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Fae and Crystal Thorns #3

Blade & Crystal Thorns

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An epic fantasy with a swoon-worthy romance and a conflict that will keep readers on the edges of their seats, Blade & Crystal Thorns is the 3rd book in the Fae and Crystal Thorns series.

A dagger could save them… if they don’t get stabbed in the back with it first.

Chloe and Quintus have just discovered a hidden court inside Faerie. It seems obvious who the new leader should be, especially once they realize how to find the missing crown. A golden and emerald dagger is the key to discovering it, but in the wrong hands, it could ruin them all.

When mortals start invading the court, their meddling impedes Chloe and Quintus’s quest for the crown. Even worse, Chloe starts to wonder if she truly agrees with Quintus’s plans for how the new court should be ruled.

With a long journey ahead, their differing ideals might finally pull them and the new court apart. This time, for good.

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2023

21 people are currently reading
454 people want to read

About the author

Kay L. Moody

35 books860 followers
Kay L. Moody is the YA fantasy author of COURT OF BITTER THORN and THE ELEMENTS OF THE CROWN. Her books feature rich world building, slow burn romance, mythical creatures, and twisty plots.

As a lover of strong female characters, books, and the color pink, she enjoys diving into magical worlds where characters can overcome even their darkest struggles. She lives in the western United States with her husband and four sons. Connect with Kay directly when you follow her on social media @kaylmoody

Visit her website to learn more.
www.KayLMoody.com

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5 stars
66 (50%)
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44 (33%)
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17 (12%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Julie - One Book More.
1,333 reviews238 followers
March 17, 2023
Blade and Crystal Thorns is another great addition to the series. The story is action-packed, and Chloe’s journey is full of high-stakes situations. Chloe, a human in the fae world, never stops fighting to save the land from corruption, and with the help of some valiant friends and a loyal love interest, she just might be able to do it. Tasked with finding a missing crown and learning all they can about a new, hidden court, Chloe and the rest of her group face dangerous and deadly obstacles, murderous and power-hungry villains, and their own personal dilemmas.

Chloe and Quintus go through a lot in this story, and they are torn between their feelings for each other and their differing views about some important issues. Quintus is so stubborn, and he says some thoughtless things that hurt Chloe. He and Ludo also do something that Chloe finds unforgivable. Their relationship is certainly put to the test in this book, and I’m curious to see how they resolve some deep-seated issues as the series continues.

Ludo and Meshti are on much of the journey with Chloe and Quintus, which I really enjoyed. They are all so different, yet each has strengths that help them on their mission. I also love the banter between all of them. They each have an interesting story to tell, and though they don’t always get along or see things the same way, it’s clear they all care for each other and want to do what’s right for the land and the people.

As always, the magical elements and world-building in the book are fantastic. Faerie is a unique and exciting world, and there are always new and interesting places to explore. I also like that we see characters from previous books, especially Chloe’s sisters. I liked seeing how each was doing and how their lives have progressed. In the last book, Elora and Brannick were desperately trying to repair their castle, and I wanted to see if they were still struggling. Their youngest sister has been gravely ill in the human realm, and I was curious about her condition considering it was tied to the corruption in Faerie. Everything has changed, and it’s interesting to see how all of their stories tie together.

I’m really enjoying this series. It’s original and exciting, and I look forward to continuing it. This is the third book in the series, so I would suggest starting with book one, as this is not a standalone. Special thanks to Kay l moody for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
61 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2023
Argh this book! Just when I thought things were on the up for Chloe something always comes along to throw a spanner in the works. Things go from bad to worse and even when things feel like the right thing to do they seem to have unforseen consequences. The group of 4 find themselves on a treasure hunt but are they the only ones looking. And as per the rest of the series you know there's a cliffhanger coming up but man it still got me! Can't wait to see how this all plays out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kelly Ann.
11 reviews
March 21, 2023
I was given an ARC of Blade and Crystal thorn in exchange for an honest review.
Kay L. Moody delivers another spellbinding Romantasy filled with epic adventure and sweet stolen moments between the couple I’ve come to love deeply, Chloe & Quintus! Crystalfall court opens faerie up to new mysteries & chaos, along with being one of the most breathtaking courts full of wonders & sparkle! This series is perfect for YA fantasy readers and left me in great anticipation for the next book!!

