just...not fun.
It started well - with Megan Van Dyke's effortless prose and steady flow that I've come to appreciate with her writing style. But, unfortunately, that's where the positives ended for me.
Let's start with our main character, Lia. Right off the bat, she comes off as naive and remarkably fickle. She goes from being credulously besotted with Riven to doubtful and jealous so fast I got emotional whiplash. When she's not busy getting upset over the actions of a male she barely knows, she's self-deprecating and yet somehow very entitled at the same time? When she does decide to have moments of authority, it comes off more like...misplaced cockiness than actual self-assuredness. I don't know; she just came off as immature and considerably younger than her character is supposed to be.
And then there's Riven. Ugh. He gave me manipulative, two-faced Tamlin vibes right off the bat - which is absolutely not the way that you want to perceive a proposed love interest. He's just such...a dick! He just comes off as duplicitous and, for lack of a better word, asshole-y.
A part of me also felt like the overall story was derivative of ACOTAR. There are attempts at being different and making it unique, but it just didn't work. I can see the pieces that were placed to make the story more distinctive, but they don't fit together.
Overall, the book was wholly predictable. Which isn't always a bad thing - I've said before that sometimes predictability is just what the doctor ordered; there's comfort in it, especially when a story is executed well. But predictability tied in with characters you can't bring yourself to like is just...not fun.
May 7, 2022
4.5/5, a balm to my spirit, my long watch for good fae romance is over.
First, our protagonist. Lia is a modern twenty-something whose life was derailed when she injured her baby sister in a car crash. She loves her sister dearly, and guilt triples her desperate protectiveness over May. She's unfamiliar with the Faery realm's rules and unsure who to trust, which makes her inclined to look for her own answers. At heart, she's good; she wants to help the people around her. But she struggles to find the right way to do that, and to choose between them and May with a clean conscience. I enjoy Lia because she's doing her best. She's largely sensible! She has a sense of self preservation and saves her bad decisions for moments of high emotion.
Rivenean, the love interest and titular fae king of Forest, has been haunting Lia's dreams since the crash. In those conversations, he was a confidant, learning more about her and gaining her trust; meeting him in the flesh makes him rather more complicated. He knows far more about her than she does about him, and she doesn't know which of his faces are masks: the Riven she met in her dreams; the cocky, rakish king who made a bargain with her; or the grim commander leading fae forces against the Unseelie. Leaving off my overall opinion of Riven because finding out is quite fun, but know that this is not a villain romance with a true nastyman.
The true nastyman king is present, however. What's a questionable love interest without a worse love interest? That's the fae king of Air, who causes problems on purpose and flirts with Lia and with chaos. I wouldn't dream of spoiling you about what his Deal is; let's just say I want that sequel. He was enjoyable every time.
The dynamics among the characters were equally solid and fun to watch. Lia and Riven knowing each other beforehand, especially in an unequal way, made for an interesting start. It also made the spice start (but not conclude) early, which was a boon to me. Other members of the Forest court got to shine. Everyone had different priorities regarding the stakes of the plot, and it caused friction in ways that made the plot more interesting.
The world did feel fae-like with a helping of elven. The descriptions painted an interesting picture of architecture blending with nature, of definite borders and strange landscapes. I liked the explanation for why Lia was of such interest, and what humans could or couldn't do in Faery. Part of the .5 stars off is that I could have used more description and in-depth explorations of the worldbuilding. It was largely a matter of liking what I saw and wanting more. I could have used more book, to be honest. I hope to be satisfied by further books in the series.
Galen: I love you, man. MVP. Light of this world. I hope you're in every sequel and short story.
First, our protagonist. Lia is a modern twenty-something whose life was derailed when she injured her baby sister in a car crash. She loves her sister dearly, and guilt triples her desperate protectiveness over May. She's unfamiliar with the Faery realm's rules and unsure who to trust, which makes her inclined to look for her own answers. At heart, she's good; she wants to help the people around her. But she struggles to find the right way to do that, and to choose between them and May with a clean conscience. I enjoy Lia because she's doing her best. She's largely sensible! She has a sense of self preservation and saves her bad decisions for moments of high emotion.
Rivenean, the love interest and titular fae king of Forest, has been haunting Lia's dreams since the crash. In those conversations, he was a confidant, learning more about her and gaining her trust; meeting him in the flesh makes him rather more complicated. He knows far more about her than she does about him, and she doesn't know which of his faces are masks: the Riven she met in her dreams; the cocky, rakish king who made a bargain with her; or the grim commander leading fae forces against the Unseelie. Leaving off my overall opinion of Riven because finding out is quite fun, but know that this is not a villain romance with a true nastyman.
The true nastyman king is present, however. What's a questionable love interest without a worse love interest? That's the fae king of Air, who causes problems on purpose and flirts with Lia and with chaos. I wouldn't dream of spoiling you about what his Deal is; let's just say I want that sequel. He was enjoyable every time.
The dynamics among the characters were equally solid and fun to watch. Lia and Riven knowing each other beforehand, especially in an unequal way, made for an interesting start. It also made the spice start (but not conclude) early, which was a boon to me. Other members of the Forest court got to shine. Everyone had different priorities regarding the stakes of the plot, and it caused friction in ways that made the plot more interesting.
The world did feel fae-like with a helping of elven. The descriptions painted an interesting picture of architecture blending with nature, of definite borders and strange landscapes. I liked the explanation for why Lia was of such interest, and what humans could or couldn't do in Faery. Part of the .5 stars off is that I could have used more description and in-depth explorations of the worldbuilding. It was largely a matter of liking what I saw and wanting more. I could have used more book, to be honest. I hope to be satisfied by further books in the series.
Galen: I love you, man. MVP. Light of this world. I hope you're in every sequel and short story.
June 19, 2022
- enlists the help of a fae king and his army to find her sister
- immediately runs off unattended into the forest and gets in everyone's way 🤦♀️
The heroine:
A young woman full of guilt about almost killing her sister in a car accident. She also has a weird mentality about talent being inherent and not earned:
The most frustrating thing is that she never grows as a character. She never gets over her guilt, doesn't find her inner spark, and just settles forTamlin I mean Riven. When Sigurd showed up, I figured he'd be the next Rhys, but no he's just a regular slimeball that you're supposed to like in the next book
lastly, I picked this up for the description mentioning dream visits, but the book skips over them entirely 💔😮💨
- immediately runs off unattended into the forest and gets in everyone's way 🤦♀️
The heroine:
A young woman full of guilt about almost killing her sister in a car accident. She also has a weird mentality about talent being inherent and not earned:
"Some of us are good at sports. Others music or art. And a few get all the gifts. Too bad I'm not one of those."🙄 How convenient, she has an inherited gift that the fae desperately need through no effort of her own!
The most frustrating thing is that she never grows as a character. She never gets over her guilt, doesn't find her inner spark, and just settles for
lastly, I picked this up for the description mentioning dream visits, but the book skips over them entirely 💔😮💨
April 16, 2022
The Good
This book made me all types of nostalgic for my favourite YA reads as a teenager (e.g., Need by Carrie Jones, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Fallen by Lauren Kate). It had me up all night reading just like I was back then - a sure sign that I enjoyed the story.
The Bad
However, it also fell victim to some of the same problems as those books... The heroine was gullible, the romance toxic, and the ending cheesy. As Bryce Quinlan would say, the love interest could be a possessive and aggressive alphahole that screamed red flags.
The Plot
Lia can't escape the guilt from causing the car accident that left her sister scarred. Riven, the mysterious man that appears in her dreams, is the only thing who gets her through. When May is kidnapped, Lia will do anything to get her back - including join Riven in Faery.
The Ending
Overall, this was a very enjoyable story if you could look passed the heroine's gullibility and the hero's possessiveness. I'm not happy with the ending seeing as this appears to be a standalone novel. We're left with too many unanswered questions for me to be content - but I don't regret reading A Bargain with the Fae King.
This book made me all types of nostalgic for my favourite YA reads as a teenager (e.g., Need by Carrie Jones, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Fallen by Lauren Kate). It had me up all night reading just like I was back then - a sure sign that I enjoyed the story.
