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Kingdoms of the Faery Path #0.5
The Widow and the Beast
Faery has been under a curse for two hundred years, twisting its inhabitants into monsters. Now all who walk the Faery Path risk their life and their sanity.
Determined to find her missing husband, Aoife sets off down the Faery Path alone. She knows the rules. She must not eat the fae food, strike a bargain or leave the path. But she discovers a world far more terrifying and beautiful than she ever imagined.
And it doesn't want her to leave.
Determined to find her missing husband, Aoife sets off down the Faery Path alone. She knows the rules. She must not eat the fae food, strike a bargain or leave the path. But she discovers a world far more terrifying and beautiful than she ever imagined.
And it doesn't want her to leave.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2022
27 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Alice Ivinya
32 books309 followersAlice is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes low spice fantasy and fairytales.
She lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite authors are Holly Black and Brandon Sanderson.
When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her two young sons, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
She lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite authors are Holly Black and Brandon Sanderson.
When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her two young sons, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 27, 2022
The darker side of Alice in Wonderland.
This felt very much like Alice's trip through Wonderland, but in a darker, more deathly way. I enjoyed the folklore and the delicate touch Ivinya had with the grieving widow. I'm excited to see the stories this seems to be setting up in the near future. :)
This felt very much like Alice's trip through Wonderland, but in a darker, more deathly way. I enjoyed the folklore and the delicate touch Ivinya had with the grieving widow. I'm excited to see the stories this seems to be setting up in the near future. :)
September 23, 2022
What a ride!
Once again, Alice Ivinya had done it: created a whirlwind of a page turner.
This clean, YA fairytale retelling novella brings a very creative spin on beauty & the beast combined with scottish folklore.
It has heartbreak, action, fantastical beauty and horror, introspection and character depth, enemies-to-friends and...dare I say it? Yes, fae. I never thought I'd enjoy a story about fae, but this one does it so incredibly well that its opened my eyes. SO GOOD.
I read the last 60% of the story last night and couldn't put it down...sorry sleep...I'll make it up to you.
It feels like this may be a set-up for more? Though its perfectly good as a standalone.
I cannot wait to find out if there's going to be a next instalment.
I'd say this is a totally PG13 story.
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild violence and gore, but mentioned more moderate
*I received a free digital copy. This does not affect my review, which I leave voluntarily
Once again, Alice Ivinya had done it: created a whirlwind of a page turner.
This clean, YA fairytale retelling novella brings a very creative spin on beauty & the beast combined with scottish folklore.
It has heartbreak, action, fantastical beauty and horror, introspection and character depth, enemies-to-friends and...dare I say it? Yes, fae. I never thought I'd enjoy a story about fae, but this one does it so incredibly well that its opened my eyes. SO GOOD.
I read the last 60% of the story last night and couldn't put it down...sorry sleep...I'll make it up to you.
It feels like this may be a set-up for more? Though its perfectly good as a standalone.
I cannot wait to find out if there's going to be a next instalment.
I'd say this is a totally PG13 story.
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild violence and gore, but mentioned more moderate
*I received a free digital copy. This does not affect my review, which I leave voluntarily
October 3, 2022
Utter perfection
I loved this book. I thought I would like it, based on trusted recommendations, but I was unprepared for just HOW MUCH I loved it.
When her new husband disappears down the Faery Path, Aoife decides to go after him armed with a single faery dagger and sheer determination.
Aoife is an amazing character. She balanced a gentle personality with iron willpower, and I thoroughly enjoyed following her on her journey. And what a journey! I loved the unique (and rather chilling) creatures we met, and the twists and turns Aoife was pitted against.
The romance was sweet and gradual and I was immensely pleased with the way it ended. It felt very classic fairy tale in the best ways, while also feeling perfectly natural.
I...yes. I just loved this. I am really looking forward to the upcoming series following this story.
I loved this book. I thought I would like it, based on trusted recommendations, but I was unprepared for just HOW MUCH I loved it.
When her new husband disappears down the Faery Path, Aoife decides to go after him armed with a single faery dagger and sheer determination.
Aoife is an amazing character. She balanced a gentle personality with iron willpower, and I thoroughly enjoyed following her on her journey. And what a journey! I loved the unique (and rather chilling) creatures we met, and the twists and turns Aoife was pitted against.
The romance was sweet and gradual and I was immensely pleased with the way it ended. It felt very classic fairy tale in the best ways, while also feeling perfectly natural.
I...yes. I just loved this. I am really looking forward to the upcoming series following this story.
October 20, 2023
3.5 stars
Normally, I don’t do prequels unless they are of utmost importance to a story. Some prequels explain certain details you don’t have to know to enjoy the story. Now I was going to start the first book of the series when the author had a note stating For the best reading experience, it is recommended to read the prequel, The Widow and The Beast, first.
I thought okay and went to Amazon and got the book. I finished it in about three hours. Not even a day. It was a quick pace fast read. I was introduced to the world of Faery Path by Aoife. Fair warning that this is based on Scottish lore so some words are hard to pronounce. There was little romance at the beginning, but after that, there wasn't any romance from there on out. I though that there might be but no.
