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The Mortal Fates #1
The Crown of Oaths and Curses
I devoted my life to a king who was not my own.
On the road to ultimate honor and glory, I lost everything.
Now, in a world ravaged by the whims of those who rule, I must turn my back on a lifetime of friendships and loyalties to face my own fate.
The Savage Prince.
Heir to the high-fae throne of the Southern Lands, he is known for his brutality and cold heart. But with the kingdom on the brink of ruin, I have no choice but to seek him out.
The war between the fae and the witches rages, and there’s no end in sight. My destiny is clear—help the prince defeat his enemies before it’s too late.
One small problem.
I am Rookesbane Eveningstar.
The Favored Child returned, a Witch of the Woods.
The greatest enemy of my Fates-blessed mate.
*The Crown of Oaths and Curses is a full-length MF epic fantasy romance with material that may be difficult for some readers. This book will end on a cliffhanger. It's recommended for 18+ due to language and sexual situations. Book 1 of a 3-book series.
On the road to ultimate honor and glory, I lost everything.
Now, in a world ravaged by the whims of those who rule, I must turn my back on a lifetime of friendships and loyalties to face my own fate.
The Savage Prince.
Heir to the high-fae throne of the Southern Lands, he is known for his brutality and cold heart. But with the kingdom on the brink of ruin, I have no choice but to seek him out.
The war between the fae and the witches rages, and there’s no end in sight. My destiny is clear—help the prince defeat his enemies before it’s too late.
One small problem.
I am Rookesbane Eveningstar.
The Favored Child returned, a Witch of the Woods.
The greatest enemy of my Fates-blessed mate.
*The Crown of Oaths and Curses is a full-length MF epic fantasy romance with material that may be difficult for some readers. This book will end on a cliffhanger. It's recommended for 18+ due to language and sexual situations. Book 1 of a 3-book series.
656 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2023
2811 people are currently reading
61142 people want to read
About the author
J. Bree
28 books11.7k followersJ Bree is a dreamer, writer, mother, and cat-wrangler.
The order of priorities changes daily.
She lives on the coast of Western Australia in a city where it rains too much. She spends her days dreaming about all of her book boyfriends, listening to her partner moan about how the lawns are looking, and being a snack bitch to her three kids.
Visit her website at http://www.jbreeauthor.com to sign up for the newsletter or find her on social media.
The order of priorities changes daily.
She lives on the coast of Western Australia in a city where it rains too much. She spends her days dreaming about all of her book boyfriends, listening to her partner moan about how the lawns are looking, and being a snack bitch to her three kids.
Visit her website at http://www.jbreeauthor.com to sign up for the newsletter or find her on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,895 reviews
December 12, 2024
The main issue with this is that the author has done her job of setting up the enemies part of enemies to lovers too well. Because now I don’t want it to be a Fated Mates romance. Our female lead, Rookesbane Eveningstar, is incredible in every way. Whereas our male lead, the Savage Prince, starts out with an understandable prejudice which he then refuses to alter despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary. And that makes him stupid. Frankly, I hope Rooke kills him, half of his friends, and then burns the entire high fae system to the ground.
July 2, 2023
It's giving the Cruel Prince and especially Cardan and Jude vibes.
✔️ Witch x fae romance
✔️ Dual pov
✔️ True enemies to lovers series
✔️ The chosen one
✔️ Fated mates
✔️ Rejected mates
✔️ Dagger to the throat
✔️ Political intrigue
A lot of flaws but a decent story otherwise.
So let me start from the beginning, NGL and am not exaggerating- it had a horrible start. Absolutely horrible (at least for me). The first 10% I thought am going to end up DNF-ing it cause the amount of info dumping was done was wayyyyy too much. It improved a bit later on but imo authors should pace it well. Also the inner monologues were never ending. The pacing of the book is slow throughout, tho the story grabs attention towards 35%.
Another flaw that did not improve is the world building. I blame it on the fact that it was dumped right in the beginning which caused me not to process it aptly. The world building came across as complicated and there were moments later on when I didn't fully understand the wheres and whys. The book also has long chapters, so keep that in mind.
The characters, especially the FMC- Rooke who is the Favoured Child and a witch was so likable. Her patience level going through such brutality is commendable. The prince and his kingdom treated her so so poorly and she carried on, she protected them without even showing an ounce of anger or hurt. But it does make me wonder how she is going to open up in the later books. She does have a few emotional moments but nothing that suggests romance.
