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The Sythea Chronicles #1
Rose Red
A witch on the run from the fae who hunt her. A bounty hunting fae with a devastating secret. An unexpected alliance that will shatter everything they thought they knew.
In a land scarred by a centuries old war where fae hunt witches to extinction and collect them for bounty, Rose must hide in the woods with her grandmother to avoid being turned over to the fae king for torture. Rose does what she can to survive, stalking and killing any fae that wander too close to home and using her magic sparingly to avoid detection.
One day, Rose is captured by a wolf-shifting bounty hunter named Emrys, and she immediately knows two things to be true. First, she must find a way to escape no matter the cost. And second... she's never hated anything more than she hates the fae. Especially her captor.
When the forest comes alive with mysterious, sentient mists, bands of thieves, and strange creatures, Emrys and Rose must form an alliance to survive and achieve a common goal: freedom. But as their tenuous truce is pushed to the limits, they soon realize that they may have a common enemy as well, that the threats of Sythea run deeper than either of them bargained for... and that the lines between love and hate are dangerously thin.
In a land scarred by a centuries old war where fae hunt witches to extinction and collect them for bounty, Rose must hide in the woods with her grandmother to avoid being turned over to the fae king for torture. Rose does what she can to survive, stalking and killing any fae that wander too close to home and using her magic sparingly to avoid detection.
One day, Rose is captured by a wolf-shifting bounty hunter named Emrys, and she immediately knows two things to be true. First, she must find a way to escape no matter the cost. And second... she's never hated anything more than she hates the fae. Especially her captor.
When the forest comes alive with mysterious, sentient mists, bands of thieves, and strange creatures, Emrys and Rose must form an alliance to survive and achieve a common goal: freedom. But as their tenuous truce is pushed to the limits, they soon realize that they may have a common enemy as well, that the threats of Sythea run deeper than either of them bargained for... and that the lines between love and hate are dangerously thin.
585 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2023
458 people are currently reading
5118 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Rekab
5 books91 followersE.J. Rekab also publishes as Elizabeth J. Rekab.
Elizabeth "E.J." Rekab is an author of YA & NA paranormal, fantasy romance, and science fiction, including the dark fairytale retelling series THE SYTHEA CHRONICLES, and the YA supernatural thriller series THE REAPER TRILOGY, which international best-selling author E.E. Holmes calls, "A truly unique paranormal thrill ride."
When she's not writing, she's either searching for her next travel destination or hanging out with her Yorkipoo, cats, and Senegal parrot at her home in Florida.
You can visit Elizabeth online at http://www.elizabethjrekab.com
Elizabeth "E.J." Rekab is an author of YA & NA paranormal, fantasy romance, and science fiction, including the dark fairytale retelling series THE SYTHEA CHRONICLES, and the YA supernatural thriller series THE REAPER TRILOGY, which international best-selling author E.E. Holmes calls, "A truly unique paranormal thrill ride."
When she's not writing, she's either searching for her next travel destination or hanging out with her Yorkipoo, cats, and Senegal parrot at her home in Florida.
You can visit Elizabeth online at http://www.elizabethjrekab.com
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February 4, 2023is it me or does it smell like acotar in here
March 19, 2024
This was good! It has many of the usual romantasy tropes in it, and it is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling, which was a fun twist that made it distinguishable. I liked the main characters, Rose (aka Red) and Emrys, a lot, and their relationship was very sweet. I loved how obsessed they were with each other by the end, and they were both willing to do literally anything to save the other. There are lots of twists and turns throughout the book, and something is always happening to the characters, so you won't get bored.
There were times when I didn't love the writing style. Everything just seemed to move so quickly, and there was always something working against Rose and Emrys. By 20% into the book, Rose had already watched her grandmother die, been captured, fought against forest creatures with her captor (Emrys), and married Emrys. They agreed to marry each other pretty quickly considering they were mortal enemies at the start of the story. In my opinion, the marriage proposal came out of nowhere and it was way too soon in the story. Also, the reasoning to get married was shaky at best. I don't really understand why they both thought that was the best approach or why they agreed so quickly after meeting. The whole conversation about getting married was like a few pages, and then they were basically getting married the next day. I guess the pacing was just a little too fast, although, I do think that's better than a book moving too slowly.
All that said, overall, it's a good book. I enjoyed it. It's pretty unique. Yes, it's a romance between a witch-hunter and a witch, just like Serpent & Dove, as so many reviews have noted, but the world is very different. It has somewhat of a cliffhanger, but not a bad one at all. I'd recommend!
There were times when I didn't love the writing style. Everything just seemed to move so quickly, and there was always something working against Rose and Emrys. By 20% into the book, Rose had already watched her grandmother die, been captured, fought against forest creatures with her captor (Emrys), and married Emrys. They agreed to marry each other pretty quickly considering they were mortal enemies at the start of the story. In my opinion, the marriage proposal came out of nowhere and it was way too soon in the story. Also, the reasoning to get married was shaky at best. I don't really understand why they both thought that was the best approach or why they agreed so quickly after meeting. The whole conversation about getting married was like a few pages, and then they were basically getting married the next day. I guess the pacing was just a little too fast, although, I do think that's better than a book moving too slowly.
All that said, overall, it's a good book. I enjoyed it. It's pretty unique. Yes, it's a romance between a witch-hunter and a witch, just like Serpent & Dove, as so many reviews have noted, but the world is very different. It has somewhat of a cliffhanger, but not a bad one at all. I'd recommend!
January 23, 2023
Sadly, this was a DNF for me. I couldn’t make it past 26%. The FMC and MMC are supposed to be enemies. A witch and a witch hunter. Witch hunter nabs witch to take to his king for a bounty. Along the way he decides they should get married. Totally random and out of no where. Then becomes a doting husband?! It didn’t make any sense. It all felt too forced. The writing was solid, the execution just fell flat. I received this as an arc, and I want to thank the author for the opportunity. Unfortunately this just didn’t work for me and I’m rather disappointed.
January 7, 2023
Wow.
I received this book as an ARC and I am so glad I did. I was hooked by the first chapter and could not put it down! The twists and turns caught me by surprise and I couldn’t guess what would happen next! I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here! 10/10 recommend for those who enjoy ACOTAR and FBAA. It also reminded me of the Serpent and Dove series!
I received this book as an ARC and I am so glad I did. I was hooked by the first chapter and could not put it down! The twists and turns caught me by surprise and I couldn’t guess what would happen next! I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here! 10/10 recommend for those who enjoy ACOTAR and FBAA. It also reminded me of the Serpent and Dove series!
January 19, 2023
DNF at 43%.
Whew. I don’t even know how I made it that far. I did receive an ARC from the author and I appreciate the opportunity. I had high hopes for this book. I came across the author and the story on tik tok and I was instantly intrigued. The snippets of scenes from the videos were great, however, the book was not. The writing style is very choppy. There is not world building or lead up to anything. One second they’re enemies and the next they start feeling things for each other. After Rose and Emrys get married all he can think about is fucking Rose. The relationships are flat. The little bit of explanation that is given does not set up the characters relationships at all. I tried to keep going because I hate not finishing books but I honestly could not get through this book. I will say that I believe the author has a great premise for a story but the writing does nothing to hold that up.
