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Pool of Dreams #1
Pool of Dreams
A fae who betrayed his prince for a doomed passion.
Syren sacrificed the man he loved to spare humanity from the wrath of the fae. For three hundred years, he’s been stuck on the mortal plane, floating alone in his pool while his powers slipped away. The last fae in the realm, his only companion is a mysterious bird until Audric, King of Aranthe, comes to claim his sword—the instrument that caused the rift between Faerie and the human realm.
A bastard who should never have inherited the throne.
After centuries of peace, Faerie destroys the royal family of Aranthe in a single brutal strike, leaving only one behind—Audric, the king’s bastard son, who’s always been more warrior than noble. As the magic holding the fae out of Aranthe cracks, Audric strikes out on a quest to retrieve a weapon that can save humanity from the fae.
A desperate fight to thwart the bloodthirsty fae prince who wants to break them both.
Forced together by the magic of the sword Audric needs but Syren cannot surrender, their bond is the only thing that can stop Faerie from breaking through into Aranthe and razing the kingdom to the ground.
Find within the pages of this high fantasy MM romance: one snarky fae who’s got a marshmallow-soft center hidden behind his prickly attitude and pretty face, an overgrown knight turned king with a heart of gold (and buns of steel), and the cleverest bird you ever did see! Enjoy snark for days as these tall-and-taller lads share only one bed, fight back against the forces of evil, and find the cure for three centuries of touch-starvation. And seriously, check the trigger warnings on the copyright page if you’re sensitive to violence and trauma (or the healing power of consensual, ah, cuddling). Beware the splash zone in the Pool of Dreams.
Syren sacrificed the man he loved to spare humanity from the wrath of the fae. For three hundred years, he’s been stuck on the mortal plane, floating alone in his pool while his powers slipped away. The last fae in the realm, his only companion is a mysterious bird until Audric, King of Aranthe, comes to claim his sword—the instrument that caused the rift between Faerie and the human realm.
A bastard who should never have inherited the throne.
After centuries of peace, Faerie destroys the royal family of Aranthe in a single brutal strike, leaving only one behind—Audric, the king’s bastard son, who’s always been more warrior than noble. As the magic holding the fae out of Aranthe cracks, Audric strikes out on a quest to retrieve a weapon that can save humanity from the fae.
A desperate fight to thwart the bloodthirsty fae prince who wants to break them both.
Forced together by the magic of the sword Audric needs but Syren cannot surrender, their bond is the only thing that can stop Faerie from breaking through into Aranthe and razing the kingdom to the ground.
Find within the pages of this high fantasy MM romance: one snarky fae who’s got a marshmallow-soft center hidden behind his prickly attitude and pretty face, an overgrown knight turned king with a heart of gold (and buns of steel), and the cleverest bird you ever did see! Enjoy snark for days as these tall-and-taller lads share only one bed, fight back against the forces of evil, and find the cure for three centuries of touch-starvation. And seriously, check the trigger warnings on the copyright page if you’re sensitive to violence and trauma (or the healing power of consensual, ah, cuddling). Beware the splash zone in the Pool of Dreams.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2022
295 people are currently reading
1398 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
January 22, 2024
✅ Romance and smut (MM)
✅ Pace
✅ Politics and betrayals
✅ Characters
✅ Magic
✅ 2 POVs
✅ A little bit of Found Family vibe
✅(🆗) Plot
✅(🆗) Final confrontation
3.5 stars
I’ve said it before, but I love Greg Boudreaux as a narrator SO MUCH.
After the King and all of his relatives disappear overnight because of some dark fae magic, Audric, one of the King’s bastards who was never meant to be more than a simple soldier, is forced to become King. Audric’s reign is off to a rough start as he needs to learn how to navigate the politics of the court, as well as find a way to make sure the faes remain locked out of his kingdom and don’t kill any more citizens.
The first half of the story is solid and very engaging, the second half is also interesting, with more action and some politics, but sadly, the ending was a little underwhelming. There is a big buildup throughout the book when it comes to the inevitable confrontation with the Fae Prince, but when it finally happens, it’s over quickly and it didn’t live up to my expectations. We meet the fae Princes for a few pages just before the end and that’s it. I wanted to know more about them, to see more of them. As it turns out, some of the humans living at court were a bigger problem in Audric’s life than the Princes were. This book would have been a 4-star read for me if the ending had been more developed or slightly different.
300 years ago, Syren and his human lover saved the humans in the war that raged by creating The Breaking, that invisible barrier that prevents faes from traveling to human lands. The sacrifice required for that was big though, and Syren has spent the last 3 centuries being alone and bitter in his pond, tasked with protecting the sword that is at the heart of The Breaking. He starts as a snarky, haughty character, that seems to be willing to help mostly because he has nothing better to do, but ends up being a true ally of Audric, and willing to sacrifice himself to save the humans. I love his growth, but I have to say that it seemed a bit quick at times. Still, I loved his wits and snark, and how despite his blasé appearance, he was willing to fight for the few humans he came to care about.
Audric is a teddy bear at heart, but he is fiercely protective of his kingdom and his loved ones. I like that while he was portrayed as "the bastard of the king that nobody cared about" at first, going as far as to imply that he was not the brightest there was, he ended up being open-minded, just, and a wonderful leader overall.
The romance between Audric and Syren is sweet, but there was not much time spent on developing it, because of all the traveling and politics happening. We could see that they were attracted to each other, and why, but I think I would have enjoyed this book more if their bond had felt stronger to me. As it was, I cared for them both because they were kind and nice main characters, but I wouldn’t have been utterly heartbroken and unconsolable if they didn’t end up together…
I adored the secondary characters in this book. Lady Peppin (sorry, I am not sure how to write her name, as I listened to this book) and Gareth the valiant squire were MVPs in this book, and they were just sweet and perfect, I had to at least mention them in my review.
The vibe of this book reminded me a little of The King’s Dragon series by the same authors. The valiant, sweet knight forced to become king (or regent), the love interest that is not trusted, and even hated by many at court, the sweet and wonderful woman there to accompany and support the main characters… As I said, a similar vibe, but a different plot and different execution.