I liked the introduction. There are probably many easter eggs in here that I won’t pick up on until I read the series. I will also see if this book is worth the read after reading the series.
Another thing with prequels for me is that it’s best if I read them first because most times I don’t care to go back to the beginning. If I don’t know about a prequel when I start a series, it’s most likely I won’t read it. I know I should do more digging on the series that I am about to read but I don’t.
Normally, I don’t do prequels unless they are of utmost importance to a story. Some prequels explain certain details you don’t have to know to enjoy the story. Now I was going to start the first book of the series when the author had a note stating For the best reading experience, it is recommended to read the prequel, The Widow and The Beast, first.
I thought okay and went to Amazon and got the book. I finished it in about three hours. Not even a day. It was a quick pace fast read. I was introduced to the world of Faery Path by Aoife. Fair warning that this is based on Scottish lore so some words are hard to pronounce. There was little romance at the beginning, but after that, there wasn't any romance from there on out. I though that there might be but no.
I liked the introduction. There are probably many easter eggs in here that I won’t pick up on until I read the series. I will also see if this book is worth the read after reading the series.
Another thing with prequels for me is that it’s best if I read them first because most times I don’t care to go back to the beginning. If I don’t know about a prequel when I start a series, it’s most likely I won’t read it. I know I should do more digging on the series that I am about to read but I don’t.
December 13, 2023
This was interesting and not at all what I expected! The title + the tagline below it made me think this was some kind of Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it really wasn't. While that didn't disappoint me (I'm not always in the mood for fairytale retellings), I feel like it was a bit misleading.
I loved the creepy, otherworldly vibes of the Faery path. Aoife was a sweet character, and I felt so bad for her with everything she went through.
Honestly, the only thing I didn't enjoy was how short the book was. It made the character arcs seem rushed...but I am intrigued about the rest of the series now!
I loved the creepy, otherworldly vibes of the Faery path. Aoife was a sweet character, and I felt so bad for her with everything she went through.
Honestly, the only thing I didn't enjoy was how short the book was. It made the character arcs seem rushed...but I am intrigued about the rest of the series now!
September 15, 2022
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 ⮜
Follows the story of Aoife who after losing her husband embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery where she’s encountering lots of obstacles and has to face the ugly truth – that her husband is indeed gone.
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
Aoife at the beginning gave me the impression she’s naive and very gullible. It is mentioned she hasn’t had an easy life but it wasn’t detailed on what exactly her background is (I do hope we get that in the next book tho). After she lost her husband her journey through the Faery path definitely made her grow, I loved she found her inner strength, and even if the pain of losing her lover was still very raw she had hope to hold on.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world-building was rich, I loved the faery world and how wicked it was. So many things were lurking in the dark, some were so beautiful and enchanting and some were out of nightmares – definitely the faery world. Magical, beautiful but cruel world.
⮞ 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 ⮜
Magic exists only in the faery world, from the creatures that possess the magic to be able to transform from humans to creatures to their enchanted objects. Some of the objects that are enchanted from the faery world were really interesting and so nicely thought – I would love to have some in the real world lol.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
The whole story and the vibe was great. The story is short and fast-paced. In the beginning, is so sweet and loving but for some reason, I had this feeling that something’s gonna go bad and real quick which it did. I wasn’t shocked to see how things developed because I felt Aoife was meant to toughen up and learn to be stronger on her own legs. I’m definitely curious about her story and I hope we get more of her into the next books.
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⮞ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 ⮜
Follows the story of Aoife who after losing her husband embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery where she’s encountering lots of obstacles and has to face the ugly truth – that her husband is indeed gone.
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
Aoife at the beginning gave me the impression she’s naive and very gullible. It is mentioned she hasn’t had an easy life but it wasn’t detailed on what exactly her background is (I do hope we get that in the next book tho). After she lost her husband her journey through the Faery path definitely made her grow, I loved she found her inner strength, and even if the pain of losing her lover was still very raw she had hope to hold on.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world-building was rich, I loved the faery world and how wicked it was. So many things were lurking in the dark, some were so beautiful and enchanting and some were out of nightmares – definitely the faery world. Magical, beautiful but cruel world.
⮞ 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 ⮜
Magic exists only in the faery world, from the creatures that possess the magic to be able to transform from humans to creatures to their enchanted objects. Some of the objects that are enchanted from the faery world were really interesting and so nicely thought – I would love to have some in the real world lol.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
The whole story and the vibe was great. The story is short and fast-paced. In the beginning, is so sweet and loving but for some reason, I had this feeling that something’s gonna go bad and real quick which it did. I wasn’t shocked to see how things developed because I felt Aoife was meant to toughen up and learn to be stronger on her own legs. I’m definitely curious about her story and I hope we get more of her into the next books.
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October 6, 2022
I don't think it's possible for this author to write something that I don't absolutely adore.
Aoife journeys to Faery to find her husband, who left to find riches to help build their future life together.
The creatures are somewhat terrifying and I'm glad this is not illustrated 😆 Perfect for a fall read though!
