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The Dark Curse #1
Hidden Beneath the Embers
Hide-and-seek was a game Davyna loved playing as a child because she always won. But after the death of her adopted father, the game became her life’s mission to seek a blood relative to set her free from the cursed deal she made.
When every lead turns up empty, Davyna is forced to seek help from the creatures that hide in the dark.
And when her fairytale dream for her life goes up in flames, Davyna finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew as one secret after another is revealed. As darkness surrounds her, she wonders if there is any chance of waking from this nightmare.
With the help of new allies, will she find her way back to the light, or fall deeper into hell?
What started as a quest for her freedom quickly turns into a fight for her life as Davyna navigates loss, lust, and love. But more importantly, as she seeks answers to who- or what- she is.
This book is a Dark NA fantasy. It is not for minors. Please check in with your mental health and consider all triggers, before starting the book.
This book includes trigger warnings like – grief, violence, blood, torture, death, PTSD episodes, emotional and physical abuse, sexual assault (mentioned in several area’s in passing), Profanity, and sexually explicit scenes.
When every lead turns up empty, Davyna is forced to seek help from the creatures that hide in the dark.
And when her fairytale dream for her life goes up in flames, Davyna finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew as one secret after another is revealed. As darkness surrounds her, she wonders if there is any chance of waking from this nightmare.
With the help of new allies, will she find her way back to the light, or fall deeper into hell?
What started as a quest for her freedom quickly turns into a fight for her life as Davyna navigates loss, lust, and love. But more importantly, as she seeks answers to who- or what- she is.
This book is a Dark NA fantasy. It is not for minors. Please check in with your mental health and consider all triggers, before starting the book.
This book includes trigger warnings like – grief, violence, blood, torture, death, PTSD episodes, emotional and physical abuse, sexual assault (mentioned in several area’s in passing), Profanity, and sexually explicit scenes.
518 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2022
284 people are currently reading
6213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
November 4, 2022
I’m REALLY sorry for this review, but..
That was terrible. :(
I had so much hope for this story and it goes fully smushed.
The ACOTAR “inspiration” is undeniable and there is simply too much from it in here, really.
The plots don’t “glue” to each other. There is too much of chaos and too less of good ideas.
🥺😭
That was terrible. :(
I had so much hope for this story and it goes fully smushed.
The ACOTAR “inspiration” is undeniable and there is simply too much from it in here, really.
The plots don’t “glue” to each other. There is too much of chaos and too less of good ideas.
🥺😭
November 1, 2022
I felt like I was reading a fanfic of ACOTAR that someone had thrown a thesaurus at to make up the word count for the first 75% of this book. The plot and character development in the last quarter saved it from being a 2 star read as that when it became its own story really that I was just starting to enjoy!
October 17, 2022
I have had the honor of reading this book as a Beta reader a few months ago and as an ARC reader more recently.
This may be Fay's debut novel, but there is nothing novice about this. She brings all of the allure of the lore we love while twisting it a bit, gives us ALL the fucking spice that leaves us breathless, banter up the wazoo, badass female leads, the sexiest men you can ask for, characters you hate with a passion (cause as much as we hate them, we need them), plot twist after plot twist, and a story that leaves you dying for more.
I went on a rollercoaster ride (even the second time around when I knew what was going to happen)! You laugh, you cry, you feel stabby, you get hot and bothered, you smile, you love, you're proud! This book gives you everything you can want in a dark fantasy novel and more!
To say I recommend this book is an understatement. Don't walk! RUN!
This may be Fay's debut novel, but there is nothing novice about this. She brings all of the allure of the lore we love while twisting it a bit, gives us ALL the fucking spice that leaves us breathless, banter up the wazoo, badass female leads, the sexiest men you can ask for, characters you hate with a passion (cause as much as we hate them, we need them), plot twist after plot twist, and a story that leaves you dying for more.
I went on a rollercoaster ride (even the second time around when I knew what was going to happen)! You laugh, you cry, you feel stabby, you get hot and bothered, you smile, you love, you're proud! This book gives you everything you can want in a dark fantasy novel and more!
To say I recommend this book is an understatement. Don't walk! RUN!
dnf
January 28, 2024I really wanted to love this but I DNF'ing 75% in - I just cannot bring myself to finish it as much as I want to. The parallels to ACOTAR are so glaringly obvious that I cannot look past it. It got to the point where I was rereading the same page over and over again.
Overall, I thought the book had a great premise to work with and I was hooked from the start but once I hit the 40-50% mark, I started to lose interest because it felt like a ACOTAR checklist and it never got better...
I would recommend this book to someone who did not like or does not want to read ACOTAR but wants a similar, darker story. If the parallels between this and ACOTAR were not so in my face, I would have finished this and probably loved it. Maybe I will pick it back up later on but for now, I cannot finish it.
Overall, I thought the book had a great premise to work with and I was hooked from the start but once I hit the 40-50% mark, I started to lose interest because it felt like a ACOTAR checklist and it never got better...
I would recommend this book to someone who did not like or does not want to read ACOTAR but wants a similar, darker story. If the parallels between this and ACOTAR were not so in my face, I would have finished this and probably loved it. Maybe I will pick it back up later on but for now, I cannot finish it.
November 16, 2023
Review 4.5 stars! 😍
This book is perfect for fans of romantasy, retellings, and spicy fantasy romance 🔥👀 be prepared for possessive alpha males, lots of fae magic and curses, and morally gray characters!
We follow Davyna, a young woman stuck in a terrible servitude contract with her evil step-mother. She knows her only possibility of escaping this terrible fate is finding her real family, which would break the contract. Problem is, the only way to find them is through the cursed . Vampires, werewolves and witches terrorise the realm and might be the only place she can find answers. She soon finds herself smack in the middle of two hot & morally gray fae High Lords, each hiding their own dark secrets.
The first part of the story is a mix of Cinderella retelling with paranormal 🔥 the cursed and the mystery behind Dy are so intriguing! Also I wanted to murder her stepmom 😂 second part Dy is taken to the Fae lands alongside the High Lords. Rhysand fans will absolutely LOVE Kadeyan 👀 I love his snarky remarks! My breath stopped every-time he appeared!
What I also loved about the story is that it’s told in multiple POV, so we also get to see what’s going on inside the heads of our mysterious fae high lords 👀 I love the magic system behind each fae court, and the suspense behind the ember lineage. I will definitely be checking out future books by this author!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review
This book is perfect for fans of romantasy, retellings, and spicy fantasy romance 🔥👀 be prepared for possessive alpha males, lots of fae magic and curses, and morally gray characters!