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✅ Pace
✅ Politics and betrayals
✅ Characters
✅ Magic
✅ 2 POVs
✅ A little bit of Found Family vibe
✅(🆗) Plot
✅(🆗) Final confrontation
3.5 stars
I’ve said it before, but I love Greg Boudreaux as a narrator SO MUCH.
After the King and all of his relatives disappear overnight because of some dark fae magic, Audric, one of the King’s bastards who was never meant to be more than a simple soldier, is forced to become King. Audric’s reign is off to a rough start as he needs to learn how to navigate the politics of the court, as well as find a way to make sure the faes remain locked out of his kingdom and don’t kill any more citizens.
The first half of the story is solid and very engaging, the second half is also interesting, with more action and some politics, but sadly, the ending was a little underwhelming. There is a big buildup throughout the book when it comes to the inevitable confrontation with the Fae Prince, but when it finally happens, it’s over quickly and it didn’t live up to my expectations. We meet the fae Princes for a few pages just before the end and that’s it. I wanted to know more about them, to see more of them. As it turns out, some of the humans living at court were a bigger problem in Audric’s life than the Princes were. This book would have been a 4-star read for me if the ending had been more developed or slightly different.
300 years ago, Syren and his human lover saved the humans in the war that raged by creating The Breaking, that invisible barrier that prevents faes from traveling to human lands. The sacrifice required for that was big though, and Syren has spent the last 3 centuries being alone and bitter in his pond, tasked with protecting the sword that is at the heart of The Breaking. He starts as a snarky, haughty character, that seems to be willing to help mostly because he has nothing better to do, but ends up being a true ally of Audric, and willing to sacrifice himself to save the humans. I love his growth, but I have to say that it seemed a bit quick at times. Still, I loved his wits and snark, and how despite his blasé appearance, he was willing to fight for the few humans he came to care about.
Audric is a teddy bear at heart, but he is fiercely protective of his kingdom and his loved ones. I like that while he was portrayed as "the bastard of the king that nobody cared about" at first, going as far as to imply that he was not the brightest there was, he ended up being open-minded, just, and a wonderful leader overall.
The romance between Audric and Syren is sweet, but there was not much time spent on developing it, because of all the traveling and politics happening. We could see that they were attracted to each other, and why, but I think I would have enjoyed this book more if their bond had felt stronger to me. As it was, I cared for them both because they were kind and nice main characters, but I wouldn’t have been utterly heartbroken and unconsolable if they didn’t end up together…
I adored the secondary characters in this book. Lady Peppin (sorry, I am not sure how to write her name, as I listened to this book) and Gareth the valiant squire were MVPs in this book, and they were just sweet and perfect, I had to at least mention them in my review.
The vibe of this book reminded me a little of The King’s Dragon series by the same authors. The valiant, sweet knight forced to become king (or regent), the love interest that is not trusted, and even hated by many at court, the sweet and wonderful woman there to accompany and support the main characters… As I said, a similar vibe, but a different plot and different execution.
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July 27, 2022
FABULOUS FANTASY ROMANCE ROMP FROM THIS AUTHOR DUO
I love it when authors take common tropes and give them a twist and then you get a glorious fantasy romance with mythological undertones like this.
It draws on many folk takes, lore and myths from what generally gets put under the Celtic umbrella but also pulls in the Arthurian element of a magic sword and an unlikely heir.
I couldn’t have been happier when I got to read this book early because I knew it would be a good one and the authors delivered in spades.
Syren and Audric both have huge fears to overcome, neither of them feels they’re particularly brave, but as they set off together on their quest it becomes clear that together they may be the answer.
There were times throughout this book when I had no idea what was going to come next.
While I spotted the likely villain fairly early on, it didn’t spoil any part of the narrative because the beauty of a fantasy story using the Fae as inspiration is that there are almost limitless ways they can do people over!
Here it’s Syren’s former lover, the Fae Prince, who’s threatening to extinguish all human life and return the Fae to Audric’s kingdom.
Without revealing any spoilers, the plot takes you through an emotional rollercoaster of action, feelings, the beginnings of a deep connection, friendships within Audric’s keep and dangers lurking in plain sight.
The eventual final confrontation is as epic as in any fantasy series and I was internally screaming as things come to a head.
At one point I thought I’d be having some serious words with the authors as I got very teary. Thankfully they redeemed themselves later 😁
While I could ramble on even more about Pool of Dreams without much trouble, I’ll wrap up by saying if you like your fantasy to have high stakes, want villains to despise and heroes to love, and a romance that makes your heart sing, this book will meet all those needs and more.
I’ve already told them I want more in this world!
I love it when authors take common tropes and give them a twist and then you get a glorious fantasy romance with mythological undertones like this.
It draws on many folk takes, lore and myths from what generally gets put under the Celtic umbrella but also pulls in the Arthurian element of a magic sword and an unlikely heir.
I couldn’t have been happier when I got to read this book early because I knew it would be a good one and the authors delivered in spades.
Syren and Audric both have huge fears to overcome, neither of them feels they’re particularly brave, but as they set off together on their quest it becomes clear that together they may be the answer.
There were times throughout this book when I had no idea what was going to come next.
While I spotted the likely villain fairly early on, it didn’t spoil any part of the narrative because the beauty of a fantasy story using the Fae as inspiration is that there are almost limitless ways they can do people over!
Here it’s Syren’s former lover, the Fae Prince, who’s threatening to extinguish all human life and return the Fae to Audric’s kingdom.
Without revealing any spoilers, the plot takes you through an emotional rollercoaster of action, feelings, the beginnings of a deep connection, friendships within Audric’s keep and dangers lurking in plain sight.
The eventual final confrontation is as epic as in any fantasy series and I was internally screaming as things come to a head.