Whew. I don’t even know how I made it that far. I did receive an ARC from the author and I appreciate the opportunity. I had high hopes for this book. I came across the author and the story on tik tok and I was instantly intrigued. The snippets of scenes from the videos were great, however, the book was not. The writing style is very choppy. There is not world building or lead up to anything. One second they’re enemies and the next they start feeling things for each other. After Rose and Emrys get married all he can think about is fucking Rose. The relationships are flat. The little bit of explanation that is given does not set up the characters relationships at all. I tried to keep going because I hate not finishing books but I honestly could not get through this book. I will say that I believe the author has a great premise for a story but the writing does nothing to hold that up.
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January 24, 2023Hello, my dear readers. My name is Elizabeth J. Rekab, and this is my book. Obviously, I'm not here to rate my own book (because that would be a little weird). But I am here to do something even more important: I'm here to say THANK YOU.
Whether you loved ROSE RED or it wasn't your cup of tea, THANK YOU. We all have our likes and dislikes, and no one is obligated to like my books. But I appreciate every single person who decided to take a chance on my little fae + witch romantasy. To everyone who took the time to read, whether you ultimately ended up loving the story or feeling like it could've been done better... THANK YOU. To everyone who saw my little videos on BookTok and liked, commented, or shared... THANK YOU. To all my future readers with my book sitting cozily on their TBR... THANK YOU.
I've long been a fan of this genre, but admittedly, this was my first time writing in it. I'm hopeful it resonates with at least some of you the way it did with me while I was immersing myself in the land of Sythea. The book provided a creative outlet for me during a very rough time in my life, and Rose and Emrys's journey was often my escape. I did fall in love with these characters as they (reluctantly) fell for each other, and I'm so happy to be able to share their story with you. I enjoyed breathing life into them and watching them grow as individuals. I enjoyed writing my side characters as well, particularly Jasper, Korvyn, and Goro. For those who haven't yet read, I won't spoil other than to say... these characters have my heart.
But you, my dearest readers, are what give me all the motivation I need to keep yanking these vivid hallucinations out of my tired brain and organizing them on paper for the world to read. So once again, from the bottom of my fantasy-loving heart... THANK YOU ALL.
Wishing you all the best,
EJR
Whether you loved ROSE RED or it wasn't your cup of tea, THANK YOU. We all have our likes and dislikes, and no one is obligated to like my books. But I appreciate every single person who decided to take a chance on my little fae + witch romantasy. To everyone who took the time to read, whether you ultimately ended up loving the story or feeling like it could've been done better... THANK YOU. To everyone who saw my little videos on BookTok and liked, commented, or shared... THANK YOU. To all my future readers with my book sitting cozily on their TBR... THANK YOU.
I've long been a fan of this genre, but admittedly, this was my first time writing in it. I'm hopeful it resonates with at least some of you the way it did with me while I was immersing myself in the land of Sythea. The book provided a creative outlet for me during a very rough time in my life, and Rose and Emrys's journey was often my escape. I did fall in love with these characters as they (reluctantly) fell for each other, and I'm so happy to be able to share their story with you. I enjoyed breathing life into them and watching them grow as individuals. I enjoyed writing my side characters as well, particularly Jasper, Korvyn, and Goro. For those who haven't yet read, I won't spoil other than to say... these characters have my heart.
But you, my dearest readers, are what give me all the motivation I need to keep yanking these vivid hallucinations out of my tired brain and organizing them on paper for the world to read. So once again, from the bottom of my fantasy-loving heart... THANK YOU ALL.
Wishing you all the best,
EJR
January 21, 2023
Thank you E.J. Rekab for letting me have an ARC of your new book!
Rose Red follows Rose and Emrys as they traverse the hatred between their kinds- witches and fae- to find common ground to not only protect themselves, but each other.
Think Serpent and Dove meets ACOTAR meets something uniquely its own. I'm always tickled pink when I come across a world of magic that's completely its own. The magic trope can get repetitive fast so when reading Rose Red and learning about how witches and fae are different from other magic-based books I've read, I was pleased and loved learning more about how the world worked. Rose and Emrys are the quintessential enemies to lovers trope and the slow burn was worth the wait! The plot line was interesting to follow and I can't wait to see what else is in store for Rose and Emrys. Also, the plot twist at the end? I'm keeping my eye on you E.J.
Rose Red follows Rose and Emrys as they traverse the hatred between their kinds- witches and fae- to find common ground to not only protect themselves, but each other.
Think Serpent and Dove meets ACOTAR meets something uniquely its own. I'm always tickled pink when I come across a world of magic that's completely its own. The magic trope can get repetitive fast so when reading Rose Red and learning about how witches and fae are different from other magic-based books I've read, I was pleased and loved learning more about how the world worked. Rose and Emrys are the quintessential enemies to lovers trope and the slow burn was worth the wait! The plot line was interesting to follow and I can't wait to see what else is in store for Rose and Emrys. Also, the plot twist at the end? I'm keeping my eye on you E.J.
January 17, 2023
Rating: 4✨
Spice: 2.5-2.75🌶 (Emrys is a werewolf shifter fae so OOF)
First, I would like to thank the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary and honest.
So wow, I really enjoyed this read. I also feel like this book includes heavy topics, so I appreciated the trigger warnings in the beginning. I would also like to add that there are scenes that include nonconsensual s*x, so keep that in mind before reading and I hope they do add that to the trigger warnings prior to the book releasing.
Rose and Emrys shocked me by the end with how much I liked & was rooting for them both.
Rose is a headstrong character, who grows in strength & power throughout the book but also in self confidence in the best way. I loved her growth and I definitely see more coming in the future book(s). I also love how open she was to opening her mind and admitting the world she thought she knew was not so black & white.
Emrys is such a complex character in the best way. He is a broody, no bs character but we get to see the light he also has inside him. His thoughts could be VERY dark. But he is also so gentle, so sweet, and his journey getting past that darkness was really special to see. I cannot wait to see more of his growth in the future.
There are also side characters, like Goro, that will warm your heart and make you smile. If you like red ridinghood retellings, this book is for you. If you like books involving fae, shifters, witches & dragons, this book is for you. If you love books where the good vs evil sides are not so black and white, this book is for you. If you are also looking for a spicy shifter romance, this book IS FOR YOU! The Fae vs Witches plot was very intriguing & had so many twists & turns, so I am excited to see what is to come!
Spice: 2.5-2.75🌶 (Emrys is a werewolf shifter fae so OOF)
First, I would like to thank the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary and honest.
So wow, I really enjoyed this read. I also feel like this book includes heavy topics, so I appreciated the trigger warnings in the beginning. I would also like to add that there are scenes that include nonconsensual s*x, so keep that in mind before reading and I hope they do add that to the trigger warnings prior to the book releasing.
Rose and Emrys shocked me by the end with how much I liked & was rooting for them both.