The MMC- Prince Soren, also called the Savage Prince is a force to be reckoned with. Imo he is getting unnecessary hate by other reviewers. His hate, his cruelty is a lot yes but I bet it's going to be beautiful af when he finally gets down on his knees for her. Soren is not a charming fella, all he cares about is his kingdom and that kingdom alone, which is justified considering he is going to be king. The struggle depicted in his emotions for Rooke is interesting because although there's deep hatred, we see moments of protectiveness and admiration, subtly. I bet his glow up is going to be worth reading.
There is no romance in this. As it is the first book in the trilogy, both the main characters stayed in that enemies zone. There is no angst and it's a slow burn series. So where there's none of that in this book, don't go expecting spice, I expect that in the later books.
I read this one cause I was hugely impressed by The Bonds That Tie series by the author. She does have talent for story telling but the writing could use some work, as no one enjoys the info dumping paired with long inner monologues.
I will continue with the series with high hopes that it blossoms into something similar to Jude and Cardan.
~•~•~
So excited to read it. Have high expectations, pls be good.
✔️ Witch x fae romance
✔️ Dual pov
✔️ True enemies to lovers series
✔️ The chosen one
✔️ Fated mates
✔️ Rejected mates
✔️ Dagger to the throat
✔️ Political intrigue
A lot of flaws but a decent story otherwise.
So let me start from the beginning, NGL and am not exaggerating- it had a horrible start. Absolutely horrible (at least for me). The first 10% I thought am going to end up DNF-ing it cause the amount of info dumping was done was wayyyyy too much. It improved a bit later on but imo authors should pace it well. Also the inner monologues were never ending. The pacing of the book is slow throughout, tho the story grabs attention towards 35%.
Another flaw that did not improve is the world building. I blame it on the fact that it was dumped right in the beginning which caused me not to process it aptly. The world building came across as complicated and there were moments later on when I didn't fully understand the wheres and whys. The book also has long chapters, so keep that in mind.
The characters, especially the FMC- Rooke who is the Favoured Child and a witch was so likable. Her patience level going through such brutality is commendable. The prince and his kingdom treated her so so poorly and she carried on, she protected them without even showing an ounce of anger or hurt. But it does make me wonder how she is going to open up in the later books. She does have a few emotional moments but nothing that suggests romance.
The MMC- Prince Soren, also called the Savage Prince is a force to be reckoned with. Imo he is getting unnecessary hate by other reviewers. His hate, his cruelty is a lot yes but I bet it's going to be beautiful af when he finally gets down on his knees for her. Soren is not a charming fella, all he cares about is his kingdom and that kingdom alone, which is justified considering he is going to be king. The struggle depicted in his emotions for Rooke is interesting because although there's deep hatred, we see moments of protectiveness and admiration, subtly. I bet his glow up is going to be worth reading.
There is no romance in this. As it is the first book in the trilogy, both the main characters stayed in that enemies zone. There is no angst and it's a slow burn series. So where there's none of that in this book, don't go expecting spice, I expect that in the later books.
I read this one cause I was hugely impressed by The Bonds That Tie series by the author. She does have talent for story telling but the writing could use some work, as no one enjoys the info dumping paired with long inner monologues.
I will continue with the series with high hopes that it blossoms into something similar to Jude and Cardan.
~•~•~
So excited to read it. Have high expectations, pls be good.
May 29, 2024
2.5/5
I guess I was expecting too much from this story after having finished the two novellas — The Scepter and The Sword, which I really enjoyed and which I highly recommend reading before this book as it’s a great introduction to Soren and Rooke's story. I was almost certain that I would become obsessed with this series, but unfortunately, as you can probably see, that did not happen.
The Crown of Oaths and Curses is told from two points of view — Soren's and Rooke's, two fated mates whose union is to bring peace and end the curse of the Fae. The idea for the plot and tropes sounded really promising — not to mention the beautiful cover, which I fell in love with as soon as I saw it, but the problem is that I was almost bored to tears while reading it. I struggled with the first part of the book to such an extent that I skipped many repetitive monologues and several unnecessary situations that, in my opinion, added nothing to the story. The second part definitely helped, and the ending pissed me off that I decided to start this trilogy now, because maybe in the sequel the non-existent romance between our two main characters will finally begin and waiting for it might kill me.
But without extending the beginning of my review, let's move on to our main characters. The rest of my rant contains spoilers!
Rookesbane Eveningstar — the Mother Witch. The action of the book begins two hundred years after she and her brother decided to leave their lands. Rooke finally returns home to fulfill her fate in which she must marry the Savage Prince.
Her character basically made the whole book for me. She lands on my "favorite heroines" shelf because I simply love her. I don't remember ever reading a fantasy book where the heroine had a patient of a saint.
Her calm demeanor was a complete contrast to the almost always angry Soren, and I laughed every time she was just chilling while he was dying of anger.