At one point I thought I’d be having some serious words with the authors as I got very teary. Thankfully they redeemed themselves later 😁
While I could ramble on even more about Pool of Dreams without much trouble, I’ll wrap up by saying if you like your fantasy to have high stakes, want villains to despise and heroes to love, and a romance that makes your heart sing, this book will meet all those needs and more.
I’ve already told them I want more in this world!
September 2, 2022
Up to 40% or thereabouts, this was solid. After that, however, the constant talk about sacrifice, and suffering, and the impending ruin of the human race began to bore me. Especially when contrasted with the main romance that was just too sweet and wholesome for me. Also, that ending? Way too easy! Over and done in a couple of pages after all that buildup… 🙄 I wanted to learn some more about the fae princes, but they appeared and were gone again in a flash.
September 14, 2022
I don't know how to put all my feelings & thoughts into words. I feel like anything I put isn't enough but here it is: ⬇️
So, the Pool of Dreams novel is one where you didn't know you absolutely needed until you've read it. A sparkling gem of a story. Pool of Dreams is one of my favorite books this year, a marvelous story that dragged me into its embrace from the the moment I laid eyes on it and started reading.
1,000 🌟 for me on this book🤌😘💯🌟🤯💗💗💖. After pre-ordering it yesterday on Amazon I started reading it this morning and was halfway through before I had to put a pause until after work in the moment I had time I immediately started reading again and I stayed up till 6:00 a.m. which is now lol because I could not put my phone down because this book is that good for me (Definitely an epic read.)
I loved Pool of Dreams💘💘. I loved Syren (a kind of 300 year old prickly sort of fae but really has a sweet umderbelly-gentle under the surface) and Audric (a Knight turned King) and Beryl and Pepin, and even Leo kinda grew on me 🤣. I loved how Sweet Syren and Audric were together. I cried multiple times throughout the book and my heart melted. 🥺💗💗😭
There was still quite a lot of sorrow /pain (I love angst 🥺💔💘) but still so much beauty and a saccharine sort of sweetness that made my heart feel full and wholesome and also made me tear up as much as the painful parts.🥺👏👏😭 💖
What a truly splendid, spellbinding and enthralling MM romance novel. Everything was written exquisitely. I truly adore Syren, I wanted to hug him and cried with him and for him many times😭💖🤌. I loved his personality. Audric is a wonderful character as well. These two currently hold my poor heart captive, as well as the pretty Bluejay Beryl. I will definitely put this on my re-read list, to go read it again, and again.
Phenomenal. Beautiful 💗 💖 and definitely worth reading more than once or twice. Thanks to the authors, Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes for such an amazingly enchanting, alluring and captivating story that I love with all the bits of my heart. An unforgettable story.
🥺🥰💖💘🌟🤌👏👏
(Psst👀. Hey you, yes you. Don't be shy and give this book a read😌😉. I think you will find it is a spectacular story. 😊 ~You know you want to~ 😏 💖 I hope if you do, I hope you love and enjoy it as much as I have.😉😊)
So, the Pool of Dreams novel is one where you didn't know you absolutely needed until you've read it. A sparkling gem of a story. Pool of Dreams is one of my favorite books this year, a marvelous story that dragged me into its embrace from the the moment I laid eyes on it and started reading.
1,000 🌟 for me on this book🤌😘💯🌟🤯💗💗💖. After pre-ordering it yesterday on Amazon I started reading it this morning and was halfway through before I had to put a pause until after work in the moment I had time I immediately started reading again and I stayed up till 6:00 a.m. which is now lol because I could not put my phone down because this book is that good for me (Definitely an epic read.)
I loved Pool of Dreams💘💘. I loved Syren (a kind of 300 year old prickly sort of fae but really has a sweet umderbelly-gentle under the surface) and Audric (a Knight turned King) and Beryl and Pepin, and even Leo kinda grew on me 🤣. I loved how Sweet Syren and Audric were together. I cried multiple times throughout the book and my heart melted. 🥺💗💗😭
There was still quite a lot of sorrow /pain (I love angst 🥺💔💘) but still so much beauty and a saccharine sort of sweetness that made my heart feel full and wholesome and also made me tear up as much as the painful parts.🥺👏👏😭 💖
What a truly splendid, spellbinding and enthralling MM romance novel. Everything was written exquisitely. I truly adore Syren, I wanted to hug him and cried with him and for him many times😭💖🤌. I loved his personality. Audric is a wonderful character as well. These two currently hold my poor heart captive, as well as the pretty Bluejay Beryl. I will definitely put this on my re-read list, to go read it again, and again.
Phenomenal. Beautiful 💗 💖 and definitely worth reading more than once or twice. Thanks to the authors, Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes for such an amazingly enchanting, alluring and captivating story that I love with all the bits of my heart. An unforgettable story.
🥺🥰💖💘🌟🤌👏👏
(Psst👀. Hey you, yes you. Don't be shy and give this book a read😌😉. I think you will find it is a spectacular story. 😊 ~You know you want to~ 😏 💖 I hope if you do, I hope you love and enjoy it as much as I have.😉😊)
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February 22, 2023DNF @45%.....
my dreams have died.
I was looking forward to this narration duo, I mean Greg B and Michael Dean hello what could go wrong... Apparently i spoke too soon, and after starting i was coming to see that Greg B should have been the only one narrating. Michael Dean's British accent for Syren was horrendous and he made Aulric sound like an old man. Don't get me wrong i love a Michael Dean narration, but this was not the book for him.
This story wasn't holding my attention either. I was losing interest because nothing really was happening in these short chapters (love me some short chapters) and seeing that this book is a little over 400 pages and I read almost 200 of them, and it still wasn't exciting me, was a sign i should stop.
like i said before my dreams have died a slow painful death with this book and i am bummed.
my dreams have died.
I was looking forward to this narration duo, I mean Greg B and Michael Dean hello what could go wrong... Apparently i spoke too soon, and after starting i was coming to see that Greg B should have been the only one narrating. Michael Dean's British accent for Syren was horrendous and he made Aulric sound like an old man. Don't get me wrong i love a Michael Dean narration, but this was not the book for him.