Rose is a headstrong character, who grows in strength & power throughout the book but also in self confidence in the best way. I loved her growth and I definitely see more coming in the future book(s). I also love how open she was to opening her mind and admitting the world she thought she knew was not so black & white.
Emrys is such a complex character in the best way. He is a broody, no bs character but we get to see the light he also has inside him. His thoughts could be VERY dark. But he is also so gentle, so sweet, and his journey getting past that darkness was really special to see. I cannot wait to see more of his growth in the future.
There are also side characters, like Goro, that will warm your heart and make you smile. If you like red ridinghood retellings, this book is for you. If you like books involving fae, shifters, witches & dragons, this book is for you. If you love books where the good vs evil sides are not so black and white, this book is for you. If you are also looking for a spicy shifter romance, this book IS FOR YOU! The Fae vs Witches plot was very intriguing & had so many twists & turns, so I am excited to see what is to come!
January 28, 2023
DNF @ 30%. This is my first DNF in a long time -- I manage to push through a lot of sub-par stories but this one was a big nope from me.
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July 5, 2023DNF
Unfortunately, this one was really hard for me to get into. The writing is very wooden. The dialogue is where I had a lot of issues. It was very stiff and felt almost emotionless which was odd because they were talking about serious topics... I think a lot of it came from the fact that while there was some action it was all about telling instead of showing. A lot of times Rose would tell us that she was afraid but there wasn't really any description of her emotions or her bodies reaction to that swell of emotion to show us that she was scared.
Unfortunately, this one was really hard for me to get into. The writing is very wooden. The dialogue is where I had a lot of issues. It was very stiff and felt almost emotionless which was odd because they were talking about serious topics... I think a lot of it came from the fact that while there was some action it was all about telling instead of showing. A lot of times Rose would tell us that she was afraid but there wasn't really any description of her emotions or her bodies reaction to that swell of emotion to show us that she was scared.
February 2, 2023
"If you stay in the light, I will be content to bask in it with you. Should you ever give into darkness... I shall walk through the bastard right by your side. Wherever you go that is where I wish to be, Red. Always." - Emrys, Rose Red
In ancient war against witches and Fae, the fae have won. Witches are executed and hanged for the simple act of being alive. Rose has lived in isolation with her family since the age of six. After the death of her parents and grandmother, Rose is captured by a bount hunter.
But Emrys, is no normal hunter. He has lived for over 300 years. The only one of his kin to do so. And he is tired of living. Tired of serving the king and bringing in bounty after bounty. He seeks eternal peace. To finally be with his murdered family. And he will do anything to get there.
Rose has the magic he needs to finally end his curse. But to keep her alive and get her to help him will mean praying upon traditions of a dead queen. He will have to 'Bind their blood!'
_____________________________________
This was my first ever ARC Read and I have to say I have mixed feelings.
On one hand, I felt the book holds good promise. The storyline I love. It gives me Red ridinghood vibes at first. And the fact that Emrys is a fae shifting wolf just adds to that. Them falling for each other is definitely forbidden. But ultimately inevitable in this enemies to lovers with an arranged marriage trope.
What holds me from absolutely loving this book is the writing. Don't get me wrong it's not badly written, just needs some editing.
Originally I felt like Emrys and Roses relationship lacked chemistry(for lack of a better word). Don't get me wrong there is plenty of spice! They just didn't have enough of that witty banter and that angsty sexual tension I've come to expect from enemies to lovers. I feel like either Emrys or Rose always gave in to quick to situations that could be more elaborated on. And certain scenes just made me feel like Emrys was being a whiny little boy. I did love how once he married her, slowly but surely everything became about her.
Rose was lovely. You see her grow into herself. I love how she can fight and will defend her own without a care for herself. She is powerful and beautiful and basically what every Badass FMC should be like.
The last 100 pages or so was filled with so much that I was finding it alittle hard to keep up. The world building was good. Jasper always reminded me of Jesper. Goro was one of my favorite characters. I would love to have a talking bird. What I didn't like was the fae's enchanting powers and how easily they could command you. I hated the king and his punishments. And how Emrys just went along with things until he decided enough was enough and that Rose was his life and the world and everyone in it could burn as long as she was safe.
Also a plus was the dual pov! I love being in both the FMC and MMC heads!
The book, thankfully, doesn't end on a cliff hanger. But it definitely leaves you wanting to know "what next?".
Overall it was a good first book in the series.
In ancient war against witches and Fae, the fae have won. Witches are executed and hanged for the simple act of being alive. Rose has lived in isolation with her family since the age of six. After the death of her parents and grandmother, Rose is captured by a bount hunter.
But Emrys, is no normal hunter. He has lived for over 300 years. The only one of his kin to do so. And he is tired of living. Tired of serving the king and bringing in bounty after bounty. He seeks eternal peace. To finally be with his murdered family. And he will do anything to get there.
Rose has the magic he needs to finally end his curse. But to keep her alive and get her to help him will mean praying upon traditions of a dead queen. He will have to 'Bind their blood!'
_____________________________________
This was my first ever ARC Read and I have to say I have mixed feelings.
On one hand, I felt the book holds good promise. The storyline I love. It gives me Red ridinghood vibes at first. And the fact that Emrys is a fae shifting wolf just adds to that. Them falling for each other is definitely forbidden. But ultimately inevitable in this enemies to lovers with an arranged marriage trope.
What holds me from absolutely loving this book is the writing. Don't get me wrong it's not badly written, just needs some editing.
Originally I felt like Emrys and Roses relationship lacked chemistry(for lack of a better word). Don't get me wrong there is plenty of spice! They just didn't have enough of that witty banter and that angsty sexual tension I've come to expect from enemies to lovers. I feel like either Emrys or Rose always gave in to quick to situations that could be more elaborated on. And certain scenes just made me feel like Emrys was being a whiny little boy. I did love how once he married her, slowly but surely everything became about her.
Rose was lovely. You see her grow into herself. I love how she can fight and will defend her own without a care for herself. She is powerful and beautiful and basically what every Badass FMC should be like.
The last 100 pages or so was filled with so much that I was finding it alittle hard to keep up. The world building was good. Jasper always reminded me of Jesper. Goro was one of my favorite characters. I would love to have a talking bird. What I didn't like was the fae's enchanting powers and how easily they could command you. I hated the king and his punishments. And how Emrys just went along with things until he decided enough was enough and that Rose was his life and the world and everyone in it could burn as long as she was safe.
Also a plus was the dual pov! I love being in both the FMC and MMC heads!
The book, thankfully, doesn't end on a cliff hanger. But it definitely leaves you wanting to know "what next?".
Overall it was a good first book in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2024
Edit:
I did end up finishing this book, but I stand by my 1-star review for the reasons detailed below. I do not abide faerie fuckboys, misogyny without commentary, or dumb bitches.
This story had potential but fell well short of all of it. The shallow characters earned nothing, the plot was built upon contrivances, and there were no consequences for anything.
_____________
Initial review (Feb 2023).