We follow Davyna, a young woman stuck in a terrible servitude contract with her evil step-mother. She knows her only possibility of escaping this terrible fate is finding her real family, which would break the contract. Problem is, the only way to find them is through the cursed . Vampires, werewolves and witches terrorise the realm and might be the only place she can find answers. She soon finds herself smack in the middle of two hot & morally gray fae High Lords, each hiding their own dark secrets.
The first part of the story is a mix of Cinderella retelling with paranormal 🔥 the cursed and the mystery behind Dy are so intriguing! Also I wanted to murder her stepmom 😂 second part Dy is taken to the Fae lands alongside the High Lords. Rhysand fans will absolutely LOVE Kadeyan 👀 I love his snarky remarks! My breath stopped every-time he appeared!
What I also loved about the story is that it’s told in multiple POV, so we also get to see what’s going on inside the heads of our mysterious fae high lords 👀 I love the magic system behind each fae court, and the suspense behind the ember lineage. I will definitely be checking out future books by this author!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review
June 20, 2025
Genre: Fantasy Romance
⭐️ 2/5
🌶 2/5
🧠 4/10
This is an ACOTAR retelling with a dash of Cinderella vibes sprinkled in. I pushed to finish it because I wanted to see how it ended. If you're looking for something insanely similar to that series, you will love this.
⭐️ 2/5
🌶 2/5
🧠 4/10
This is an ACOTAR retelling with a dash of Cinderella vibes sprinkled in. I pushed to finish it because I wanted to see how it ended. If you're looking for something insanely similar to that series, you will love this.
September 23, 2023
hidden beneath the embers - fay bec
I feel... conflicted about how to write this review.
it was interesting, the world building was kinda cool and I liked the FMC, but I was annoyed for a large-ish portion of this book. if you've read any of the other reviews you know that most of the other issues others are having is how similar this is to ACOTAR. and that was the issue I had. the similarities of some of the story/lore/character relationships to ACOTAR was too much and too obvious... and I didn't care for it.
I feel like the author's writing could be good. I sorta liked these MCs more than Feyre/Rhys/Tampon/etc but I just wish there had been more original aspects than there was. bc the parts that were different, that felt like the author's voice - i loved. but... there wasn't enough of it to make me *love* the whole book. like the obvious similarities to the dynamic between the courts and their high lords/ladies, the traditions/events (one was *very* similar to Calanmai except without the spice in a cave bit) and the next biggest similarity i wanted to mention is a spoiler so I can't talk about it.
I understand that similar things can happen in different books/worlds and I hate comparing the two. especially since one is so well known, but there could have been just little tweaks the author could have made when talking about things that wouldn't have made a huge change to the overall story just little details, but it could have made it not only different. but better.
the beginning and the last 30 ish percent was pretty good, and I am interested in maybe reading the next book, I just hope the author decides to use more of their own story and words because this definitely had potential.
actual rating: 3.5
I feel... conflicted about how to write this review.
it was interesting, the world building was kinda cool and I liked the FMC, but I was annoyed for a large-ish portion of this book. if you've read any of the other reviews you know that most of the other issues others are having is how similar this is to ACOTAR. and that was the issue I had. the similarities of some of the story/lore/character relationships to ACOTAR was too much and too obvious... and I didn't care for it.
I feel like the author's writing could be good. I sorta liked these MCs more than Feyre/Rhys/Tampon/etc but I just wish there had been more original aspects than there was. bc the parts that were different, that felt like the author's voice - i loved. but... there wasn't enough of it to make me *love* the whole book. like the obvious similarities to the dynamic between the courts and their high lords/ladies, the traditions/events (one was *very* similar to Calanmai except without the spice in a cave bit) and the next biggest similarity i wanted to mention is a spoiler so I can't talk about it.
I understand that similar things can happen in different books/worlds and I hate comparing the two. especially since one is so well known, but there could have been just little tweaks the author could have made when talking about things that wouldn't have made a huge change to the overall story just little details, but it could have made it not only different. but better.
the beginning and the last 30 ish percent was pretty good, and I am interested in maybe reading the next book, I just hope the author decides to use more of their own story and words because this definitely had potential.
actual rating: 3.5
December 31, 2022
I received this book in the beta stage as well as an arc.
This review is 100% honest and accurate at the time it's posted. This review does include spoilers so please read at your own discretion and don't tell me I didn't warn you.
Hide-and-seek was a game Davyna loved playing as a child because she always won. But after the death of her adopted father, the game became her life’s mission to seek a blood relative to set her free from the cursed deal she made.
When every lead turns up empty, Davyna is forced to seek help from the creatures that hide in the dark.
And when her fairytale dream for her life goes up in flames, Davyna finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew as one secret after another is revealed. As darkness surrounds her, she wonders if there is any chance of waking from this nightmare.
Sheesh! Where do I begin with this review? This book had my jaw on the floor the entire time I was reading it because I cannot believe this was Fay's debut novel. The beta read was such a fun and incredible time because not only did I get to read her book but was lucky enough to have the opportunity to help improve the book and this was such a dream come true.
Davyna Is my woman crush 100%. No question about it. The way Fay made her such a badass, but also showed that it's okay to fall down sometimes and that sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. I not only fell in love with davynas character but also her determination and confidence. Kadeyan is a bad boy daddy and I simp him for life. (written while I drool over him). Can we please talk about this quote from the book?
"You dogs don't listen. I told you, you touch her, and I'll start removing limbs you would rather keep. Did you think I made those threats lightly?"
I mean COME ON!!!! Need I say more? Also, I know Alastair is cute or whatever but he's toxic and we don't vibe with him so that's that, You can't change my mind. I like my men morally grey and villainous and he's simply just not fitting the criteria. He is well-written however and I applaud Fay for it.
The storyline is amazing and the world-building is just incredible and detailed but not so much that I lose interest in the story. I literally could go on forever about how amazing this book is and it's honestly up there with Helfyre by Murs. I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the book and the way she left book one is so freaking genius but evil at the same time (Fay you know exactly what I'm talking about) The spice in the book is top-notch ( The hot springs anyone?!) the chemistry between the main characters is chef's kiss! Also, the relationship between Davyna and Evren is so special and warm and fuzzy but heartbreaking all at once. Hera on the other hand can go to hell and eat glass for the rest of eternity. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. She's THE most toxic woman ever and my blood was boiling every time I had to read any chapter that mentioned her name. Davyna deserves better and so did Elias. (still not over THAT scene)
I cannot wait for the second book to come out and I will absolutely pass away as soon as it is announced.