Rooke was just such an amazing person with the biggest heart, not to mention the fact that she was smart and powerful. Yet everyone, especially Soren, treated her like she was less than nothing. If Soren's friends and family don't treat her the way she deserves in the sequel, I will literally give up on this series. We've seen Soren's court finally slowly start to open up to her, so I can't wait to see them treat her like the goddess she is. But most importantly, I desperately need Soren to treat her this way. I actually devoured the last chapter because we finally saw our Prince regret his terrible behavior. He wanted to redeem himself by wanting to help Rooke, and I'm terribly happy that she didn't fall into his arms the first chance he showed her some mercy. I can't wait to see her make him work towards her forgiveness in the second book. Preferably on his knees.
Also, Soren acting jealous at the end? I know he shouldn't after the terrible and disgusting way he treated her, but ugh, I'm going to go crazy when he finally starts obsessing over her and being possessive.
Moving to our second main character — Prince Soren, or more like Prince Ass, because he acted like Rooke deserved worse than nothing. It’s not that I didn't understand his reasons for hating her. His parents were killed by his uncle so he had huge trust issues, then the witches placed a curse on his people so they couldn't have children, and the icing on the cake was that the witches were at war with his kingdom. At first I understood why he treated her like that, but later, when she broke the curse, took care of his cousin and her baby, saved his best friend's life and was genuinely a good person who didn’t make any problems, I didn’t. It took him an entire book to finally wake up and accept her, and it was only because she saved his entire kingdom.
My second problem with Prince Soren was that although his people and kingdom were his top priority, there were times when I felt he would not make a good king. Rooke understood that she had to return to him and accept their fate in order to save the kingdom and their lands, but it took him practically the whole book to do so. The fact that she was two-hundred-and-something years old, and Soren was a thousand-and-something, and Rooke was able to learn many languages, which helped communicate with other kingdoms, and the future king was unable to do so, only showed what kind of ruler he was.
Finally, let's move on to the romance part of the book — the worst, or rather non-existent part. Seriously. If you came here for the romance, you definitely won't be satisfied as this story simply doesn't have it. If I had to describe their relationship it would be 'Enemies to -', because there was no 'lovers'. It doesn’t changed the fact that I can’t wait for them to become ones. There were a few hints in Soren's pov, especially at the end of the last chapter where we could see that he had finally realized how terrible he had been to Rooke and that maybe he would finally change his mind about her. Let me repeat: if this man does not grovel, I will not continue this series. I can't remember the last time I read a book where the hero really had to grovel because his actions were so cruel to his love interest.
Even though I struggled with most of the book because it was boring, painfully boring even, I'm looking forward to the sequel. I hope the romance finally starts there, because the enemies part was enemy-ing too much in this book.
I guess I was expecting too much from this story after having finished the two novellas — The Scepter and The Sword, which I really enjoyed and which I highly recommend reading before this book as it’s a great introduction to Soren and Rooke's story. I was almost certain that I would become obsessed with this series, but unfortunately, as you can probably see, that did not happen.
The Crown of Oaths and Curses is told from two points of view — Soren's and Rooke's, two fated mates whose union is to bring peace and end the curse of the Fae. The idea for the plot and tropes sounded really promising — not to mention the beautiful cover, which I fell in love with as soon as I saw it, but the problem is that I was almost bored to tears while reading it. I struggled with the first part of the book to such an extent that I skipped many repetitive monologues and several unnecessary situations that, in my opinion, added nothing to the story. The second part definitely helped, and the ending pissed me off that I decided to start this trilogy now, because maybe in the sequel the non-existent romance between our two main characters will finally begin and waiting for it might kill me.
But without extending the beginning of my review, let's move on to our main characters. The rest of my rant contains spoilers!
Rookesbane Eveningstar — the Mother Witch. The action of the book begins two hundred years after she and her brother decided to leave their lands. Rooke finally returns home to fulfill her fate in which she must marry the Savage Prince.
Her character basically made the whole book for me. She lands on my "favorite heroines" shelf because I simply love her. I don't remember ever reading a fantasy book where the heroine had a patient of a saint.
"She radiates calm as I struggle to hold myself in check."
Her calm demeanor was a complete contrast to the almost always angry Soren, and I laughed every time she was just chilling while he was dying of anger.
“You stink,” he snarls,"
I shrug, “If you don't like it, then you should do something about it, because it makes no difference to me."