The Bad
However, it also fell victim to some of the same problems as those books... The heroine was gullible, the romance toxic, and the ending cheesy. As Bryce Quinlan would say, the love interest could be a possessive and aggressive alphahole that screamed red flags.
"It was as if all the closeness and connection we'd developed the night before had been washed away in a moment." 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
The Plot
Lia can't escape the guilt from causing the car accident that left her sister scarred. Riven, the mysterious man that appears in her dreams, is the only thing who gets her through. When May is kidnapped, Lia will do anything to get her back - including join Riven in Faery.
The Ending
Overall, this was a very enjoyable story if you could look passed the heroine's gullibility and the hero's possessiveness. I'm not happy with the ending seeing as this appears to be a standalone novel. We're left with too many unanswered questions for me to be content - but I don't regret reading A Bargain with the Fae King.
did-not-finish
June 7, 2023DNF @ 55%
A BARGAIN WITH THE FAE KING started out strong but then it went downhill for me and I lost interest in reading more. Compared to the author's other series, this one feels very YA in tone and character behavior, though it does have some spicy moments and is meant to be an adult fantasy romance.
The biggest reason I DNFed is that I really struggled with both Lia and Riven and they were making it hard to enjoy the book. Lia was impulsive, reckless, doesn't listen, and she made some really dumb decisions. Why, oh why, would she ignore Riven's warnings and run into the forest after her sister, with no weapon, no fighting skills, and no knowledge of what has her sister when Riven and his elite guard are already staging a rescue. I know she wanted to save her sister but Lia never once took a moment to think through her actions and instead she ends up ruining the whole rescue. She does seem to realize her mistakes and try to do better but it was too little too late for me. I also found Lia's obsessive thoughts about causing her sister's accident (from the beginning of the book) to be a bit much. I understand she feels guilty but her sister is still alive and perfectly fine a few months later and yet Lia is constantly thinking about how she ruined everyone's lives, that it should have been her that was hurt, and that her Dad and step-mom must hate her now.
As for Riven, the man really needs to be better at helping Lia navigate this new world and actually talk to her. Lia has no idea what to do when it comes to Fae politics and every time she looks to Riven for guidance he just stays silent and unhelpful. This was especially annoying in relation to Sigurd who is obviously trying to get under Riven's skin by flirting with Lia and giving her gifts. Lia doesn't want his attention but she's worried that turning down his gifts will be bad for the budding alliance between Riven and Sigurd's Courts so she accepts them (after given Riven a chance to say something first) and then Riven gets jealous about it; this happened several times. All this angst and jealously was building up and it felt too contrived. Riven has made it clear what it means to have a human consort and he wants them to act besotted and possessive with each other so that all points to him stepping in and telling Sigurd to stop, but instead Riven just leaves Lia to flounder through it.
I had to DNF once I realized I was only reading for the sake of finishing the book and not because I was enjoying it.
A BARGAIN WITH THE FAE KING started out strong but then it went downhill for me and I lost interest in reading more. Compared to the author's other series, this one feels very YA in tone and character behavior, though it does have some spicy moments and is meant to be an adult fantasy romance.
The biggest reason I DNFed is that I really struggled with both Lia and Riven and they were making it hard to enjoy the book. Lia was impulsive, reckless, doesn't listen, and she made some really dumb decisions. Why, oh why, would she ignore Riven's warnings and run into the forest after her sister, with no weapon, no fighting skills, and no knowledge of what has her sister when Riven and his elite guard are already staging a rescue. I know she wanted to save her sister but Lia never once took a moment to think through her actions and instead she ends up ruining the whole rescue. She does seem to realize her mistakes and try to do better but it was too little too late for me. I also found Lia's obsessive thoughts about causing her sister's accident (from the beginning of the book) to be a bit much. I understand she feels guilty but her sister is still alive and perfectly fine a few months later and yet Lia is constantly thinking about how she ruined everyone's lives, that it should have been her that was hurt, and that her Dad and step-mom must hate her now.
As for Riven, the man really needs to be better at helping Lia navigate this new world and actually talk to her. Lia has no idea what to do when it comes to Fae politics and every time she looks to Riven for guidance he just stays silent and unhelpful. This was especially annoying in relation to Sigurd who is obviously trying to get under Riven's skin by flirting with Lia and giving her gifts. Lia doesn't want his attention but she's worried that turning down his gifts will be bad for the budding alliance between Riven and Sigurd's Courts so she accepts them (after given Riven a chance to say something first) and then Riven gets jealous about it; this happened several times. All this angst and jealously was building up and it felt too contrived. Riven has made it clear what it means to have a human consort and he wants them to act besotted and possessive with each other so that all points to him stepping in and telling Sigurd to stop, but instead Riven just leaves Lia to flounder through it.
I had to DNF once I realized I was only reading for the sake of finishing the book and not because I was enjoying it.
March 29, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm going to try to put my feelings into words and not spoil anything. But I absolutely loved A Bargain with the Fae King. It kept me guessing the entire way, and my traitorous heart kept getting attached to certain characters it shouldn't have gotten attached to!
The main character, Lia, is a very relatable MC. I loved how her insecurities were molded by her past mistakes and ended up effecting her future decisions in Faery. She has so much love for her sister that she would literally do anything and be anything to save her. She's just flawed enough to be relatable and real, and strong enough to be a badass woman who changes everything in a world full of magic.
The romance was the icing on the cake. I loved the relationship between... well both fae kings. Riven is like a cinnamon roll that got sprinkled with paprika instead of cinnamon. He's super yummy and then all of a sudden you get his not so great side, which helps us understand who this super charming, confident, brazen, sex-on-a-stick guy is. Did I mention the steamy scenes are perfection? Because I read them all twice.
The world is so beautifully complex, yet easily understood from the way the author describes the land of Faery through the eyes of Lia. I enjoyed learning about the world and history as she did so it didn't feel so overwhelming. I also loved that this story kept some of those classic fae qualities. (Because who wouldn't want a man that can't lie?)
I would recommend this lovely read to all my fantasy lovers because it is a breath of fresh air and beautifully told story of family love, inner strength, and overcoming fear.
I'm going to try to put my feelings into words and not spoil anything. But I absolutely loved A Bargain with the Fae King. It kept me guessing the entire way, and my traitorous heart kept getting attached to certain characters it shouldn't have gotten attached to!
The main character, Lia, is a very relatable MC. I loved how her insecurities were molded by her past mistakes and ended up effecting her future decisions in Faery. She has so much love for her sister that she would literally do anything and be anything to save her. She's just flawed enough to be relatable and real, and strong enough to be a badass woman who changes everything in a world full of magic.
The romance was the icing on the cake. I loved the relationship between... well both fae kings. Riven is like a cinnamon roll that got sprinkled with paprika instead of cinnamon. He's super yummy and then all of a sudden you get his not so great side, which helps us understand who this super charming, confident, brazen, sex-on-a-stick guy is. Did I mention the steamy scenes are perfection? Because I read them all twice.
The world is so beautifully complex, yet easily understood from the way the author describes the land of Faery through the eyes of Lia. I enjoyed learning about the world and history as she did so it didn't feel so overwhelming. I also loved that this story kept some of those classic fae qualities. (Because who wouldn't want a man that can't lie?)
I would recommend this lovely read to all my fantasy lovers because it is a breath of fresh air and beautifully told story of family love, inner strength, and overcoming fear.
March 31, 2022
4 stars
**Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.**
As someone who fell in love with Megan Van Dyke's imagery in her debut novel, I was blown away with the continuation of her skill in this world. Lia ends up in Faery after her sister is kidnapped and the real sense of the magical world she's stepped into is rich and vibrant from the beginning. I loved the imagery, the attention to detail and elements of Faery that Megan has put immense effort into creating. I truly felt the world around me as I read and this isn't a skill many authors possess so well in their early stages of their writing career.
The storyline is interesting, full of Fae charms and deceit, shocking revelations, and a real sense of duty towards those they love. I really enjoyed the fae characters, Riven and Sigurd especially. The side characters are also wonderful and not just there to propel the story along but enrichen what is happening, another thing I picked up that this author does well. No one seems to be just put in to fill a gap, they all have a purpose and a voice in this world. I did like the subtle differences from other fae books I've read too, especially how humans are the source of power to Fae. I appreciated this change, given so many books about the Fae make them superior beings with control over their powers. I also liked how this power connected to the world and could kill off the land and courts if not protected and given the opportunity to flourish.
