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Kingdoms of the Faery Path #1
Crown of Glass
Sometimes the strongest things are made of glass.
Half kelpie, half human, Fenella belongs to neither Faery nor the mortal realm. She strives to remain unnoticed, for humans have always distrusted the fae.
And distrust breeds violence.
When Fenella is kidnapped by a ruthless stranger, she lands in Faery at the center of deadly schemes. Her only chances to escape back to her family are during three glittering balls.
However, escape from this dangerous world becomes more complicated as she’s torn between a villain and a spy.
Neither will give her up.
Neither will let the other live.
And both will wage war to place a crown of glass on her head.
Crown of Glass is a heart-pounding young adult fantasy with clean romance. It is perfect for fans of Holly Black's The Cruel Prince, Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, and the retellings of K.M. Shea and Marissa Meyer.
Half kelpie, half human, Fenella belongs to neither Faery nor the mortal realm. She strives to remain unnoticed, for humans have always distrusted the fae.
And distrust breeds violence.
When Fenella is kidnapped by a ruthless stranger, she lands in Faery at the center of deadly schemes. Her only chances to escape back to her family are during three glittering balls.
However, escape from this dangerous world becomes more complicated as she’s torn between a villain and a spy.
Neither will give her up.
Neither will let the other live.
And both will wage war to place a crown of glass on her head.
Crown of Glass is a heart-pounding young adult fantasy with clean romance. It is perfect for fans of Holly Black's The Cruel Prince, Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, and the retellings of K.M. Shea and Marissa Meyer.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2023
66 people are currently reading
471 people want to read
About the author
Alice Ivinya
32 books311 followersAlice is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes low spice fantasy and fairytales.
She lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite authors are Holly Black and Brandon Sanderson.
When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her two young sons, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
She lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite authors are Holly Black and Brandon Sanderson.
When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her two young sons, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 11, 2023
You know those books that you enjoy so much that you don't want to stop reading until you get to the end, and then when you get to the last page you don't want it to end? This is one of those books. I enjoyed it so much! It had everything you want in a good book: action, suspense, great characters, clean romance, a happy ending, etc.
Some books are hard to read when written in the first person, but Alice does an excellent job with it! You don't get stuck in the character's head but instead really feel their pain, their confusion, their joy, and their hope.
At different times in the book, I was reminded of Narnia and even Lord of the Rings with the fight of good verses evil. Sometimes, it looks bleak, and you're not sure if good will win, but when faith, hope, and love are the driving force behind the good, it's hard to hold it back.
I am really looking forward to the next books in this series... but I might just have to read this one a few more times while I wait! 😊
Thank you, Alice, for an amazing book!
I received a free ARC of this book and reviewed it willingly.
Some books are hard to read when written in the first person, but Alice does an excellent job with it! You don't get stuck in the character's head but instead really feel their pain, their confusion, their joy, and their hope.
At different times in the book, I was reminded of Narnia and even Lord of the Rings with the fight of good verses evil. Sometimes, it looks bleak, and you're not sure if good will win, but when faith, hope, and love are the driving force behind the good, it's hard to hold it back.
I am really looking forward to the next books in this series... but I might just have to read this one a few more times while I wait! 😊
Thank you, Alice, for an amazing book!
I received a free ARC of this book and reviewed it willingly.
April 26, 2023
This story was absolutely fantastic and I can't wait for the series to continue!
Fenella is the perfect heroine, and not because she is perfect, but because her strength comes from accepting her flaws and her desire to help others.
Fenella is the perfect heroine, and not because she is perfect, but because her strength comes from accepting her flaws and her desire to help others.
March 29, 2023
What if you knew you were Fae, but you really didn't know what that meant? Fen is going to find out, and it is a difficult lesson. Then Fen discovers that she's not just Fae, but much more. With no preparation how can she fill her destiny?
The author does a great job revealing Faery to the reader. An upfront introduction with explanatory data as the story evolves. It actually makes you feel a bit like Fen - one more piece of data revealed. How does that fit with what Fen has already learned? How can she take this knowledge and make Faery a better place?
This is a story filled with mystery, filled with action, filled with deceit, filled with love for you fellow human (and Fae). You will enjoy following in Fen's footsteps as she slowly peels back Faery and what it will mean to her future.
The author does a great job revealing Faery to the reader. An upfront introduction with explanatory data as the story evolves. It actually makes you feel a bit like Fen - one more piece of data revealed. How does that fit with what Fen has already learned? How can she take this knowledge and make Faery a better place?
This is a story filled with mystery, filled with action, filled with deceit, filled with love for you fellow human (and Fae). You will enjoy following in Fen's footsteps as she slowly peels back Faery and what it will mean to her future.
April 1, 2023
Loved this new story by this author. It is a Cinderella retelling with a face twist. I loved the action and the romance.
July 3, 2023
(4.5 stars.)
"You are fragile, like glass, Fenella. I want to see what is underneath when you shatter."
Crown of Glass is a clean romance retelling of Cinderella with a faerie twist. Here, our main character is Fenella, who has a freaking BEAUTIFUL name. Her and her sisters are all half human, half kelpie, which puts them in an awkward position. After all, their parents have been banished from the faerie realm, and the humans don't trust the fae. Ever. Naturally, Fenella and her family have tried their best to keep their kelpie selves a secret. Yet, that doesn't stop Fenella from getting nabbed by an unreasonably handsome and deceptive fae and brought back to the faerie realm. Form you see, there's more to the banishment story than what Fenella knew. And while Fenella has three chances to slip away at a faerie ball and return home, there is no escaping the responsibility that has been thrust upon her. Nor is there any escaping the love triangle our girl gets caught up in.
Um, excuse me. Who gave this book the right to dominate my very EXISTENCE the day or so it took me to read? This book is positively enthralling.
We start off with Fenella in the human realm, where she's honestly a bit of a goody goody. She is obsessed with the rules, is constantly trying to protect her sisters, and refuses to touch her kelpie form after a mysterious incident that happened before this story takes place. I was honestly expecting her to be a bit of an annoying protagonist because of this. Yet, very quickly, Fenella's love for her sisters and her inner turmoil not only endeared me to her, but also created a fantastic form of intrigue. Fenella is an extremely capable protagonist, even when she is at her weakest and most uncertain. That being said, I loved getting to watch her become bolder, more confident and outspoken. This girl might start out as a bit of a doormat, but oh boy is that side of her gone by the end.