Rooke was just such an amazing person with the biggest heart, not to mention the fact that she was smart and powerful. Yet everyone, especially Soren, treated her like she was less than nothing. If Soren's friends and family don't treat her the way she deserves in the sequel, I will literally give up on this series. We've seen Soren's court finally slowly start to open up to her, so I can't wait to see them treat her like the goddess she is. But most importantly, I desperately need Soren to treat her this way. I actually devoured the last chapter because we finally saw our Prince regret his terrible behavior. He wanted to redeem himself by wanting to help Rooke, and I'm terribly happy that she didn't fall into his arms the first chance he showed her some mercy. I can't wait to see her make him work towards her forgiveness in the second book. Preferably on his knees.
"I hold out a hand to her with the intention of carrying her behind me on Nightspark for the trip back to Yregar, but she stares at my hand like it's a death curse.
When her eyes flick up to meet mine, she grimaces. “That doesn't look like begging to me. I'd rather walk until my feet bleed.”
Also, Soren acting jealous at the end? I know he shouldn't after the terrible and disgusting way he treated her, but ugh, I'm going to go crazy when he finally starts obsessing over her and being possessive.
"The soldiers are staring at the witch with far too much interest for my liking, and I guide Nightspark to step around her, blocking her from the sight line of the high fae. The soldiers look away as I move between them, their gazes dropping in respect for me,"
Moving to our second main character — Prince Soren, or more like Prince Ass, because he acted like Rooke deserved worse than nothing. It’s not that I didn't understand his reasons for hating her. His parents were killed by his uncle so he had huge trust issues, then the witches placed a curse on his people so they couldn't have children, and the icing on the cake was that the witches were at war with his kingdom. At first I understood why he treated her like that, but later, when she broke the curse, took care of his cousin and her baby, saved his best friend's life and was genuinely a good person who didn’t make any problems, I didn’t. It took him an entire book to finally wake up and accept her, and it was only because she saved his entire kingdom.
My second problem with Prince Soren was that although his people and kingdom were his top priority, there were times when I felt he would not make a good king. Rooke understood that she had to return to him and accept their fate in order to save the kingdom and their lands, but it took him practically the whole book to do so. The fact that she was two-hundred-and-something years old, and Soren was a thousand-and-something, and Rooke was able to learn many languages, which helped communicate with other kingdoms, and the future king was unable to do so, only showed what kind of ruler he was.
Finally, let's move on to the romance part of the book — the worst, or rather non-existent part. Seriously. If you came here for the romance, you definitely won't be satisfied as this story simply doesn't have it. If I had to describe their relationship it would be 'Enemies to -', because there was no 'lovers'. It doesn’t changed the fact that I can’t wait for them to become ones. There were a few hints in Soren's pov, especially at the end of the last chapter where we could see that he had finally realized how terrible he had been to Rooke and that maybe he would finally change his mind about her. Let me repeat: if this man does not grovel, I will not continue this series. I can't remember the last time I read a book where the hero really had to grovel because his actions were so cruel to his love interest.
Even though I struggled with most of the book because it was boring, painfully boring even, I'm looking forward to the sequel. I hope the romance finally starts there, because the enemies part was enemy-ing too much in this book.
May 30, 2023
Star rating: ★★★☆☆
Spice rating: NONE
I’m not sure how J.Bree thought it was the right direction for this story to write the most unlikable, hateful and stupid MMC I’ve ever read?? Which is so disappointing because I did like Soren in the novellas, and felt a real connection between Soren and Rooke in the novellas as well. But neither of those carried over into this book. I understand and love enemies-to-lovers, but J.Bree made it so much enemies that there was no antsy, tension or the will-they-won’t-they within this story.
The romance was nonexistent within this book. Even if there is massive amounts of groveling in the next book, I’m not sure Soren’s character can be redeemed for me after having to hear 663 pages of his hateful, idiotic commentary.
Additionally, all the Unseelie High Fae can burn in hell 😘🫶🏼
Spice rating: NONE
I’m not sure how J.Bree thought it was the right direction for this story to write the most unlikable, hateful and stupid MMC I’ve ever read?? Which is so disappointing because I did like Soren in the novellas, and felt a real connection between Soren and Rooke in the novellas as well. But neither of those carried over into this book. I understand and love enemies-to-lovers, but J.Bree made it so much enemies that there was no antsy, tension or the will-they-won’t-they within this story.
The romance was nonexistent within this book. Even if there is massive amounts of groveling in the next book, I’m not sure Soren’s character can be redeemed for me after having to hear 663 pages of his hateful, idiotic commentary.
Additionally, all the Unseelie High Fae can burn in hell 😘🫶🏼
May 17, 2024
Reread: 27.12.23
18.5.24
THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING I COULD OF WISHED FOR AND MORE
I would just love to peer into J Bree's mind right now. The way she is able to world build with every series she releases is truly remarkable. This book was a TRUE enemies to lovers. I honestly can not wait to read the rest of the series.