Admittedly, I didn't really connect with Lia as a main character. I found her often times very difficult to follow when her emotions flitted back and forth, and somewhat repetitive at times. Because I wasn't invested in her, I didn't find the romance between Riven and Lia to be as believable as I hoped. A lot of it comes from being told, rather than being shown, especially in the first half of the book. However, this does change further into the novel, and I felt more connection and understanding between Riven and Lia in the end, especially with the sacrifices and confessions made.
This is just a taste of this world, however, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it grows as the series continues. I'm also excited to watch the growth of this fantastic author in all her pursuits with what she writes in the future.
**Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.**
As someone who fell in love with Megan Van Dyke's imagery in her debut novel, I was blown away with the continuation of her skill in this world. Lia ends up in Faery after her sister is kidnapped and the real sense of the magical world she's stepped into is rich and vibrant from the beginning. I loved the imagery, the attention to detail and elements of Faery that Megan has put immense effort into creating. I truly felt the world around me as I read and this isn't a skill many authors possess so well in their early stages of their writing career.
The storyline is interesting, full of Fae charms and deceit, shocking revelations, and a real sense of duty towards those they love. I really enjoyed the fae characters, Riven and Sigurd especially. The side characters are also wonderful and not just there to propel the story along but enrichen what is happening, another thing I picked up that this author does well. No one seems to be just put in to fill a gap, they all have a purpose and a voice in this world. I did like the subtle differences from other fae books I've read too, especially how humans are the source of power to Fae. I appreciated this change, given so many books about the Fae make them superior beings with control over their powers. I also liked how this power connected to the world and could kill off the land and courts if not protected and given the opportunity to flourish.
Admittedly, I didn't really connect with Lia as a main character. I found her often times very difficult to follow when her emotions flitted back and forth, and somewhat repetitive at times. Because I wasn't invested in her, I didn't find the romance between Riven and Lia to be as believable as I hoped. A lot of it comes from being told, rather than being shown, especially in the first half of the book. However, this does change further into the novel, and I felt more connection and understanding between Riven and Lia in the end, especially with the sacrifices and confessions made.
This is just a taste of this world, however, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it grows as the series continues. I'm also excited to watch the growth of this fantastic author in all her pursuits with what she writes in the future.
July 29, 2022
That was fun! It's been so long since I've read any proper fae content, so this was a balm on some long festering wounds. It wasn't perfect, but at least the fae characters actually acted like fae and not elves but with beast-like qualities. There was actual trickery and manipulation! Actual half-truths and selfish actions!
And the main character also wasn't mind-numbingly stupid or teeth gratingly annoying.
But yeah! A fun time was had. And that's really all we can ask for.
And the main character also wasn't mind-numbingly stupid or teeth gratingly annoying.
But yeah! A fun time was had. And that's really all we can ask for.
April 24, 2022
A Bargain with the Fae King is a story of lies, deceit, sacrifice, and love. I was immediately captivated by the cover and so thankful the author gifted me an ARC!
The writing in this novel is really good and I enjoyed that we can read this as a standalone. This book definitely read a little more YA to me with a hint of spicy scenes to push it over into the adult category, so I had a little bit of a harder time remaining invested in the story.
However, I still enjoyed this book and thought it was a quick and run read!
March 31, 2022
I'll admit - Second Star to the Left had tighter writing and was more polished but if you give A Bargain with the Fae King a chance I think it'll surprise you! That last 25% I just raced through! The writing is a little choppy but overall fun and entertaining.
I really love the relationship between Lia and May. It's such a strong sister bond! Riven is a mysterious character and I almost wish we'd gotten his POV so I could understand him a little better. Sigurd was confusing to me. I wasn't sure if he was supposed to be a possible love interest to create a love triangle or the bad guy we're supposed to hate. It just felt a little messy but by the end I was intrigued by him and can't wait to read more about him!
The world building is great! I felt like I could see everything. Maybe a little too descriptive at some parts but I'd rather too much than not enough. The magic system took a little bit to understand but I think because it was all new to Lia we're kept in the dark with her.
Was it as good as her debut? No, but all in all I really love Megan's books and will continue to excitedly read them!!
I really love the relationship between Lia and May. It's such a strong sister bond! Riven is a mysterious character and I almost wish we'd gotten his POV so I could understand him a little better. Sigurd was confusing to me. I wasn't sure if he was supposed to be a possible love interest to create a love triangle or the bad guy we're supposed to hate. It just felt a little messy but by the end I was intrigued by him and can't wait to read more about him!
The world building is great! I felt like I could see everything. Maybe a little too descriptive at some parts but I'd rather too much than not enough. The magic system took a little bit to understand but I think because it was all new to Lia we're kept in the dark with her.
Was it as good as her debut? No, but all in all I really love Megan's books and will continue to excitedly read them!!
May 3, 2022
A captivating story which poses the question: How far will you go to help those you love?
With romance and peril entwining together at every turn, readers will be kept intrigued to discover exactly how far our MC's will go to do exactly that. Filled with vibes like those of 'A deal with the Elf King' and 'A Court of Thorns and Roses', fans of these books will lose themselves in this version of the world of Fae.
_______________________
I just loved how this book did not drop the beat as far as pace goes, every chapter was important to the story and had me unable to stop reading. There's a lot of joy in finding a book that you steal away to sneak in extra pages during every waking moment of the day, and that was this book for me. I would have loved some more world building and context at the start, especially to establish the background for the connection that our MC's built early on behind the scenes, but this was my only real point of feedback. I felt like the author did really well to make some of our favourite themes her own, and how she reminded me of books I know and love without making me think it was copy and paste.
I could not have been more fortunate to read this book as an ARC and highly recommend people to check out this newly released story ASAP.
With romance and peril entwining together at every turn, readers will be kept intrigued to discover exactly how far our MC's will go to do exactly that. Filled with vibes like those of 'A deal with the Elf King' and 'A Court of Thorns and Roses', fans of these books will lose themselves in this version of the world of Fae.
_______________________
I just loved how this book did not drop the beat as far as pace goes, every chapter was important to the story and had me unable to stop reading. There's a lot of joy in finding a book that you steal away to sneak in extra pages during every waking moment of the day, and that was this book for me. I would have loved some more world building and context at the start, especially to establish the background for the connection that our MC's built early on behind the scenes, but this was my only real point of feedback. I felt like the author did really well to make some of our favourite themes her own, and how she reminded me of books I know and love without making me think it was copy and paste.
I could not have been more fortunate to read this book as an ARC and highly recommend people to check out this newly released story ASAP.
November 22, 2022
*I received a free copy of this book as part of the Indie Ink Awards. This review is my full and honest opinion.*
Actual Rating: 3.75
Wow! I always find myself a little nervous going into fantasy novels because I'm worried about the world-building being confusing, but this book did a fantastic job of easing us into it.
We follow Lia, who feels estranged from her family after nearly causing an accident that killed her little sister May. The only reprieve she gets are in the recurring dreams of a mysterious shadowy man — Riven, who she spills all her secrets to. When May is suddenly kidnapped by the Unseelie, Lia will do anything it takes to get her back — even if it means making a deal and giving herself up as the fae king's consort.
This book was really reminiscient of Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses and I enjoyed it just as much. The plot was really solid and getting May back was a really great motivator, especially since I'm always a fan of heroes that get dragged into a situation reluctantly. I do think the storyline was quite predictable but this was one of those instances where it did not bother me. I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
I feel a little mixed on the romance. I can see why many people would enjoy it, especially those who like reading adult romance, but personally I found the male lead a little too "alpha" at times and it was a little uncomfortable. There are moments where Lia stands her ground that I really enjoyed and I would love to have seen more of these, especially towards the end.
As the story went on, there are some moments where the main character's actions are questionable and moments where I wish Lia had more agency, but overall I thought it really depicted her character well — determined and empathetic, yet very much still a fish out of water.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this to readers of fantasy romance. Personally, I will 100% be continuing with the next book in the series!
Actual Rating: 3.75
Wow! I always find myself a little nervous going into fantasy novels because I'm worried about the world-building being confusing, but this book did a fantastic job of easing us into it.
