He's a monster. I'm a prisoner. And he's got his sights locked on me.
Caspan, the dark fae General, shows a dangerous interest in Vale, the latest human captive collected by the army. What the dark fae want with the human captives is anyone's guess—but it's the last thing on Vale's mind. As she struggles to manoeuvre the strict rules of her new life as a slave, she quickly learns that she must avoid the attention of the dark, dangerous Caspan at all costs. His interest in her is not only a sinister mystery—it's surely a death sentence. Stay alive. That's her only rule in this dark, abandoned world. But living amongst monsters sometimes means having to bend the rules.
QUINN BLACKBIRD is a wanderer, a caffeine addict, a concern to her teachers & a bit of a dork. You can find Quinn buying gym equipment she never uses or being dragged out of the writing cave by pesky friends. Mention "margarita" and she'll come ah-runnin.
QB's goal is to live on a farm with rescue animals and write!
Now beware!! Blackbird writes about everything she loathes. This makes for books that are darker, grittier, anti-heroes, messed-up characters, and dark worlds. It's not a guarantee you'll find redemption in her pages. Because, as Gaslight Her warns, 'sometimes, the villains win.'
popular questions answered: *there is no reading order to the dark fae universe books ~ and yes, another dark fae book is coming!*
CONTACT: FB Quinn Blackbird FB READER GROUP: Quinn Blackbird and Her Blackbirds
I think this might be one of my favorite fae stories. This was everything I wanted Laura Thalassa's 4 Horseman series to be and more.
Things I liked:
🔪 A morally ambiguous heroine
Vale could be a stone cold bitch when she wanted, and I adored reading her cynical pov. She had a dry sense of humour, level of self-awareness, and good amount of negative personality traits that are rare to find in heroines. The author explored how someone like Vale would change and grow in a post-apocalyptic environment and didn't shy away from the ugliness. I admire the author because anytime an author writes a morally ambiguous heroine they'll get critical reviews complaining about how the heroine wasn't likable. At no point did I get the sense the author was serving the typical romance audience (except for when Caspan said "You're mine" lmao I can't get away from that phrase in romance).
🔪 The post-apocalyptic setting
It's a feat the author made me like this setting, because I haven't craved anything post-apocalyptic since COVID. This installment continued to give me Battlestar Galactica vibes in a cool way. I'm wondering if Starbuck at all influenced how the author wrote Vale.
🔪 The portrayal of love
The author exceeded at expressing how horrifying fae love can be. Vale is totally happier than Callie though. If I had to pick between Callie and Vale's 'romance' I'd go with Vale's. Vale and Caspan are better suited for each other than Callie and Rain. The thing about the fae is once they love someone they turn violent if they become displeased with the object of their affections. A lot of knives were used in this book. Caspan demonstrated quite a bit of mercy towards the heroine though, while the punishments Callie ultimately went through at the hands of the fae were more emotionally devastating for her.
Btw, if you have any triggers regarding self-harm, specifically cutting, please know that the heroine cuts and it's graphically described continually throughout this series. The author warns for suicide ideation (which occurs as well), but she doesn't warn for cutting. I actually really liked how the author portrayed the heroine's vice of self-harm and it came across as realistic.
This is safe, no ow or cheating. I'm getting the sense this author never includes ow drama or cheating, there's never any noncon either (the fae are fine maiming their women but won't molest them🤡).
My one criticism is that I'm noticing the author ends each serial with an abrupt cliffhanger. The transition of the cliffhanger to the start of the next serial/chapter always seems rather abrupt and rough around the edges. This ends on a HFN, but the author needs to work on her ending lines too. I almost expected another chapter to start. I suppose it felt more like an end to a chapter vs end of the book. I think the author is capable of fleshing out certain areas of the narrative a tiny bit more.
Later I'm going to come back and add the reading order of the series with links to the box sets. There's so many the order is confusing - I wish the author had the reading order with links to the boxsets on her website.
Vale has a malice personality in her. She is finely suited for Caspan. Their romance is appealing, their dark complexities very much match each other. It's a nice change where the h is not a good-pious-girl-wanting-to-save-every-injured-person but I realise I can't tolerate her guilt which she manages to talk herself out. She is kind of indifferent and has high powers of ignorance.
This is not a fluffy romance, it's sadistic and destructive. Caspan and Vale are not my favourite but I was said the other pairings from this world is worth a read so I'm continuing.
This was the final instalment in this gritty series and it definitely brought closure and finished everything off to my satisfaction.
Everything really came to a head here including Vales importance to Caspan. He really embraced their volatile connection disregarding her human status now don’t get me wrong he doesn’t turn into any Prince Charming or anything far from it he’s just as dark as before he’s just now willing to accept the reality of Vale in his life.