I cannot recommend this book enough. I mean if this review doesn't do it then I don't know what will.
Go forth and read it and let's suffer the unforgivable fate of waiting for the second book to come out, together.
This review is 100% honest and accurate at the time it's posted. This review does include spoilers so please read at your own discretion and don't tell me I didn't warn you.
Hide-and-seek was a game Davyna loved playing as a child because she always won. But after the death of her adopted father, the game became her life’s mission to seek a blood relative to set her free from the cursed deal she made.
When every lead turns up empty, Davyna is forced to seek help from the creatures that hide in the dark.
And when her fairytale dream for her life goes up in flames, Davyna finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew as one secret after another is revealed. As darkness surrounds her, she wonders if there is any chance of waking from this nightmare.
Sheesh! Where do I begin with this review? This book had my jaw on the floor the entire time I was reading it because I cannot believe this was Fay's debut novel. The beta read was such a fun and incredible time because not only did I get to read her book but was lucky enough to have the opportunity to help improve the book and this was such a dream come true.
Davyna Is my woman crush 100%. No question about it. The way Fay made her such a badass, but also showed that it's okay to fall down sometimes and that sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. I not only fell in love with davynas character but also her determination and confidence. Kadeyan is a bad boy daddy and I simp him for life. (written while I drool over him). Can we please talk about this quote from the book?
"You dogs don't listen. I told you, you touch her, and I'll start removing limbs you would rather keep. Did you think I made those threats lightly?"
I mean COME ON!!!! Need I say more? Also, I know Alastair is cute or whatever but he's toxic and we don't vibe with him so that's that, You can't change my mind. I like my men morally grey and villainous and he's simply just not fitting the criteria. He is well-written however and I applaud Fay for it.
The storyline is amazing and the world-building is just incredible and detailed but not so much that I lose interest in the story. I literally could go on forever about how amazing this book is and it's honestly up there with Helfyre by Murs. I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the book and the way she left book one is so freaking genius but evil at the same time (Fay you know exactly what I'm talking about) The spice in the book is top-notch ( The hot springs anyone?!) the chemistry between the main characters is chef's kiss! Also, the relationship between Davyna and Evren is so special and warm and fuzzy but heartbreaking all at once. Hera on the other hand can go to hell and eat glass for the rest of eternity. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. She's THE most toxic woman ever and my blood was boiling every time I had to read any chapter that mentioned her name. Davyna deserves better and so did Elias. (still not over THAT scene)
I cannot wait for the second book to come out and I will absolutely pass away as soon as it is announced.
I cannot recommend this book enough. I mean if this review doesn't do it then I don't know what will.
Go forth and read it and let's suffer the unforgivable fate of waiting for the second book to come out, together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2022
4⭐️
3🌶️
I received an ARC for Hidden Beneath the Embers and WOW! What an amazing story. We follow Davyna (FMC) and her journey to find answers about her biological father.
This journey leads to crazy plot twists, heartbreak, love, and power. There were twists I saw coming and ones that surprised me which I enjoyed.
I didn’t love the ending, but I am itching to know what is going to happen next.
You might like this if you enjoy:
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️forbidden love
✔️fae, vampires, witches, and more
✔️undiscovered depths of power
✔️fated mates
✔️spice + shadow hands 👀
Spoilers ❗️❗️❗️❗️
- I didn’t love the ending because I really felt that Davyna would be a good ruler and her father wanted this for her so I was surprised she gave it up so willingly.
- I absolutely loved the banter between Kade and Davyna… when he showed emotion it was so powerful.
- Marta turning against the queen and saving Davyna made my heart throb 🥲
- I really enjoyed seeing Davyna start from the bottom and build herself up. She went through hell and became stronger than ever. I just wish she would let herself have the love and power she deserves.
3🌶️
I received an ARC for Hidden Beneath the Embers and WOW! What an amazing story. We follow Davyna (FMC) and her journey to find answers about her biological father.
This journey leads to crazy plot twists, heartbreak, love, and power. There were twists I saw coming and ones that surprised me which I enjoyed.
I didn’t love the ending, but I am itching to know what is going to happen next.
You might like this if you enjoy:
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️forbidden love
✔️fae, vampires, witches, and more
✔️undiscovered depths of power
✔️fated mates
✔️spice + shadow hands 👀
Spoilers ❗️❗️❗️❗️
- I didn’t love the ending because I really felt that Davyna would be a good ruler and her father wanted this for her so I was surprised she gave it up so willingly.
- I absolutely loved the banter between Kade and Davyna… when he showed emotion it was so powerful.
- Marta turning against the queen and saving Davyna made my heart throb 🥲
- I really enjoyed seeing Davyna start from the bottom and build herself up. She went through hell and became stronger than ever. I just wish she would let herself have the love and power she deserves.
March 12, 2024
Just adding that this review was before the author did a rewrite of the entire book. Apparently over 10,000 words were changed. So if you’re reading the new edition, I have not read it.
______________________________________________
I’m so confused.
I liked that in the beginning it was a reimagining of Cinderella. I thought that was unique.
But 85% of it was just bits of every other fantasy book I’ve read.
It was an ACOTAR rip off with bits of FBAA tied in. Like literally the whole ACOTAR and ACOMAF is tied into this one book. There was so much going on that it was hard to keep track of.
Also “dearest” just annoyed me. I get the author was trying to get it to be like “Feyre darling”, but it missed. Kayedan literally says it after every sentence he speaks, so it lost its luster after the first time.
It was hard to connect or feel anything for the characters. I almost DNF…I skimmed the last few chapters.
That “cliffhanger” of an ending everyone was talking about…not much.
This just wasn’t for me. If you want to read a fanfic of ACOTAR, I guess this might be for you.
______________________________________________
I’m so confused.
I liked that in the beginning it was a reimagining of Cinderella. I thought that was unique.
But 85% of it was just bits of every other fantasy book I’ve read.
It was an ACOTAR rip off with bits of FBAA tied in. Like literally the whole ACOTAR and ACOMAF is tied into this one book. There was so much going on that it was hard to keep track of.
Also “dearest” just annoyed me. I get the author was trying to get it to be like “Feyre darling”, but it missed. Kayedan literally says it after every sentence he speaks, so it lost its luster after the first time.
It was hard to connect or feel anything for the characters. I almost DNF…I skimmed the last few chapters.
That “cliffhanger” of an ending everyone was talking about…not much.