We follow Lia, who feels estranged from her family after nearly causing an accident that killed her little sister May. The only reprieve she gets are in the recurring dreams of a mysterious shadowy man — Riven, who she spills all her secrets to. When May is suddenly kidnapped by the Unseelie, Lia will do anything it takes to get her back — even if it means making a deal and giving herself up as the fae king's consort.
This book was really reminiscient of Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses and I enjoyed it just as much. The plot was really solid and getting May back was a really great motivator, especially since I'm always a fan of heroes that get dragged into a situation reluctantly. I do think the storyline was quite predictable but this was one of those instances where it did not bother me. I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
I feel a little mixed on the romance. I can see why many people would enjoy it, especially those who like reading adult romance, but personally I found the male lead a little too "alpha" at times and it was a little uncomfortable. There are moments where Lia stands her ground that I really enjoyed and I would love to have seen more of these, especially towards the end.
As the story went on, there are some moments where the main character's actions are questionable and moments where I wish Lia had more agency, but overall I thought it really depicted her character well — determined and empathetic, yet very much still a fish out of water.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this to readers of fantasy romance. Personally, I will 100% be continuing with the next book in the series!
March 19, 2022
A wonderful story full of plots and intrigue. I loved it!
Lia's life changed dramatically when she and her younger sister May were involved in a car accident that Lia blames herself for. So when May is stolen away by unseelie fae, she will stop at nothing to get her back, including bargaining with a fae king to be his consort.
However the longer she is in Faery, the more Lia finds out about what is going on in the lands and the deceptions of a people who can't lie.
I enjoyed the magical world building, and the characters were great, including some wonderful side characters!
Fans of Sarah J Maas and Elisa Kova will enjoy this magical tale.
Lia's life changed dramatically when she and her younger sister May were involved in a car accident that Lia blames herself for. So when May is stolen away by unseelie fae, she will stop at nothing to get her back, including bargaining with a fae king to be his consort.
However the longer she is in Faery, the more Lia finds out about what is going on in the lands and the deceptions of a people who can't lie.
I enjoyed the magical world building, and the characters were great, including some wonderful side characters!
Fans of Sarah J Maas and Elisa Kova will enjoy this magical tale.
April 24, 2022
**I received an ARC of this from the author to read and leave an honest review**
This book was so good! There is so much that happens that I never saw coming. I love the romance and the characters. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love. I can't wait to continue on in this series when it is written. Great world building and so much intrigue.
This book was so good! There is so much that happens that I never saw coming. I love the romance and the characters. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love. I can't wait to continue on in this series when it is written. Great world building and so much intrigue.
March 19, 2022
Lia’s life changes in an instant when she and her little sister May are involved in a car accident that Lia blames solely on herself. It was this moment that Lia took everything onto her shoulders and decided to give everything to right the wrong she felt she caused. So when her sister is stolen in the night by Unseelie Fae she will stop at nothing to get her back home safely. It is because of this that Lia finds herself with a magically binding bargain with the Fae King from her dreams. She soon finds out that though Fae cannot lie their world is steeped in omissions and deception.
I enjoyed this book! While it is a fantasy book the world building was easy to follow and understand. I also enjoyed that it stuck along the lines of traditional Fae stories, where they cannot lie, but sure are fantastic at finding loopholes to that, and have deeply running rivalries.
I enjoyed the relationship building between our FMC Lia and the MMC Riven. Their relationship is filled with tension and slow burn.
I also really enjoyed the cast of supporting characters and hope in later books in this series are get more of their stories!
I enjoyed this book! While it is a fantasy book the world building was easy to follow and understand. I also enjoyed that it stuck along the lines of traditional Fae stories, where they cannot lie, but sure are fantastic at finding loopholes to that, and have deeply running rivalries.
I enjoyed the relationship building between our FMC Lia and the MMC Riven. Their relationship is filled with tension and slow burn.
I also really enjoyed the cast of supporting characters and hope in later books in this series are get more of their stories!
March 27, 2022
Thanks to Megan Van Dyke for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A Bargain with the Fae King has the components of a great story. I liked most of the characters and enjoyed the overall plot arch. I struggled to immerse myself fully through the earlier chapters of this book, however, where things felt a little disconnected/forced for me. It got there, though and that ending was super cute.
A Bargain with the Fae King has the components of a great story. I liked most of the characters and enjoyed the overall plot arch. I struggled to immerse myself fully through the earlier chapters of this book, however, where things felt a little disconnected/forced for me. It got there, though and that ending was super cute.
April 11, 2022
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive an arc of the novel “A Bargain with the Fae King” by Megan Van Dyke in exchange for an honest review 📖
✨This story follows Lia Ashmore, a young women tormented by her past, looking for a way to help the sister she so dearly loves. Then her sister is taken, spirited away to a magical realm. Lia is desperate to save her sister from the monsters that took her. Along the way she discovers… her family has a gift, her dreams hold true meaning, and a fae king is waiting for her to make a bargain.
🎧This story was full of twists, turns, ups, and downs! I thought I knew where it was going and I was wrong. For that, I’m grateful. This novel also touches on guilt, trauma, and loneliness. If you’re looking for a fast paced fantasy romance read filled with cunning fairies, deadly bargains, and heavy romance then this is for you.
📚The only thing I wish was that there was more but that’s a good thing to wish right?!! However, I believe it is meant to be written in this fast paced way and makes for an exciting, twisting, light read. If these things interest you don’t hesitate to pick it up!
⚠️ Please beware of content warnings associated with this novel and only read what you are comfortable with. The author clearly states the warnings which I believe is an excellent help to readers!
I was lucky enough to receive an arc of the novel “A Bargain with the Fae King” by Megan Van Dyke in exchange for an honest review 📖
✨This story follows Lia Ashmore, a young women tormented by her past, looking for a way to help the sister she so dearly loves. Then her sister is taken, spirited away to a magical realm. Lia is desperate to save her sister from the monsters that took her. Along the way she discovers… her family has a gift, her dreams hold true meaning, and a fae king is waiting for her to make a bargain.
🎧This story was full of twists, turns, ups, and downs! I thought I knew where it was going and I was wrong. For that, I’m grateful. This novel also touches on guilt, trauma, and loneliness. If you’re looking for a fast paced fantasy romance read filled with cunning fairies, deadly bargains, and heavy romance then this is for you.
📚The only thing I wish was that there was more but that’s a good thing to wish right?!! However, I believe it is meant to be written in this fast paced way and makes for an exciting, twisting, light read. If these things interest you don’t hesitate to pick it up!
⚠️ Please beware of content warnings associated with this novel and only read what you are comfortable with. The author clearly states the warnings which I believe is an excellent help to readers!
April 3, 2022
Thank you so, so much Megan Van Dyke for sending me a copy of A Bargain with the Fae King for review.
Ohhhhhhh I loved this book (unsurprisingly) and I cannot wait for the rest of this series!
Lia ends up in Faery after her sister is kidnapped and she is desperate to get her back. She teams up with Riven, a Fae king, to bring her sister back home. However, as with most faeries, Riven is not just as he seems. She must go through with that bargain to get her sister back.
There are plenty of twists and turns. There is plenty of spice, although perhaps not as intense as her debut novel Second Star to the Left. This book is EVERYTHING I could have asked for, with gorgeous settings, beautiful imagery, lovely side characters and of course, some sauce between Riven and Lia.
This book, as it is a series, is a bit more meandering and could be a bit tighter in places. However, with more novels ahead of us I trust Megan will bring it all together.
I adore this book!
Ohhhhhhh I loved this book (unsurprisingly) and I cannot wait for the rest of this series!
Lia ends up in Faery after her sister is kidnapped and she is desperate to get her back. She teams up with Riven, a Fae king, to bring her sister back home. However, as with most faeries, Riven is not just as he seems. She must go through with that bargain to get her sister back.
There are plenty of twists and turns. There is plenty of spice, although perhaps not as intense as her debut novel Second Star to the Left. This book is EVERYTHING I could have asked for, with gorgeous settings, beautiful imagery, lovely side characters and of course, some sauce between Riven and Lia.
This book, as it is a series, is a bit more meandering and could be a bit tighter in places. However, with more novels ahead of us I trust Megan will bring it all together.