And Vale well she finally embraced her inner darkness and just owned it for what it is. Her complete acceptance of her nature allowing Caspan to take that final step both now connected in their darkness.
I especially liked how everyone stayed true to their initial natures. Caspan is still a monster but he’s Vales monster now just like in return she is his. This series has been so addictive the raw grittiness and stark brutality making such a change of pace. If you like romance where the hero redeems himself this is not the series for you this is the complete opposite.
This was definitely my favourite part yet and we finally get to see some action occurring between Caspan and Vale and this instalment builds on that connection things have been evolving to this point in time throughout the course of this dark journey.
Caspan is struggling with his fascination of Vale and finds himself wanting to know more this is despite him trying to purge her from his mind with his mutually beneficial bargains.
Vale is having difficulties balancing her want against her hatred and it doesn’t help that she’s realised that there more alike than she’d care to admit.
Vale also finally learns of their eventual purpose and use to the dark Fae just what’s in store for them going forward. Then there was that surprising finale can’t wait to see what that’s about.
This is a dark and gritty series that definitely doesn’t pull its punches and I’m enjoying it a great deal. If your thinking of reading it just be aware it’s bloody brutal there’s nothing light or fluffy between these pages. Myself I’m finding myself fascinated.
This is the second novella instalment in this serial read and got to say it was seriously enthralling. Though short it packed quite the punch and this was seriously addictive.
Vale is now a slave to the Dark Fae at the whims of their cruelty and casual disregard these fae are monsters with no compassion or regard for their human toys. Vale has no idea what the significance of her freckles or her wrist tattoo or even why she’s even still alive for now. More troubling the most callous of them all there leader Caspan seems to have taken an interest in her not that it’s going to do her any good as he’s the worst of the lot.
We also get to learn more about Vales past and also what makes her tick this one again ended on another crucial point and I so need to know what comes next. I’m loving this all so far the writing is fabulous and the plot is very engaging.
This is some addictive reading and man that dark fae Caspan is seriously cold lethal and all things cruel. There isn’t an ounce of compassion in him and he seems to revel in all the dark sadistic stuff he pulls. He obviously detests humans in fact all the dark fae do treating them as less than livestock slaves to be tormented and played with there to do the grunt work. They live by the mercy of the overlords and there’s little care from them.
Here Vale pushes her agenda with Caspan testing the reins of her control. Putting herself in his crossfires by striking a bargain for the life of her friend not for altruistic reasons though her motive is less pure she selfishly doesn’t want to lose her only friend. We get to see to the core of Vale here and I love the fact that she isn’t some do-gooder her main concern is for herself and how things affect her at heart she’s quite selfish to be fair she can’t afford to be anything else.
Vale is ultimately flawed at times her actions no better than her fae captors she just hides them deeper behind a facade of humanity. This new reality has brought forth the worst in her and she’s very aware that she can’t afford to care becoming callous and vindictive.
It’s also obvious that Caspan wants Vale while she just wants to disappear from his notice his attention towards her is dangerous placing her in the crosshairs of others. He also seems to hate her and blame her for her unwanted allure.
This series is seriously dark and I’m fascinated in seeing where this goes next but don’t go into this expecting romance as this is very far from it yet.
* I received an ARC ecopy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Taken is the second book in the Dark Fae series. The story continues from where it was left off in the first book where Vale gets captured by the Fae. In Taken, Vale was presented to their leader Caspan who takes a special interest in her. She works with the other captured humans who're serving the fae. They're more like slaves and they don't know why they've been spared, but questioning them or going against them will have brutal consequences.
With each book this series gets even more interesting and addicting. It's too bad that it was a short read because I literally flew through it and I didn't want it to end so soon. We get more insight on the fae and their hierarchy. But still there're so many questions that were left unanswered. General Caspan is a very dark and mysterious character. Everybody fears him including the fae. Currently, he's not my favorite guy, but still I can't wait to know more about him. The ending left me shocked. It was so brutal and torturous. I really need that third book right now!
Loved it, especially a dark happy ending. Caspan remained Caspan, cruel but with a touch of love ... true anti hero. Vale had more malice in her than I thought, she was ruthless, which actually suited Caspan's character well. I never understood about those goodie woodie characters that were linked to fellow anti heros. It just didn't make sense. “Monsters can love monsters,” he tells me. “But that love does not redeem them or change what they are.” These two add up, they match, both mental.
This is a Dark Fae series that is gritty sadistic and cruel it certainly doesn’t pull its punches. It features dark fae general Caspan and human surviver Vale after the total collapse and current ongoing destruction of the world.