This just wasn’t for me. If you want to read a fanfic of ACOTAR, I guess this might be for you.
February 11, 2023
I’m not sure why I didn’t just listen to the poor reviews detailing how this book is just a very poor ACOTAR. And it is just that. An incredibly rushed poor attempt at completely copying ACOTAR to the point where it’s hard to even concentrate. It tried to mash way too many tropes together and I have to idea why I finished it. I was willing to to prove me wrong and it clearly didn’t.
April 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this book!!
I thought the world building was SUPER interesting (the Cursed roaming the woods and preying on the townspeople, and the Hunt whose job it is to protect the humans) and my curiosity and need for answers kept me turning the page.
Speaking of curiosity, I was sooo interested in our FMC. Everything about her was a mystery and I loved discovering details about her past right alongside her. She was asking the same questions that I was asking, so it felt like we were on this journey of discovery together. I especially loved discovering with her once she made it to the Fae realm! 👀
SPOILERS: (I mean this is disclosed on like page 2, but just in case)
Also as a side note: I really loved the treatment of adoption/adoptive family in this book. I’m always immediately hesitant when I see adoption reflected in fiction because it is so often done poorly and the adoptive family is made to be the villain or less than. But I felt like this showed a very accurate portrayal…that sharing dna doesn’t make someone family, love makes family. Never once did the FMC decide her adoptive family wasn’t her real family, instead she sought after her biological family while also still loving and holding tight to her adoptive father and sister. Idk, I feel like this is very rarely done well in fiction and I always appreciate it done well.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I thought the world building was SUPER interesting (the Cursed roaming the woods and preying on the townspeople, and the Hunt whose job it is to protect the humans) and my curiosity and need for answers kept me turning the page.
Speaking of curiosity, I was sooo interested in our FMC. Everything about her was a mystery and I loved discovering details about her past right alongside her. She was asking the same questions that I was asking, so it felt like we were on this journey of discovery together. I especially loved discovering with her once she made it to the Fae realm! 👀
SPOILERS: (I mean this is disclosed on like page 2, but just in case)
Also as a side note: I really loved the treatment of adoption/adoptive family in this book. I’m always immediately hesitant when I see adoption reflected in fiction because it is so often done poorly and the adoptive family is made to be the villain or less than. But I felt like this showed a very accurate portrayal…that sharing dna doesn’t make someone family, love makes family. Never once did the FMC decide her adoptive family wasn’t her real family, instead she sought after her biological family while also still loving and holding tight to her adoptive father and sister. Idk, I feel like this is very rarely done well in fiction and I always appreciate it done well.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 21, 2023
Still just fucking beautiful
October 20, 2022
I'm so thankful for the opportunity to read Hidden Beneath The Embers as an ARC reader, however the opinions and thoughts are strictly my own.
For more book reviews and bookish content please follow me on Instagram & TikTok @ WildHill_Reads
TW:
First off, it's going to be very hard to write this without spoilers. So I will try my best. However if you get one thing from this review Go read this book .
The basis of this story is absolutely phenomenal and amazing. I loved seeing different parts of lore intertwined. This is a complex story with twist and turns that you don't always see coming. I really loved the main character even though she is a little wishy washy at times, however that is understandable given her circumstances. I would be a whole lotta wishy washy myself. Plus I don't usually care for FMC and I really enjoyed her.. so that's saying something. The lore is steaming from several different things but they each have their own unique twist.
The world building is great and her descriptions are perfect. They didn't bore or bog me down, and kept everything crisp and clear in my mind. There are times where the pacing is odd, it would slow down and then speed up. That's probably my only complaint about the book, that and the fact that the MMC says the pet name way to many times. (But that's a personal preference). On a positive note: the pet name though is absolutely one of my favorites I've heard in a book in a while.
Where this book shines is the freaking dialogue! I found myself laughing out loud and rolling my eyes and being seduced. The banter here is absolutely amazing and I loved every moment that a certain person speaks, because you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth. I lived every moment for the dialogue between the characters.
This is absolutely a great debut novel and the ending is.... phew. That ending is not expected. It does end on a cliff hanger, and what a hell of a cliff hanger it is. I will absolutely read the next one because I just know everything is just going to get so much more intense and better. I do get the feeling this is either going to be a series you love or you hate. Why do I feel this way? Just a feeling... most of my beloved books are this way and that's okay. It is going to be too dark for some and not enough dark for others. I find this to be a perfect into into the dark fantasy genre though.
With all this said. Add the book to your TBR, give it a read.
And as always, remember.
A book may not be someone's cup of tea...but it could be another's shot of whiskey.
For more book reviews and bookish content please follow me on Instagram & TikTok @ WildHill_Reads
TW:
First off, it's going to be very hard to write this without spoilers. So I will try my best. However if you get one thing from this review Go read this book .
The basis of this story is absolutely phenomenal and amazing. I loved seeing different parts of lore intertwined. This is a complex story with twist and turns that you don't always see coming. I really loved the main character even though she is a little wishy washy at times, however that is understandable given her circumstances. I would be a whole lotta wishy washy myself. Plus I don't usually care for FMC and I really enjoyed her.. so that's saying something. The lore is steaming from several different things but they each have their own unique twist.
The world building is great and her descriptions are perfect. They didn't bore or bog me down, and kept everything crisp and clear in my mind. There are times where the pacing is odd, it would slow down and then speed up. That's probably my only complaint about the book, that and the fact that the MMC says the pet name way to many times. (But that's a personal preference). On a positive note: the pet name though is absolutely one of my favorites I've heard in a book in a while.
Where this book shines is the freaking dialogue! I found myself laughing out loud and rolling my eyes and being seduced. The banter here is absolutely amazing and I loved every moment that a certain person speaks, because you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth. I lived every moment for the dialogue between the characters.
This is absolutely a great debut novel and the ending is.... phew. That ending is not expected. It does end on a cliff hanger, and what a hell of a cliff hanger it is. I will absolutely read the next one because I just know everything is just going to get so much more intense and better. I do get the feeling this is either going to be a series you love or you hate. Why do I feel this way? Just a feeling... most of my beloved books are this way and that's okay. It is going to be too dark for some and not enough dark for others. I find this to be a perfect into into the dark fantasy genre though.
With all this said. Add the book to your TBR, give it a read.
And as always, remember.
A book may not be someone's cup of tea...but it could be another's shot of whiskey.
October 31, 2022
I received eARC from the author and it's my honest review. Thanks a lot, Fay.
No Spoliers!!!
Thrilling. Unexpected Secrets. Adventure.