This story wasn't holding my attention either. I was losing interest because nothing really was happening in these short chapters (love me some short chapters) and seeing that this book is a little over 400 pages and I read almost 200 of them, and it still wasn't exciting me, was a sign i should stop.
like i said before my dreams have died a slow painful death with this book and i am bummed.
Want to read
July 26, 2022
April 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this fantasy romance. Recommend the audiobook as the narrators do a great job!
Pool of Dreams follows Audric, the unlikely King who rose to power after Faerie murdered the royal family. A fate he escaped due to being the bastard son of the late king. Warrior trained, he now has to rule in a time of tumult as the once banished fae begin to push past the barrier pass across the rift into the human realm.
300 years previous, Syren saved humankind by banishing the fae from the human realm. The cost of such an act was immense, he's spent the past centuries nursing his wound as the last remaining fae in these lands.
Audric and Syren have to work together if they want to stop Faerie breaking through and exacting their revenge. Despite the fate of the land being in their hands, there's always time for romance.
Pool of Dreams follows Audric, the unlikely King who rose to power after Faerie murdered the royal family. A fate he escaped due to being the bastard son of the late king. Warrior trained, he now has to rule in a time of tumult as the once banished fae begin to push past the barrier pass across the rift into the human realm.
300 years previous, Syren saved humankind by banishing the fae from the human realm. The cost of such an act was immense, he's spent the past centuries nursing his wound as the last remaining fae in these lands.
Audric and Syren have to work together if they want to stop Faerie breaking through and exacting their revenge. Despite the fate of the land being in their hands, there's always time for romance.
January 14, 2023
Lovely fae romance that faltered near the end.
This was difficult for me to rate. I was completely captivated for most of the book and thought it was just absolutely sweet and fun. I was prepared to give it a solid 4 stars and couldn’t wait to see the excitement of the coming war and “big confrontation” that I knew would come. I was completely disappointed. The characters didn’t act how I thought they should act, the dialogue grew stale, and the entirety of the excitement that should have been was just rushed and underwhelming. It ruined the book for me and I was just waiting to be finished so I could move on.
I can’t really express my extreme disappointment without giving spoilers. So I’ll just say that there’s some crazy build up for things that absolutely don’t deliver. And the weirdness with Burkhold near the end made me cringe.
I love Heartsong though!
This was difficult for me to rate. I was completely captivated for most of the book and thought it was just absolutely sweet and fun. I was prepared to give it a solid 4 stars and couldn’t wait to see the excitement of the coming war and “big confrontation” that I knew would come. I was completely disappointed. The characters didn’t act how I thought they should act, the dialogue grew stale, and the entirety of the excitement that should have been was just rushed and underwhelming. It ruined the book for me and I was just waiting to be finished so I could move on.
I can’t really express my extreme disappointment without giving spoilers. So I’ll just say that there’s some crazy build up for things that absolutely don’t deliver. And the weirdness with Burkhold near the end made me cringe.
I love Heartsong though!
October 4, 2023
“Perhaps he isn’t human, but we are the moment we act like the monsters we call them, we make something else. ”
Otro libro que empiezo pensando que era uno de mis llamados “libros hamburguesa” pero que una vez sumergida en la historia me di cuenta de lo mucho que me equivocaba. Otra vez.
La verdad es que se puede decir más alto y muchas veces, pero no más claro. Las portadas son engañosas. Hay libros maravillosos que no somos capaces de leer porque vemos la portada y nos echa para atrás. Cuantos habremos perdido por ello, yo la primera sin lugar a dudas.
Ahora bien, ha sido una historia en general bien escrita. Peca un poco de falta de profundidad de escenario y personajes, pero te sumerges en la historia y les coges cariño a los personajes.
Obviamente la recomiendo, como he dicho antes ha sido una gran sorpresa y pienso seguir con el resto si sigue publicando.
Otro libro que empiezo pensando que era uno de mis llamados “libros hamburguesa” pero que una vez sumergida en la historia me di cuenta de lo mucho que me equivocaba. Otra vez.
La verdad es que se puede decir más alto y muchas veces, pero no más claro. Las portadas son engañosas. Hay libros maravillosos que no somos capaces de leer porque vemos la portada y nos echa para atrás. Cuantos habremos perdido por ello, yo la primera sin lugar a dudas.
Ahora bien, ha sido una historia en general bien escrita. Peca un poco de falta de profundidad de escenario y personajes, pero te sumerges en la historia y les coges cariño a los personajes.
Obviamente la recomiendo, como he dicho antes ha sido una gran sorpresa y pienso seguir con el resto si sigue publicando.
February 11, 2024
One of the Best Books I have read this year. Cried a lot at the end... the trauma, the deniel of reality, losing something you really love 😭
Also, the relation between the bird and the protagonist 😭
Also, the relation between the bird and the protagonist 😭
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September 17, 2022DNF at 21%. Just not capturing my attention.
July 28, 2022
Pool of Dreams was a lovely surprise and I had a great time reading this book.
Beautiful, snarky, cunning but with a soft-heart fae? Check
Reluctant ruler with a heart of gold? Check.
Forced closed proximity due to a magical object? Check.
The story drew a lot of inspiration from lore and myth - most prominent was the Arthurian magical sword, the Lady of the Lake and the surprise heir to the throne. These elements blended nicely with the overall plot and tone of the story and were given the writers' own twist and flavor to create an engaging tale of fantasy and romance.
Syren and Audric are fascinating and complex characters, both needing to overcome their fears and their past. Syren saved the human world previously but had sacrificed so much and felt such pain and loneliness that he's afraid of opening his heart again. Audric was never meant to rule nor did he ever receive the attention and love that he deserved from his father. Now thrust into kingship, he's afraid that he will fail the people and not be the king they deserve.
On their own, both were heading towards failure but together as they set off on their journey to save the world, it's quite clear that with the two of them working together they stand a chance in doing so.