I am so disappointed because I had every intention of finishing this book. This is my first DNF of the year, technically a Will Not Finish out of moral principle. There was no trigger warning or disclaimer for the SA scene (at 63%). Said scene was entirely redundant and contributed nothing to the plot or characters. It came immediately after a mutually consensual sex scene, like literally with only a scene break between. Why???? Furthermore, the MMC says that he wished he had allowed his "bitch" ex-girlfriend to sleep over in the past "so that maybe I would have known was I was capable of." In other words, "If I had only sleep-r@ped my bitch ex-girlfriend in the past, maybe I wouldn't have sleep-r@ped my wife now, even though she liked it."
Between the rampant misogyny (sexualising a stranger while they were still "enemies", calling his ex-partner a bitch and treating her like an object) and the inclusion of purity culture (why tf does virginity, a damaging religious and social construct of our real world, exist in a fantasy novel about mythical creatures?), this book has to be a 1-star for me...and that's even without the assault scene that shouldn't exist.
I did end up finishing this book, but I stand by my 1-star review for the reasons detailed below. I do not abide faerie fuckboys, misogyny without commentary, or dumb bitches.
This story had potential but fell well short of all of it. The shallow characters earned nothing, the plot was built upon contrivances, and there were no consequences for anything.
_____________
Initial review (Feb 2023).
I am so disappointed because I had every intention of finishing this book. This is my first DNF of the year, technically a Will Not Finish out of moral principle. There was no trigger warning or disclaimer for the SA scene (at 63%). Said scene was entirely redundant and contributed nothing to the plot or characters. It came immediately after a mutually consensual sex scene, like literally with only a scene break between. Why???? Furthermore, the MMC says that he wished he had allowed his "bitch" ex-girlfriend to sleep over in the past "so that maybe I would have known was I was capable of." In other words, "If I had only sleep-r@ped my bitch ex-girlfriend in the past, maybe I wouldn't have sleep-r@ped my wife now, even though she liked it."
Between the rampant misogyny (sexualising a stranger while they were still "enemies", calling his ex-partner a bitch and treating her like an object) and the inclusion of purity culture (why tf does virginity, a damaging religious and social construct of our real world, exist in a fantasy novel about mythical creatures?), this book has to be a 1-star for me...and that's even without the assault scene that shouldn't exist.
March 5, 2023
Look, I really wanted to like this book. I did. And it had its redeeming qualities. I loved the side characters like Goro. I’m a big fan of a marriage of convenience trope. I loved the message that no one wins in war, both sides are bad, and all that. And I enjoyed the dual point of view with alternating chapters.
BUT. This whole book just didn’t work for me. I kept hoping it would get better but it didn’t. The writing was really stilted and formal. The characters were constantly making decisions where I wanted to yell, “C’mon, really?!” Nonsensical choices that went against their character development as smart/powerful/dedicated/etc. I really hated the non consensual sex scene - no spoiler because it’s in the trigger warnings. It added NOTHING to the story and it would have been way better without it. And the spicy scenes were…okay.
I found this series from the author’s Tiktok about the second book, which follows another couple - a plus size princess and her body guard. I’ll give it another try because that’s the book I actually wanted to read, and this one was standing in the way. But I’m a little disappointed. I hope this next one is better since we have the world-building started and can improve from there…
BUT. This whole book just didn’t work for me. I kept hoping it would get better but it didn’t. The writing was really stilted and formal. The characters were constantly making decisions where I wanted to yell, “C’mon, really?!” Nonsensical choices that went against their character development as smart/powerful/dedicated/etc. I really hated the non consensual sex scene - no spoiler because it’s in the trigger warnings. It added NOTHING to the story and it would have been way better without it. And the spicy scenes were…okay.
I found this series from the author’s Tiktok about the second book, which follows another couple - a plus size princess and her body guard. I’ll give it another try because that’s the book I actually wanted to read, and this one was standing in the way. But I’m a little disappointed. I hope this next one is better since we have the world-building started and can improve from there…
January 20, 2023
I recieved a copy of Rose Red in an ARC program - my first ever! And What a first ARC! I found myself waking up extra early so I could spend uninteruppted time with Rose and Emrys before the house woke and my attention was split. Thank you so much to E.J. Rekab for inviting me along on this journey!
I enjoy a good romance, and enemies to lovers is my absolute favourite trope. If that's your thing, this is your next read. Just, trust me. You've got your "make a deal to solve a problem and stay alive" plot point, and your "one bed" moment, quick banter, and of course that slow burn that makes the emotional (and physcial) realizations that much better. The romantic arc is slow, steady, and honestly pretty organic for a fantasy novel. I enjoy romance stories at all level of spice, and this one definitely delivered in the spice arena. There is a fine line to going too far and distracting from the story when it comes to things like this, and E.j. Rekab navigates it with aplomb and elegance.
My favourite thing about Rose Red is the worldbuilding, though. This is truly fantasy romance for those of us that grew up with High Fantasy. The Tolkien kids, the Tamora Pierce kids - those of us that still walk through the woods and imagine that the trees might be listening in on our conversations. There are so many of the absoulute fantasy Must-Haves in Sythea that I was enamoured from the start. We've got fairy tale elements between Rose and her wolf shifter Emrys, enchanted forests, curses, fae of a dazzling assortment, talking animals (well sort of, you'll see. I ADORE Goro, though), witches, wights, a seemingly endless war between magical beings, Princes in love with beautiful bards, and a mysterious outerland of death and waste contained by a mysterious, seemingly sentient mist. Towards the end there is another big, very welcome surprise...but I don't want to ruin it for you.
I appreciate the way Rekab gave Emrys a strong foil from the start, and gave us shifting perspectives so we could see the internal workings of the story from both sides. Emrys' story is so poignant and layered with grief and pain (tw self harm) that I was immediately protective of our gruff hero. Rose? She's spunky and I thoroughly enjoyed being inside her head, even when she was navigating living amongst enemies and dealing with truly horrific things. A powerful witch portrayed as something other than pure good or bad is a delightful journey as well. I am very interested to see where Rekab takes Rose in the next installment of The Sythea Chronicles, and the war between the witches and fae. There are no winners in war, and Rekab does a very good job of creating a world in which good people get stuck in the middle of politics of ignorance, hatred and spite.
The story deals with dark elements - bodily harm, psychological trauma, loss, betrayal, revenge, and war- so if you're looking for an easy uplifting read this might not be the one for today, but definitely make time to explore Sythea. Rose and Emrys will welcome you in, and Sythea itself will win your heart.
I enjoy a good romance, and enemies to lovers is my absolute favourite trope. If that's your thing, this is your next read. Just, trust me. You've got your "make a deal to solve a problem and stay alive" plot point, and your "one bed" moment, quick banter, and of course that slow burn that makes the emotional (and physcial) realizations that much better. The romantic arc is slow, steady, and honestly pretty organic for a fantasy novel. I enjoy romance stories at all level of spice, and this one definitely delivered in the spice arena. There is a fine line to going too far and distracting from the story when it comes to things like this, and E.j. Rekab navigates it with aplomb and elegance.