4.5-⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
3-🌶️
- Slow burn with enemies to lovers
- Forbidden love
- Humans/ Fae
- Witches, vampires, sirens, werewolves
- Monsters/Creatures
- Politics drama
Let's just say, I'm beyond words. Like it's a story that you could possibly imagine to have all of your favourite tropes in it and a perfectly blended plot.
Davyna wants to find out who was her biological father when her late father said she have to find who she was and what she really was. Davyna is self-discovering and knowing what's like to feel having powers which was depthless.
The story was filled with actions, secrets, trust, love, loss, heartbreak and many more. We get some crumpled answers here and there to guess what and who she was. After you 75% in, you could certainly guess what's coming!! There's a certain someone who'd make you see red in angry and make you wet. I mean, sweat!! Lollll.
Well, i can't forget to mention some betrayals and lies in the last few chapters and in action scenes, i felt like i was the one who was fighting them which was cool with all the super powers.
Though, i was in edge and filled with half unanswered and would make you question even more. But, in the end, you will get a perfect answers to all the unanswered ones which was shocking!
It was a whole hell of a rollercoaster ride which i was glad I rode. But damn, what was that ending? I hate it, girl!! Please give us some cute moments in book 2.
If you read ACOTAR, this book is for you. If you didn't read ACOTAR, no problem, still this book is for you.
No Spoliers!!!
Thrilling. Unexpected Secrets. Adventure.
4.5-⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
3-🌶️
- Slow burn with enemies to lovers
- Forbidden love
- Humans/ Fae
- Witches, vampires, sirens, werewolves
- Monsters/Creatures
- Politics drama
Let's just say, I'm beyond words. Like it's a story that you could possibly imagine to have all of your favourite tropes in it and a perfectly blended plot.
Davyna wants to find out who was her biological father when her late father said she have to find who she was and what she really was. Davyna is self-discovering and knowing what's like to feel having powers which was depthless.
The story was filled with actions, secrets, trust, love, loss, heartbreak and many more. We get some crumpled answers here and there to guess what and who she was. After you 75% in, you could certainly guess what's coming!! There's a certain someone who'd make you see red in angry and make you wet. I mean, sweat!! Lollll.
Well, i can't forget to mention some betrayals and lies in the last few chapters and in action scenes, i felt like i was the one who was fighting them which was cool with all the super powers.
Though, i was in edge and filled with half unanswered and would make you question even more. But, in the end, you will get a perfect answers to all the unanswered ones which was shocking!
It was a whole hell of a rollercoaster ride which i was glad I rode. But damn, what was that ending? I hate it, girl!! Please give us some cute moments in book 2.
If you read ACOTAR, this book is for you. If you didn't read ACOTAR, no problem, still this book is for you.
October 18, 2022
“Don’t play with the Devil, Dearest. You’ll end up hating yourself for liking it.”
Really loved the opening vibes and imagery in this book! It’s creepy and immediately drew me into the world. The magic system intrigued me and felt refreshing. And let’s just say the MC’s love interest had me sold from the start.
However…
Pacing felt all over the place. There were moments that dragged and others seemed like they could’ve been fleshed out a bit better. And if I see the word “dearest” again it will be too soon (ironic, I know, since it’s in my favorite quote).
This book has all the elements that I love about a dark romantic fantasy though it just didn’t hit the mark for me. But that certainly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give the book a chance. As a debut novel this has all the ingredients for an amazing series despite the few things that annoyed me.
Really loved the opening vibes and imagery in this book! It’s creepy and immediately drew me into the world. The magic system intrigued me and felt refreshing. And let’s just say the MC’s love interest had me sold from the start.
However…
Pacing felt all over the place. There were moments that dragged and others seemed like they could’ve been fleshed out a bit better. And if I see the word “dearest” again it will be too soon (ironic, I know, since it’s in my favorite quote).
This book has all the elements that I love about a dark romantic fantasy though it just didn’t hit the mark for me. But that certainly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give the book a chance. As a debut novel this has all the ingredients for an amazing series despite the few things that annoyed me.
April 29, 2023
Enjoyed this read! If you're a lover of romantasy, this is definitely up your alley. One of my favorite aspects in the fantasy world is fated mates and we see this here! Loved the way the author put together the courts and the magical system. The lore in this story was one of my favorites, we have the high lords of the fae courts and all the magic that entails it.
The characters definitely had a grab on me, Davyna was a badass heroine. She was forced into servitude for the queen, which Davyna was set in leaving and seeking a better life. I loved the found family/ adoptive aspect. The author did a great job depicting the bond between the individuals.
Overall this was a great start of the story, I look forward in reading more about the FMC and the love interest. Lets not forget the spicy moments, there was definitely spice in this book!
Huge thanks to the author for gifting me a copy! All opinions are my own.
The characters definitely had a grab on me, Davyna was a badass heroine. She was forced into servitude for the queen, which Davyna was set in leaving and seeking a better life. I loved the found family/ adoptive aspect. The author did a great job depicting the bond between the individuals.
Overall this was a great start of the story, I look forward in reading more about the FMC and the love interest. Lets not forget the spicy moments, there was definitely spice in this book!
Huge thanks to the author for gifting me a copy! All opinions are my own.
Read
February 26, 2023"Touch her in your anger, and l'll kill you. Slowly...”
It has a familiar feel to it! It is Cinderella meets ACOTAR meets The Origionals and it's a wild ride!
I found myself really loving the FMC and enjoyed going along this journey with her while she found out where and who she came from!
Excited to find out what happens after that cliffhanger! Thank you to the author for the ARC!
It has a familiar feel to it! It is Cinderella meets ACOTAR meets The Origionals and it's a wild ride!
I found myself really loving the FMC and enjoyed going along this journey with her while she found out where and who she came from!
Excited to find out what happens after that cliffhanger! Thank you to the author for the ARC!
November 8, 2022
I wanted to love it and i tried for eight days to gain momentum. However, the writing paired the blatant parallels to ACOTAR were just too distracting for me. I only made it to chapter 26 before deciding to return this one. Maybe I'll try again..
October 16, 2025
0.5/5 ⭐️ DNF
🎧 Libby Audio
I went into this blind, hoping for a good story—but I was sadly mistaken. It starts as a Cinderella retelling that’s basically a carbon copy, and just when you think we’re done sweeping ash, we tumble straight into A Court of Thorns and Roses territory. It’s like the author took her favorite fantasy tropes, tossed them in a blender, and said, “Voilà—original content!”