The world building was nicely done while the overall pacing was just right. There's enough balance between the progression of the plot and the development of the romance between Syren and Audric. Their relationship started off on the wrong foot but grew into something sweet and powerful throughout the book.
If you're looking for a high stakes, engaging fantasy story with mythological undertones, snarky banters, charming characters and a romance that gives so much feels without too much angst then I recommend giving Pool of Dreams a try.
This would be 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
Beautiful, snarky, cunning but with a soft-heart fae? Check
Reluctant ruler with a heart of gold? Check.
Forced closed proximity due to a magical object? Check.
The story drew a lot of inspiration from lore and myth - most prominent was the Arthurian magical sword, the Lady of the Lake and the surprise heir to the throne. These elements blended nicely with the overall plot and tone of the story and were given the writers' own twist and flavor to create an engaging tale of fantasy and romance.
Syren and Audric are fascinating and complex characters, both needing to overcome their fears and their past. Syren saved the human world previously but had sacrificed so much and felt such pain and loneliness that he's afraid of opening his heart again. Audric was never meant to rule nor did he ever receive the attention and love that he deserved from his father. Now thrust into kingship, he's afraid that he will fail the people and not be the king they deserve.
On their own, both were heading towards failure but together as they set off on their journey to save the world, it's quite clear that with the two of them working together they stand a chance in doing so.
The world building was nicely done while the overall pacing was just right. There's enough balance between the progression of the plot and the development of the romance between Syren and Audric. Their relationship started off on the wrong foot but grew into something sweet and powerful throughout the book.
If you're looking for a high stakes, engaging fantasy story with mythological undertones, snarky banters, charming characters and a romance that gives so much feels without too much angst then I recommend giving Pool of Dreams a try.
This would be 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
September 11, 2022
I have read this pair's books before and they don't totally work for me, but I saw this cover and my brain left the building. 🤣🤣
I'm glad I did though, this was a really good story, the world building was amazing, the characters were really fun to read and the main ones, when together it just worked lovely wonders.
This is a little but of a slow burn, considering all that is happening to the kingdom and that's what makes it perfect for me, I enjoyed this a lot. 🥰🥰
I'm glad I did though, this was a really good story, the world building was amazing, the characters were really fun to read and the main ones, when together it just worked lovely wonders.
This is a little but of a slow burn, considering all that is happening to the kingdom and that's what makes it perfect for me, I enjoyed this a lot. 🥰🥰
April 12, 2025
Updated 4/2025:
Audiobook form ended up working great for me for this one and I really enjoyed it! Glad I gave it a second shot.
___
No rating DNF. Just not in the mood for the high fantasy setting right now. First chapter didn’t grab me.
Audiobook form ended up working great for me for this one and I really enjoyed it! Glad I gave it a second shot.
___
No rating DNF. Just not in the mood for the high fantasy setting right now. First chapter didn’t grab me.
September 3, 2022
it was bit depressing with all the 'we're better off dead' mindset from syren but we all bloody well knew audric wasn't going to die because more often than not authors try to go for the unexpected-but-the-opposite-would-be-unthinkable ending.
terrific cover btw🔥. love it.
terrific cover btw🔥. love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2023
3.5 rounded up
Maybe the best book I've read from this duo, which I think is in large part due to the length, which is quite substantial and allows for some more detailed world-building and character development. I enjoyed the characters, the plot was a bit contrived but still enjoyable, and on the whole I thought this was a decent read.
Maybe the best book I've read from this duo, which I think is in large part due to the length, which is quite substantial and allows for some more detailed world-building and character development. I enjoyed the characters, the plot was a bit contrived but still enjoyable, and on the whole I thought this was a decent read.
July 28, 2022
Blackberries
Prickly fae, protective knights, and world-building so incredible it transports you to new realms, this book is a fantastic and engrossing read. I’m in love with everything it offers and promises. From Syren for his true Syren-ness, trust me you’ll see and love him too. *snicker* The snark skill is out of this world.
“‘I’ll feel terrible if I kick you out of your own bed, and worse still if I’m forced to sleep on the ground like a peasant.’
‘You came from a pond.’
‘There was a great deal of floating involved.’”
To Audric, one very special, bighearted knight turned king, who could get me to agree to pretty much anything for one of his smiles or hugs. But I’m greedy and want it all from him.
“All that mattered was him, and his piercing gaze, and protecting him as I’d promised to do.”
Swoons, I love him so much. Audric is the very best of humanity and I want to squish and protect him forever. No one can compare to such a treasure. There is another character I adore almost as much but that’s a story, or squire, for another day. So much action, adventure, intrigue, surprise, and an epic love for the ages, this book knows the song of my heart and how to leave me breathless for more.
Prickly fae, protective knights, and world-building so incredible it transports you to new realms, this book is a fantastic and engrossing read. I’m in love with everything it offers and promises. From Syren for his true Syren-ness, trust me you’ll see and love him too. *snicker* The snark skill is out of this world.
“‘I’ll feel terrible if I kick you out of your own bed, and worse still if I’m forced to sleep on the ground like a peasant.’
‘You came from a pond.’
‘There was a great deal of floating involved.’”
To Audric, one very special, bighearted knight turned king, who could get me to agree to pretty much anything for one of his smiles or hugs. But I’m greedy and want it all from him.
“All that mattered was him, and his piercing gaze, and protecting him as I’d promised to do.”
Swoons, I love him so much. Audric is the very best of humanity and I want to squish and protect him forever. No one can compare to such a treasure. There is another character I adore almost as much but that’s a story, or squire, for another day. So much action, adventure, intrigue, surprise, and an epic love for the ages, this book knows the song of my heart and how to leave me breathless for more.
August 23, 2022
Awesome!
There was something about the writing that just made this story everything. The word flow was seemless. I don’t have the right words to describe how much I enjoyed this book!
Read it!! ❤️
There was something about the writing that just made this story everything. The word flow was seemless. I don’t have the right words to describe how much I enjoyed this book!