I loved this story! Chloe and Quintus are such a fun couple to read about. I’ve loved diving deeper into Faerie of the Bitter thorn universe, and experiencing a new land, Crystalfall.

Highly recommend this series!! It’s a fun, sweet YA fantasy series that will bring a smile to you face and keep you wanting to read more.
665 reviews15 followers
March 26, 2023
An excellent continuation to the series that sees Quinton, Chloe and their friends trying to restore Crystalthorn castle. The task is met with several hurdles along the way mostly in the form of The Mortals! The story is fast paced with lots of twists along the way and an unexpected end! I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Beba Andric.
1,583 reviews114 followers
March 17, 2023
Seemlessly continuing from the previous book, Chloe and Quintus, explore the new Court they've discovered. Not what they expected... They do discover that this court WAS a functioning one and with a set of clues and a task they know they need to fulfill. And the he library Chloe finds sounds just where I would love to get lost in! A visionary delight, exquisite!

This book so sucked me in from the very beginning, as did every book this author has written, it's as if I'd stepped right into the most beautiful marshlands and was pulled under, losing my footing entirely, sinking, sinking into this magical world. My nerves though, oh my poor nerves were on high alert, just as I was rooting for the team and their task to succeed in the very tense moments of almost accomplishing what they set out to do, Ms Moody janks me off my feet and throws me over the cliff! Thankfully she saves me... only to push me over an even higher precipice with the cliffhanger at the end!

I'm loving "this" Chloe! My goodness has her character evolved! She's so exuberant, so much more comfortable and confident and it's awesome! Except when there's a battle of course, then a panic attack comes down on her like an axe trying to sever her head, she literally freezes. But, even smart Chloe doesn't always make a smart move. When Ludo and Quintus mess up, really really mess up big time, the complexity of Chloe's feelings come to the fore. Her rage too... which is completely understandable, her reasoning and action she takes have dire consequences for everyone. Unintentional maybe, but the repercussions of that one single action puts not only the mortals she's trying to protect at risk, it's puts the entire Faerie and Fae at risk and it affected Quintus directly. Quintus, the cocky guy we knew from before, is now the uncertain one. His feelings of insecurity tugged at my soul. His love for Chloe is encompassing, which is a major feat for a Fae, they don't have emotions. But has she gone too far? Perhaps...

The battles the mortals instigate to take over Faerie is not helping any relations between the two species. Yes, a lot of them had horrific experiences at the hand of a very disturbed Fae and their actions are fuelled by Portia and Justin, not for the benefit of mortals, but to manipulate them. You see, Portia and Justin don't give a hoot about the mortals, they want the power, they want to rule all of Faerie. Gotta thrown in a few baddies, right? There's a lot more I could say about this outstanding book, but when you read it, you'll get to experience the magnificent tale first hand, so what are you waiting for? Read it!
Profile Image for Marie  Reed.
Author 5 books79 followers
March 10, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up

So first off, that cliffhanger should be illegal.

Quests are a pretty standard part of fantasy book series, and this is no exception. The fight against the mortals set on destroying Faerie and the search for the crown of Crystalfall both must happen, but our group of four isn't able to do everything at once. So many hasty and horrible decisions are made, but I think everyone learned from them and hopefully can work together better in the next book.

I didn't really like Ludo before this one, but he is really growing on me and I hope his storyline is resolved in the next book.
Profile Image for Ronni Adams.
98 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2023
We are reunited with Chloe and Quintus as they are headed towards a golden castle in the new Court. After gaining entry to the castle, Chloe searches for a library, knowing it will contain useful information.