I would also like to give massive props to the worldbuilding going on here. The fae kingdom Fenella is brought to is literally underwater. It's full of magical sea/water creatures from mythology, flawlessly integrated into the Cinderella tale. I also love the magic system, specifically the focus on different types of threads having different effects. I won't spoil anything and say what they do, but I feel like that is such a creative magic network, and it does a great job of making some of the more unrealistic/unbelievable aspects of fairytale magic feel more plausible and logical. Oh, and don't get me started on how BEAUTIFUL the three ball gowns Fenella wears are. I'm honestly jealous, and I'm not a huge dress person.
The one thing I will say, though, about Crown of Glass was I don't think I was really feeling the romance. I don't know what it is, but something felt off about Fenella and Alick's chemistry. Or maybe not off, but missing? I really don't know what. I feel like if this was a spicier romance it would bother me more, but this is completely clean, (what does it say about me that I forgot clean romances exist?).
Regardless, normally, not feeling the romance would mean more than a half star being chopped. Yet, the plot and characters and world and concept are just so good. The romance is more of a subplot than prominent plot anyways, so really, it's not hugely detrimental to the story.
Overall, I love this book so much. I fully anticipate reading it multiple times. Fenella has such a smooth, well-established arc, I love the glitz and decay of the faerie world, I love how perfectly the Cinderella fairytale fits into it all. Such a good read.
"You are fragile, like glass, Fenella. I want to see what is underneath when you shatter."
Crown of Glass is a clean romance retelling of Cinderella with a faerie twist. Here, our main character is Fenella, who has a freaking BEAUTIFUL name. Her and her sisters are all half human, half kelpie, which puts them in an awkward position. After all, their parents have been banished from the faerie realm, and the humans don't trust the fae. Ever. Naturally, Fenella and her family have tried their best to keep their kelpie selves a secret. Yet, that doesn't stop Fenella from getting nabbed by an unreasonably handsome and deceptive fae and brought back to the faerie realm. Form you see, there's more to the banishment story than what Fenella knew. And while Fenella has three chances to slip away at a faerie ball and return home, there is no escaping the responsibility that has been thrust upon her. Nor is there any escaping the love triangle our girl gets caught up in.
Um, excuse me. Who gave this book the right to dominate my very EXISTENCE the day or so it took me to read? This book is positively enthralling.
We start off with Fenella in the human realm, where she's honestly a bit of a goody goody. She is obsessed with the rules, is constantly trying to protect her sisters, and refuses to touch her kelpie form after a mysterious incident that happened before this story takes place. I was honestly expecting her to be a bit of an annoying protagonist because of this. Yet, very quickly, Fenella's love for her sisters and her inner turmoil not only endeared me to her, but also created a fantastic form of intrigue. Fenella is an extremely capable protagonist, even when she is at her weakest and most uncertain. That being said, I loved getting to watch her become bolder, more confident and outspoken. This girl might start out as a bit of a doormat, but oh boy is that side of her gone by the end.
I would also like to give massive props to the worldbuilding going on here. The fae kingdom Fenella is brought to is literally underwater. It's full of magical sea/water creatures from mythology, flawlessly integrated into the Cinderella tale. I also love the magic system, specifically the focus on different types of threads having different effects. I won't spoil anything and say what they do, but I feel like that is such a creative magic network, and it does a great job of making some of the more unrealistic/unbelievable aspects of fairytale magic feel more plausible and logical. Oh, and don't get me started on how BEAUTIFUL the three ball gowns Fenella wears are. I'm honestly jealous, and I'm not a huge dress person.
The one thing I will say, though, about Crown of Glass was I don't think I was really feeling the romance. I don't know what it is, but something felt off about Fenella and Alick's chemistry. Or maybe not off, but missing? I really don't know what. I feel like if this was a spicier romance it would bother me more, but this is completely clean, (what does it say about me that I forgot clean romances exist?).
Regardless, normally, not feeling the romance would mean more than a half star being chopped. Yet, the plot and characters and world and concept are just so good. The romance is more of a subplot than prominent plot anyways, so really, it's not hugely detrimental to the story.
Overall, I love this book so much. I fully anticipate reading it multiple times. Fenella has such a smooth, well-established arc, I love the glitz and decay of the faerie world, I love how perfectly the Cinderella fairytale fits into it all. Such a good read.
April 10, 2023
This book was incredible! The world building was fresh, unique, and deeply layered.
I felt like I was truly discovering a new world of faeries and deadly foe along with the main character. I really enjoyed how the world unfurled slowly and in a frustrating way for the main character. Unlike most stories with new world to be discovered, the protagonist was not happy to be there and learn about the place. Instead, she felt constantly at a loss as she was trying to fit into a world that had hidden social rules and magic she wasn't aware of. It felt more true to what it actually feels like to move to a foreign culture than most books portray.
I also loved the main character and her desire to do the right thing. This of course gets harder as she's tempted and wooed by siren songs, dark magic, and enticing power. The struggle between good and evil is very cleverly done in Ivinya's novel.
Finally, I love the many surprising twists in this story that kept me on the edge of my toes! I never knew what was next and stayed up late reading to find out.
Overall, a beautiful story and one I highly recommend.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. After reading this book, I loved it so much I per-ordered it!
I felt like I was truly discovering a new world of faeries and deadly foe along with the main character. I really enjoyed how the world unfurled slowly and in a frustrating way for the main character. Unlike most stories with new world to be discovered, the protagonist was not happy to be there and learn about the place. Instead, she felt constantly at a loss as she was trying to fit into a world that had hidden social rules and magic she wasn't aware of. It felt more true to what it actually feels like to move to a foreign culture than most books portray.
I also loved the main character and her desire to do the right thing. This of course gets harder as she's tempted and wooed by siren songs, dark magic, and enticing power. The struggle between good and evil is very cleverly done in Ivinya's novel.
Finally, I love the many surprising twists in this story that kept me on the edge of my toes! I never knew what was next and stayed up late reading to find out.