The so-called hero? A budget Tamlin knockoff with all the charm of a premature firecracker. Then there’s the “mysterious” vampire-adjacent Rhysand wannabe she’s instantly drawn to (and we all know why 🙄). Instead of seasonal courts, we get stone courts, each with their own powers, plus a queen hell-bent on destruction.
I genuinely tried to finish this, but halfway through, it just felt like a copy-paste collage of better stories—and somehow worse for it. The only thing missing was watery bowels to make it a full ACOTAR experience. Someone get the Suriel, because I’m spilling the tea. ☕️🐍
🎧 Libby Audio
I went into this blind, hoping for a good story—but I was sadly mistaken. It starts as a Cinderella retelling that’s basically a carbon copy, and just when you think we’re done sweeping ash, we tumble straight into A Court of Thorns and Roses territory. It’s like the author took her favorite fantasy tropes, tossed them in a blender, and said, “Voilà—original content!”
The so-called hero? A budget Tamlin knockoff with all the charm of a premature firecracker. Then there’s the “mysterious” vampire-adjacent Rhysand wannabe she’s instantly drawn to (and we all know why 🙄). Instead of seasonal courts, we get stone courts, each with their own powers, plus a queen hell-bent on destruction.
I genuinely tried to finish this, but halfway through, it just felt like a copy-paste collage of better stories—and somehow worse for it. The only thing missing was watery bowels to make it a full ACOTAR experience. Someone get the Suriel, because I’m spilling the tea. ☕️🐍
October 27, 2022
I received an ARC copy of Hidden Beneath the Embers in exchange for an honest review. And it blew my expectations out of the water. I’ve been following Fay’s writing journey the majority of the year, and there were still unexpected twists and turns that I didn’t see coming.
Manipulated into a service contract, Davyna’s only goal is to find her father and find a way out. But when that search all of a sudden takes her down a path full of the things that chase her in her nightmares, she must decide whether to follow what is safe and easy, or follow the darkness and step into her power and save herself.
Off the back Davyna gives off straight fiery, bad ass female vibes. Shooting whiskey and putting guards in their place within the first few pages? I’m here for it!
There wasn’t an extreme amount of world building, but enough for you to get your bearings on the world the MC was in and the things, places, and creatures she was experiencing and I personally appreciated that. Although world building is crucial in a fantasy novel, it can easily become overwhelming if too much info is thrown at you. Some of the pacing in the first part of the book, felt a bit inconsistent, but that could just be me being overly anxious to get to the meat of the story. Not enough of an annoyance to knock my rating, but worth mentioning. Once Davyna entered the magical realm, the pacing to me was much smoother, and I couldn’t put the book down.
Red flags were immediately being set off for me with one of the male characters, and he felt predictably untrustworthy, but the full extent of his assholeness did end up surprising me in the end.
Fave quotes
“Let your fire shine bright... Let the world see you.”
“Don’t play with the Devil, Dearest. You’ll end up hating yourself for liking it.”
"Maybe he was the Devil, but right now, I would gladly sin to get more of him."
"We can be painted as villains in anyone’s story, but even villains have a reason for the things they do."
If you’re looking for
- Enemies to lovers
- A magical realm & shapeshifters
- A fiery, badass FMC, discovering her strength & power, with a smart ass mouth
- A deliciously morally gray vampire
- Spicy tension filled relationship
- Touch her and you die vibes
Then I highly recommend grabbing Hidden Beneath the Embers
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆.5 /5
Manipulated into a service contract, Davyna’s only goal is to find her father and find a way out. But when that search all of a sudden takes her down a path full of the things that chase her in her nightmares, she must decide whether to follow what is safe and easy, or follow the darkness and step into her power and save herself.
Off the back Davyna gives off straight fiery, bad ass female vibes. Shooting whiskey and putting guards in their place within the first few pages? I’m here for it!
There wasn’t an extreme amount of world building, but enough for you to get your bearings on the world the MC was in and the things, places, and creatures she was experiencing and I personally appreciated that. Although world building is crucial in a fantasy novel, it can easily become overwhelming if too much info is thrown at you. Some of the pacing in the first part of the book, felt a bit inconsistent, but that could just be me being overly anxious to get to the meat of the story. Not enough of an annoyance to knock my rating, but worth mentioning. Once Davyna entered the magical realm, the pacing to me was much smoother, and I couldn’t put the book down.
Red flags were immediately being set off for me with one of the male characters, and he felt predictably untrustworthy, but the full extent of his assholeness did end up surprising me in the end.
Fave quotes
“Let your fire shine bright... Let the world see you.”
“Don’t play with the Devil, Dearest. You’ll end up hating yourself for liking it.”
"Maybe he was the Devil, but right now, I would gladly sin to get more of him."
"We can be painted as villains in anyone’s story, but even villains have a reason for the things they do."
If you’re looking for
- Enemies to lovers
- A magical realm & shapeshifters
- A fiery, badass FMC, discovering her strength & power, with a smart ass mouth
- A deliciously morally gray vampire
- Spicy tension filled relationship
- Touch her and you die vibes
Then I highly recommend grabbing Hidden Beneath the Embers
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆.5 /5
October 27, 2022
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader and diving into this book early in exchange for an honest review.
“Don’t play with the Devil, Dearest. You’ll end up hating yourself for liking it.”
Talk about a magickal world! This book has similar vibes to ACOTAR so fans of SJM will fall in love with Dy and her story of becoming her true self.
There is fire and power, a twisted romance you can’t help but be captivated by, a killer one bed trope scene that had my pulse racing, bold and bad female leads, a push-and-pull / love-hate relationship between Dyvana and Kadeyan that stirs the embers low in your core while reading, and the best villains of any story. There is the perfect amount of spice, banter, and some wondrous side characters that make me want to hug them and share a glass of red as we laugh together.
The court system and the way magick is portrayed in this story is unique and while it holds a lot of what we already know it’s shown in a way that I’ve never seen before. I highly enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the chapters. The cliffhanger at the end ripped me completely and now my heart is scattered somewhere along these pages. In need of a support group just to deal with the words on this page.
This book gives us everything we crave in a dark fantasy romance and I highly suggest adding it to your shelf RIGHT NOW.
“Don’t play with the Devil, Dearest. You’ll end up hating yourself for liking it.”
Talk about a magickal world! This book has similar vibes to ACOTAR so fans of SJM will fall in love with Dy and her story of becoming her true self.