She comes across a journal written by the King of Crystalfall, explaining how he broke apart his crown, so no-one could steal it from him. As much as Chloe wants to embark of a quest to retrieve the parts of the crown, Quintus brings her back to reality by reminding her that they still need to heal Fairie from iron poisoning , and that she needs to check on her sister Grace.

Chloe goes through the process of trying to heal Crystalfall, but there is no change, even when she attempts to poison the land in order to heal it, her iron needle is repelled by the land. Perhaps as Quintus suggests, the land is merely hibernating..

Also present are the ever malicious and self-serving Julian and Portia who have also leaned of the existence of the crown pieces and want it for themselves.

Chloe and Quintus are not alone on their quest, they are joined by Ludo and Mishti, however a rash decision made by Quintus and Ludo forces Chloe to take drastic action. Drastic action which will forever change the relationship between, Chloe and Quintus. 

In an attempt to keep Crystalfall safe from the far,  Chloe has only succeeded in keeping all magic from the new Court, and things gradually start to suffer.

When left with no other choice, Chloe eventually breaks the barrier between Crystalfall and Bitter Thorn, seeking the assistance of Ludo and Quintus. With reasons of their own, both Quintus and Ludo return to Crystalfall with Chloe.

Following this we have pages of extreme action, high tensions and what should be a happy ending, however we are left in suspense with an unexpected plot twist at the end of the book. I for one, can't wait to see what comes next.
Profile Image for Cheyenne Mcdonald.
677 reviews34 followers
February 21, 2023
Just finished this! And a review is to come! All I have to say right now is WOW. I feel like this fourth book is going to blow this series out of the water! The ending…what a cliffhanger.
Profile Image for Delphia  Von Heeder .
1,741 reviews50 followers
March 7, 2023
Blade and Crystal Thorns is Book 3 in the Fae and Crystal Thorns Series by Kay L Moody. I feel the series just seems to get better with each book. In book 3, Quintus, Chloe, Mishti, and Ludo are sent on a quest to find the pieces of the Crystalfall crown that are hidden. I think the characters are so well written and I am pulled into their adventure on an emotional level.. The evil characters are really bad and I am not sure if they will be defeated… time and book 4 will tell the tale! I believe that Blade and Crystal Thorns is an fabulous fantasy and everyone who loves this genre will need to put this series on their to read list. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Sudeshna Banerjee.
1,328 reviews39 followers
June 19, 2023
This is another great book from the series and I was thrilled to read this book. The story has been action-packed from the very beginning and I really liked the plot of the story. The cover photo is really beautiful and that is what caught my eyes first.

The writing skills of the author are flawless and have managed to grab my attention. The Storytelling and World Building is just fantastic and I really enjoyed reading all the twists. There was no unnecessary drama in the book just pure fantasy. I could visualise myself in that world.

I will definitely recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers. The author has done a great job.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Lydia Timpson.
556 reviews3 followers
March 19, 2023
Chloe and Quintus are now in the new/old court of Crystallfall with the mortals not far behind them and the rest of Faerie still recovering from iron poisoning. But despite their newfound romance the two of them have such different ideas about mortals, can they ever find common ground and will they be torn apart before they do?

Although it has been a while since I read the first two in this series it was really easy to pick back up where you left off. Thankfully the author left lots of tidbits in the text to remind you of events without having to have one of the characters give a great long exposition.
I really appreciated that because I read a lot of fae books and often you can get confused about which plot point went with which series.