Overall, a beautiful story and one I highly recommend.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. After reading this book, I loved it so much I per-ordered it!
May 10, 2023
I didn't want this book to end! So much adventure and romance! This Fae world was really amazing. All the characters and different kingdoms. Alick is the perfect love interest. ❤️ I love all the Cinderella vibes mixed with Fae. I can't wait to read her 3 sister's stories!!! More please!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
Cinderella vibes 😍
Family
Betrayal
Great Villians
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
Cinderella vibes 😍
Family
Betrayal
Great Villians
April 11, 2023
I was given an ARC to read and review and these are my thoughts.
This was an amazing story! It's a twist on Cinderella set in the land of Faery which has been cursed with an evil presence. The world building is interesting and rich. The characters are full of personality and all are flawed but not ruined. There are many twists and turns and I never knew if things would work out or not. I'm excited for the next book and this one hasn't been released yet!
This was an amazing story! It's a twist on Cinderella set in the land of Faery which has been cursed with an evil presence. The world building is interesting and rich. The characters are full of personality and all are flawed but not ruined. There are many twists and turns and I never knew if things would work out or not. I'm excited for the next book and this one hasn't been released yet!
April 5, 2023
The story of Cinderella takes a deep, menacing turn towards a world like none other.
Fenella, living in fear that someone would hurt her and her family, always lives like walking on eggshells. When her sister, Eilidh, makes a deal with a fae receiving a spool of gold thread, Fenella snatches up the bobbin and runs out the door to confront the man. When Fenella makes a bargain to give her name for the man to not ever return to the mortal world, she didn’t know what she was getting into.
Kidnapped by Cathal, the fae she told her name, and under the watch of his sister, Melusine, that becomes her stepmother. She forces Ella to become a servant under the guise of being protected. With two new stepsisters that harass her, she is forced to live at their house like a bird in a cage.
Alick, a palace servant, was caught by Ella snooping in the drawing room. He promises to help her escape, in exchange for trying to help him find something. For each ball, he comes with a new dress and glamour to assist her with getting through the portal and letting her go onto the Faery path.
At the beginning, Ella seems fearful of everything, especially who she is being a kelpie. She lived a traumatic event that tore her perception of herself and was scared of everything. When she was forced into Faery, she lived in fear, doing what others said. As the story goes on, she changes in multiple ways that change her perception of everything.
This story can be read as a stand alone story or you can read the Willow and the Beast. The story is told as gossip at the beginning but does not make a huge impact if you haven’t read the prequel before. There are other aspects from the prequel but not enough to be discouraged to read in any order. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Crown of Glass and can’t wait to read about her other sisters inheriting the thrones to break the curse on the kingdom!
Fenella, living in fear that someone would hurt her and her family, always lives like walking on eggshells. When her sister, Eilidh, makes a deal with a fae receiving a spool of gold thread, Fenella snatches up the bobbin and runs out the door to confront the man. When Fenella makes a bargain to give her name for the man to not ever return to the mortal world, she didn’t know what she was getting into.
Kidnapped by Cathal, the fae she told her name, and under the watch of his sister, Melusine, that becomes her stepmother. She forces Ella to become a servant under the guise of being protected. With two new stepsisters that harass her, she is forced to live at their house like a bird in a cage.
Alick, a palace servant, was caught by Ella snooping in the drawing room. He promises to help her escape, in exchange for trying to help him find something. For each ball, he comes with a new dress and glamour to assist her with getting through the portal and letting her go onto the Faery path.
At the beginning, Ella seems fearful of everything, especially who she is being a kelpie. She lived a traumatic event that tore her perception of herself and was scared of everything. When she was forced into Faery, she lived in fear, doing what others said. As the story goes on, she changes in multiple ways that change her perception of everything.
This story can be read as a stand alone story or you can read the Willow and the Beast. The story is told as gossip at the beginning but does not make a huge impact if you haven’t read the prequel before. There are other aspects from the prequel but not enough to be discouraged to read in any order. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Crown of Glass and can’t wait to read about her other sisters inheriting the thrones to break the curse on the kingdom!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2023
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
Fenella is your flawed character that ends up plucked from our world and thrown into the faery world to do her duty, and she's definitely the definition of confusion if this would happen to any of us. I loved how she struggled to see herself as everyone needed her to be, especially since she lacked the teachings to get her through everything. I loved her doubts, inner monologue, and the overall struggle to find herself, especially after what she's gone through in her youth, once she got that confidence, she was amazing.
Cathal and Alick were both so nicely made that you legit couldn't tell who's going to betray her, who was going to protect her, the confusion between the two who's the bad guy and who isn't was delicious.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
A gorgeous and deadly faery world, it gives you some dark fairytale vibes but is beautiful nonetheless, the details, the world working, and their monsters were definitely beautiful and made you feel like living in there.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I liked the characters a lot, they were really nicely made and detailed, some had grown so much throughout the book and some showed their true colors and it was amazing. The pace of the book I felt it was pretty slow for a while in the book, but then things started to pick up more and more and it just sucked me between the pages. The world-building was beautiful, terrifying but the details and the whole dynamic of the world was beautiful and I loved it.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
The book contains clean romance, there aren't any spice or sexy scenes in it. However, there might be triggers such as killings, blood, and drowning - I didn't get triggered by the scenes but some people might.
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⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
Fenella is your flawed character that ends up plucked from our world and thrown into the faery world to do her duty, and she's definitely the definition of confusion if this would happen to any of us. I loved how she struggled to see herself as everyone needed her to be, especially since she lacked the teachings to get her through everything. I loved her doubts, inner monologue, and the overall struggle to find herself, especially after what she's gone through in her youth, once she got that confidence, she was amazing.
Cathal and Alick were both so nicely made that you legit couldn't tell who's going to betray her, who was going to protect her, the confusion between the two who's the bad guy and who isn't was delicious.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
A gorgeous and deadly faery world, it gives you some dark fairytale vibes but is beautiful nonetheless, the details, the world working, and their monsters were definitely beautiful and made you feel like living in there.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I liked the characters a lot, they were really nicely made and detailed, some had grown so much throughout the book and some showed their true colors and it was amazing. The pace of the book I felt it was pretty slow for a while in the book, but then things started to pick up more and more and it just sucked me between the pages. The world-building was beautiful, terrifying but the details and the whole dynamic of the world was beautiful and I loved it.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
The book contains clean romance, there aren't any spice or sexy scenes in it. However, there might be triggers such as killings, blood, and drowning - I didn't get triggered by the scenes but some people might.