Rooke is an amazing FMC that is reminiscent to Oli from Broken Bonds. She is strong in her own right and has been through so much. My heart broke in so many scenes in this book. *That birth scene tho had me sobbing*
And then we have Soren.... I CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE HIM GROVEL
I highly urge you try this series. It is incredible and no amount of words can do this book justice.
18.5.24
THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING I COULD OF WISHED FOR AND MORE
I would just love to peer into J Bree's mind right now. The way she is able to world build with every series she releases is truly remarkable. This book was a TRUE enemies to lovers. I honestly can not wait to read the rest of the series.
Rooke is an amazing FMC that is reminiscent to Oli from Broken Bonds. She is strong in her own right and has been through so much. My heart broke in so many scenes in this book. *That birth scene tho had me sobbing*
And then we have Soren.... I CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE HIM GROVEL
I highly urge you try this series. It is incredible and no amount of words can do this book justice.
May 30, 2023
I better see some EXTREME grovelling in the next book from Prince Soren
June 2, 2023
4/5 ⭐️
0/5 🌶️
Tropes:
Enemies to.. not lovers?
Fated mates
Rejected mates
Slow burn/no burn?
All of the stars are for ROOKE. And Soren gets NONE. I repeat, none. I have never disliked a main male character more. I am afraid he won't be able to redeem himself to me. I am going to need a full book of groveling after this one.
Unfortunately, these two are fated mates. I say that because wow, Rooke really got the shit end of the stick in this deal. And Soren is so prejudiced he doesn't realize how beneath her he actually is. He should be treating her like the queen she is, but instead is just terrible to her the entire book.
I really enjoyed the plot, although it did feel like it moved quite slow for the first half of the book. I loved learning more about Rooke and seeing her shove it up the high fae's asses time and time again (aka prove herself).
It was a bit disappointing that there was only ever one or two conversations between the two main characters, and the rest was mostly inner dialogue or conversations between the main characters and side characters.
Even though I'd be fine with Rooke burning all of the high fae to the ground after her treatment from them, I did kind of like a few of them and I can see myself loving them in future books (I hope).
With all of that said, I enjoy J Bree's writing, she is a great author, I love her world building and how she does her slow burns, I just really am going to need her to have Soren bust his ass with the groveling in the next one, ok? Please. <3
0/5 🌶️
Tropes:
Enemies to.. not lovers?
Fated mates
Rejected mates
Slow burn/no burn?
All of the stars are for ROOKE. And Soren gets NONE. I repeat, none. I have never disliked a main male character more. I am afraid he won't be able to redeem himself to me. I am going to need a full book of groveling after this one.
Unfortunately, these two are fated mates. I say that because wow, Rooke really got the shit end of the stick in this deal. And Soren is so prejudiced he doesn't realize how beneath her he actually is. He should be treating her like the queen she is, but instead is just terrible to her the entire book.
I really enjoyed the plot, although it did feel like it moved quite slow for the first half of the book. I loved learning more about Rooke and seeing her shove it up the high fae's asses time and time again (aka prove herself).
It was a bit disappointing that there was only ever one or two conversations between the two main characters, and the rest was mostly inner dialogue or conversations between the main characters and side characters.
Even though I'd be fine with Rooke burning all of the high fae to the ground after her treatment from them, I did kind of like a few of them and I can see myself loving them in future books (I hope).
With all of that said, I enjoy J Bree's writing, she is a great author, I love her world building and how she does her slow burns, I just really am going to need her to have Soren bust his ass with the groveling in the next one, ok? Please. <3
May 27, 2024
ROOKE IS MY QUEEN AND ID FOLLOW HER TO THE END OF THE WORLD.
Y’all this book was everything I’ve needed. I haven’t read a book this long and this quickly in too long. I loved the world and the characters (for the most part, iykyk). I’m so excited to see what’s going to happen as there are a lot of characters I can see coming into play. I’m very intrigued by their roles because I know it’s going to be everything.
I can rave about Rooke until the day I die. She is everything to me. She deserves the world and is a far better person than I. The ending (don’t worry no spoilers) was THE moment. She is that girl. Like there’s no way to read this and not want to have her as the ruler of the world…. And my best friend.
In case you didn’t notice, I loved the book. I need more, the ending was a little rude but honestly not that bad of an ending compared to others. Please let me know if you love this because I now need to rave about it until book two releases.
Y’all this book was everything I’ve needed. I haven’t read a book this long and this quickly in too long. I loved the world and the characters (for the most part, iykyk). I’m so excited to see what’s going to happen as there are a lot of characters I can see coming into play. I’m very intrigued by their roles because I know it’s going to be everything.