Plot, pace and pitch
Things went along at quite a quick pace which was great as there was a lot to fit into this book. There wasn't as much downtime where they were waiting for things to happen which kept you reading.
I enjoyed the new aspects of the quest to find the you-know-what (no spoilers) but, to be honest, I did think that it could have been fleshed out more.
I realise other things needed to happen but it did feel a little like- "We need the thing no one has found in centuries... oh here's the thing." I would have liked an entire book about the quest and to watch Chloe and Quintus grow closer. I think this would have made the barrier part far more brutal. Maybe I just like angst.
The pitch of this book was slightly different to the others. It was far less humourous and geared more towards full-on action movie angst than a fantasy tale.

Characters and description.
We saw very little of Ludo which was a shame because I love that little grumpy dude. Quintus, too, was quite scarce and I missed the banter and flirting between him and Chloe.
Mishti was brilliant, as always and I enjoyed her scenes.
But Chloe really felt less in this book. Less in terms of character growth which I don't think she really had at all despite her willingness to amalgamate their working methods at the end. Throughout the book, she was quick to anger, quick to judge, quick to self-pity and hypocrisy and I found myself far less sympathetic to her 'frozen in fear' issues.
The description of the new court was wonderful, as ever. the author has a way with words that allowed you to accurately;ly imagine the glittering court (although side note, all of that glittering in the sun was surely blinding at times. couldn't they have utilised the sharp rays to blind enemies?) But in some cases, I think less is more. I would have liked less description and a bit more character growth.
I think that's why the book only gets 3 stars for me. it was okay but the whole reason I loved the previous series and, indeed, the previous books were because of the interaction of the characters from different worlds and their ability to work with each other when necessary. Also using Shadow to get out of things very quickly became a sort of deus ex machina and nullified any real sense of threat.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Emma Durphey.
99 reviews31 followers
March 21, 2023
The series continues with Chloe and the others, still facing off against the mortals despite their accomplishments. This time, they must protect a new court, with the help of a special dagger and a crown. They enter a quest to find the crown, all whilst battling unsure feelings and morals.

I love the cover for this one! The dagger is gorgeous! It would make a beautiful bookish decoration on the shelf!

This was a fun, delightful read. It picked up well from the second book. I enjoyed Chloe’a character more. She has truly grown a lot from the first book. She’s intelligent, thoughtful and always keeps her morals in check, even despite her feelings.

I’m glad we also got to see more Mishti, some of her feelings and fragments of her backstory. She’s an amazing character, so strong despite everything.

This was a fun read and I definitely recommend it to those who love fantasy, fae and incredible series with action, romance and more!

Thank you Booksirens and Kay L. Moody for the chance to read this incredible third book in a fun series!
Profile Image for Nickole.
1,492 reviews9 followers
March 29, 2023
Rcvd an advanced reader copy from BookSirens for giving my two cents. We are following the story of Chloe and Quintas where they discovered a hidden court and now must find all the pieces of the crown to put it back together to stop the mortals from taking over again. After finding a few pieces they are basically ambushed by Julian and Portia and he ends up getting a clue. This impeded Chloes and Quintas' quest for thr crown. However they decide to sneak into the mortal camp and find clues. This plan goes sideways and retreating is what must be done. But when Quintas and Ludo have an idea...it sets Chloe off and her anger festers causing a chain reaction. Not knowing what to do, Chloe must keep moving forward....but at what cost? Will she be able to find the other pieces? Will Crystal Thorn give her anymore answers and will Quintas every forgive her?
Profile Image for Amelia (booksandtheblacktea).
100 reviews38 followers
March 22, 2023
We’re continuing the story of Chloe, our lovely human girl, and Quintus the Fae after they found a surprising “long lost” area in Faerie which no one seems to remember 🤯 I won’t say much because it was one of the big twists in book 2 “Shadow & Crystal Thorns”! Let’s just say that in this book, Chloe and Quintus must fight and find a way to protect both Faerie and friendly humans from the nonstop attack of Julian and Portia, rebel turned evil humans who want to take Faerie as their own. The question is, will Chloe and Quintus be able to put aside differences in facing their common enemies and bring peace to both Faerie and human world once again?