Follow me on my bookventure:
TikTok
Always open to read and review more books🠇
Review Policy
April 29, 2023
What a great read! This book has it all-action, suspense, intrigue, a triangle with two Fae wanting
Fen to be the promised Queen of Watermere and be by her side.
Fen is kidnapped in the mortal realm and taken to Faery where she finds she one of the promised queens foretold in the prophecy of restoring Faery. Problem is she is afraid of her Fae form and won’t embrace it. She meets another Fae who tries to help her escape but is thwarted by her captor. This story then is about Fen and her struggles but it becomes more so when her captor also kidnaps one of her sisters who have come to rescue her.Now she needs to rescue her sister and thwart her captor to survive!
You will be so caught up in this story you’ll be surprised when you find you’ve finished it, but the adventure is far from over because there are four kingdoms in Faery that need to have their curse removed and Fen’s three sisters who need to find which kingdom is theirs to be it’s rightful queen!
I wholeheartedly enthusiastically recommend you get this book to read a thrilling tale of a girl who is held back because of who and what she is. Will she accept her whole self and the responsibility of being the queen of this kingdom she is destined for or will her fear cause her to flee?
You really need to get the prequel to this book. The
Widow and the Beast to find out what led Fen to be kidnapped in the first place. With three more books to go in the series, you need to read the whole series to embrace these stories and understand the story from its beginnings!
Alice is a superb story teller who will keep you glued to the pages as you just have to find out what happens next!
Get these two books today and begin this wonderful journey in Faery where four sisters find that their lives have been laid out for them if they can accept the responsibilities that comes with it!
Fen to be the promised Queen of Watermere and be by her side.
Fen is kidnapped in the mortal realm and taken to Faery where she finds she one of the promised queens foretold in the prophecy of restoring Faery. Problem is she is afraid of her Fae form and won’t embrace it. She meets another Fae who tries to help her escape but is thwarted by her captor. This story then is about Fen and her struggles but it becomes more so when her captor also kidnaps one of her sisters who have come to rescue her.Now she needs to rescue her sister and thwart her captor to survive!
You will be so caught up in this story you’ll be surprised when you find you’ve finished it, but the adventure is far from over because there are four kingdoms in Faery that need to have their curse removed and Fen’s three sisters who need to find which kingdom is theirs to be it’s rightful queen!
I wholeheartedly enthusiastically recommend you get this book to read a thrilling tale of a girl who is held back because of who and what she is. Will she accept her whole self and the responsibility of being the queen of this kingdom she is destined for or will her fear cause her to flee?
You really need to get the prequel to this book. The
Widow and the Beast to find out what led Fen to be kidnapped in the first place. With three more books to go in the series, you need to read the whole series to embrace these stories and understand the story from its beginnings!
Alice is a superb story teller who will keep you glued to the pages as you just have to find out what happens next!
Get these two books today and begin this wonderful journey in Faery where four sisters find that their lives have been laid out for them if they can accept the responsibilities that comes with it!
April 12, 2023
"Maybe sometimes, the darkness has to happen for us to understand the nature of the light."
Crown of Glass is a Cinderella retelling that contains biblical themes and takes place in Faery. I loved the prequel, The Widow and the Beast, so I jumped at the chance for an advanced reader's copy! Alice created a unique and magical world that drew me in from the very first page. There was a hint of danger in this version of Faery that reminded me of The Cruel Prince. However, I liked this better because hope and light battled the evil nature of this cursed world. I loved this book and I think you will too if you enjoy:
-slow burn & swoony romance
-strong character arcs
-unlikely heroines
-high fantasy
-face paced adventure
-mystery and intrigue
5/5
! CW: Violence & Death.
* I received a complimentary ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Releases: April 14th, 2023!
Crown of Glass is a Cinderella retelling that contains biblical themes and takes place in Faery. I loved the prequel, The Widow and the Beast, so I jumped at the chance for an advanced reader's copy! Alice created a unique and magical world that drew me in from the very first page. There was a hint of danger in this version of Faery that reminded me of The Cruel Prince. However, I liked this better because hope and light battled the evil nature of this cursed world. I loved this book and I think you will too if you enjoy:
-slow burn & swoony romance
-strong character arcs
-unlikely heroines
-high fantasy
-face paced adventure
-mystery and intrigue
5/5
! CW: Violence & Death.
* I received a complimentary ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Releases: April 14th, 2023!
April 14, 2023
Beautifully done!
On the edge of your seat, nail biting action.
I knew this series was going to be amazing and gritty after reading the prologue, The Widow and The Beast.
The world is well depicted and the fae characters are wonderfully described and a lot of variations. Plus this is the dark, naughty trickster Fae that tales of caution and woe are told about.
A young woman thrust into a world she was born for but had no clue about. Surrounded by difficult situations and flooded with emotions that make you question everything and everyone while trying to figure out who and where you belong.
A m/f clean fantasy romance with a Cinderella twist. A bit of a love triangle and forced proximity trope. Devious fae, found family, rebellions and devastating betrayals, curses and finding one’s true inner self.
Single pov told in first person
A series that will be interconnected but featuring a different sister as the main character in each book - this one was:
- Fenella (Fen or Ella)- a female raised in the human realm, a kelpie
- Alick - a water nymph/faun hybrid
Steam- clean only a few kisses
On the edge of your seat, nail biting action.
I knew this series was going to be amazing and gritty after reading the prologue, The Widow and The Beast.
The world is well depicted and the fae characters are wonderfully described and a lot of variations. Plus this is the dark, naughty trickster Fae that tales of caution and woe are told about.
A young woman thrust into a world she was born for but had no clue about. Surrounded by difficult situations and flooded with emotions that make you question everything and everyone while trying to figure out who and where you belong.
A m/f clean fantasy romance with a Cinderella twist. A bit of a love triangle and forced proximity trope. Devious fae, found family, rebellions and devastating betrayals, curses and finding one’s true inner self.