I can rave about Rooke until the day I die. She is everything to me. She deserves the world and is a far better person than I. The ending (don’t worry no spoilers) was THE moment. She is that girl. Like there’s no way to read this and not want to have her as the ruler of the world…. And my best friend.
In case you didn’t notice, I loved the book. I need more, the ending was a little rude but honestly not that bad of an ending compared to others. Please let me know if you love this because I now need to rave about it until book two releases.
May 28, 2024
4.5 stars
I don't want to spoil anything but just know that there is "enemies to lovers" and then there is THIS where it's done right! Goodness knows I hated the MMC for the majority of this book, despite the fact that I did understand why he was prejudiced against her. It's also been awhile since I've been so invested in a book that I lost sleep just so I could keep reading it. I am exhausted, but I'm immediately reading the next book in this series because this one does end in a slight cliffhanger and I am eagerly awaiting some major groveling by the MMC.
I don't want to spoil anything but just know that there is "enemies to lovers" and then there is THIS where it's done right! Goodness knows I hated the MMC for the majority of this book, despite the fact that I did understand why he was prejudiced against her. It's also been awhile since I've been so invested in a book that I lost sleep just so I could keep reading it. I am exhausted, but I'm immediately reading the next book in this series because this one does end in a slight cliffhanger and I am eagerly awaiting some major groveling by the MMC.
May 31, 2023
Let's start with the good. It's an interesting world, with two main geographic areas (the Northern Lands and the Southern Lands). This book takes place entirely in the Southern Lands, where we learn more about the high fae, witches, and goblins. A key element of this world is characters being able to visit a Seer and learn their fate. But how their fate unfolds is unclear and that leads to some interesting discussion about the role of fate versus the actions taken by individuals. There are also very real, terrible consequences for trying to change your fate. This book starts with Rooke accepting the fate she ran away from 200 years ago, and returning to the Southern Lands after years fighting a war in the Northern Lands. We don't learn much about her time there, as it's just hints and allusions at this point. She meets up with Soren, a prince who learned his fate almost 1,000 years ago and had to wait to meet his fated mate. The only problem is, she is a witch and he is high fae. And they have been at war for centuries.
Which brings us to the parts of the book I struggled with. Soren is horrified to learn who his mate actually is and reacts with endless hostility and spares no room for curiosity. It doesn't make sense to me. The guy has been waiting almost 10 centuries for this fate and within 30 seconds, he decides it's wrong? I can understand shock, disappointment, and anger. Those are all normal reactions. Especially since he has been operating on some strange assumptions for the past 200 years. But the constant hatred and completely inability to consider WHY Rooke is his mate is beyond him. It's so frustrating to read. He assumes the worst about her constantly and is convinced everything she does is plot against him. He's so blinded by his prejudice, and bolstered by the majority of his inner circle, that he never once suggests there might be more going on here, since freaking FATE is involved.
As for Rooke, we don't really learn that much about her that we didn't learn in the first novella. The first half of the book is a cycle of her sitting in a dungeon that she could easily break out, staring at her "captors" and thinking about how she won't run from her fate any more. The high fae spew some venomous words at her and threaten to kill her, and she just stares (seriously, there is so much staring in this book) and doesn't say anything specific. I almost DNF at this point because it was the same thing so many times. Once Rooke is motivated to get up and do something, the book starts to flow a bit better. Rooke is healer and starts showing those skills by doing things like breaking a centuries old curse and bringing a soldier back from the brink of death. Does this endear her to her mate? Of course not. But I have two issues with Rooke. First, she is too good at everything. She can speak all of the languages and perform all of the magic. She fights perfectly and heals everything she touches. She never falters at something she tries to do. I'm struggling to see where she goes from here if she is already this strong. Second, she spends way too much time hinting about things in her inner monologues and not enough actually explaining. After the third or fourth time mentioning the battles she's seen or the injuries she sustained, it would have been helpful to actually tell what happened in the Northern Lands. Apparently she was close enough to the king there to deliver his baby. Why was she that close? No idea. Not to mention that the inner monologues for both characters could have been cut down significantly without sacrificing anything.
At the end, Rooke conclusively proves herself and her power, and Soren is left looking like the tool he is because he spent 600+ pages assuming he knew everything. I was left feeling like this book was 300 pages longer than it needed to be. If J Bree had cut the first 50% in half, it would still tell the same story. Which is interesting because she delayed the publication on this by two months and said it ended up being way longer than she planned. In this case, I don't think that is a good thing. It's technically a fantasy romance, but there is no romance in here. Rooke and Soren feel the pull towards each other, but that's it. No moments of closeness, no real intrigue into who the other really is, and certainly no sexual tension. I really would have liked to see some hints of the romance to come and I think it would have shown Soren struggle in a more relatable way. Instead, he lets his arrogance and hatred blind him for the entire freaking book.