Read it!! ❤️
September 21, 2022
2,5
Maybe i should stop reading gay fae stories atm because they tend to disappoint me. I liked the beginning and it reminded me a lot of a really cool retelling of King Arthur and the lady in the lake. It's better than the last gay faerie book i read but only up until close to halfway through.... then it started to get really boring, repetitive and too angsty for me. I was really into the first 1/3 of the book but I felt Syren did absolutely nothing for the story besides being depressed and angsty. In the end i only cared about the bird
Oh and Garrett deserved way more screen time? In the end he just didn't appear anymore (or maybe he did and i didn't notice because i skipped read through the big "fight")
I expected way more interaction with the enemy fae and in the end in got resolved way to quickly
Sad, sad 😢
Maybe i should stop reading gay fae stories atm because they tend to disappoint me. I liked the beginning and it reminded me a lot of a really cool retelling of King Arthur and the lady in the lake. It's better than the last gay faerie book i read but only up until close to halfway through.... then it started to get really boring, repetitive and too angsty for me. I was really into the first 1/3 of the book but I felt Syren did absolutely nothing for the story besides being depressed and angsty. In the end i only cared about the bird
Oh and Garrett deserved way more screen time? In the end he just didn't appear anymore (or maybe he did and i didn't notice because i skipped read through the big "fight")
I expected way more interaction with the enemy fae and in the end in got resolved way to quickly
Sad, sad 😢
September 25, 2022
This was downright fantastically amazing. First of all, I loved the writing. It was convulated enough that it actually felt appropriate for a novel of fantasy genre. Especially, one concerning fae which require adaptation to their manner of speaking in half-truths/ question evasion. However, I had a little trouble grasping the premise of the story in beginning. Maybe it was a me-thing? I don't know, I just couldn't exactly understand how this all came to be and even till the end, I think I only grapsed the entire plot through circumstancial clarity.
I appreciated the pace between the 2 MCs. It did not seem rushed nor it felt boring without any evident progress between the two. (P.s Everyone needs an Audric in their lives.) And even the side characters had enough character development. Although, for some it felt a little too sudden and not enough reasoning or thought was given to it.
Also, I felt the climax could have been more... Climatic? I mean the main villain, around whom the entire affair was caused, had barely any on page presence. Still, I definitely loved this one!! Kudos to the authors.
I appreciated the pace between the 2 MCs. It did not seem rushed nor it felt boring without any evident progress between the two. (P.s Everyone needs an Audric in their lives.) And even the side characters had enough character development. Although, for some it felt a little too sudden and not enough reasoning or thought was given to it.
Also, I felt the climax could have been more... Climatic? I mean the main villain, around whom the entire affair was caused, had barely any on page presence. Still, I definitely loved this one!! Kudos to the authors.
September 8, 2022
M/m, fae/human, royalty, magic, HEA
This book was a lot of fun and exactly what I needed when I needed it. I loved the ending and while it hadn't been completely shocking, there were things that played out in a way I couldn't even have guessed. I could easily have seen this expanded into at least another 400 pages easily. There was so much character growth and development of so many characters that I found myself not just focused on the two main characters.
This book was a lot of fun and exactly what I needed when I needed it. I loved the ending and while it hadn't been completely shocking, there were things that played out in a way I couldn't even have guessed. I could easily have seen this expanded into at least another 400 pages easily. There was so much character growth and development of so many characters that I found myself not just focused on the two main characters.
February 23, 2023
Really could have been a bit shorter I got a little frustrated
July 27, 2022
Un grand merci aux auteures pour cet ARC et pour leur confiance.
Une lecture douce et déchirante au cœur d’un monde fantasy dans lequel l’action est légèrement mise de côté en faveur des tensions et complots internes, et de la romance.
Syren est un fae exilé dans le royaume humain depuis près de trois décennies. J’ai beaucoup aimé sa repartie mordante et son esprit de contradiction joueur. Il prend grand plaisir à se jouer des autres, à les titiller ainsi qu’à flirter. J’ai presque eu de la peine pour les pauvres chevaliers à la masculinité toxique.😆
Il a passé seul ces siècles reclus dans un lac sans aucun contact humain et n’interagissant que brièvement avec ceux venu tenter de le déposséder de l’épée légendaire qu’il tient sous bonne garde.
Sauf qu’un jour, un homme plus malin que les autres y parvient.
Après la mort quasi intégrale de la famille royale, Audric, chevalier et fils batard du roi, est le seul héritier potentiel à la veille d’une guerre entre humains et fae.
Être aussi éloigné de la ligne de succession et avoir été élevé sans les prérogatives royaux ont fait de lui quelqu’un de juste, honnête et courageux. Il est loin d’être un intrigant ou un opportuniste comme beaucoup de ses camarades soldats. Il incarne vraiment l’esprit de chevalerie et ses valeurs.
Tous ne sont cependant pas content de leur nouveau monarque et la tension règne dans les rangs.
J’ai été surprise d’aimer presque autant que les personnages principaux certains personnages secondaires.
J’ai adoré que l’épée, Heartsong, ait une conscience, une personnalité. Qu’elle choisisse sont détenteur un peu comme l’anneau de Sauron ou Excalibur, et qu’elle communique avec lui.
Beryl à carrément volé mon cœur et j’ai eu tellement peur pour lui.😭
Senta est vraiment bad ass et véhicule le Girl power comme personne dans cette histoire.✊
Et finalement Garrett, maladroit mais loyal et tellement adorable.
J’ai hâte de lire la novella à son sujet pour découvrir comment il s’en sort avec ses nouveaux dons, et pour y retrouver nos personnages principaux. Peut-être auront nous également les réponses à certaines questions restées en suspens.
P.S.: Cette cover 🫣🥵😱✨💙
Une lecture douce et déchirante au cœur d’un monde fantasy dans lequel l’action est légèrement mise de côté en faveur des tensions et complots internes, et de la romance.