And now to wait for the coming series...not that I'm already in the middle of a few other of her series or anything.
Aoife journeys to Faery to find her husband, who left to find riches to help build their future life together.
The creatures are somewhat terrifying and I'm glad this is not illustrated 😆 Perfect for a fall read though!
And now to wait for the coming series...not that I'm already in the middle of a few other of her series or anything.
September 22, 2022
What a captivating, enthralling short story. I absolutely adored watching Aoife grow and take on every challenge thrown at her. I adored her time in the fae realm and how she handled herself from being a country mouse to a strong woman. I loved all the different mythology thrown into this book and all mixed together. An amazing start to what will be an incredible new series.
Read
March 27, 2023This was an interesting novella with imaginative uses of Celtic mythology and some themes of hope and the ability to choose goodness in a broken world. It was rather reminiscent of Narnia, including allegorical undertones, which I wasn't expecting, but more Celtic-fae-inspired, which gave the world a nice cohesion. It has some dark fantasy vibes but without becoming oppressively dark. I haven't come across...a spoiler mythological creature...in anything other than RWBY before, and it's such an under-utilized, terrifying monster.
Overall, I'm unsure how I feel about it, so I can't decide how to rate it--I expect I would have liked it more if I'd understood what it was and what it wasn't. Mostly what it isn't.
This is a prequel, which I somehow hadn't realized--or more likely had simply forgotten 🙈--until I was a few chapters in and noticed the subtitle at the top of my Kindle app. 🤦♀️ That's my bad. Might have had different expectations--like that while it does have its own complete and interesting story, it is mostly setting up the backstory/creation and fall story of the faery world/prophecy for the backdrop of the main series.
And to be fair to the blurb, it doesn't claim to be a romance. That was my own faulty assumption based on the title's and tagline's references to Beauty and the Beast. Because I see BATB references and assume romance. And this is not a romance (and thus obviously, nor is it a stereotypical BATB story). It's practically the opposite of a romance, imo.
Caelan and Aoife are adorable in the first chapter. Then they lose everything, Caelan loses his mind, becomes weirdly accusatory and reminded me of toxic men who decide they *want* to be "the provider" only to then resent their family for needing provided for (it was almost weirdly gaslight-y), and runs off to faery for a magical solution, where he disappears and Aoife goes looking for him and accidentally captures a fae "monster" who may not be as monstrous as he sees himself.
I did like Aoife, even though I was slightly confused at one point why it seemed like the book was trying to make some kind of point that she did put too much pressure/expectations on Caelan or something but then didn't really commit to that and almost felt at odds with her earlier insistence they would figure out their future together and she would work and help. I liked Euan's arc. I liked the writing style.
The world was interesting. Has me curious about the series, even though it's closer to a portal fantasy than I expected and I haven't really read any of those other than Narnia. Idk why they tend to not entice me. Maybe I will step outside of my comfort zone for this series when it releases, since my curiosity is somewhat piqued.
Also, randomly distracted me--harness isn't really a synonym for bridle. Usually a harness goes on the horse's body to pull something. But, eh 🤷♀️
BIG, HUGE, COMPLETE spoiler:
.
.
END SPOILERS
IN CONCLUSION (without spoilers)
So basically, I think I enjoyed this and recommend it as a dark, Celtic-inspired portal fantasy prequel novella that sets up a forthcoming series and maybe not as what to read next if you're looking for a romantic fairy tale retelling. 😅
Overall, I'm unsure how I feel about it, so I can't decide how to rate it--I expect I would have liked it more if I'd understood what it was and what it wasn't. Mostly what it isn't.
This is a prequel, which I somehow hadn't realized--or more likely had simply forgotten 🙈--until I was a few chapters in and noticed the subtitle at the top of my Kindle app. 🤦♀️ That's my bad. Might have had different expectations--like that while it does have its own complete and interesting story, it is mostly setting up the backstory/creation and fall story of the faery world/prophecy for the backdrop of the main series.
And to be fair to the blurb, it doesn't claim to be a romance. That was my own faulty assumption based on the title's and tagline's references to Beauty and the Beast. Because I see BATB references and assume romance. And this is not a romance (and thus obviously, nor is it a stereotypical BATB story). It's practically the opposite of a romance, imo.
Caelan and Aoife are adorable in the first chapter. Then they lose everything, Caelan loses his mind, becomes weirdly accusatory and reminded me of toxic men who decide they *want* to be "the provider" only to then resent their family for needing provided for (it was almost weirdly gaslight-y), and runs off to faery for a magical solution, where he disappears and Aoife goes looking for him and accidentally captures a fae "monster" who may not be as monstrous as he sees himself.
I did like Aoife, even though I was slightly confused at one point why it seemed like the book was trying to make some kind of point that she did put too much pressure/expectations on Caelan or something but then didn't really commit to that and almost felt at odds with her earlier insistence they would figure out their future together and she would work and help. I liked Euan's arc. I liked the writing style.