Single pov told in first person
A series that will be interconnected but featuring a different sister as the main character in each book - this one was:
- Fenella (Fen or Ella)- a female raised in the human realm, a kelpie
- Alick - a water nymph/faun hybrid
Steam- clean only a few kisses
April 11, 2023
Crown of Glass features the story of Fenella, a half-human, half-kelpie who grew up in the mortal realm. After being kidnapped and placed at the center of a dangerous game of politics in the Faery Realm, Fenella is forced to come to terms with herself and her newly realized royal destiny in the Realm of Faery.
Crown of Glass is the first in a series of fairy tale retellings that take place in the Faery Realm. There is also a prequel to this story called The Widow and the Beast. While reading it is not necessary to enjoying or understanding Crown of Glass, I would highly recommend doing so because it helped me to appreciate the story and characters even more.
I found Crown of Glass to be an enjoyable tale filled with magic, adventure, mystery, and a touch of clean romance. I particularly loved seeing the growth of Fen’s character as she worked through her issues and and really came into her own by the end of the story. I would highly recommend Crown of Glass for anyone who enjoys reading clean, fun, fairytales. I am looking forward to future installments of this series and seeing what happens with Fenella’s sisters.
I received an ARC of Crown of Glass in exchange for a fair and honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Crown of Glass is the first in a series of fairy tale retellings that take place in the Faery Realm. There is also a prequel to this story called The Widow and the Beast. While reading it is not necessary to enjoying or understanding Crown of Glass, I would highly recommend doing so because it helped me to appreciate the story and characters even more.
I found Crown of Glass to be an enjoyable tale filled with magic, adventure, mystery, and a touch of clean romance. I particularly loved seeing the growth of Fen’s character as she worked through her issues and and really came into her own by the end of the story. I would highly recommend Crown of Glass for anyone who enjoys reading clean, fun, fairytales. I am looking forward to future installments of this series and seeing what happens with Fenella’s sisters.
I received an ARC of Crown of Glass in exchange for a fair and honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 4, 2023
It’s not the evil stepmother you should be worried about in this fantasy retelling of Cinderella. Brilliant twist on the tale! I hope to read the next books when they come!
My guess is that Crown of Slumber (Mentioned in the back of the book) is going to be centered on Sleeping Beauty. Crown of Snow is either talking about Snow White or the Ice Queen since they both are associated with it. And Crown of Shells tells me that it could be a Little Mermaid retelling.
My guess is that Crown of Slumber (Mentioned in the back of the book) is going to be centered on Sleeping Beauty. Crown of Snow is either talking about Snow White or the Ice Queen since they both are associated with it. And Crown of Shells tells me that it could be a Little Mermaid retelling.
April 20, 2023
Wonderful journey of growth spun into a great story
This Cinderella story that takes place in Faery is very well done. I actually had to stop reading a few times just to take in the tumultuous emotions that Fenella was experiencing.
I loved the journey Fenella's story took. She starts off as overly-cautious, scared of her and her sisiters being hurt, and frightened of the wildness of her kelpie form. Throughout the book, she lets her fear control her, though she tries to convince herself that she is in control. Her insecurities allow her to fall prey to those who would use her for their own desires for power.
Fenella stumbles and fails, but she learns and grows from her mistakes. She gains strength of purpose and places her hope and trust in the promise of magic that she doesn't understand.
This is a clean romance, but there is violence and bloodshed.
Definitely read 'The Widow and the Beast ' before reading this. The prequel book is an excellent story by itself, and it really sets the stage for this series.
This Cinderella story that takes place in Faery is very well done. I actually had to stop reading a few times just to take in the tumultuous emotions that Fenella was experiencing.
I loved the journey Fenella's story took. She starts off as overly-cautious, scared of her and her sisiters being hurt, and frightened of the wildness of her kelpie form. Throughout the book, she lets her fear control her, though she tries to convince herself that she is in control. Her insecurities allow her to fall prey to those who would use her for their own desires for power.
Fenella stumbles and fails, but she learns and grows from her mistakes. She gains strength of purpose and places her hope and trust in the promise of magic that she doesn't understand.
This is a clean romance, but there is violence and bloodshed.
Definitely read 'The Widow and the Beast ' before reading this. The prequel book is an excellent story by itself, and it really sets the stage for this series.
April 21, 2023
Crown of Glass is the start of a new series of retellings by Alice Ivinya. She has publised a prequel of this series, which was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I really liked this prequel and had already an idea what this series would be about. What will Alice Ivinya have in store for her readers?
Find out in my review on my blog Boekensteeg
Find out in my review on my blog Boekensteeg
April 25, 2023
A bit long but very nice. I want to read the other girls' now!
April 23, 2023
This was such an interesting and intriguing retelling. I loved the character development and the way the story progressed. This fast paced tale is well written with a few plot twists that were unexpected. I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
April 17, 2023
“Crown of Glass” is the first book in a new clean fantasy romance series by Alice Ivinya, and I enjoyed every second of it!!! I was hooked from the very first page, and I thought the world building was wonderful. Fenella, the heroine, was bold, brave, and resilient, and I highly enjoyed reading about her. I really loved the idea of there being four promised rulers for the Faery Kingdoms, as well. There were also a lot of amazing plot twists that I definitely wasn’t expecting. All in all, I truly loved reading this book, and I can’t wait for the next one!!!
April 18, 2023
I was so excited to start this series, I stumbled upon the prequel and love it. Book one did not disappoint. Eloquently written, perfect answer placement to wandering thoughts. I enjoyed the hint of Cinderella meets High Fae. And of course a perfect ending! I can't wait to see what battles the sisters have to face in each of their kingdoms. And if they will ever see their parents again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2023
Loved it
Great story. Noticeable Christian themes but it certainly wasn’t overdone or pushy. I am really looking forward to the next books in this series.
Great story. Noticeable Christian themes but it certainly wasn’t overdone or pushy. I am really looking forward to the next books in this series.