My favourite thing about Rose Red is the worldbuilding, though. This is truly fantasy romance for those of us that grew up with High Fantasy. The Tolkien kids, the Tamora Pierce kids - those of us that still walk through the woods and imagine that the trees might be listening in on our conversations. There are so many of the absoulute fantasy Must-Haves in Sythea that I was enamoured from the start. We've got fairy tale elements between Rose and her wolf shifter Emrys, enchanted forests, curses, fae of a dazzling assortment, talking animals (well sort of, you'll see. I ADORE Goro, though), witches, wights, a seemingly endless war between magical beings, Princes in love with beautiful bards, and a mysterious outerland of death and waste contained by a mysterious, seemingly sentient mist. Towards the end there is another big, very welcome surprise...but I don't want to ruin it for you.
I appreciate the way Rekab gave Emrys a strong foil from the start, and gave us shifting perspectives so we could see the internal workings of the story from both sides. Emrys' story is so poignant and layered with grief and pain (tw self harm) that I was immediately protective of our gruff hero. Rose? She's spunky and I thoroughly enjoyed being inside her head, even when she was navigating living amongst enemies and dealing with truly horrific things. A powerful witch portrayed as something other than pure good or bad is a delightful journey as well. I am very interested to see where Rekab takes Rose in the next installment of The Sythea Chronicles, and the war between the witches and fae. There are no winners in war, and Rekab does a very good job of creating a world in which good people get stuck in the middle of politics of ignorance, hatred and spite.
The story deals with dark elements - bodily harm, psychological trauma, loss, betrayal, revenge, and war- so if you're looking for an easy uplifting read this might not be the one for today, but definitely make time to explore Sythea. Rose and Emrys will welcome you in, and Sythea itself will win your heart.
January 20, 2023
Wowie, if that wasn’t an amazing start to a series I don’t know what is!
Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice 🌶🌶🌶
First let me start off by thanking E.J. Rekab for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this story. Now I’ll admit what drew me to this story was an out of context quote reel on Instagram 😂 (we’ve all been there right)? Anyways when I read the description of the book and realized that it was a retelling of red riding hood, I was pretty much sold but what I wasn’t prepared for was just how imaginative this retelling of red riding hood would really be! In this story we are literally dropped right in the middle of an all out war. A war between Fae and Witches that has spanned generations. A war that has taken pretty much everyone from our main character Rose. Rose has lived her entire life running, hiding, and generally just trying to survive from the Fae who hunt her. Knowing that if she is captured she will be thrown into the castle’s dungeons where she would be slowly and meticulously tortured before inevitably being executed for her crimes (the crime of being a witch). And for about 20 years Rose has been lucky, she’s been smart, and she’s been lethal to any Fae who have even gotten a wiff of her. Unfortunately, her luck comes to a screeching halt when she goes sword to fang with Emrys. For the first time she’s been bested and now she’s accepted that she’s on her way to spend what time she’s left on this earth in misery. That is of course until Emrys offers her a different path with a different outcome, but the solution he offers is one that she may find just as deplorable as being locked away for her remaining days, but one that may offer her a glimmer of hope to grasp onto. if she’s willing to fight. And that’s all I’ll tell you about the story because truly this was a great read and one I highly recommend you guys going to read. Especially if you love slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers, action packed, high fantasy romance.
HAPPY READING 📖
Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice 🌶🌶🌶
First let me start off by thanking E.J. Rekab for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this story. Now I’ll admit what drew me to this story was an out of context quote reel on Instagram 😂 (we’ve all been there right)? Anyways when I read the description of the book and realized that it was a retelling of red riding hood, I was pretty much sold but what I wasn’t prepared for was just how imaginative this retelling of red riding hood would really be! In this story we are literally dropped right in the middle of an all out war. A war between Fae and Witches that has spanned generations. A war that has taken pretty much everyone from our main character Rose. Rose has lived her entire life running, hiding, and generally just trying to survive from the Fae who hunt her. Knowing that if she is captured she will be thrown into the castle’s dungeons where she would be slowly and meticulously tortured before inevitably being executed for her crimes (the crime of being a witch). And for about 20 years Rose has been lucky, she’s been smart, and she’s been lethal to any Fae who have even gotten a wiff of her. Unfortunately, her luck comes to a screeching halt when she goes sword to fang with Emrys. For the first time she’s been bested and now she’s accepted that she’s on her way to spend what time she’s left on this earth in misery. That is of course until Emrys offers her a different path with a different outcome, but the solution he offers is one that she may find just as deplorable as being locked away for her remaining days, but one that may offer her a glimmer of hope to grasp onto. if she’s willing to fight. And that’s all I’ll tell you about the story because truly this was a great read and one I highly recommend you guys going to read. Especially if you love slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers, action packed, high fantasy romance.
HAPPY READING 📖
January 20, 2023
I received an ARC from the author. Thank you! I want to first start off by saying I DNF at 48% the idea behind the book was great but the execution was a bit off for me. The writing style at the beginning when Rose was telling her family story, talking about witches, and the dialogue between Rose and grandma told me immediately “ok, this is different than what you’re used to.” But I pushed forward. I’m not a fan of the switch back and forth between perspectives but a lot of folks are doing that now.
I was hoping to get a bit more World building so I could fully immerse myself in Sythea but that was lacking a bit. I’m really disappointed because I wanted to like this book so bad but maybe next time!
I was hoping to get a bit more World building so I could fully immerse myself in Sythea but that was lacking a bit. I’m really disappointed because I wanted to like this book so bad but maybe next time!
February 4, 2023
Very loose retelling of Little Red Riding Hood where the wolf is a sexy fae shifter bounty hunter hell bent on breaking his curse until little miss Rose aka generationally powerful witch in hiding shows up and kicks his ass causing a delicious amount of tension. One marriage of convenience later, and we’ve got enemies working together to further their own means while evading a deadly genocidal war and of course, falling in love.
It was a good read with an interesting world and plot line, just felt too long. Could’ve cut like 100 pages and not lost anything vital.
It was a good read with an interesting world and plot line, just felt too long. Could’ve cut like 100 pages and not lost anything vital.
January 22, 2023
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. Have you ever read a book that you purposely slow down how fast you’re reading because you don’t want it to end? This book is it. This fairytale reimagining has it all; enemies to lovers romance, strong female lead, Witches, Fae, a dragon, betrayal, friendship, good vs evil, twists and turns and some steamy scenes. The book is Adult but with a touch of YA style, great character development.
I am eagerly awaiting Book Two!
I am eagerly awaiting Book Two!
February 12, 2024
A very good easy read! The romance is a good pace, though the protagonists were a little stubborn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2023
I found this author on tiktok and was looking forward to this book coming out so when I saw an opportunity to get an arc I ran! I wasn't sure what to expect going into it, but I was hooked from page one. Can't go wrong with a bad*** FMC! I loved how strong and stubborn Rose is no matter what is thrown at her.
I've seen others describe it as Serpent and Dove mixed with Little Red Riding Hood with fae and witches and I totally agree! I can't wait to see where the characters will go and what they will do with the situation they have found themselves in.
I've seen others describe it as Serpent and Dove mixed with Little Red Riding Hood with fae and witches and I totally agree! I can't wait to see where the characters will go and what they will do with the situation they have found themselves in.