The world was interesting. Has me curious about the series, even though it's closer to a portal fantasy than I expected and I haven't really read any of those other than Narnia. Idk why they tend to not entice me. Maybe I will step outside of my comfort zone for this series when it releases, since my curiosity is somewhat piqued.
Also, randomly distracted me--harness isn't really a synonym for bridle. Usually a harness goes on the horse's body to pull something. But, eh 🤷♀️
BIG, HUGE, COMPLETE spoiler:
.
.
END SPOILERS
IN CONCLUSION (without spoilers)
So basically, I think I enjoyed this and recommend it as a dark, Celtic-inspired portal fantasy prequel novella that sets up a forthcoming series and maybe not as what to read next if you're looking for a romantic fairy tale retelling. 😅
September 11, 2022
I loved this Belle&Beast retelling set in Faery & could not put it down! The tale reminded me of Alice’s Kelpie story in Enchanted Waters and is actually inspired by one of the lesser known folktales The Water Horse of Barra. I loved the use of fresh water as a weapon - Baum might have read fae stories when he wrote how to destroy the Wicked Witch of the West in Oz. But I digress. This short, 90min read, edge-of-your-seat story is a cross between classic horror and Narnia as there’s talk of prophecised Kings&Queens. Newlywed Aoife follows her husband into Faery - to bring him back.
I loved the sweet&hopeful alternating with darker emptional rollercoaster and how Aoife stayed true to herself on her journey through Faery. And yes, the trigger warning of spousal loss is already in the title.
Recommended for lovers of rare fairytale retellings, YA dark epic fae lore, action-adventure and clean christian fiction similar to Holly Black’s books - I know it sounds a curious mix, but there you have it.
I loved the sweet&hopeful alternating with darker emptional rollercoaster and how Aoife stayed true to herself on her journey through Faery. And yes, the trigger warning of spousal loss is already in the title.
Recommended for lovers of rare fairytale retellings, YA dark epic fae lore, action-adventure and clean christian fiction similar to Holly Black’s books - I know it sounds a curious mix, but there you have it.
September 12, 2022
Alice Ivinya is an author whose work I've only discovered fairly recently, but she's quickly become one of those authors where if I see one of their books, I'll buy and read it without bothering to stop and find out exactly what it's about because I'm confident it will be good regardless. This book did not make me regret that habit.
Although only a novella rather than a full length novel and clearly intended as a prequel to a later series, it is well paced and the characters well developed and their story compelete (well, with a few loose threads to be picked up by the next generation in the series to follow, but there is enough resolved here to make a satisfying conclusion). It is quite a loose retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" that draws elements from celtic mythology. I might suggest it needs a pronunciantion guide adding as outside of Ireland I doubt there are that many people who know how to properly pronounce the name 'Aoife' (the main character) and it really is a much prettier name than the spelling suggests.
Although only a novella rather than a full length novel and clearly intended as a prequel to a later series, it is well paced and the characters well developed and their story compelete (well, with a few loose threads to be picked up by the next generation in the series to follow, but there is enough resolved here to make a satisfying conclusion). It is quite a loose retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" that draws elements from celtic mythology. I might suggest it needs a pronunciantion guide adding as outside of Ireland I doubt there are that many people who know how to properly pronounce the name 'Aoife' (the main character) and it really is a much prettier name than the spelling suggests.
September 13, 2022
If you like fantasy stories about the Fae Realm and clever heroines, this one is for you. 🧚🏼♀️
I was not ready for this one to end! This is a short, 12 chapter prequel to a 4 book series coming in 2023!
It’s a truly ✨ magical ✨ story and I didn’t want to put it down for a second.
Aoife is a lovely heroine, the perfect mixture of smart, hopeful, and dainty yet strong.
Euan starts out as a grumpy cynic and becomes a hope-filled, fierce protector.
“I will be a beast no longer, but I would like to stay by your side. I will keep you safe in whatever form.” Ugh, my heart 🤍
I am eagerly awaiting the first installment in 2023. This is going to be a MUST READ series!
I was not ready for this one to end! This is a short, 12 chapter prequel to a 4 book series coming in 2023!
It’s a truly ✨ magical ✨ story and I didn’t want to put it down for a second.
Aoife is a lovely heroine, the perfect mixture of smart, hopeful, and dainty yet strong.
Euan starts out as a grumpy cynic and becomes a hope-filled, fierce protector.
“I will be a beast no longer, but I would like to stay by your side. I will keep you safe in whatever form.” Ugh, my heart 🤍
I am eagerly awaiting the first installment in 2023. This is going to be a MUST READ series!
September 17, 2022
I received an ARC copy for an honest review.
This story was short, only 12 chapters but really good. Aoife traveled to the Faery Path in search of what happened to her husband. Even though she knew it would be dangerous, she still went on.
Meeting a handsome fae along the way just ended up being a bonus. Euan became her guide to navigating the world she had never explored before.
With every fae trapped in an endless curse, no where is truly safe. Aoife learns to grow through her experiences and quickly develops in character.
I was so engrossed in the story, I stayed up late reading. I wish there was more to the ending but there will be more books to come! I’m excited!!