April 11, 2023
I loved this original and fresh dark take on Cinderella where Ella was half-kelpie and the prince was charming, but twisted. I absolutely loved Alick and I know full well I'm in the lesser fan group here, but it was so much fun, with Ivinya keeping the readers guessing until 2/3 of the book about who the villain was. This story was a true treat to read - after the original empathic mishap Ella was resourceful, the stepsisters and stepmother were more horrid than usual, the compulsion and fae magic was divine and both Ella's male helpers had devious agendas of their own. I loved the intricately constructed fae world and rules, intrigues, action-adventure and clean romance. It was fun watching Ella struggle over whom to choose - the prince or her male(!) fae godmother and I'm glad she chose right, although I had no idea who'd she'd pick, even after the villain reveal. Ella's coming of age was a marvellous journey - from not using her gifts and living alone to being enslaved to her family and finally, partaking in courtly festivities and backstabbings. Recommended for fans of Holly Black, dark fae fantasy, slow-burn clean romance and YA action-adventure.
April 15, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, for its slow burn romance, sisterhood, and the chosen one idea was done well. I read the prequel to this, and I was glad I did because it gave that extra warmth and filled out the world more. You don’t need it, but I was glad I did. Alice Ivinya has become one of my favourite fantasy writers.
April 15, 2023
Fun fantasy, interesting magical elements and world, and love that this has a Cinderella spin to it! Enjoy stories with the Fae and curses, and that dash of adventure makes for an exciting story. Like this author’s writing style; looking forward to more!
May 26, 2023
Enjoyable but I feel like it has untapped potential to be more. I liked the story. I think it could have been shorter and it needed more depth to the characters. I didn't connect much with Fen, and the romance felt one dimensional and lacked chemistry. I wanted her to be with the bad guy 🤷
April 13, 2023
This book was absolutely incredible and all I was hoping for it to be. The storyline was well thought out and easy to follow. It was truly fun to read. Alick just may be my new book boyfriend. I can't wait for the next installment of this series!!
December 8, 2024
Great world-building started in the novella Widow and the Beast… this one was a bit of a stumble.
The book opens with the daughters of Euan, a fae Kelpie of Watermere and Sophie, Herald of the re-emergence of Kings and Queens to the world of the fae (their story is covered in the prequel). Fenella, eldest of four daughters, is uneasy and hesitant about meeting people outside of her family, heralding back to a traumatic event when she was twelve. The results have left her too traumatized to embrace either her horse or full Kelpie form.
The family lives outside of the village as a way to give themselves privacy- hiding their fae backgrounds from both the mortal and fae worlds. When one of Fen’s sisters comes home having secretly met a fae gentleman and made a bargain, it is Fen who races to confront the fae to have her sister’s bargain revoked. Fen finds herself kidnapped and wakes as a captive in the fae realm of Watermere.
Her captor, Lord Cathal, claims Fen is the foretold Queen of Watermere and it is his intention that she stay hidden while he sets in motion the plan for his becoming Regent so he can crown Fen himself. Thus he has her hidden away at the home of his sibling with the cover story that Melusine and her two daughters are Fen’s stepfamily. Fen was relegated to be a servant and is unable to leave the property, subject to compulsion by her “stepsisters” and other cruel tricks.
But does Cathal have a hidden agenda? Can Fen’s tentative relationship with Alick, a fae delivery boy/potential spy help her to escape from Cathal’s clutches? Just how is she, a frightened and shy half-fae unable to embrace her Kelpie heritage, rule a people and break the curse laid down upon the fae 200 years before?
The premise and the world-building begun in Widow and the Beast is well thought out and executed in the prequel novella, but wavers a bit in this first of 4 novels to establish each sister to her own queendom. It’s a shame, because you want this to be stronger than the prequel, but it’s actually weaker.
Our male hero, Alick, is very likable and there is plenty of mystery behind him to keep us intrigued. Fen, however, keeps referring back to mysterious “past trauma” to explain away her poor decision-making skills, timidity and why she hates others touching her. By the time the trauma is explained (towards the end of the book) it’s nowhere near as traumatizing as it seemed. Sad, yes, panic-inducing for a twelve-year old, yes… but it certainly doesn’t make her into the monster she tells herself she is. We are constantly told of the scar to her wrist and the fear of iron, but the scar winds up being from a thrown natural flint rock- not often known for iron-inclusion. Maybe it’s just me but all the talk of iron and the scar had me imagining someone had slapped iron shackles or chains to her…. nope.
For all of Fen’s weaknesses it’s no wonder Cathal keeps her captive for as long as he does, but she really makes it worse by her own actions and basically giving up all of the time. It’s no wonder she doesn’t believe herself to be queenly material and we in the audience are right there agreeing with her. She’s too stuck in her own depressive rut with no interest in getting out of her own way; in fact, the more that happens to her the more she seems to go out of her way to make it worse. And that girl can’t stop nervously licking her lips every other paragraph- we get it, she has issues- and apparently now some incredibly dry and cracked lips.
It’s a wonder Alick finds anything to like about her- he does mention her looks enough, but that shouldn’t make it a HEA love… rather he’s looking at the hype and her through rose-colored glasses. There are so many lies and half-truths between the pair it’s a shock they find themselves in love as soon as they do.
Fen’s sisters claiming their own kingdoms will be covered in the last 3 books (one per sister), but this first installment should have either gone shorter or longer. Cutting the sister’s roles in fae upon their arrival would have streamlined the plot just fine and still reached the ending- as it is the extra narrative given to each sister is a distraction, not a suitable means to move the plot forward. Should they have entered faerie to rescue their eldest sister, yes, but they could have been left still wandering the path with just the worry of harm heading towards them and saved a lot of wasted pages. If the author was so bent on including them all then the ending should have stretched out to give Fen more time to come to shake off her mental shackles as she goes from “I’m not worth it” to full belief in herself like flipping a switch.
Trauma isn’t fixed so easily.
So again, great idea but there are many stumbling books along the way. Things kept bothering me like how was she or Alick comfortable resting with her in a dress made of round pearls sewn together as a fabric? Ouch. And no shift underneath? It’s no wonder she was freezing. For all her modesty she seems to get over wearing the getup quickly enough. Alick’s popping up everywhere- seriously? For a house hiding the future queen he certainly comes and goes enough as well as in the palace itself. And the golden thread’s purpose needed to stop changing because the layers got too tangled and was a headache to work out by the end.