That said, I will read the next book because this a set up for an epic grovel and I do love a good grovel. I probably wouldn't recommend this if you are expecting any romance or get frustrated with repetitive plot points though.
Which brings us to the parts of the book I struggled with. Soren is horrified to learn who his mate actually is and reacts with endless hostility and spares no room for curiosity. It doesn't make sense to me. The guy has been waiting almost 10 centuries for this fate and within 30 seconds, he decides it's wrong? I can understand shock, disappointment, and anger. Those are all normal reactions. Especially since he has been operating on some strange assumptions for the past 200 years. But the constant hatred and completely inability to consider WHY Rooke is his mate is beyond him. It's so frustrating to read. He assumes the worst about her constantly and is convinced everything she does is plot against him. He's so blinded by his prejudice, and bolstered by the majority of his inner circle, that he never once suggests there might be more going on here, since freaking FATE is involved.
As for Rooke, we don't really learn that much about her that we didn't learn in the first novella. The first half of the book is a cycle of her sitting in a dungeon that she could easily break out, staring at her "captors" and thinking about how she won't run from her fate any more. The high fae spew some venomous words at her and threaten to kill her, and she just stares (seriously, there is so much staring in this book) and doesn't say anything specific. I almost DNF at this point because it was the same thing so many times. Once Rooke is motivated to get up and do something, the book starts to flow a bit better. Rooke is healer and starts showing those skills by doing things like breaking a centuries old curse and bringing a soldier back from the brink of death. Does this endear her to her mate? Of course not. But I have two issues with Rooke. First, she is too good at everything. She can speak all of the languages and perform all of the magic. She fights perfectly and heals everything she touches. She never falters at something she tries to do. I'm struggling to see where she goes from here if she is already this strong. Second, she spends way too much time hinting about things in her inner monologues and not enough actually explaining. After the third or fourth time mentioning the battles she's seen or the injuries she sustained, it would have been helpful to actually tell what happened in the Northern Lands. Apparently she was close enough to the king there to deliver his baby. Why was she that close? No idea. Not to mention that the inner monologues for both characters could have been cut down significantly without sacrificing anything.
At the end, Rooke conclusively proves herself and her power, and Soren is left looking like the tool he is because he spent 600+ pages assuming he knew everything. I was left feeling like this book was 300 pages longer than it needed to be. If J Bree had cut the first 50% in half, it would still tell the same story. Which is interesting because she delayed the publication on this by two months and said it ended up being way longer than she planned. In this case, I don't think that is a good thing. It's technically a fantasy romance, but there is no romance in here. Rooke and Soren feel the pull towards each other, but that's it. No moments of closeness, no real intrigue into who the other really is, and certainly no sexual tension. I really would have liked to see some hints of the romance to come and I think it would have shown Soren struggle in a more relatable way. Instead, he lets his arrogance and hatred blind him for the entire freaking book.
That said, I will read the next book because this a set up for an epic grovel and I do love a good grovel. I probably wouldn't recommend this if you are expecting any romance or get frustrated with repetitive plot points though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2024
*4.5 Stars*
Wow, I’m both kicking myself for not starting this sooner but also cursing myself because I’m already going feral for book two! First things first, I find it so dang impressive that the author was able to write in a completely different genre and was able to adjust her writing style seamlessly. This reads like a classic high fantasy novel and considering her previous works have all been set in a modern world I feel like this is no easy feat and definitely needs to be acknowledged! 👏🏻
Moving on, I loved this version of Rooke so much more than the one we met in the Scepter! Gone is the naïve witchling scared of her power and in her place stands a fierce warrior, coven mother, and healer with a heart of ice and a hardened mind after spending the last 200 years fighting in the Fate Wars. J Bree has a talent for making the best FMCs who are both ruthless in battle but still compassionate to others even when they don’t deserve it. Rooke was no exception and I loved reading any and all dialogue with her because watching her be so apathetic while the high fae constantly got salty about her unresponsiveness was so freaking entertaining! 🤣 I also love that she’s a healer and witch because honestly, I’ve always had an interest in botany, herbal medicine, and witchcraft so she is everything I love wrapped up into a fierce FMC! I know that we’ve barely seen the tip of the iceberg in regards to what she can do considering that she’s been holding back so far but gah I can’t wait to fall even more in love with her as the series goes on!