I adore this book!
April 5, 2022
I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
This is a fantasy romance where the romance itself hit way too many of my red flags for comfort, and that really overshadowed my experience of the book. I could not get behind the central romance (the centre of the story) because Riven, the love interest, just screamed at me that Lia needed to run far far away from him. I think that's partly an issue with the fae romance set up - that the tropes (might not be the right word) baked into the sub-genre hit way too many of those red flags for me. My two biggest nopes were his territorial nature and his lying.
Personally, the territorial went further than "just" territorial into not respecting boundaries. I doe not find possessive jealousy at all sexy/endearing. I see it as narcissistic controlling, unwilling for anyone else to have the attention, so demand it all, which means I feel like the possessive one doesn't see their partner as an equal, but rather as someone to meet their needs alone.
But Riven went further than that for me. He didn't tell her the nature of bargain before it was made (the fact that it basically involved sex) and then didn't really feel like he was respecting her boundaries. He didn't give her the option of another room. He pushed her way into her bath. He effectively pressured her into a kiss. The list goes on. It just made me feel so ick.
It felt like it was played off as sexy temptation because she ultimately liked it, but it didn't feel like she ever consented to those things, not without pressure. And even if someone likes it in the end, the nope nope nope for me is the fact there wasn't consent at the start, that he was really not respecting the boundaries - not even giving her a chance to lay down boundaries - is an enormous red flag for me.
The lying is another thing that seems part of the fae set up. Fae can't lie with words so they lie by omission. I've already mentioned he doesn't fully explain the bargain or its consequences (and all but the sex is told to her by someone other than Riven, and then also felt brushed aside by a "oh, I wished you'd told me but OK, I guess?")
The worst one of it was the fact that the circumstances around her coming to Faery were just forgiven because he did one semi-decent thing for love? I'd guessed that reveal very early on (because he raised so many red flags for me that I just did not trust him and was already completely willing to believe him the villain) and it didn't feel like it was properly addressed. Honestly, that was the sort of thing I think is completely unforgiveable and should have ended the relationship. But it's just brushed under the rug by him doing one vaguely decent act.
It's exactly the same issue I had with the end of Passengers (the movie) and, to be fair, Riven very much reminds me of the male lead in that. So if you had an issue with him/how that movie handled the relationship/that it was a romance, you probably will also not like the romance in this.
Lia throughout took everything as her fault. I could understand that at the start, as that's her mindset lie, but she never seemed to get past that, to grow. To me, sure, a romance is about people falling in love, but also falling in love with themselves. The process of falling in love gives them a supportive environment to learn about themselves and grow in the process, to shake off the lies they've internalised. It's not that the romantic love from someone else is necessary for that, but in a romance, it usually gets the characters out of a toxic environment to a better one which allows them that space.
Lia never got that for me, because Riven never gave her that supportive space, never was a mirror to show her what was great about her. And that's because he was so possessive of her, and so every time he got upset because he didn't like her talking to someone else, she saw it as her fault - and that internal narrative didn't seem to change.
There are other books to come, companions more than sequels, but I doubt I'll read any more of this series (though I did like Megan Van Dyke's other book, which didn't throw up flags for me) as I do think it is the fae set up that makes these flags so prominent.
This is a fantasy romance where the romance itself hit way too many of my red flags for comfort, and that really overshadowed my experience of the book. I could not get behind the central romance (the centre of the story) because Riven, the love interest, just screamed at me that Lia needed to run far far away from him. I think that's partly an issue with the fae romance set up - that the tropes (might not be the right word) baked into the sub-genre hit way too many of those red flags for me. My two biggest nopes were his territorial nature and his lying.
Personally, the territorial went further than "just" territorial into not respecting boundaries. I doe not find possessive jealousy at all sexy/endearing. I see it as narcissistic controlling, unwilling for anyone else to have the attention, so demand it all, which means I feel like the possessive one doesn't see their partner as an equal, but rather as someone to meet their needs alone.
But Riven went further than that for me. He didn't tell her the nature of bargain before it was made (the fact that it basically involved sex) and then didn't really feel like he was respecting her boundaries. He didn't give her the option of another room. He pushed her way into her bath. He effectively pressured her into a kiss. The list goes on. It just made me feel so ick.
It felt like it was played off as sexy temptation because she ultimately liked it, but it didn't feel like she ever consented to those things, not without pressure. And even if someone likes it in the end, the nope nope nope for me is the fact there wasn't consent at the start, that he was really not respecting the boundaries - not even giving her a chance to lay down boundaries - is an enormous red flag for me.
The lying is another thing that seems part of the fae set up. Fae can't lie with words so they lie by omission. I've already mentioned he doesn't fully explain the bargain or its consequences (and all but the sex is told to her by someone other than Riven, and then also felt brushed aside by a "oh, I wished you'd told me but OK, I guess?")
The worst one of it was the fact that the circumstances around her coming to Faery were just forgiven because he did one semi-decent thing for love? I'd guessed that reveal very early on (because he raised so many red flags for me that I just did not trust him and was already completely willing to believe him the villain) and it didn't feel like it was properly addressed. Honestly, that was the sort of thing I think is completely unforgiveable and should have ended the relationship. But it's just brushed under the rug by him doing one vaguely decent act.
It's exactly the same issue I had with the end of Passengers (the movie) and, to be fair, Riven very much reminds me of the male lead in that. So if you had an issue with him/how that movie handled the relationship/that it was a romance, you probably will also not like the romance in this.
Lia throughout took everything as her fault. I could understand that at the start, as that's her mindset lie, but she never seemed to get past that, to grow. To me, sure, a romance is about people falling in love, but also falling in love with themselves. The process of falling in love gives them a supportive environment to learn about themselves and grow in the process, to shake off the lies they've internalised. It's not that the romantic love from someone else is necessary for that, but in a romance, it usually gets the characters out of a toxic environment to a better one which allows them that space.
Lia never got that for me, because Riven never gave her that supportive space, never was a mirror to show her what was great about her. And that's because he was so possessive of her, and so every time he got upset because he didn't like her talking to someone else, she saw it as her fault - and that internal narrative didn't seem to change.
There are other books to come, companions more than sequels, but I doubt I'll read any more of this series (though I did like Megan Van Dyke's other book, which didn't throw up flags for me) as I do think it is the fae set up that makes these flags so prominent.
March 18, 2022
I feel blessed to have been given an ARC of this beauty! I loved this so much. I could barely put it down and I now want to walk into the woods, find a circular grove of trees with beautiful soft grass and wish myself right into the world of Faery!
I really enjoyed the growth of Lia and Riven’s relationship from start to end! And boy was it a bit of a rollercoaster! Then throw in some awesome side characters and a charming, sexy villain… I’m 💯 here for this!! 😍
Beautifully done Megan. Looking forward to the next book to get more of my favorite characters!!
I really enjoyed the growth of Lia and Riven’s relationship from start to end! And boy was it a bit of a rollercoaster! Then throw in some awesome side characters and a charming, sexy villain… I’m 💯 here for this!! 😍
Beautifully done Megan. Looking forward to the next book to get more of my favorite characters!!
April 2, 2022
First off I want to thank the wonderful Megan Van Dyke for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely loved this book, the world building is incredible, I'm so jealous of Lia that she got to be there because it literally sounds like a dream, reclaimed nature that is also a luxury palace and a whole court of nature, sign me up! The world is amazing, I liked that traditional faery things like the hatred and distrust between the seelie and unseelie, and the inability to lie are still used and a web of half truths and secrets are woven in this story. I really liked Lia as a mc, she's imperfect and doubts herself, and that makes her human, she blames herself for all the mistakes that happened in the past and for all the ones along the way, but her character grows. The same with Riven, he's desperate to help his people, has multiple masks he wears just to get through the day and to try to be a good king that his people and allies respect, he's trying, he's imperfect, but learns from his mistakes! I love this, such clear character development. I also loved the side characters, they are loyal and loveable and I hope we get more of their story in the next book. And then I haven't even started talking about the plot itself, lots of twists and unexpected things happen throughout the book, I literally wanted to throw this book across the room at some parts!
If you're thinking of reading this book then please do, you will not be disappointed!
I need more, and I'm super excited that the second book is coming next year!