It’s not fluffy or sweet or even romantic it’s the exact opposite of all this a dark destructive journey through a post apocalyptic landscape where the worlds gone to complete shit be aware it’s dark. I’ve posted individual reviews on each novella this is the combined box set of the last two.
This is the second of the dark fae series that I've read now and it did not disappoint! I loved the passion that Caspan and Vale shared, with both of them fighting it every step of the way!
I feel like this quote from book 5 sums the series up incredibly well:
Monsters can love monsters.. but that love does not redeem them or change what they are".
The dark fae are dark in this series. But they aren't evil, per se. They are different then humans so they shouldn't be judged by human values. Vale embraces her darkness fully in this book and it is the only way she can survive, but she isn't without some softer emotions. Caspan and Vale's relationship, and love if you want to call it that, doesn't look like rainbows and walks on the beach. There is affection but also loathing. I enjoy the complexity and appreciate a story that isn't cookie-cutter.
There's also action and death. If you are feeling a little bloodthirsty you will be indulged. Sometimes darkness is just the appetite you want whetted.
It’s a bit slow but then end totally makes up for that with the characters and the way this book describes things like the similarities between humans and fae and depression and intrusive thoughts.
Nicole is an absolute bitch and I’m not gonna like I don’t feel bad that she died 🤷♀️
Vale is a savage- she purposely got Nicole killed because she was horrible to her. You could say she’s a perfect match for Caspan.
Don’t even get me started on Caspan. Fae bastard. He manhandled Vale because he was angry and sexually frustrated- not a valid reason smh 🤦♀️
I’m so hooked with this book series and can’t wait to find out how it goes in the next two books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is so different. And so very unexpected. *spoilers* I love how this book is so dark. How Vale does not try to change the general. She embraces his darkness because she is the same as well. This books does not focus on the pretty. It focuses on the ugly. I love it even more for that. The epilogue is perfect and I could not want a better ending than that!
This series is gruesome. Seriously gorey. Quinn Blackbird wasn't playing around... when she named them the Dark Fae, she meant it! They are not fake villains or bad boys with hearts of gold.. they are genuinely awful- vicious, scary and violent.
Quinn Blackbird has a way of getting her hooks in me and dropping me straight into her apocalyptic Earth. These Dark Fae novella series are so interesting and I'm soooo intrigued as to what the heck is going to happen next!!
Another great read. Definitely the darkest scariest fae series I've read so far. Vale really pushes her luck & we won't know the outcome of her actions until the next book. Some characters I feel like karma finally caught up to them. Not going to tell you who, you'll have to read it to find out. Vale definitely uses her luck in this book to get what she wants. That luck may be running out though. Seriously read it, it won't disappoint!
I get the ice-cold feeling in my veins that something terrible is about to happen.
That is what I said when I first started this book (novella, whatever type it is). I really really don't mind the volume of this book, I was able to complete it without even knowing ( don't mind at all), which is appreciated, because its really really hard to take in all this darkness and psychopathic characters.
Vale gains more confidence in dealing with the Fae general, Caspan, to her own detriment. His cruelty is fully revealed to her in a series of violent punishments that all are forced to watch be carried out. This all the while Vale, and the rest of the camp, can’t figure out whether Caspan wants to kill her or ravish her.
Set in a dark and dismal world, this series is explores the hopelessness of being trapped in a dystopian world of dark fae who are slowly moving throughout Europe.
The books are short, but set to be released twice a month.
Great ending. I totally agree with how the dark Fae love. And love how Caspan spring their HEA on her. Expecting the worst and then having the opposite happen is just what she needed. I also love how their darkness compliments each other.
4.5 🌟s ! A deliciously dark & depraved apocalyptic enemies-to-lovers forbidden romance between a monstrous and villainous morally black Dark Fae general captor and an alluring human captive that captures his dangerous attention 🥀✨️
A very well written story of two morally ambiguous souls that, despite their better logic, are forever irrevocably attracted to each other’s orbit. Set against a devastatingly bleak futuristic apocalypse setting where the Dark Fae storm the Earth hell bent on the destruction of the human race. The violence/bloodshed and struggles of the humans trying to survive against all odds felt so utterly real it genuinely gave me chills ! Also the angst/tension and the pacing of the book was very well done, I was on the edge of my seat my stomach twisting with suspense. Reading this felt like I was injected with crack and then put on a rollercoaster of emotions, deliciously addictive and impossible to put down ! And the fact that I wanted both fucked up main leads to actually end up together, Caspan and Vale's romance felt so believable and I really feel that they're both perfectly matched for one another❤️🔥😭 This is all truly a testament to the author's talent !
*** This is a review of the second box set, books 4-5