This story was short, only 12 chapters but really good. Aoife traveled to the Faery Path in search of what happened to her husband. Even though she knew it would be dangerous, she still went on.
Meeting a handsome fae along the way just ended up being a bonus. Euan became her guide to navigating the world she had never explored before.
With every fae trapped in an endless curse, no where is truly safe. Aoife learns to grow through her experiences and quickly develops in character.
I was so engrossed in the story, I stayed up late reading. I wish there was more to the ending but there will be more books to come! I’m excited!!
September 27, 2022
What a recommendation!
I found this book through a recommendation and choose to read it because it said it was a clean read which unfortunately is becoming more difficult to find. I had no idea how fantastic this read would be! I'm super thrilled with this beginning of a series and eagerly await the twists and turns to come. Plus I now have a new (to me) author to follow.
I found this book through a recommendation and choose to read it because it said it was a clean read which unfortunately is becoming more difficult to find. I had no idea how fantastic this read would be! I'm super thrilled with this beginning of a series and eagerly await the twists and turns to come. Plus I now have a new (to me) author to follow.
September 11, 2022
Rec as an arc. My honest review.
The shortest book to give me a hang over. I love Alice's work and I love fae, and the combo here is LITERALLY MAGIC. It may be my favorite if hers ever.
A woman, soon a widow, dives into Faery to find that husband. But runs into ALL THE CHAOS AND BADNESS of faery. I love the monsters and the pacing of the adventure.
I want more from the mcs bc I really grew attached to them. And good news - 4 books are coming (though idk the mc's there.)
Heads up, as stated by the title. There is spousal loss. I was still able to make it through even tho I'm a sensitive soul.
Read it. Uh. When it comes out.
The shortest book to give me a hang over. I love Alice's work and I love fae, and the combo here is LITERALLY MAGIC. It may be my favorite if hers ever.
A woman, soon a widow, dives into Faery to find that husband. But runs into ALL THE CHAOS AND BADNESS of faery. I love the monsters and the pacing of the adventure.
I want more from the mcs bc I really grew attached to them. And good news - 4 books are coming (though idk the mc's there.)
Heads up, as stated by the title. There is spousal loss. I was still able to make it through even tho I'm a sensitive soul.
Read it. Uh. When it comes out.
December 26, 2022
This was short. Possibly too short. It is a prequel, though, and I think that is why it feels like it is missing something.
.
The flavor is sort of...Narnia meets beauty and the Beast meets Holly Black's brand of faerie and horror. Not quite mixed thoroughly yet. I'm curious for more, though.
.
The flavor is sort of...Narnia meets beauty and the Beast meets Holly Black's brand of faerie and horror. Not quite mixed thoroughly yet. I'm curious for more, though.
September 18, 2022
I keep hearing advance readers say this is Alice's best book. I know that might be hard to believe because she's gotten some very high praise for both her Goose Girl retelling, Feathers of Snow, and her Pied Piper retelling, Silent Melody, and because this is a novella, but let me tell you, that is no exaggeration. Having the privilege of editing and chatting with Alice about this series, I am so excited for it. Its going to be her most ambitious project yet, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Alice.
So now, the book: A woman with no property and family to speak of, but a decent amount of good sense, goes to Faerie in search of her husband who it seems has wandered off the path. She finds much more than she is looking for, learns to take advice from those who wish to aid her and to inspire those who might otherwise work against her, makes some mistakes and gains wisdom as a result, and comes face to face with an ancient evil. The lore of this world is beautiful as well. Allegorical, if you will, but you will need to read it to know what I mean.
It's a beautiful, beautiful story. One that sticks with you. I'm already ready to read it again.
I did receive an early copy from the author and have reviewed it because it deserves the highest praise I can offer.
So now, the book: A woman with no property and family to speak of, but a decent amount of good sense, goes to Faerie in search of her husband who it seems has wandered off the path. She finds much more than she is looking for, learns to take advice from those who wish to aid her and to inspire those who might otherwise work against her, makes some mistakes and gains wisdom as a result, and comes face to face with an ancient evil. The lore of this world is beautiful as well. Allegorical, if you will, but you will need to read it to know what I mean.
It's a beautiful, beautiful story. One that sticks with you. I'm already ready to read it again.
I did receive an early copy from the author and have reviewed it because it deserves the highest praise I can offer.
October 1, 2022
The Widow and the Beast is the prequel in a new series by Alice Ivinya. After her retelling series of The Goose Girl and The Pied Piper, this series will be a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I loved reading her previous series, but what will I think of the prequel in this new series?
Find out in my review on my blog Boekensteeg
Find out in my review on my blog Boekensteeg
September 17, 2022
Wow! That was intense, and quite the emotional rollercoaster ride! Very well written book. I felt the characters happiness, brokenness, anger, fear, and then, finally, a little hope. Very creative, great characters, and lots of plot twists from the very beginning. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series coming out.
I received a free ARC of this book and reviewed it willingly.
I received a free ARC of this book and reviewed it willingly.
October 2, 2022
Loved it.
The instant the widow makes it into the land of fairy this book comes to life.