May 11, 2023
There were so many stories and settings within this book; it was quite the adventure. I love how Rekab developed her characters within this novel, as many of the main characters and side characters had different alliances and traits that made them unique. The first few chapters seemed like they could have gone through a few more revisions. But overall, this was fun and a nice read. +there's sexy scenes.
January 9, 2023
Spice 2/5
This book is a fae vs witch adaptation of Red Riding Hood. The wolf eats Red, just in a whole different way. This story really did do a great job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, nope, just kidding. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series when it comes out!
This book is a fae vs witch adaptation of Red Riding Hood. The wolf eats Red, just in a whole different way. This story really did do a great job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, nope, just kidding. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series when it comes out!
January 12, 2023
I received this book as an arc and it was a great read. It has all my favorites. Enemies to lovers, one bed, one horse, banter and you get some spice? Yes.
January 26, 2023
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5
Cheese: 🧀🧀 out of 5
Magic:🪄🪄🪄🪄 out of 5
*Psyched for the next one!*
I saw a little clip on Insta recommending this book, and I’m so glad I did. I purchased this to my kindle app.
I was looking for some high fantasy romance to cure my ACOTAR hangover, and this was a tonic straight from Red herself! Couldn’t put it down, it is catchy from the start, and the action pulls you all the way through the book. I read this in two days. This is exactly what I was looking for in the fantasy romance genre, which is why I give it a 5 star rating. Cannot recommend it enough. Now, you have to get about 60% through the book for the spice to really happen, but there’s enough little tension scenes to get you there. This is enemies to conspirators, to lovers, to fuck everybody else! There is good world building and beautiful scenes described. All of the favored fantasy tropes are here, and they are not done in an overly cheesy way, which is such a balancing act for fantasy writers. I really have to give it up to the author for walking that fine line, with this being her first book in this style/genre. I also love Emrys as a male MC - his development and personality makes him so endearing! There is a great thread of humor through the books as well. I laughed out loud throughout.
In saying that this book is similar to Cruel Prince: the way that the story is set in a very fae vibe, but stays centered around the love interests is what I wanted the Cruel Prince series to be. Cruel Prince was more a bunch of zany, action plot lines centered around the MC Jude, with the love story being a more behind the scenes, background plot. This one had the two MCs on the adventure together and the plot is centered on their love story. The first few chapters and the last few chapters of the book had a Cruel Prince vibe/style of writing.
I’m saying that this is similar to GoT:
The major plot line is in the middle of the book. It has a much more GoT vibe - with torture (which I wasn’t expecting), backstabbing (literally), Court drama, politics, crazy evil king, magical whodunit, traumatized people traumatizing others, chosen one/powerful MC, etc. The middle portion is most cohesive writing and where the characters aren’t just doing action scenes but are experiencing the bulk of their development. The author really showed her writing skills here in the middle portion.
The only criticisms I have (and these are slight) is that the dialogue between the MCs in the beginning is a little stilted and immature- but I think that most fantasy books have that as they establish the world and relationships, so I wasn’t surprised by it. The beginning of the book was a little rushed, but especially the end was rushed and threw a lot at the reader at once. I liked the course they were on, but thought it could have been expanded on and done smoother. Still, looking forward to the next chronicle to see what happens next!
Cheese: 🧀🧀 out of 5
Magic:🪄🪄🪄🪄 out of 5
*Psyched for the next one!*
I saw a little clip on Insta recommending this book, and I’m so glad I did. I purchased this to my kindle app.
I was looking for some high fantasy romance to cure my ACOTAR hangover, and this was a tonic straight from Red herself! Couldn’t put it down, it is catchy from the start, and the action pulls you all the way through the book. I read this in two days. This is exactly what I was looking for in the fantasy romance genre, which is why I give it a 5 star rating. Cannot recommend it enough. Now, you have to get about 60% through the book for the spice to really happen, but there’s enough little tension scenes to get you there. This is enemies to conspirators, to lovers, to fuck everybody else! There is good world building and beautiful scenes described. All of the favored fantasy tropes are here, and they are not done in an overly cheesy way, which is such a balancing act for fantasy writers. I really have to give it up to the author for walking that fine line, with this being her first book in this style/genre. I also love Emrys as a male MC - his development and personality makes him so endearing! There is a great thread of humor through the books as well. I laughed out loud throughout.
In saying that this book is similar to Cruel Prince: the way that the story is set in a very fae vibe, but stays centered around the love interests is what I wanted the Cruel Prince series to be. Cruel Prince was more a bunch of zany, action plot lines centered around the MC Jude, with the love story being a more behind the scenes, background plot. This one had the two MCs on the adventure together and the plot is centered on their love story. The first few chapters and the last few chapters of the book had a Cruel Prince vibe/style of writing.
I’m saying that this is similar to GoT:
The major plot line is in the middle of the book. It has a much more GoT vibe - with torture (which I wasn’t expecting), backstabbing (literally), Court drama, politics, crazy evil king, magical whodunit, traumatized people traumatizing others, chosen one/powerful MC, etc. The middle portion is most cohesive writing and where the characters aren’t just doing action scenes but are experiencing the bulk of their development. The author really showed her writing skills here in the middle portion.
The only criticisms I have (and these are slight) is that the dialogue between the MCs in the beginning is a little stilted and immature- but I think that most fantasy books have that as they establish the world and relationships, so I wasn’t surprised by it. The beginning of the book was a little rushed, but especially the end was rushed and threw a lot at the reader at once. I liked the course they were on, but thought it could have been expanded on and done smoother. Still, looking forward to the next chronicle to see what happens next!
January 19, 2023
This story was so good, it had me enchanted all the way through. This was a little longer of a book than I normally read, I never felt as though it went on for too long. The twists and turns kept coming and I ate it up! It also has the spice to keep me interested as well. Like I said Rose and Emrys's chemistry was off the charts and when they finally "got together" Whew it was perfect! I love them! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to anymore in this series. Also thank you to the author for the ARC.
Red Rose was a gripping fantasy with a deep lore and great magic system plus some amazing romance. Rose, a witch, has been hiding from the Fae for most of her life. Her and her Grandmother are finally found by bounty hunters. Rose makes an unlikely alliance with a Fae, Emrys, and they have to work together to break a spell and to obtain freedom. The world of Sythea is rich with history and it was enjoyable to learn about it. It was well placed though out the story so I didn't feel like the information was just being dumped on me. We learned with the characters. Which wow Rose is a great female main character. Feisty but kind-hearted, loyal even if it can be a detriment to herself, but I found that endearing because her loyalty also wasn't blind. She has her own moral code that guides her. And then there is Emrys. Even though they started off rocky, Emrys stole my heart, just like he stole Rose's. He turned away from everything he knew because of his love for Rose and in that he saw the wrongness in the view of those he once called kin. Although their relationship happened in only a couple of weeks time, I didn't feel as though it was rushed in anyway. There was a foundation of like-mindedness and then they fall into each other. Ah! I loved it. They had such great chemistry. I also very much loved Korvyn and Goro. I am a big fan of well written side characters.