But yes, when the next book comes out I will certainly give them a shot. This one may not have fully stuck the landing, but there should always be another chance given to do better next time.
The book opens with the daughters of Euan, a fae Kelpie of Watermere and Sophie, Herald of the re-emergence of Kings and Queens to the world of the fae (their story is covered in the prequel). Fenella, eldest of four daughters, is uneasy and hesitant about meeting people outside of her family, heralding back to a traumatic event when she was twelve. The results have left her too traumatized to embrace either her horse or full Kelpie form.
The family lives outside of the village as a way to give themselves privacy- hiding their fae backgrounds from both the mortal and fae worlds. When one of Fen’s sisters comes home having secretly met a fae gentleman and made a bargain, it is Fen who races to confront the fae to have her sister’s bargain revoked. Fen finds herself kidnapped and wakes as a captive in the fae realm of Watermere.
Her captor, Lord Cathal, claims Fen is the foretold Queen of Watermere and it is his intention that she stay hidden while he sets in motion the plan for his becoming Regent so he can crown Fen himself. Thus he has her hidden away at the home of his sibling with the cover story that Melusine and her two daughters are Fen’s stepfamily. Fen was relegated to be a servant and is unable to leave the property, subject to compulsion by her “stepsisters” and other cruel tricks.
But does Cathal have a hidden agenda? Can Fen’s tentative relationship with Alick, a fae delivery boy/potential spy help her to escape from Cathal’s clutches? Just how is she, a frightened and shy half-fae unable to embrace her Kelpie heritage, rule a people and break the curse laid down upon the fae 200 years before?
The premise and the world-building begun in Widow and the Beast is well thought out and executed in the prequel novella, but wavers a bit in this first of 4 novels to establish each sister to her own queendom. It’s a shame, because you want this to be stronger than the prequel, but it’s actually weaker.
Our male hero, Alick, is very likable and there is plenty of mystery behind him to keep us intrigued. Fen, however, keeps referring back to mysterious “past trauma” to explain away her poor decision-making skills, timidity and why she hates others touching her. By the time the trauma is explained (towards the end of the book) it’s nowhere near as traumatizing as it seemed. Sad, yes, panic-inducing for a twelve-year old, yes… but it certainly doesn’t make her into the monster she tells herself she is. We are constantly told of the scar to her wrist and the fear of iron, but the scar winds up being from a thrown natural flint rock- not often known for iron-inclusion. Maybe it’s just me but all the talk of iron and the scar had me imagining someone had slapped iron shackles or chains to her…. nope.
For all of Fen’s weaknesses it’s no wonder Cathal keeps her captive for as long as he does, but she really makes it worse by her own actions and basically giving up all of the time. It’s no wonder she doesn’t believe herself to be queenly material and we in the audience are right there agreeing with her. She’s too stuck in her own depressive rut with no interest in getting out of her own way; in fact, the more that happens to her the more she seems to go out of her way to make it worse. And that girl can’t stop nervously licking her lips every other paragraph- we get it, she has issues- and apparently now some incredibly dry and cracked lips.
It’s a wonder Alick finds anything to like about her- he does mention her looks enough, but that shouldn’t make it a HEA love… rather he’s looking at the hype and her through rose-colored glasses. There are so many lies and half-truths between the pair it’s a shock they find themselves in love as soon as they do.
Fen’s sisters claiming their own kingdoms will be covered in the last 3 books (one per sister), but this first installment should have either gone shorter or longer. Cutting the sister’s roles in fae upon their arrival would have streamlined the plot just fine and still reached the ending- as it is the extra narrative given to each sister is a distraction, not a suitable means to move the plot forward. Should they have entered faerie to rescue their eldest sister, yes, but they could have been left still wandering the path with just the worry of harm heading towards them and saved a lot of wasted pages. If the author was so bent on including them all then the ending should have stretched out to give Fen more time to come to shake off her mental shackles as she goes from “I’m not worth it” to full belief in herself like flipping a switch.
Trauma isn’t fixed so easily.
So again, great idea but there are many stumbling books along the way. Things kept bothering me like how was she or Alick comfortable resting with her in a dress made of round pearls sewn together as a fabric? Ouch. And no shift underneath? It’s no wonder she was freezing. For all her modesty she seems to get over wearing the getup quickly enough. Alick’s popping up everywhere- seriously? For a house hiding the future queen he certainly comes and goes enough as well as in the palace itself. And the golden thread’s purpose needed to stop changing because the layers got too tangled and was a headache to work out by the end.
But yes, when the next book comes out I will certainly give them a shot. This one may not have fully stuck the landing, but there should always be another chance given to do better next time.
May 6, 2023
As usual, Alice Ivinya has created a wonderful fairytale retelling while also creating something tantalizingly new and addictive. The setting is absolutely amazing. I love the portal fantasy world of Fae, which is both beautiful and utterly terrifying. The intrigue and the politics were really well done and I particularly appreciated some of the fantastic twists to the fairytale. Although there are recognizable hints to Cinderella, including all the expected moments from the fairytale, two important twists make it nothing at all like Cinderella and I appreciate the way Ivinya diverges from the classic fairytale once the three balls are over, in which the prince becomes the villain and the fairy godmother character takes on a whole new role. It's brilliant.
However, I have no intention of giving any of it away, so I'll be focusing the rest of this review on another aspect I totally adored.
Fenella is such a believable, flawed character. What Ivinya began with Queen Avan has now been perfected in Fen. The message is beautiful. We are all flawed human beings. When we are young, particularly, we do not believe in ourselves, we are still unsure about those who tug as this way and that, who we hope to please but feel ever so inadequate for pleasing. We try, do our best, and often fail. Fenella's character not only grows through these anxiety-ridden moments filled with a sense of worthlessness, but also has to confront her capacity for evil. This is another aspect of Ivinya's writing I always find so powerful. This author does not shy away from the truth. We all are capable of incredible evil or unimaginable good, but it is the choices we make that lead us down one or the other path. In her misguided attempts to please those around her, along with her striking naiveté, Fenella definitely shows her capacity for evil and has to confront that within herself. Fen's journey of becoming is one I appreciate because it is honest about the monster living inside all of us. Anger, hatred, jealousy and any number of other negative emotions accompanied by harmful negative thoughts can do so much damage. But Fen offers us the beauty of overcoming the negativity and actually achieving her potential in unexpected ways. This book is a powerful reminder of everything we are capable of and what our true potential could be if we gave ourselves a chance. A truly fantastic message for readers of all ages.