Really enjoyed the foray into a wonderful world full of beauty and danger. A new and fresh look at old mythological and fairytale creatures. Great fun. I look forward to going back.
The instant the widow makes it into the land of fairy this book comes to life.
Really enjoyed the foray into a wonderful world full of beauty and danger. A new and fresh look at old mythological and fairytale creatures. Great fun. I look forward to going back.
October 22, 2022
I'm in awe of Ivinya's writing. No matter what she tackles, her story ensnares me. I read this in a single sitting! Simply couldn't put it down!
I was not familiar with the original tale this story is based on, so after finishing this, I looked up The Water-horse of Barra, and once again, Ivinya nailed it! She sticks to the original but creates something entirely new, much more intriguing and that builds a world you simply want to find out more about. On the world-building... I am in awe. This is yet another, entirely different world and I LOVE IT! the lands of faery are both enchanting and utterly chilling. This book has the perfect blend of terrifying that Ivinya got perfectly in "The Kelpie of Loch Linnhe", her short story in the Enchanted Waters anthology and something magical, charming and hopeful that totally reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia. I am honestly thrilled to know there are four more books set in this world and will be counting the days to their releases because man is this the start to a fantastic series. I can just tell!
I was not familiar with the original tale this story is based on, so after finishing this, I looked up The Water-horse of Barra, and once again, Ivinya nailed it! She sticks to the original but creates something entirely new, much more intriguing and that builds a world you simply want to find out more about. On the world-building... I am in awe. This is yet another, entirely different world and I LOVE IT! the lands of faery are both enchanting and utterly chilling. This book has the perfect blend of terrifying that Ivinya got perfectly in "The Kelpie of Loch Linnhe", her short story in the Enchanted Waters anthology and something magical, charming and hopeful that totally reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia. I am honestly thrilled to know there are four more books set in this world and will be counting the days to their releases because man is this the start to a fantastic series. I can just tell!
April 29, 2023
This was a wonderful story. Great characters & as usual the strange, dangerous and beautiful faery realm. A horrible curse put on faery tends to make it's inhabitants into dangerous & scary creatures for all that walk the faery path. Aoife is determined to find her husband who walked the path and never returned. She knows the rules. Stay on the path and don't eat or drink anythiing. Her joourney through faery was terrifying and dangerous. She was out of her comfort zone and unsure who to trust or what to do. A great read.
July 27, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: High mild-low moderate. This depicts faery as a violent place. People are eaten, there are bones of the dead. Creatures want the 'blood of the innocent' to drink. Almost all the creatures there want to poison/kill/eat humans that wander in, so there is a lot of peril depicted in this story. There is near drowning, almost suffocation, claw attack with some blood depicted, hitting of head, biting, etc. nothing is gratuitous though. But it's all there.
Sexual: Mild. There is a young married couple in this so they kiss. There is one comment along the lines of 'what if you're pregnant already?' but that's about it. Threats in faery to steal women to become wives (doesn't happen on screen in this).
Triggers: Grief and loss.
Well that was a doozy of a read. And really, it's more 'inspired by' that a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I saw others compare it to more of an Alice in wonderland feel, and I can see a bit of that, but I found more B&tB than Alice for sure. I actually got more Chronicles of Narnia vibes than Alice.
Aoife is a brave brave soul, who follows her husband onto the faery path when he leaves her to go to try and make a fortune in faery so they can live a comfortable life. We don't see a lot of Caelan (the hubby) but he comes across as one of those people who is lovely when things go right, but if things get hard or go wrong, he becomes a nightmare. Poor Aoife (seriously how do you pronounce her name?) loves him and takes her vows seriously, and when he doesn't return, she determines to find out once and for all if he's alive or dead.
Enter the crazy weird horrifying land of faery.
In this book, faery is cursed, and has been for 200 years. All the inhabitants are dark, evil, and power-hungry. They hunt, kill, and trick each other and any human stupid enough to venture to their home. Aoife is immediately helped by the creature guarding the entrance, and she embarks on one heck of a ride to find her husband once and for all.
There are creatures I'd never heard of that sounded absolutely horrifying, and Aoife almost dies multiple times. There were some body horror moments in this that had me 'I can't look away' reading in wide-eyed cringe. Ivinya does a fantastic job at depicting monsters. It was icky. But not over the top for me (it approached, but didn't go over the line) but I do have a higher tolerance for violence than anything else. So, while I enjoyed this-I was fascinated in a macabre sort of way-I'm leery of trying the first book to the main series because I don't know if she's going to up the ante on the horror-esque feel of this world. If she keeps it at this level, I'm all over it.
Great story though if you want a creepy vibe with lots of hope throughout. That balance is why I have no reservations rating this high. It'll be fun to see how
Profanity: None.
Violence: High mild-low moderate. This depicts faery as a violent place. People are eaten, there are bones of the dead. Creatures want the 'blood of the innocent' to drink. Almost all the creatures there want to poison/kill/eat humans that wander in, so there is a lot of peril depicted in this story. There is near drowning, almost suffocation, claw attack with some blood depicted, hitting of head, biting, etc. nothing is gratuitous though. But it's all there.