There is fire and power, a twisted romance you can’t help but be captivated by, a killer one bed trope scene that had my pulse racing, bold and bad female leads, a push-and-pull / love-hate relationship between Dyvana and Kadeyan that stirs the embers low in your core while reading, and the best villains of any story. There is the perfect amount of spice, banter, and some wondrous side characters that make me want to hug them and share a glass of red as we laugh together.
The court system and the way magick is portrayed in this story is unique and while it holds a lot of what we already know it’s shown in a way that I’ve never seen before. I highly enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the chapters. The cliffhanger at the end ripped me completely and now my heart is scattered somewhere along these pages. In need of a support group just to deal with the words on this page.
This book gives us everything we crave in a dark fantasy romance and I highly suggest adding it to your shelf RIGHT NOW.
November 14, 2022
Okay… here me out. This book was good, i wont deny that. Fay had a great way of turning it around to making it her own story with her own elements, but i can’t shake the disappointment that about 70% of this first debut book was EXACT replications of ACOTAR. I know the ACOTAR series inspired this book, but the events, characters, themes….it was all ACOTAR. There wasn’t much originality…it was SO distracting because you knew what was coming next because of having read ACOTAR before this series. So that was pretty disappointing after being SO hyped to read this!😔
But… that ending? Crazy!! I am unsure how i feel with how she just ended that book! I will say that is definitely a cliffhanger i was not expecting so that makes me anticipate the next book…
But i do hope hope hope Fay will make the second book more original to her style. It truly was a fascinating book, i wont discredit her for that. But I would like to see more world building and character development.
BUT IN A POSITIVE NOTE - I do think HBTE is a series I would love to continue reading. I do hope everyone will give it a fair chance but just note that if you have read ACOTAR…you will notice these similarities.
But… that ending? Crazy!! I am unsure how i feel with how she just ended that book! I will say that is definitely a cliffhanger i was not expecting so that makes me anticipate the next book…
But i do hope hope hope Fay will make the second book more original to her style. It truly was a fascinating book, i wont discredit her for that. But I would like to see more world building and character development.
BUT IN A POSITIVE NOTE - I do think HBTE is a series I would love to continue reading. I do hope everyone will give it a fair chance but just note that if you have read ACOTAR…you will notice these similarities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2022
Here’s the thing…
This was a great book, but it was like an adult ACOTAR. Literally so much of it was just straight from ACOTAR with no fade to black scenes and I’m not talking ‘the characters have bat wings so it’s the same’ I’m sayin the Rhys/feyre/tamtam triangle and toxicity, the throne room scene, the found family (literally 2 dudes and 2 girls) the “I wanna show you something” and it’s a pond filled with “moonlight” (rather than starlight), essentially calanmai scene, the saving her from the others castle, the mind speaking to let the found family know what to do. It was a lot unfortunately.
I say unfortunately because at about 73% it got REALLY good it’s where it turned into her own story and her own writing and I loved it! The ending was jaw dropping amazing but the fact that I struggled to get through the rest of the book because of extreme similarities makes me rate this so low. I will say in comparisons to characters Dy is more favorable then Feyre 🤷🏼♀️ I like MCs that accept who they are.
Idk I don’t like leaving low ratings and this was a hard one for me because I did love it but it was way too similar to say this was completely original.
This was a great book, but it was like an adult ACOTAR. Literally so much of it was just straight from ACOTAR with no fade to black scenes and I’m not talking ‘the characters have bat wings so it’s the same’ I’m sayin the Rhys/feyre/tamtam triangle and toxicity, the throne room scene, the found family (literally 2 dudes and 2 girls) the “I wanna show you something” and it’s a pond filled with “moonlight” (rather than starlight), essentially calanmai scene, the saving her from the others castle, the mind speaking to let the found family know what to do. It was a lot unfortunately.
I say unfortunately because at about 73% it got REALLY good it’s where it turned into her own story and her own writing and I loved it! The ending was jaw dropping amazing but the fact that I struggled to get through the rest of the book because of extreme similarities makes me rate this so low. I will say in comparisons to characters Dy is more favorable then Feyre 🤷🏼♀️ I like MCs that accept who they are.
Idk I don’t like leaving low ratings and this was a hard one for me because I did love it but it was way too similar to say this was completely original.
December 29, 2023
“Her darkness captivated me, taming me while undoing all that I was.”
Why do I put myself through this pain? I never thought hide and seek could be as captivating as Fay Bec made it… Hidden Beneath the Embers is her debut novel of the Dark Curse series and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for the remainder of the series. I received an early ARC in exchange for my crazy ramblings, detailed feedback, and to share my honest thoughts. She got the crazy and feedback, my thoughts are - read it! It was an awesome fvcking ride that ends in a cliffy that I didn’t see coming but let me tell you 👀😮💨 it made me crave more.
I would call this a darkish fantasy that gives you runaway princess vibes, blood play, a deliciously dark lord that you want to be chased by, with a predator/prey trope. It’s tasty, dark, and real. I loved it and I’m excited for the beginning of her journey! So excited for the remainder of her ARCs to go out and see this beauty on everyone’s shelves!
4 stars babe, raise Hell 🫠❤️🔥
Why do I put myself through this pain? I never thought hide and seek could be as captivating as Fay Bec made it… Hidden Beneath the Embers is her debut novel of the Dark Curse series and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for the remainder of the series. I received an early ARC in exchange for my crazy ramblings, detailed feedback, and to share my honest thoughts. She got the crazy and feedback, my thoughts are - read it! It was an awesome fvcking ride that ends in a cliffy that I didn’t see coming but let me tell you 👀😮💨 it made me crave more.
I would call this a darkish fantasy that gives you runaway princess vibes, blood play, a deliciously dark lord that you want to be chased by, with a predator/prey trope. It’s tasty, dark, and real. I loved it and I’m excited for the beginning of her journey! So excited for the remainder of her ARCs to go out and see this beauty on everyone’s shelves!
4 stars babe, raise Hell 🫠❤️🔥
October 30, 2022
Just finished this book today and just omggg. This was my most anticipated read all month and rightly so! It was the perfect mix of heat, dark, fairytale, and fantasy. Started out with a bit of a Cinderella vibe mixed with a bit of ACOTAR. Honestly, can’t say much else other than I’m absolutely in love with the story, the characters, the humor, and quick remarks and the ending…please write faster 😂 I’m dying to know what happens next!!!
November 24, 2022
I received an ARC of this book from the author. Many thanks to Fay and congratulations on her debut novel.