So, ugh, IT WAS THE MOST THRILLING BOOK IN THE SERIES SO FAR, NO LIE! It was a page turner with epic action scenes, emotionally shaking plot, and more areas to be explored. To be very honest, there was a big twist where I want to scream at Chloe, telling her that she doesn’t need to bear the burden and make decisions alone even though she’s not in the best term with her loved ones 🥺 But again, doesn’t matter how hard it drove me crazy, I’m positive that it will lead to something bigger for both Chloe and Quintus’s developments in the next book ☺️

And last but not least, Kay’s one of the best authors I know in terms of torturing her readers, including me of course, with cliffhanger endings 😂 HOW DARE YOU END A BOOK LIKE THAT @kaylmoody ??? *rolling on the floor waiting for book 4*
105 reviews4 followers
March 22, 2023
I was so excited to read this book and let me just say it did NOT disappoint! This author puts so much detail into her world building - I know I have said it before, but it really IS easy to imagine you are right there in Fairie. Crystallfall Court is as spectacular as I thought it would be from the physical makeup to the new magical creatures introduced as well.

I loved that all of the main characters were back for this book. Even though this is a fantasy book, it is not all "perfect" and I liked that there were challenges and puzzles which forced some to discover their own strength, but also the teamwork necessary at times as well. The character development throughout this book is especially well written.

It is an understatement to say I can't wait for the next book in the series - it can't come quick enough!

*I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Katharina.
136 reviews3 followers
March 25, 2023
Blade and Crystal Thorns is the third book in the Fae and Crystal Thorns series by Kay L Moody. Chloe and Quintus discover a new court in Faerie and Quintus seems to be the new leader of it. But before they can truly find out, they have to find the missing pieces of the crown. But their search was interrupted by Julian and Portia and their army of mortals. Will they get all the pieces in time?
Blade and Crystal Thorns is a good sequel and continues the story in an interesting and suspenseful way. This book didn't catch me as much as the first two, but I still like it! It's definitely worth it to continue the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
515 reviews4 followers
March 27, 2023
Another amazing installation in the Crystal Thorns saga!

The choices that both Chloe, a mortal, and Quintus, a Fae, make have far reaching consequences that neither of them could foresee.

The excellent world building continues to absorb and pull in the reader while the emotions are mind blowing and unaccountably accurate especially where Chloe and Quintus are concerned. The reader felt each high and low… Well done!

When the last line is finished and the reader longs for the next book to find out what happens next then the author has succeeded in creating a riveting read! Bring forth Book four NOW! (Please… since we are not in Faerie!!)

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,784 reviews71 followers
April 5, 2023
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Sassy_momma_luvsbooks.
33 reviews30 followers
May 11, 2023
Another great continuation into the the land of Faerie!! Kay's world building continues with a beautiful and whimsical land. You have a clear presentation of each court, it's surroundings, and it's magic.

Chloe, Quintile and their two companions continue on a journey to save Faerie from the mortals and to heal the land. Battles continue but now they have discovered something new!! A new court called Crystalfalls.

Chloe has ideas of who the new ruler should be. They are lead on a scavenger hunt of sorts to recover lost or missing items. A quest for more information that is desperately needed.

Their quests leads them into more dangerous situations and some of Chloe's ideas may not be what's best. While she has grown, she still shows areas where more lessons and growth are needed.

I'm looking forward to the next installment and finding out more about the new court of Crystalfalls that was discovered, the relationships, and if the mortals are finally defeated!!
Profile Image for Kiranna Travellyn.
210 reviews4 followers
March 22, 2023
Things are starting to take an unexpected turn, this book really shakes everything up. It's getting really exciting, I love how descriptive the author is of the world and it's surroundings. Everything is so beautifully described, I felt like I was actually part of the story. This book is very much a page turner, with each page you get more engaged with the storyline. The characters have gone through so much and have evolved throughout each book, even the side characters have grown with the storyline. The storyline itself is well developed and full of interesting lore and a lot of fantastic twists, some you might expect and others you might not. The book ends with a cliffhanger of sorts, setting up for book 4. I am looking forward to seeing how things turn out, this has been an extremely fun series with many an emotional moments that are sure to leave you close to tears.
Profile Image for Lydia Carson.
241 reviews7 followers
March 30, 2023
What I liked about this book is that it is a delightful escape from reality. It is a YA book and is suitable for teens, without any explicit sex scenes. I love that there isn’t any profanity.