Sexual: Mild. There is a young married couple in this so they kiss. There is one comment along the lines of 'what if you're pregnant already?' but that's about it. Threats in faery to steal women to become wives (doesn't happen on screen in this).
Triggers: Grief and loss.
Well that was a doozy of a read. And really, it's more 'inspired by' that a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I saw others compare it to more of an Alice in wonderland feel, and I can see a bit of that, but I found more B&tB than Alice for sure. I actually got more Chronicles of Narnia vibes than Alice.
Aoife is a brave brave soul, who follows her husband onto the faery path when he leaves her to go to try and make a fortune in faery so they can live a comfortable life. We don't see a lot of Caelan (the hubby) but he comes across as one of those people who is lovely when things go right, but if things get hard or go wrong, he becomes a nightmare. Poor Aoife (seriously how do you pronounce her name?) loves him and takes her vows seriously, and when he doesn't return, she determines to find out once and for all if he's alive or dead.
Enter the crazy weird horrifying land of faery.
In this book, faery is cursed, and has been for 200 years. All the inhabitants are dark, evil, and power-hungry. They hunt, kill, and trick each other and any human stupid enough to venture to their home. Aoife is immediately helped by the creature guarding the entrance, and she embarks on one heck of a ride to find her husband once and for all.
There are creatures I'd never heard of that sounded absolutely horrifying, and Aoife almost dies multiple times. There were some body horror moments in this that had me 'I can't look away' reading in wide-eyed cringe. Ivinya does a fantastic job at depicting monsters. It was icky. But not over the top for me (it approached, but didn't go over the line) but I do have a higher tolerance for violence than anything else. So, while I enjoyed this-I was fascinated in a macabre sort of way-I'm leery of trying the first book to the main series because I don't know if she's going to up the ante on the horror-esque feel of this world. If she keeps it at this level, I'm all over it.
Great story though if you want a creepy vibe with lots of hope throughout. That balance is why I have no reservations rating this high. It'll be fun to see how
April 26, 2023
Beauty and the Beast with a twist! Aoife married a man but her dreams of a happy life vanish the next day when their home is burned down. Her husband leaves to journey to Faerie to try and find something to replace what was lost but doesn’t return so she sets out to try and find him. This book is the adventure she has in Faerie and how it changed her life.
I really liked this story! Alice has a masterful way of telling a story that draws you in and keeps you wanting more! The story is tragic and hopeful both
to Aoife and the land of Faerie because of who she meets in her quest and the revelation she receives in the end of who she is.
I definitely recommend you get this book and take this journey with Aoife as she finds out what happened to her husband and the journey she has
in this strange land after meeting a Fae and having him guide her out of the land. It is a journey full of adventure as two very different people find an attraction they hadn’t planned on originally. With what they discover at the end of the book it certainly begs for another book to see what happens next!
You’ll enjoy this story especially if you love fairy tales! It’s a wonderful escape from the world we live in right now!
I really liked this story! Alice has a masterful way of telling a story that draws you in and keeps you wanting more! The story is tragic and hopeful both
to Aoife and the land of Faerie because of who she meets in her quest and the revelation she receives in the end of who she is.
I definitely recommend you get this book and take this journey with Aoife as she finds out what happened to her husband and the journey she has
in this strange land after meeting a Fae and having him guide her out of the land. It is a journey full of adventure as two very different people find an attraction they hadn’t planned on originally. With what they discover at the end of the book it certainly begs for another book to see what happens next!
You’ll enjoy this story especially if you love fairy tales! It’s a wonderful escape from the world we live in right now!
December 7, 2024
What a tale. Aoife’s wedding day has arrived. Her betrothed, Caelan, has worked hard to build them a good life: a nice home, a barn full of hay and grain and planted fields. So when a tragic accident leaves them with nothing he leaves to walk the Faerie Path in order to finance starting again.
When he fails to return, Aoife sets out to find what became of her husband, taking the Faerie Path for herself. Stay on the path at all times may sound easy, but you never know what will happen once the fae know you’re there.
This is not a tame story of swoony men and beautiful fairies- though it does contain fairies and a gorgeous man… sort of. This is the darkest parts of the fae, where beautiful things have very sharp teeth to eat you with. A realm where it is best to remember that just because someone cannot lie it doesn’t mean the words they speak are true.
Yeah, I would be dead in no time flat… I am far too trusting.
Beautifully told, this chilling novella is well worth the read, and be sure to go to the author’s website to download an epilogue not included with the ebook. It’s the perfect closure if you want that HEA ending.
When he fails to return, Aoife sets out to find what became of her husband, taking the Faerie Path for herself. Stay on the path at all times may sound easy, but you never know what will happen once the fae know you’re there.
This is not a tame story of swoony men and beautiful fairies- though it does contain fairies and a gorgeous man… sort of. This is the darkest parts of the fae, where beautiful things have very sharp teeth to eat you with. A realm where it is best to remember that just because someone cannot lie it doesn’t mean the words they speak are true.