Red Rose was a gripping fantasy with a deep lore and great magic system plus some amazing romance. Rose, a witch, has been hiding from the Fae for most of her life. Her and her Grandmother are finally found by bounty hunters. Rose makes an unlikely alliance with a Fae, Emrys, and they have to work together to break a spell and to obtain freedom. The world of Sythea is rich with history and it was enjoyable to learn about it. It was well placed though out the story so I didn't feel like the information was just being dumped on me. We learned with the characters. Which wow Rose is a great female main character. Feisty but kind-hearted, loyal even if it can be a detriment to herself, but I found that endearing because her loyalty also wasn't blind. She has her own moral code that guides her. And then there is Emrys. Even though they started off rocky, Emrys stole my heart, just like he stole Rose's. He turned away from everything he knew because of his love for Rose and in that he saw the wrongness in the view of those he once called kin. Although their relationship happened in only a couple of weeks time, I didn't feel as though it was rushed in anyway. There was a foundation of like-mindedness and then they fall into each other. Ah! I loved it. They had such great chemistry. I also very much loved Korvyn and Goro. I am a big fan of well written side characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2023
Rose Red by E.J. Rekab
A dark fantasy romance retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Fairies vs witches with some werewolf vibes.
I recently fell into booktok and this book caught my eye since it wasn’t one of the same 5-books that everyone was gushing over. That and I am a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling. Grow it up a bit and I’m all over it.
Rose is a witch that is just trying to survive and doing what needs to be done in order to do it.
Emrys is the fae shifter that comes and ruins it all. Typical male. I jest! Kind of.
The world that E. J. Rekab builds in this book is new to me. At first, a bit disconcerting as it is to be a blending of so many different fantasy worlds: witch, fae, shifter. But not impossible. Definitely opened my eyes and mind to a different perspective that was refreshing.
I found the pacing of the writing to be good in the beginning but then it gets a bit rushed at the end. Kind of felt like I was being fast forwarded past the “boring parts” to get the characters where they needed to be for place setting for book two.
I did not like this.
Personally, I felt the book had a solid ending and then it just kept going. I actually had to stop and read back a bit because I thought I missed a title or blurb telling me that I was previewing book two.
The main characters took some getting used to. I still don’t think I’m used to them. But I was very invested in their journey.
Now, if you’re into it, the spice in this book was two thumbs up. There are some trigger warnings so read up on those before you pick up this book.
All in all, this was a good book. I’m definitely going to read book two when it comes out.
Overall, I would enjoy a little bit more character development as I felt the characters were a bit two dimensional.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a dark fantasy romance with spicy spice and is looking for something outside of the usual fantasy tropes.
Four stars
A dark fantasy romance retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Fairies vs witches with some werewolf vibes.
I recently fell into booktok and this book caught my eye since it wasn’t one of the same 5-books that everyone was gushing over. That and I am a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling. Grow it up a bit and I’m all over it.
Rose is a witch that is just trying to survive and doing what needs to be done in order to do it.
Emrys is the fae shifter that comes and ruins it all. Typical male. I jest! Kind of.
The world that E. J. Rekab builds in this book is new to me. At first, a bit disconcerting as it is to be a blending of so many different fantasy worlds: witch, fae, shifter. But not impossible. Definitely opened my eyes and mind to a different perspective that was refreshing.
I found the pacing of the writing to be good in the beginning but then it gets a bit rushed at the end. Kind of felt like I was being fast forwarded past the “boring parts” to get the characters where they needed to be for place setting for book two.
I did not like this.
Personally, I felt the book had a solid ending and then it just kept going. I actually had to stop and read back a bit because I thought I missed a title or blurb telling me that I was previewing book two.
The main characters took some getting used to. I still don’t think I’m used to them. But I was very invested in their journey.
Now, if you’re into it, the spice in this book was two thumbs up. There are some trigger warnings so read up on those before you pick up this book.
All in all, this was a good book. I’m definitely going to read book two when it comes out.
Overall, I would enjoy a little bit more character development as I felt the characters were a bit two dimensional.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a dark fantasy romance with spicy spice and is looking for something outside of the usual fantasy tropes.
Four stars
June 15, 2023
Rose Red by E.J. Rekab is the first book in The Sythea Chronicles series and is a fairytale reimagining of Rose Red / Little Red Riding Hood. Rose is a witch that is captured by a wolf shifter Fae in the employ of the King. Rose and her captor, Emrys, realize they can help each other and form a rather acrimonious alliance. Tropes include slow burn, one bed, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience and touch her and die; and there is LGBTQ+ representation as well. This is a spicy book for adults only.
The Lovely: These book excelled in two areas. First, the plot and tension held strong throughout the whole book - I never got bored or distracted. The plot line did a lot of bobbing and weaving and most of the time I wasn’t expecting what happened. Second, I loved the characters and their interactions. Red and Emyrs both changed and developed over the course of the book and had their negative aspects. I also think Emyrs’ story and situation were unique.
The Mundane: The visual world building was scant in the castle and village portion of the book. I never developed a good feel for how that environment looked/smelled/sounded so would have liked to have seen more.
The Dreadful: Nothing dreadful!
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Recommendation: Sometimes I waver on if a book should be a 4 or 5 star. Not this one - I knew it was a 5. It’s rare I find a story that is really strong in both plot/tension and characters, but this one did just that. It’s 300 pages of a very slow, very hot burn. I’m excited to see that the next book comes out late this fall, and that she’s planning to add two more books to the series after that. I can’t wait for book 2!
The Lovely: These book excelled in two areas. First, the plot and tension held strong throughout the whole book - I never got bored or distracted. The plot line did a lot of bobbing and weaving and most of the time I wasn’t expecting what happened. Second, I loved the characters and their interactions. Red and Emyrs both changed and developed over the course of the book and had their negative aspects. I also think Emyrs’ story and situation were unique.
The Mundane: The visual world building was scant in the castle and village portion of the book. I never developed a good feel for how that environment looked/smelled/sounded so would have liked to have seen more.
The Dreadful: Nothing dreadful!
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Recommendation: Sometimes I waver on if a book should be a 4 or 5 star. Not this one - I knew it was a 5. It’s rare I find a story that is really strong in both plot/tension and characters, but this one did just that. It’s 300 pages of a very slow, very hot burn. I’m excited to see that the next book comes out late this fall, and that she’s planning to add two more books to the series after that. I can’t wait for book 2!
February 17, 2023
Wow!! Thank you EJ Rekab for sending me this amazing ARC to review!
So this starts out with a witch and a Hunter basically fighting for survival. She fights to be free and he fights to have a purpose, to repay the king for taking him in after his family was slaughtered. It’s not your typical love story. But let me tell you, the way these characters grew to love each other and actually make their marriage of convenience work was so well written. I loved how strong Rose was throughout the book, willing to be nice to everyone even when the world wasn’t nice to her. And Emery, he was a strong willed character from the start, but page by page his hardened exterior broke away and he started to care about Rose. You were able to read it and notice it before he even had an idea of it happening.