It is an intriguing story with Fae, Mortals, magic, emotions. There is conflict and self realization as Chloe learns to think before acting. Will her impulsive actions save the court or will she end up destroying it and the people she loves?

I had received and advanced readers copy and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books).
2,811 reviews117 followers
April 3, 2023
This is the third book in the series and continues as our cast of characters embark on a quest There’s a lot of action and I loved the romance of the story. The characters are well-developed and it’s such a good read , it ends on a cliffhanger and now I really need to know what happens next, addictive reading

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Delaney Lison.
11 reviews37 followers
April 23, 2023
This author puts alot of work in the world-building which I absolutely adore. A wonderful addition to the series. Lots of action and fast-paced. Can't wait for the next!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Veronica LaRoche.
4,632 reviews62 followers
March 21, 2023
This series just gets better and better. Chloe & Quintus definitely will have you glued too your kindle. Another amazing read that had me hooked from page one.
Profile Image for Brittni Hurley.
62 reviews3 followers
March 26, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely love this series, and this book did not disappoint!

Chloe has developed so much throught the series, from The bitter Thirn series to now, and I've loved seeing her relationship with Quintus grow and evolve.
More Mishti is an added bonus in this book!

If you havnt started the journey into Faerie yet, I highly reccomend. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. I can't wait to find out what the next installment brings
Profile Image for Devika.
716 reviews19 followers
March 27, 2023
Blade & Crystal Thorns is the third part in the Fae & Crystal Thorns series by Kay L. Moody. After finding out there is a whole court that has yet to be explored, I couldn’t wait to go on the adventure. But what Kay L Moody have in store for her in this book?

Find out in my review on my blog Boekensteeg
Profile Image for Debbie Eyre.
5,923 reviews116 followers
March 22, 2023
Book three and this incredible series continues. We carry on from book two and it’s thrilling, exciting and so engrossing as Chloe and Quintus’s adventure continues. Well paced and action packed, this magical read is full of danger, tension and suspense as we continue to watch our characters grow and develop, especially Chloe. It’s a fantastic fantasy read with incredible world building that continues to pull you in deeper and deeper and I cannot wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Terry Juell.
90 reviews5 followers
March 22, 2023
OMGosh This book was amazing. I love a story when it has all the feels! And boy this one did not disappoint! It was very emotional for me. I love Quintus and Chloe so much! I highly recommend this book and this whole series, put it on top of your TBR! I cannot wait for the next book to come out!!! This ending though!!!
4,497 reviews21 followers
March 21, 2023
Chloe and Quintus are back and on another quest is in their future. A good story with some interesting surprises and twists that had me thinking and wondering how it was going to play out. And had to see if Chloe and Quintus made it to the end and what trouble they would have to survive this time. Enjoyed the story and the characters as always.
Profile Image for Emmie King.
58 reviews3 followers
March 4, 2023
This might be my new favorite. I couldn’t put it down, each page kept pulling me back for more.

It still has all the same features of the other books, but the stakes, betrayals, romance, friendship, and cliffhangers all get so much deeper.

It was so exciting to get to revisit a tiny bit of the story from the Nutcracker of Crystalfall, and get a little bit more information from there.

I am SO EXCITED for Curse and Crystal Thorns, I absolutely cannot wait!! If you’ve loved Kay L Moody’s other books, this one won’t disappoint.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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