Yeah, I would be dead in no time flat… I am far too trusting.
Beautifully told, this chilling novella is well worth the read, and be sure to go to the author’s website to download an epilogue not included with the ebook. It’s the perfect closure if you want that HEA ending.
September 22, 2024
more please
The world building was intriguing.
The writing/voice of the author drew you in and matched the tone of the story.
The characters were interesting… although it felt like they could have been given a little more time to develop.
And the end came out of no where for me, I thought I had just begun the story and then it ended. I wanted more, please.
The book ending in the middle of the story felt a little like being told you’re going to get cake AND ice cream but you only get one, not both. Which would be fine if you hadn’t been promised twice the epic-ness.
Overall it’s a brilliant book, and maybe thats why ending in the middle feels like you missed out on something with the potential to be epic… something that could have dug deeper into your heart and psyche.
The world building was intriguing.
The writing/voice of the author drew you in and matched the tone of the story.
The characters were interesting… although it felt like they could have been given a little more time to develop.
And the end came out of no where for me, I thought I had just begun the story and then it ended. I wanted more, please.
The book ending in the middle of the story felt a little like being told you’re going to get cake AND ice cream but you only get one, not both. Which would be fine if you hadn’t been promised twice the epic-ness.
Overall it’s a brilliant book, and maybe thats why ending in the middle feels like you missed out on something with the potential to be epic… something that could have dug deeper into your heart and psyche.
January 7, 2023
The Widow and the Beast is a beautiful tale that follows the journey of Aoife, a young newlywed who travels down the dangerous Faery Path in search of her missing husband. Along the way she faces horrific dangerous and unforeseen obstacles. She also meets unexpected allies and learns more about herself than she ever expected to. Aoife’s story is a both poignant and beautiful. It is an inspiring reminder to never make assumptions about one’s future based on the current circumstances. It also emphasizes the importance of never giving up or losing hope for a brighter future. The conclusion to the Widow and the Beast is very exciting and feels like the start to a really great series. I look forward to reading more and continuing the journey down the Faery Path!!
September 26, 2022
Packed with feels!
This is the nasty, sneaky Fae you expect in a story and Alice doesn’t fail to deliver on their darker side.
I was so torn over my reaction to the story but honestly I don’t think I’d change any of it. The gut wrenching emotions made the story just that much …more. I really really hope we get more of Aoife and Euan.
Great world building with intriguing creatures that I want more of.
This was a different m/f dark fantasy romance. A clean read in regards to steam but full of emotions, action, monstrous Fae and a forced proximity friendship that seems to be evolving into something much more.
This is the nasty, sneaky Fae you expect in a story and Alice doesn’t fail to deliver on their darker side.
I was so torn over my reaction to the story but honestly I don’t think I’d change any of it. The gut wrenching emotions made the story just that much …more. I really really hope we get more of Aoife and Euan.
Great world building with intriguing creatures that I want more of.
This was a different m/f dark fantasy romance. A clean read in regards to steam but full of emotions, action, monstrous Fae and a forced proximity friendship that seems to be evolving into something much more.
August 2, 2023
I'm always curious to read retellings of Beauty and the Beast but this novella is in fact a retelling of the tale of The Water Horse of Barra. I wasn't familiar with the tale so I read it before beggining this book and I'm glad that I did.
Alice has a beautiful prose and the world of Faery is well presented here. I wished she had written more about the blossoming relationship of Aoife and Euan on the human world, the epilogue is good but not enough. Aoife is a gentle protagonist with an inner strenght and Euan is delightfully sarcastic and plain spoken, as a fae should be!
I felt to be reading a true fairytale, full of danger and beauty. I'm eager to read the next book in the series!
Alice has a beautiful prose and the world of Faery is well presented here. I wished she had written more about the blossoming relationship of Aoife and Euan on the human world, the epilogue is good but not enough. Aoife is a gentle protagonist with an inner strenght and Euan is delightfully sarcastic and plain spoken, as a fae should be!
I felt to be reading a true fairytale, full of danger and beauty. I'm eager to read the next book in the series!
September 25, 2022
Shortly after getting married, Aoife follows the path her late husband took and visits Faery. The risks are high in Faery and following the rules is essential. Cursed for two hundred years without their ruling royalty, the creatures within have turned into monsters. When Aoife runs into grumpy Euan, she has no choice but to follow him, but to what end?
This story marries two tales into one gorgeous retelling – Beauty and the Beast, as well as The Water Horse of the Barra.
This novella contained well-developed characters, described the setting in beautiful detail, and took the reader on an emotional rollercoaster.
I read this in one sitting, and truly hope that there’s more to come with this story! Highly recommend for those looking for a clean, YA fairtytale retelling!
Special thanks to the author for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
This story marries two tales into one gorgeous retelling – Beauty and the Beast, as well as The Water Horse of the Barra.
This novella contained well-developed characters, described the setting in beautiful detail, and took the reader on an emotional rollercoaster.
I read this in one sitting, and truly hope that there’s more to come with this story! Highly recommend for those looking for a clean, YA fairtytale retelling!
Special thanks to the author for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
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