I absolutely loved this book, the world building is incredible, I'm so jealous of Lia that she got to be there because it literally sounds like a dream, reclaimed nature that is also a luxury palace and a whole court of nature, sign me up! The world is amazing, I liked that traditional faery things like the hatred and distrust between the seelie and unseelie, and the inability to lie are still used and a web of half truths and secrets are woven in this story. I really liked Lia as a mc, she's imperfect and doubts herself, and that makes her human, she blames herself for all the mistakes that happened in the past and for all the ones along the way, but her character grows. The same with Riven, he's desperate to help his people, has multiple masks he wears just to get through the day and to try to be a good king that his people and allies respect, he's trying, he's imperfect, but learns from his mistakes! I love this, such clear character development. I also loved the side characters, they are loyal and loveable and I hope we get more of their story in the next book. And then I haven't even started talking about the plot itself, lots of twists and unexpected things happen throughout the book, I literally wanted to throw this book across the room at some parts!
If you're thinking of reading this book then please do, you will not be disappointed!
I need more, and I'm super excited that the second book is coming next year!
October 10, 2022
❌️❌️Potential Spoilers❌️❌️
I wanted to love this story and I tried, but I couldn't. The main character Lia is extremely immature, impulsive, childish, weak, and harbors too much self pity. She has little to no communication skills. The story felt rushed and I wish the author would have built on the "dreams" between Riven and Lia. Instead she chose to gloss over key building moments that would have made sense to include if you're going to claim characters as soul mates. Riven's character also felt rushed. He lacks communication and acts just as impulsively as Lia does. There was less character building with him than with Lia.
The plot was lacking and rushed. Lia goes back and forth with her feelings of Riven. She's easily persuaded to believe whatever people want her to. She continuously blames herself for everything and you can't help but hate her for it. That blame is what causes her to be blinded to truth and makes her act impulsively.
The unseelie, the witch and the key, the other courts, and the history of the fae were all rushed. I don't want to give too much away, but it was empty. The author tried so hard to include twists and trials to overcome, but without a proper build, it fell flat.
I wanted to love this story and I tried, but I couldn't. The main character Lia is extremely immature, impulsive, childish, weak, and harbors too much self pity. She has little to no communication skills. The story felt rushed and I wish the author would have built on the "dreams" between Riven and Lia. Instead she chose to gloss over key building moments that would have made sense to include if you're going to claim characters as soul mates. Riven's character also felt rushed. He lacks communication and acts just as impulsively as Lia does. There was less character building with him than with Lia.
The plot was lacking and rushed. Lia goes back and forth with her feelings of Riven. She's easily persuaded to believe whatever people want her to. She continuously blames herself for everything and you can't help but hate her for it. That blame is what causes her to be blinded to truth and makes her act impulsively.
The unseelie, the witch and the key, the other courts, and the history of the fae were all rushed. I don't want to give too much away, but it was empty. The author tried so hard to include twists and trials to overcome, but without a proper build, it fell flat.
May 29, 2022
When I started this book, I was confident that it would be a solid five star read. But somewhere along the way, it slowly dwindled to a 3/barely there 3.5. Could be because of the wishy-washy,immature heroine who never grows in character (despite being in her 20s acts like a 16 year old) or the toxic, built on lies relationship with her fae king or perhaps the way it's just filled with all the cliches that you can think of in YA fantasy book, minus the explicit scenes. Those were pretty hot 🔥 Riven seemed great until he wasn't...I won't be reading any further (if there are any sequels to hopefully tie up all the loose ends). But if you haven't read a lot of fantasy romance books, you could try this one out 🙍♀️
3 stars 💕
3 stars 💕
April 5, 2022
After falling in love with Second Star to the Left, I was super excited when I received an eARC of A Bargain with the Fae King! (Many thanks to the author for this!) Honestly, I think this book solidifies it: I’m a fan of Megan Van Dyke!
This is the tale of Lia, who is experiencing a lot of guilt due to her part in a car accident that injured her younger sister. Thus, when she discovers Fae exist and her sister gets taken by a group of dark Fae (Unseelie), Lia makes it her mission to get her back. But she’s confronted with another surprise: the man of her dreams who helped her get through the last year isn’t a man and he’s real. He also happens to be a Fae king. And he’s the only one that can help Lia get her sister back, so she makes a bargain with the Fae King.
Although the Fae cannot tell a lie policy had me rereading some lines and just straight up having issues trusting any of them, I really enjoyed this! So, when Lia wasn’t sure who to trust, I could definitely relate.
Speaking of Lia, the cast of characters in ABWTFK are interesting. (Also, just found out that two of my favorite side characters feature in a short story that’s in an anthology, so going to have to track that down). First, we have Lia, the main character who is guilt-ridden due to an accident that caused her sister May harm. Overall, I really liked her! Plus, she had the best reaction to finding out about Fae ages! Then there’s Riven, the Fae king. He’s a bit of a mystery, as he wears multiple masks: is he the cocky king or is he the Riven of Lia’s dreams? Or a little bit of both? The cast of characters at Riven’s court are great! Won’t go too much into detail but there may be some really cool characters and a cute ship to be found. Also if you’re a fan of morally grey characters, there’s a character that will steal the whole show.
The plot was really engaging. I was rooting for Lia to rescue her sister and trying to figure out if Riven was the main love interest or not. Look, there were a few options when it came to the Fae love interest for Lia pool. Additionally, I thought the court politics were interesting. I’d be curious to see if they play a larger role in future books.
All in all, this was a solid first-in-series and I’m intrigued to see where the overarching plot goes in the next books. Plus, I’m excited to see what’s in store for the cast of characters!
This is the tale of Lia, who is experiencing a lot of guilt due to her part in a car accident that injured her younger sister. Thus, when she discovers Fae exist and her sister gets taken by a group of dark Fae (Unseelie), Lia makes it her mission to get her back. But she’s confronted with another surprise: the man of her dreams who helped her get through the last year isn’t a man and he’s real. He also happens to be a Fae king. And he’s the only one that can help Lia get her sister back, so she makes a bargain with the Fae King.
Although the Fae cannot tell a lie policy had me rereading some lines and just straight up having issues trusting any of them, I really enjoyed this! So, when Lia wasn’t sure who to trust, I could definitely relate.
Speaking of Lia, the cast of characters in ABWTFK are interesting. (Also, just found out that two of my favorite side characters feature in a short story that’s in an anthology, so going to have to track that down). First, we have Lia, the main character who is guilt-ridden due to an accident that caused her sister May harm. Overall, I really liked her! Plus, she had the best reaction to finding out about Fae ages! Then there’s Riven, the Fae king. He’s a bit of a mystery, as he wears multiple masks: is he the cocky king or is he the Riven of Lia’s dreams? Or a little bit of both? The cast of characters at Riven’s court are great! Won’t go too much into detail but there may be some really cool characters and a cute ship to be found. Also if you’re a fan of morally grey characters, there’s a character that will steal the whole show.
The plot was really engaging. I was rooting for Lia to rescue her sister and trying to figure out if Riven was the main love interest or not. Look, there were a few options when it came to the Fae love interest for Lia pool. Additionally, I thought the court politics were interesting. I’d be curious to see if they play a larger role in future books.
All in all, this was a solid first-in-series and I’m intrigued to see where the overarching plot goes in the next books. Plus, I’m excited to see what’s in store for the cast of characters!
April 5, 2022
**Thank you to Megan Van Dyke for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.**
*Contains spoilers*
3.5 stars rounded down.
*
The story starts head-on with the source of our main character, Lia's, fears: the car crash that nearly killed her sister. When May gets kidnapped by fae, Lia races to find her, always blaming herself, and makes a bargain with the fae king in order to find her.
I'll start by saying I love fantasy novels, especially about faeries. I loved the incorporation of the necessity of humans for fae survival in the plot. I also highly enjoyed the realistic fears Lia had for her sister and herself. The story itself was simple but enjoyable.
It definitely reads like a YA novel, even though some of the steamy scenes are extra spicy!
Even though I enjoyed this book, I did have a few problems with it.