Syren est un fae exilé dans le royaume humain depuis près de trois décennies. J’ai beaucoup aimé sa repartie mordante et son esprit de contradiction joueur. Il prend grand plaisir à se jouer des autres, à les titiller ainsi qu’à flirter. J’ai presque eu de la peine pour les pauvres chevaliers à la masculinité toxique.😆
Il a passé seul ces siècles reclus dans un lac sans aucun contact humain et n’interagissant que brièvement avec ceux venu tenter de le déposséder de l’épée légendaire qu’il tient sous bonne garde.
Sauf qu’un jour, un homme plus malin que les autres y parvient.
Après la mort quasi intégrale de la famille royale, Audric, chevalier et fils batard du roi, est le seul héritier potentiel à la veille d’une guerre entre humains et fae.
Être aussi éloigné de la ligne de succession et avoir été élevé sans les prérogatives royaux ont fait de lui quelqu’un de juste, honnête et courageux. Il est loin d’être un intrigant ou un opportuniste comme beaucoup de ses camarades soldats. Il incarne vraiment l’esprit de chevalerie et ses valeurs.
Tous ne sont cependant pas content de leur nouveau monarque et la tension règne dans les rangs.
J’ai été surprise d’aimer presque autant que les personnages principaux certains personnages secondaires.
J’ai adoré que l’épée, Heartsong, ait une conscience, une personnalité. Qu’elle choisisse sont détenteur un peu comme l’anneau de Sauron ou Excalibur, et qu’elle communique avec lui.
Beryl à carrément volé mon cœur et j’ai eu tellement peur pour lui.😭
Senta est vraiment bad ass et véhicule le Girl power comme personne dans cette histoire.✊
Et finalement Garrett, maladroit mais loyal et tellement adorable.
J’ai hâte de lire la novella à son sujet pour découvrir comment il s’en sort avec ses nouveaux dons, et pour y retrouver nos personnages principaux. Peut-être auront nous également les réponses à certaines questions restées en suspens.
P.S.: Cette cover 🫣🥵😱✨💙
July 24, 2022
Ah! This was lovely!!
Snarky elf with a love for silks and sweets, that sacrificed his lover and part of his soul to save the humans from his race meets sweet, trusting, huge knight turned king when his whole family was killed, when said knight's squire distracted said elf to give the knight a chance of stealing the sword the elf was "guarding" that was the instrument for the magic that protects the human world from the elves.
But the sword can't be away from the elf without causing the elf pain so our sweet, kind knight strikes a bargain with the elf, because what else he is to do? Hurt an innocent? Nope!
Thus begins the story of Syren and Audric. A lovely story of slowly building found family, discovering your true friends and allies. Of two unlikely individuals with a firm core of beliefs and kindness, desperate to find a solution to fix the magic that is unBreaking and it'll probably mean the end for the humans in the hands of elves.
I really liked this and I loved the push and pull between Audric and Syren but there in the middle things slowed down quite a bit and the whole thing with the seaside village felt filler-y. Garrett after that disappeared completely, Leopold did a 180 with no reasons given and I can't believe no one ever went in the beginning to check the castle for survivors or anything but only at the end.
Despite those little niggles Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes deliver a scenic story full of beautiful imagery with plenty of myths and lore, especially those about the Lady of the Lake, filled with snarky comments, soothing kindness and so many feelings and emotions!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Snarky elf with a love for silks and sweets, that sacrificed his lover and part of his soul to save the humans from his race meets sweet, trusting, huge knight turned king when his whole family was killed, when said knight's squire distracted said elf to give the knight a chance of stealing the sword the elf was "guarding" that was the instrument for the magic that protects the human world from the elves.
But the sword can't be away from the elf without causing the elf pain so our sweet, kind knight strikes a bargain with the elf, because what else he is to do? Hurt an innocent? Nope!
Thus begins the story of Syren and Audric. A lovely story of slowly building found family, discovering your true friends and allies. Of two unlikely individuals with a firm core of beliefs and kindness, desperate to find a solution to fix the magic that is unBreaking and it'll probably mean the end for the humans in the hands of elves.
I really liked this and I loved the push and pull between Audric and Syren but there in the middle things slowed down quite a bit and the whole thing with the seaside village felt filler-y. Garrett after that disappeared completely, Leopold did a 180 with no reasons given and I can't believe no one ever went in the beginning to check the castle for survivors or anything but only at the end.
Despite those little niggles Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes deliver a scenic story full of beautiful imagery with plenty of myths and lore, especially those about the Lady of the Lake, filled with snarky comments, soothing kindness and so many feelings and emotions!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
August 4, 2022
Oh my heart! This is so good ❤️
Syren and Audrich were absolutely amazing. This book was so good!!! Audrich doesn’t fell like a king but he is all that it left of the royal family and now he has to save the realm from the bloodthirsty fae. Syren cast the original Breaking and it cost him dearly. I absolutely loved this book. I just can’t say enough about it. And all of the characters, from Lady Pepin to Uncle Pen and Senta. All the stars for this high fantasy tale. I will be rereading this one for years.
Syren and Audrich were absolutely amazing. This book was so good!!! Audrich doesn’t fell like a king but he is all that it left of the royal family and now he has to save the realm from the bloodthirsty fae. Syren cast the original Breaking and it cost him dearly. I absolutely loved this book. I just can’t say enough about it. And all of the characters, from Lady Pepin to Uncle Pen and Senta. All the stars for this high fantasy tale. I will be rereading this one for years.
November 22, 2022
3.5 Stars
This was a solid read and props to whoever did the cover because it is glorious. I enjoyed the story overall. What I really liked was that Syren and Audric didn’t dance around each other for very long.
I didn’t enjoy some things that ultimately made this drop a little in the rating. The pacing was so slow, especially in the middle before things literally start happening at lightning speed in the last few pages of the book. I could barely keep up because we moved from one plot arc to another every chapter. I feel a lot of this shouldn’t have all been put in one book because the big thing that is teased throughout the whole book happens and is resolved in the space of a few pages.
One other thing is the world building. I wish more time was spent explaining what exactly happened to the king and his family instead of a few throwaway sentences here and there. Even til the end I’m not sure I understand what actually happened.