While there is a lot of information in this book and it is quite long, stick with it. They are so many twists and turns that keep you on your toes you will never goes the ending. I seen a lot of DNF reviews for this book and after reading them think that a lot of the reasons listed were only because the information wasn’t given close enough to the event that occurred. I do know I even had to keep reading to get my answers. But this is one of those ones that I’ll never forget. The ending, wasn’t a huge cliff hanger either. Yes there is unfinished business but there is also closure there for the characters. I cannot wait for book two off this series (hopefully more after that as well).
So this starts out with a witch and a Hunter basically fighting for survival. She fights to be free and he fights to have a purpose, to repay the king for taking him in after his family was slaughtered. It’s not your typical love story. But let me tell you, the way these characters grew to love each other and actually make their marriage of convenience work was so well written. I loved how strong Rose was throughout the book, willing to be nice to everyone even when the world wasn’t nice to her. And Emery, he was a strong willed character from the start, but page by page his hardened exterior broke away and he started to care about Rose. You were able to read it and notice it before he even had an idea of it happening.
While there is a lot of information in this book and it is quite long, stick with it. They are so many twists and turns that keep you on your toes you will never goes the ending. I seen a lot of DNF reviews for this book and after reading them think that a lot of the reasons listed were only because the information wasn’t given close enough to the event that occurred. I do know I even had to keep reading to get my answers. But this is one of those ones that I’ll never forget. The ending, wasn’t a huge cliff hanger either. Yes there is unfinished business but there is also closure there for the characters. I cannot wait for book two off this series (hopefully more after that as well).
March 25, 2023
Skimmed
Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐
Spice: 1.5/5🔥
Open door /Closed Door
Romance: 2/5 ❤️
World building: 2.5/5 🌎
Plot: 3/5 📖
Writing: 4/5 📝
Characters: 3/5 👥
Cover: 5/5 📓
Tropes / Featuring:
🦄📚 Fairytale retelling
🧝 Fae
🐺 Shifters
🧙 Witches
🏹 Witch Hunter
🐉 Dragon
❤️🔥⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
👰🏼 Marriage of Convenience
Summary:
✔️ Some characters (Goro and the King) were interesting and the story has a lot of potential
❌ Their relationship was rushed and I had to force myself to keep reading
❌ FMC makes stupid decisions without thinking of the consequences
Will I continue this series? ❌ (next book continues their story, but also includes a new story: sleeping beauty retelling)
Would I recommend? ❌
TW / CW:
Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐
Spice: 1.5/5🔥
Open door /
Romance: 2/5 ❤️
World building: 2.5/5 🌎
Plot: 3/5 📖
Writing: 4/5 📝
Characters: 3/5 👥
Cover: 5/5 📓
Tropes / Featuring:
🦄📚 Fairytale retelling
🧝 Fae
🐺 Shifters
🧙 Witches
🏹 Witch Hunter
🐉 Dragon
❤️🔥⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
👰🏼 Marriage of Convenience
Summary:
✔️ Some characters (Goro and the King) were interesting and the story has a lot of potential
❌ Their relationship was rushed and I had to force myself to keep reading
❌ FMC makes stupid decisions without thinking of the consequences
Will I continue this series? ❌ (next book continues their story, but also includes a new story: sleeping beauty retelling)
Would I recommend? ❌
TW / CW:
January 21, 2023
I received this ARC curtesy of the author. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
A witch on the run from the fae and a wolf shifter with a horrible secret team up together to fight a curse and create peace between their people. They walk a thin line between love and hate along the way.
Rose and her grandmother are living tucked away from society in the woods. The fae have been hunting humans and witches to extinction, keeping the "useful" ones as entertainment or torturing them for information. After fighting of hoards of bounty hunters over the years and watching her grandmother's death, Rose is eventually captured by a wolf shifter named Emrys who is not only a bounty hunter but a member of the King's court. Emrys has been cursed by the witch who murdered his family to live forever, and he collects humans and witches for the king in exchange for the eventually breaking of his curse (at the king's convenience).
On the way to the kingdom, Rose and Emrys encounter undead beings emerging from a sentient mist/fog. They fight them off together. Rose convinces Emrys that she will be able to break the curse. In exchange, Emrys offers to marry her to prevent her torture and execution. Rose and Emrys navigate court life together while working on breaking his course. All the while their "fake marriage" and feelings for each other turn into something neither of them could have expected.
This was a super interesting take on the classic Little Red riding hood. Rose is nicknamed Red and Emrys is "the big bad wolf" shifter. I really enjoyed the world building in this. There were a bunch of plot twists at the end so hold on tight! There are also some super endearing side characters. There's also a dragon at the end! Yay dragons! I would not consider this story smut but their were a few satisfying and moderately spicy scenes.
The book had a lot of my favorite tropes:
-marriage of convenience/marriage pact
-"fake" marriage (or is it?)
-Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Forbidden Love
-Dark Secret
-Different Worlds
-Emotional Scars
Sometimes fantasy stories can be a little too convoluted with details, but this one definitely had balance for me. I really enjoyed the flow and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a romantic fantasy. Be forewarned! It does end up on a cliffhanger, but has a "happy for now" sort of ending as well. Please do check your trigger warnings before diving in, as this book does have some emotionally heavy themes.
A witch on the run from the fae and a wolf shifter with a horrible secret team up together to fight a curse and create peace between their people. They walk a thin line between love and hate along the way.
Rose and her grandmother are living tucked away from society in the woods. The fae have been hunting humans and witches to extinction, keeping the "useful" ones as entertainment or torturing them for information. After fighting of hoards of bounty hunters over the years and watching her grandmother's death, Rose is eventually captured by a wolf shifter named Emrys who is not only a bounty hunter but a member of the King's court. Emrys has been cursed by the witch who murdered his family to live forever, and he collects humans and witches for the king in exchange for the eventually breaking of his curse (at the king's convenience).
On the way to the kingdom, Rose and Emrys encounter undead beings emerging from a sentient mist/fog. They fight them off together. Rose convinces Emrys that she will be able to break the curse. In exchange, Emrys offers to marry her to prevent her torture and execution. Rose and Emrys navigate court life together while working on breaking his course. All the while their "fake marriage" and feelings for each other turn into something neither of them could have expected.
This was a super interesting take on the classic Little Red riding hood. Rose is nicknamed Red and Emrys is "the big bad wolf" shifter. I really enjoyed the world building in this. There were a bunch of plot twists at the end so hold on tight! There are also some super endearing side characters. There's also a dragon at the end! Yay dragons! I would not consider this story smut but their were a few satisfying and moderately spicy scenes.
The book had a lot of my favorite tropes:
-marriage of convenience/marriage pact
-"fake" marriage (or is it?)
-Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Forbidden Love
-Dark Secret
-Different Worlds
-Emotional Scars
Sometimes fantasy stories can be a little too convoluted with details, but this one definitely had balance for me. I really enjoyed the flow and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a romantic fantasy. Be forewarned! It does end up on a cliffhanger, but has a "happy for now" sort of ending as well. Please do check your trigger warnings before diving in, as this book does have some emotionally heavy themes.
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