I love fast-paced books, but this was rushed. Even the prelude about the car crash wasn't detailed enough for me. We basically get no backstory, but are instead thrown into the action and left to figure things out along the way. We learn right away of her insecurities about her inability to keep her little sister safe and feeling like a failure. We meet Riven practically immediately, we find out about the car crashing immediately, Lia gets into Faery with basically no knowledge of HOW, but she's just...ABLE to? I didn't understand why everything was so easy.
This was a very relationship-driven book. The two relationships were between Lia and May and Lia and Riven. Lia's and May's relationship I thought was cute and perfect. I had a major issue with Lia's and Riven's relationship-basically the lack of their backstory. I could not immerse myself into the story nor invest myself into their relationship because I barely knew Riven, but Lia was acting as if he was the man of her dreams! Which, ironically, he was, but we didn't really get to see it that much! I wish there were more chapters in the beginning showing us Riven coming to Lia in her dreams and healing her through the tragic situation so we can truly love him as much as Lia does before she enters Faery.
This felt a lot like Twilight to me. A girl who makes wrong decisions but does everything for the man she loves. I think if you like the Twilight series you would love this.
*Contains spoilers*
3.5 stars rounded down.
*
The story starts head-on with the source of our main character, Lia's, fears: the car crash that nearly killed her sister. When May gets kidnapped by fae, Lia races to find her, always blaming herself, and makes a bargain with the fae king in order to find her.
I'll start by saying I love fantasy novels, especially about faeries. I loved the incorporation of the necessity of humans for fae survival in the plot. I also highly enjoyed the realistic fears Lia had for her sister and herself. The story itself was simple but enjoyable.
It definitely reads like a YA novel, even though some of the steamy scenes are extra spicy!
Even though I enjoyed this book, I did have a few problems with it.
I love fast-paced books, but this was rushed. Even the prelude about the car crash wasn't detailed enough for me. We basically get no backstory, but are instead thrown into the action and left to figure things out along the way. We learn right away of her insecurities about her inability to keep her little sister safe and feeling like a failure. We meet Riven practically immediately, we find out about the car crashing immediately, Lia gets into Faery with basically no knowledge of HOW, but she's just...ABLE to? I didn't understand why everything was so easy.
This was a very relationship-driven book. The two relationships were between Lia and May and Lia and Riven. Lia's and May's relationship I thought was cute and perfect. I had a major issue with Lia's and Riven's relationship-basically the lack of their backstory. I could not immerse myself into the story nor invest myself into their relationship because I barely knew Riven, but Lia was acting as if he was the man of her dreams! Which, ironically, he was, but we didn't really get to see it that much! I wish there were more chapters in the beginning showing us Riven coming to Lia in her dreams and healing her through the tragic situation so we can truly love him as much as Lia does before she enters Faery.
This felt a lot like Twilight to me. A girl who makes wrong decisions but does everything for the man she loves. I think if you like the Twilight series you would love this.
April 26, 2022
Many thanks to Megan Van Dyke for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book of MVD’s I’ve read.
The story moved at a fast pace. I especially liked that chapters ended with mini cliffhangers to be resolved in the following chapter, while the overarching goal of getting the missing sister back and the increasing tensions around that remained a constant until resolution. It made all of it feel very dynamic. The plot had twists and intrigues. I adored Riven (MMC) as well as rival lord, Sigurd. As well as warming to the other secondary characters. Their motivations rang true to their experiences and I empathised with them. Although this is a standalone, I would enjoy following the future stories of these secondary characters.
Lia (MFC) was the only one I found it harder to warm to. She takes feisty to another level. I could see her point but mostly I did feel that she needn’t have been quite so bald in her retorts or decided opinions, and how she acted on them. I got that she’s acting from her insecurities and trauma — and this can solidify certain false perspectives — but I did want to shake her at times and to tell her to think again. She did notice these things in herself at times which mildened my frustration with her immaturity.
I felt immersed in the descriptions of Faery which really conveyed a sense of otherness and made a unique impression. Just the right amount of detail. The woods, the landscape— uniquely described. While remaining true generally to the accepted details/ lore/etc of the Fae world.
Although the book could be classed as YA — the steam is adult and extremely well written. Top marks! Perfect in every detail. I think it takes a lot of skill to handle physical connections between characters as well as MVD does. I’ll definitely be rereading a certain chapter…. The main character couple really shone here and were at their best as mature equals and partners, leaving behind all issues.
Great twists til the end and nice ending.
I look forward to reading more from Megan!
The story moved at a fast pace. I especially liked that chapters ended with mini cliffhangers to be resolved in the following chapter, while the overarching goal of getting the missing sister back and the increasing tensions around that remained a constant until resolution. It made all of it feel very dynamic. The plot had twists and intrigues. I adored Riven (MMC) as well as rival lord, Sigurd. As well as warming to the other secondary characters. Their motivations rang true to their experiences and I empathised with them. Although this is a standalone, I would enjoy following the future stories of these secondary characters.
Lia (MFC) was the only one I found it harder to warm to. She takes feisty to another level. I could see her point but mostly I did feel that she needn’t have been quite so bald in her retorts or decided opinions, and how she acted on them. I got that she’s acting from her insecurities and trauma — and this can solidify certain false perspectives — but I did want to shake her at times and to tell her to think again. She did notice these things in herself at times which mildened my frustration with her immaturity.
I felt immersed in the descriptions of Faery which really conveyed a sense of otherness and made a unique impression. Just the right amount of detail. The woods, the landscape— uniquely described. While remaining true generally to the accepted details/ lore/etc of the Fae world.
Although the book could be classed as YA — the steam is adult and extremely well written. Top marks! Perfect in every detail. I think it takes a lot of skill to handle physical connections between characters as well as MVD does. I’ll definitely be rereading a certain chapter…. The main character couple really shone here and were at their best as mature equals and partners, leaving behind all issues.
Great twists til the end and nice ending.
I look forward to reading more from Megan!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2022
A huge thank you to the author for sharing with me an ARC of this amazing fantasy romance book about the Fairy world !!!!
“He is the light in my darkness”
“Virideria … Seat of the King of the Forest and his court”
“Goodnight, little consort”
“I hoped you’d come someday, and when you did, I planned to spoil you”
Omg this book !!!! You people have to read it !!! If it’s not on your tbr , if you haven’t even ever heard about it … we’ll now it’s the time !!
Fans of Elise Kova and her “Deal with the Elf King” series, this one is for you !!!
A story about an uncommon love where family is threatened and bargains are made. A story when the friends becoming enemies and then lovers. A story when there is forced proximity and the “one bed” trope !!!!!
And there’s even a morally grey love interest who’s not what he first seems to be !!!!
I absolutely loved it !!! I sensed I would have fallen for Riven and I did … and I’m so glad !!!
As a big sister, I could relate so much to each and everyone of Lia’s thoughts and guilt !!!!
I felt capture in this amazing plot from the very first pages and I couldn’t stop reading.
I loved the magic system, the characters’ development, the love story, the tears, the betrayal, the secrets and the deception and … well everything basically!!!
The book is written in such an easy style I think everyone can appreciate and experience without many problems … and it even has trigger warning at the beginning!!!
And don’t let me start on the spice … chef kiss!!!! It’s not too much that’ll make you forget about the main plot but it’s definitely enough to entertain!!!!
I just wish I could have the physical copy in my hands … but I’ll definitely buy it as soon as it is published, May 3rd !!!!!
“Possessive much?”
“Sleep well tonight, little consort, because once I’m rested, I won’t be able to leave you alone”
“Because somewhere along the way, I’ve fallen in love for him”
“He is the light in my darkness”
“Virideria … Seat of the King of the Forest and his court”
“Goodnight, little consort”
“I hoped you’d come someday, and when you did, I planned to spoil you”
Omg this book !!!! You people have to read it !!! If it’s not on your tbr , if you haven’t even ever heard about it … we’ll now it’s the time !!
Fans of Elise Kova and her “Deal with the Elf King” series, this one is for you !!!
A story about an uncommon love where family is threatened and bargains are made. A story when the friends becoming enemies and then lovers. A story when there is forced proximity and the “one bed” trope !!!!!
And there’s even a morally grey love interest who’s not what he first seems to be !!!!
I absolutely loved it !!! I sensed I would have fallen for Riven and I did … and I’m so glad !!!
As a big sister, I could relate so much to each and everyone of Lia’s thoughts and guilt !!!!