The beginning of this book had Cinderella elements but still had some bits of originality which I enjoyed. Sometimes it had some vibes of a more adult These Hollow Vows. So, there was much promise going into this. After a certain point it shifted into ACOMAF. It became a struggle for me when there were so so many parallels and in the same order. Sometimes the build of romantic tension stalled the storyline itself. I found myself making so many comparisons to ACOMAF , The Vampire Diaries and The Originals…and not in an, ‘oh, I see the inspiration’ way. If you’ve read the ACOTAR series and watched the shows stated above, you may find yourself making these connections too.
However, if you haven’t, you may enjoy this book. It was written pretty well and has promise.
The beginning of this book had Cinderella elements but still had some bits of originality which I enjoyed. Sometimes it had some vibes of a more adult These Hollow Vows. So, there was much promise going into this. After a certain point it shifted into ACOMAF. It became a struggle for me when there were so so many parallels and in the same order. Sometimes the build of romantic tension stalled the storyline itself. I found myself making so many comparisons to ACOMAF , The Vampire Diaries and The Originals…and not in an, ‘oh, I see the inspiration’ way. If you’ve read the ACOTAR series and watched the shows stated above, you may find yourself making these connections too.
However, if you haven’t, you may enjoy this book. It was written pretty well and has promise.
November 11, 2022
the whole book is basically stolen from the ACOTAR series
No one is more surprised than I was that I read this whole book. Besides the fact that it was highly copied from ACOTAR, it was hard to understand half the time because it was like someone vomited up a thesaurus onto the pages. I almost gave this book two stars because the last like 20% (that wasn’t stolen from ACOTAR) was actually pretty decent. Which shows me if the author was original, then this book could’ve had a lot of potential. Doesn’t the author know the world is obsessed with ACOTAR? How could she think people wouldn’t notice?
No one is more surprised than I was that I read this whole book. Besides the fact that it was highly copied from ACOTAR, it was hard to understand half the time because it was like someone vomited up a thesaurus onto the pages. I almost gave this book two stars because the last like 20% (that wasn’t stolen from ACOTAR) was actually pretty decent. Which shows me if the author was original, then this book could’ve had a lot of potential. Doesn’t the author know the world is obsessed with ACOTAR? How could she think people wouldn’t notice?
December 31, 2023
Before I read this I made the mistake of reading reviews which said this was just an ACOTAR retelling & I couldn’t separate that from my reading experience unfortunately
August 25, 2024
Hidden Beneath the Embers is a dark fantasy romance following Davyna, a fiery heroine determined to find a blood relative in order to break a deal with her stepmother. Her quest to find a relative takes her on a journey through a world filled with supernatural beings like vampires, witches, and werewolves. Her search for freedom turns into a battle for survival, loss, love, and self-discovery.
Hidden Beneath The Embers does start with elements of Cinderella but those influences only last for about the first quarter of the book before it transforms into a more fantasy-based plot. It touches on heavier topics such as grief, violence, and abuse and the romance between the FMC and MMC verges on the darker side too on occasion.
Reading the reviews of this book before/during/after reading it myself was interesting. It seems that a lot of the reviews that rate it 3 or below mention it being "an ACOTAR rip-off" or fan-fiction. Personally, I thought the ACOTAR similarities were overstated. Minor spoilers in the following paragraph regarding why I think this:
****
There's Fae courts, which is sort of a long-standing/pre-SJM standard feature of fantasy books featuring Fae. There's an initial love interest who isn't the MMC - I don't believe one author has a monopoly on this. There's a plot line involving the FMC visiting the various Fae courts and discovering her powers. While this is similar to a plotline in the ACOTAR series, the context and plot around this are completely different and there's a very different reason for the source of the FMC's various powers.
****
Spoilers are over now!
I enjoyed the world this book was set in and the lore around the origins of the Fae courts. It's clear that this series is only just getting going and that the plot will continue to evolve. Hopefully any review comparisons to ACOTAR will drop off as the series continues and the plot continues to show off its originality (and likely those people who gave it 1-3 stars won't return for the sequels anyway).
The reason for my 4 star rating rather than a 5 star rating isn't the plot or the romance, but just that there were some moments of telling rather than showing, especially regarding Davyna's relationship with Alistair. This is probably because there's a lot of plot and worldbuilding to get through in this book, so there wasn't space to spend lots of time with Davyna and Alistair in the Crescent Court. Because of this, it felt like the relationship between them was being explained quickly rather than being shown to develop naturally over time. However, this was the author's debut, and a lot of work had to be done in this book to set up the world and the characters, so I'm assuming that in the sequels there will be more opportunity for showing rather than telling.
The FMC really came into her own by the end of the book, and I'm really excited to read the sequels and to see how this story (and Davyna) develops further!
Hidden Beneath The Embers does start with elements of Cinderella but those influences only last for about the first quarter of the book before it transforms into a more fantasy-based plot. It touches on heavier topics such as grief, violence, and abuse and the romance between the FMC and MMC verges on the darker side too on occasion.
Reading the reviews of this book before/during/after reading it myself was interesting. It seems that a lot of the reviews that rate it 3 or below mention it being "an ACOTAR rip-off" or fan-fiction. Personally, I thought the ACOTAR similarities were overstated. Minor spoilers in the following paragraph regarding why I think this:
****
There's Fae courts, which is sort of a long-standing/pre-SJM standard feature of fantasy books featuring Fae. There's an initial love interest who isn't the MMC - I don't believe one author has a monopoly on this. There's a plot line involving the FMC visiting the various Fae courts and discovering her powers. While this is similar to a plotline in the ACOTAR series, the context and plot around this are completely different and there's a very different reason for the source of the FMC's various powers.
****
Spoilers are over now!
I enjoyed the world this book was set in and the lore around the origins of the Fae courts. It's clear that this series is only just getting going and that the plot will continue to evolve. Hopefully any review comparisons to ACOTAR will drop off as the series continues and the plot continues to show off its originality (and likely those people who gave it 1-3 stars won't return for the sequels anyway).
The reason for my 4 star rating rather than a 5 star rating isn't the plot or the romance, but just that there were some moments of telling rather than showing, especially regarding Davyna's relationship with Alistair. This is probably because there's a lot of plot and worldbuilding to get through in this book, so there wasn't space to spend lots of time with Davyna and Alistair in the Crescent Court. Because of this, it felt like the relationship between them was being explained quickly rather than being shown to develop naturally over time. However, this was the author's debut, and a lot of work had to be done in this book to set up the world and the characters, so I'm assuming that in the sequels there will be more opportunity for showing rather than telling.
The FMC really came into her own by the end of the book, and I'm really excited to read the sequels and to see how this story (and Davyna) develops further!
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