Same thing about the breaking. It’s so confusing. How was land divided between the fae and the humans? Was it actual real life borders? And if it was, when the breaking occurred, did the faeries simply disappear to another realm or get shoved on the other side of a border?
I really wish more time was spent explaining or showing us what this world had to offer.
This was a solid read and props to whoever did the cover because it is glorious. I enjoyed the story overall. What I really liked was that Syren and Audric didn’t dance around each other for very long.
I didn’t enjoy some things that ultimately made this drop a little in the rating. The pacing was so slow, especially in the middle before things literally start happening at lightning speed in the last few pages of the book. I could barely keep up because we moved from one plot arc to another every chapter. I feel a lot of this shouldn’t have all been put in one book because the big thing that is teased throughout the whole book happens and is resolved in the space of a few pages.
One other thing is the world building. I wish more time was spent explaining what exactly happened to the king and his family instead of a few throwaway sentences here and there. Even til the end I’m not sure I understand what actually happened.
Same thing about the breaking. It’s so confusing. How was land divided between the fae and the humans? Was it actual real life borders? And if it was, when the breaking occurred, did the faeries simply disappear to another realm or get shoved on the other side of a border?
I really wish more time was spent explaining or showing us what this world had to offer.
July 30, 2022
“I’ll feel terrible if I kick you out of your own bed, and worse still if I’m forced to sleep on the ground like a peasant.”
“You came from a pond.”
“There was a great deal of floating involved. I assure you, my delicate frame cannot handle hard ground.”
At this point I can say without a doubt that this is the genre that I enjoy the most by these authors. The word building and the fantasy elements were on point.
It’s a personal preference, but I really liked that some parts were straight to the point without showing all the process of certain plans. There was a good balance between the journey parts and the rest of the plot. I can get so bored when some stories the MCs are half of the book on a quest.
This is a standalone but I do hope that we get in the future the story of some of the secondary characters (Which I won't name because it might be some spoilers).
I love sassy MCs, so it’s no surprise that Syren was my favorite character. All his quick remarks that made the knight mad and also made
Audric blush. And I also love giant men who end up being like a soft teddy bear like Audric.
It could be considered a little bit like a slow burn considering the length of the book. I’d have loved that there were less parts with miscommunications, but overall they were solved quickly.
A story full of magic and acceptance. I hope this is not the last we see from this world.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
March 21, 2023
Man, talk about needing a hug! Great book, had me all in the feels
August 30, 2022
I loved this story with its mix of fantasy, drama, action, and romance. The worldbuilding is fabulous, and the characters are flawed. I liked the twist with the sword, and the part it plays in saving their world.
I liked that both Audric and Syren are not what the other expect. Audric isn’t trained to be king but that makes him a better one, and Syren is on odds with the rest of his kind for good reason. I like how Syren’s drawn to Audric despite his determination not to lose someone he cares about again, and his fear of his nightmares coming true. I loved how all that turned out in a wonderful twist in more ways than one. Syren’s friendship with Beryl is sweet, yet heart breaking.
I enjoyed the politics, with people trying to push Audric into decisions that further their agendas, and how he’s introducing different ways of doing things. The world building is rich in detail. I liked the differences and similarities between the human and fae worlds, and the magic system. There is a lot about the human world that needs to change too.
I love the sword and the part it plays in the story. Garrett is wonderful, and I love how he finds his unexpected place in the world. I’d love to read more about him. Pepin totally rocks. I’d want her on my side. I liked Senta’s journey and her changing relationship with Audric. I liked how some characters changed in good ways and finally stood up and pulled their weight, while others’ true allegiances were revealed almost too late.
I loved the ending and how everything works out, although I’d love to see more of there characters and their world.
I liked that both Audric and Syren are not what the other expect. Audric isn’t trained to be king but that makes him a better one, and Syren is on odds with the rest of his kind for good reason. I like how Syren’s drawn to Audric despite his determination not to lose someone he cares about again, and his fear of his nightmares coming true. I loved how all that turned out in a wonderful twist in more ways than one. Syren’s friendship with Beryl is sweet, yet heart breaking.
I enjoyed the politics, with people trying to push Audric into decisions that further their agendas, and how he’s introducing different ways of doing things. The world building is rich in detail. I liked the differences and similarities between the human and fae worlds, and the magic system. There is a lot about the human world that needs to change too.
I love the sword and the part it plays in the story. Garrett is wonderful, and I love how he finds his unexpected place in the world. I’d love to read more about him. Pepin totally rocks. I’d want her on my side. I liked Senta’s journey and her changing relationship with Audric. I liked how some characters changed in good ways and finally stood up and pulled their weight, while others’ true allegiances were revealed almost too late.
I loved the ending and how everything works out, although I’d love to see more of there characters and their world.
November 11, 2022
This was a good book, but due to my own issues, I did not enjoy it as much as others likely will. I'm giving it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I'm trying not to be petty and pout about this book making me cry. I really hate crying, but I recognize that's a "me" issue and not the book's fault. It wasn’t just a lone dignified tear either. I was outright sobbing for the last 20% of the book over a bird and an inanimate object. The fact that it was after 2 AM on a Friday morning may also have had something to do with it, especially since I don't even like birds. They creep me out. Also, this book involved a prophesied death of an important character, and that situation reads too much like a terminal illness to me, and I don't handle fiction on that topic well. Despite all of that, I was ultimately satisfied with the ending. I won't say anything else because I don't want to spoil anything, but I do want to clarify that the book didn't leave me at the bottom of the hole it dug for me.
If it wasn't already clear, this book made me feel a lot of things, which means the writing was effective. I emphasized strongly with the fae MC. The book was good. I'm still relieved that I am now done with it. This isn't the first book I've read from this author duo, and I will continue to read their future works.
If it wasn't already clear, this book made me feel a lot of things, which means the writing was effective. I emphasized strongly with the fae MC. The book was good. I'm still relieved that I am now done with it. This isn't the first book I've read from this author duo, and I will continue to read their future works.
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