I felt capture in this amazing plot from the very first pages and I couldn’t stop reading.
I loved the magic system, the characters’ development, the love story, the tears, the betrayal, the secrets and the deception and … well everything basically!!!
The book is written in such an easy style I think everyone can appreciate and experience without many problems … and it even has trigger warning at the beginning!!!
And don’t let me start on the spice … chef kiss!!!! It’s not too much that’ll make you forget about the main plot but it’s definitely enough to entertain!!!!
I just wish I could have the physical copy in my hands … but I’ll definitely buy it as soon as it is published, May 3rd !!!!!
“Possessive much?”
“Sleep well tonight, little consort, because once I’m rested, I won’t be able to leave you alone”
“Because somewhere along the way, I’ve fallen in love for him”
May 1, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. This will not influence my review.
A Bargain with the Fae King is my second book by Megan Van Dyke. I really like her writing and storytelling in Second Star to the Left. Which is why I was so excited to have the chance to read this book as an ARC. ❤️
Lia is a young adult who dropped out of college after a car accident with her much younger sister May, for which she blames herself, and is trying to help her parents financially. On a trip to her cabin in the woods, May is kidnapped by Dark Fae and Lia must navigate the world of Fairy to save her. She must fight her way through half-truths and courtly intrigues while relying on the Fae King for help and protection. 😯
In addition to our MC, we also have a handful of supporting characters that I immediately took to my heart. Ambrose, Sylvie, and the maid whose name I just forgot Kayla? Oh, I'm ashamed... in any case, three great characters who give the story a suitable emotional support. I can see a second book someday by telling us the story of everyone after the ending of this one- maybe a novella. 😘
There are just a few little things that bothered me personally. Based on experience with fae stories, one can assume that every bargain someone makes always has a negative effect or an ulterior motive. He's pretty obvious in my eyes here, which is why I didn't trust anyone right from the start of the story. Which may have directly influenced my feelings towards one or the other character. So one or the other plot didn't come as a surprise to me. But I would like to emphasize that there were still enough situations in the story that I didn't expect and that in turn makes me very happy. And this is only my feeling about reading.
I would recommend this book to anyone who
- Fae likes stories
- Forced Proximity
- Stand alone book (no 500 pages world building)
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 1/5 🌶️
A Bargain with the Fae King is my second book by Megan Van Dyke. I really like her writing and storytelling in Second Star to the Left. Which is why I was so excited to have the chance to read this book as an ARC. ❤️
Lia is a young adult who dropped out of college after a car accident with her much younger sister May, for which she blames herself, and is trying to help her parents financially. On a trip to her cabin in the woods, May is kidnapped by Dark Fae and Lia must navigate the world of Fairy to save her. She must fight her way through half-truths and courtly intrigues while relying on the Fae King for help and protection. 😯
In addition to our MC, we also have a handful of supporting characters that I immediately took to my heart. Ambrose, Sylvie, and the maid whose name I just forgot Kayla? Oh, I'm ashamed... in any case, three great characters who give the story a suitable emotional support. I can see a second book someday by telling us the story of everyone after the ending of this one- maybe a novella. 😘
There are just a few little things that bothered me personally. Based on experience with fae stories, one can assume that every bargain someone makes always has a negative effect or an ulterior motive. He's pretty obvious in my eyes here, which is why I didn't trust anyone right from the start of the story. Which may have directly influenced my feelings towards one or the other character. So one or the other plot didn't come as a surprise to me. But I would like to emphasize that there were still enough situations in the story that I didn't expect and that in turn makes me very happy. And this is only my feeling about reading.
I would recommend this book to anyone who
- Fae likes stories
- Forced Proximity
- Stand alone book (no 500 pages world building)
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 1/5 🌶️
May 3, 2022
Thanks so much for the ARC! The story was quite enjoyable and I love, love, love Riven. He is mighty FINE! He's flirtatious and very charming. OMG, I would totally fall for him.
The story was pretty fast-paced and very easy to read. If you love hot fae men, fantasy, secrets, bargains, and falling in love, this is definitely the book for you.
The FMC just wanted to save her sister from the Unseelie and who else would save her? Of course, the Fae king. I will say I like the other King he is devious and has a charisma that would make you swoon! Both of them are delicious AF!
There is definitely:
Tension
Slow burn
One bed
One bath tub
Spicy scenes!
Spice 2/5
I look forward to reading Sigurd's story. He is my favorite. I just love me a mischievous, tortured soul, who needs some loving.
The story was pretty fast-paced and very easy to read. If you love hot fae men, fantasy, secrets, bargains, and falling in love, this is definitely the book for you.
The FMC just wanted to save her sister from the Unseelie and who else would save her? Of course, the Fae king. I will say I like the other King he is devious and has a charisma that would make you swoon! Both of them are delicious AF!
There is definitely:
Tension
Slow burn
One bed
One bath tub
Spicy scenes!
Spice 2/5
I look forward to reading Sigurd's story. He is my favorite. I just love me a mischievous, tortured soul, who needs some loving.
May 2, 2022
3.5 Stars
A Bargain with the Fae King is an engaging and entertaining fantasy novel and although part of a series it can be read as a standalone. The writing style, dialogue and general ambiance of the novel comes across as distinctly young adult, however with with the addition of some spicy scenes and the trigger warnings (clearly stated at the beginning of the book) pushes it more into the new adult/adult category. This is a fast paced novel in which romance plays a big part in the storyline, alongside Lia trying to find her younger sister. It is well written, engaging and full of twists and turns. I did notice the writing style is quite different from the author’s debut novel, Second Star to the Left, which has a wonderful humorous edge to it.
Lia’s character is very emotional and she spends a lot of the time being angsty and weeping and for that reason I didn’t warm to her as much as I had hoped. That being said, this is the first book in the Courts of Faery series and as such there is plenty of time for Lia’s character to grow and I do hope she becomes the strong and feisty female lead I adore. The romance between Lia and Riven is slow burn one and there is some wonderful chemistry and passion in the steamy scenes. More insight into the very early stages of their relationship, when Riven first started visiting Lia in her dreams, would have been very welcome. I think this would have added more depth to their relationship and the obvious connection they had much more tangible. I liked the interesting and varied characters at Riven’s court, including Sigurd, Slyvie and Galen. Some of the supporting characters really livened up the story and I hope we see more of them.
This complex world is beautifully portrayed and conjures up vivid imagery of the Faery world, full of castles, forests and lush scenery and when you’re reading it you really become completely transported into the world. It will certainly appeal to fantasy/fantasy romance readers who enjoy a quick and fun read in a fairyland setting.
TWISTED IN PAGES BLOG
A Bargain with the Fae King is an engaging and entertaining fantasy novel and although part of a series it can be read as a standalone. The writing style, dialogue and general ambiance of the novel comes across as distinctly young adult, however with with the addition of some spicy scenes and the trigger warnings (clearly stated at the beginning of the book) pushes it more into the new adult/adult category. This is a fast paced novel in which romance plays a big part in the storyline, alongside Lia trying to find her younger sister. It is well written, engaging and full of twists and turns. I did notice the writing style is quite different from the author’s debut novel, Second Star to the Left, which has a wonderful humorous edge to it.
Lia’s character is very emotional and she spends a lot of the time being angsty and weeping and for that reason I didn’t warm to her as much as I had hoped. That being said, this is the first book in the Courts of Faery series and as such there is plenty of time for Lia’s character to grow and I do hope she becomes the strong and feisty female lead I adore. The romance between Lia and Riven is slow burn one and there is some wonderful chemistry and passion in the steamy scenes. More insight into the very early stages of their relationship, when Riven first started visiting Lia in her dreams, would have been very welcome. I think this would have added more depth to their relationship and the obvious connection they had much more tangible. I liked the interesting and varied characters at Riven’s court, including Sigurd, Slyvie and Galen. Some of the supporting characters really livened up the story and I hope we see more of them.
This complex world is beautifully portrayed and conjures up vivid imagery of the Faery world, full of castles, forests and lush scenery and when you’re reading it you really become completely transported into the world. It will certainly appeal to fantasy/fantasy romance readers who enjoy a quick and fun read in a fairyland setting.
TWISTED IN PAGES BLOG
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