I highly recommend this book for readers who love portal fantasy and tales of the fae, and for those who love flawed main characters who at first fail but then in their striving to do better achieve incredible things. There are no Mary Sues here and I for one love it that way. Fantastic story, wonderful characters and memorable, chill-inducing setting. Can't wait for the next one to release!
However, I have no intention of giving any of it away, so I'll be focusing the rest of this review on another aspect I totally adored.
Fenella is such a believable, flawed character. What Ivinya began with Queen Avan has now been perfected in Fen. The message is beautiful. We are all flawed human beings. When we are young, particularly, we do not believe in ourselves, we are still unsure about those who tug as this way and that, who we hope to please but feel ever so inadequate for pleasing. We try, do our best, and often fail. Fenella's character not only grows through these anxiety-ridden moments filled with a sense of worthlessness, but also has to confront her capacity for evil. This is another aspect of Ivinya's writing I always find so powerful. This author does not shy away from the truth. We all are capable of incredible evil or unimaginable good, but it is the choices we make that lead us down one or the other path. In her misguided attempts to please those around her, along with her striking naiveté, Fenella definitely shows her capacity for evil and has to confront that within herself. Fen's journey of becoming is one I appreciate because it is honest about the monster living inside all of us. Anger, hatred, jealousy and any number of other negative emotions accompanied by harmful negative thoughts can do so much damage. But Fen offers us the beauty of overcoming the negativity and actually achieving her potential in unexpected ways. This book is a powerful reminder of everything we are capable of and what our true potential could be if we gave ourselves a chance. A truly fantastic message for readers of all ages.
I highly recommend this book for readers who love portal fantasy and tales of the fae, and for those who love flawed main characters who at first fail but then in their striving to do better achieve incredible things. There are no Mary Sues here and I for one love it that way. Fantastic story, wonderful characters and memorable, chill-inducing setting. Can't wait for the next one to release!
April 23, 2023
I love the world building this author does. She makes settings that are so incredible and life like to me. She has also put in the extra effort to introduce us to different kinds of Fae than typically get written into fantasy stories. That is a big reason I gave this 3 stars, for opening up the Fae world and giving really good descriptions of the new ones she writes about.
But I didn't like Fen. She is raised as a half human, half kelpie who can transform when her emotions are high. From what I gathered before she annoyed me enough to give this one up, she was attacked previously and transformed and something bad happened. But her parents, who we met in the previous book and was nice to see them again, have ingrained in their 4 daughters to stay away from the Fae. Don't make bargains and all the other warnings. But they never bothered to tell them the biggest one- don't give them your name. Names have power. So one of Fen's younger sisters who is frustrated with their life and I don't blame her, ends up making a deal by trading her name for some gold thread. Fen tries to undo the deal, can't but he says if you tell me your name I'll never set foot in the human realm. So she tells him her name and is immediately kidnapped. That is like rule number one of stranger danger lessons, human or Fae, don't tell them your name, but these idiots who supposedly know better give them up without a thought.
Fen continues to make not so smart choices after being taken to the underwater home where she is held captive while the guy who kidnapped her, who is kind of presented on some pages as a potential love interest, gets the ball rolling on his plot to use her to get a powerful position in Watermere. She has a big chance to escape set up by another potential love interest, but she bungles that. I just couldn't anymore. It is set up so that a lot of different things are about to happen and a lot of intrigue has been built up, but she was getting on my nerves by doing things that don't make any sense. But I did appreciate how she realized her dad couldn't help her and decided to rescue herself.
Another thing I thought about was how selfish her parents were. She and her sisters can't date a human because who knows what they will do when they find out about their heritage. They can't be with a Fae because they aren't trusted. So they are expected to just stay home, away from prying eyes and not have any contact with people outside of their home. That sounds like a crappy life to be brought into. I get that they loved each other and wanted a family, but to then put all these restrictions on them isn't very fair.
So overall, this has an awesome world and interesting creatures and lots of intrigue surrounding why she was kidnapped in the first place, but while the heroine did have guts, she didn't have a lot of common sense.
But I didn't like Fen. She is raised as a half human, half kelpie who can transform when her emotions are high. From what I gathered before she annoyed me enough to give this one up, she was attacked previously and transformed and something bad happened. But her parents, who we met in the previous book and was nice to see them again, have ingrained in their 4 daughters to stay away from the Fae. Don't make bargains and all the other warnings. But they never bothered to tell them the biggest one- don't give them your name. Names have power. So one of Fen's younger sisters who is frustrated with their life and I don't blame her, ends up making a deal by trading her name for some gold thread. Fen tries to undo the deal, can't but he says if you tell me your name I'll never set foot in the human realm. So she tells him her name and is immediately kidnapped. That is like rule number one of stranger danger lessons, human or Fae, don't tell them your name, but these idiots who supposedly know better give them up without a thought.
Fen continues to make not so smart choices after being taken to the underwater home where she is held captive while the guy who kidnapped her, who is kind of presented on some pages as a potential love interest, gets the ball rolling on his plot to use her to get a powerful position in Watermere. She has a big chance to escape set up by another potential love interest, but she bungles that. I just couldn't anymore. It is set up so that a lot of different things are about to happen and a lot of intrigue has been built up, but she was getting on my nerves by doing things that don't make any sense. But I did appreciate how she realized her dad couldn't help her and decided to rescue herself.
Another thing I thought about was how selfish her parents were. She and her sisters can't date a human because who knows what they will do when they find out about their heritage. They can't be with a Fae because they aren't trusted. So they are expected to just stay home, away from prying eyes and not have any contact with people outside of their home. That sounds like a crappy life to be brought into. I get that they loved each other and wanted a family, but to then put all these restrictions on them isn't very fair.
So overall, this has an awesome world and interesting creatures and lots of intrigue surrounding why she was kidnapped in the first place, but while the heroine did have guts, she didn't have a lot of common sense.
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