Now, I know for a fact I'm in the minority for this but I was expecting Soren to be so much worse after everything I kept hearing about him but I actually love him! Like ya he was arrogant and rude to Rooke but he never once raised a finger to her or allowed anyone else to do so if he could help it! And come on, after fighting witches for close to 1,000 years I would be just as suspicious if a witch showed up as my mate. His thoughts of her being a possible plant/double agent were completely valid! Like, he has a whole freaking kingdom relying on him to protect them so there's no way he could risk trusting her after a few short months and getting almost no information about her. If anything, I respected him keeping her at arm’s length because he was doing it for all of the right reasons, to protect his family and his people! How can I be mad when I understand exactly where he's coming from? That being said, I am SO EXCITED to see him grow in the next book, especially after all of the events that took place at the end! If anything, I'm confident in his potential because of the devotion we saw from him in the first few chapters! 🙌🏻
I will say that I found almost all of part one except for the ending to be a bit slow. I’m not surprised because there was a lot of world building that needed to be done and I still had a great time while I was reading but it was something that I figured I should note because some people might not enjoy that. But part two? INCREDIBLE! I didn’t want to put the book down! And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, THAT ENDING! So satisfying on so many levels! I cannot express how freaking excited I am not only for book two but for the rest of the series as a whole! I’m so ready to see some quality groveling and wooing on Soren’s part but I'm also holding out that a certain found family will be coming in guns blazing from the Northern Lands to reunite with Rooke and raise some chaos! 👀🤭😈 I know that the author has so much more planned out for us and while it might hurt right now, I am confident that the wait between books will be more than worth it in the end! If you need me, I’ll be not-so-patiently-waiting for the release date announcement for the Throne of Blood and Honor!
Wow, I’m both kicking myself for not starting this sooner but also cursing myself because I’m already going feral for book two! First things first, I find it so dang impressive that the author was able to write in a completely different genre and was able to adjust her writing style seamlessly. This reads like a classic high fantasy novel and considering her previous works have all been set in a modern world I feel like this is no easy feat and definitely needs to be acknowledged! 👏🏻
Moving on, I loved this version of Rooke so much more than the one we met in the Scepter! Gone is the naïve witchling scared of her power and in her place stands a fierce warrior, coven mother, and healer with a heart of ice and a hardened mind after spending the last 200 years fighting in the Fate Wars. J Bree has a talent for making the best FMCs who are both ruthless in battle but still compassionate to others even when they don’t deserve it. Rooke was no exception and I loved reading any and all dialogue with her because watching her be so apathetic while the high fae constantly got salty about her unresponsiveness was so freaking entertaining! 🤣 I also love that she’s a healer and witch because honestly, I’ve always had an interest in botany, herbal medicine, and witchcraft so she is everything I love wrapped up into a fierce FMC! I know that we’ve barely seen the tip of the iceberg in regards to what she can do considering that she’s been holding back so far but gah I can’t wait to fall even more in love with her as the series goes on!
Now, I know for a fact I'm in the minority for this but I was expecting Soren to be so much worse after everything I kept hearing about him but I actually love him! Like ya he was arrogant and rude to Rooke but he never once raised a finger to her or allowed anyone else to do so if he could help it! And come on, after fighting witches for close to 1,000 years I would be just as suspicious if a witch showed up as my mate. His thoughts of her being a possible plant/double agent were completely valid! Like, he has a whole freaking kingdom relying on him to protect them so there's no way he could risk trusting her after a few short months and getting almost no information about her. If anything, I respected him keeping her at arm’s length because he was doing it for all of the right reasons, to protect his family and his people! How can I be mad when I understand exactly where he's coming from? That being said, I am SO EXCITED to see him grow in the next book, especially after all of the events that took place at the end! If anything, I'm confident in his potential because of the devotion we saw from him in the first few chapters! 🙌🏻
I will say that I found almost all of part one except for the ending to be a bit slow. I’m not surprised because there was a lot of world building that needed to be done and I still had a great time while I was reading but it was something that I figured I should note because some people might not enjoy that. But part two? INCREDIBLE! I didn’t want to put the book down! And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, THAT ENDING! So satisfying on so many levels! I cannot express how freaking excited I am not only for book two but for the rest of the series as a whole! I’m so ready to see some quality groveling and wooing on Soren’s part but I'm also holding out that a certain found family will be coming in guns blazing from the Northern Lands to reunite with Rooke and raise some chaos! 👀🤭😈 I know that the author has so much more planned out for us and while it might hurt right now, I am confident that the wait between books will be more than worth it in the end! If you need me, I’ll be not-so-patiently-waiting for the release date announcement for the Throne of Blood and Honor!
May 31, 2023
This was disappointing at best. Do NOT expect this to be a fantasy enemies to lovers romance.
Do expect a mountain of repeated inner dialogue, extremely minimal actual dialogue, enemies with zero love, a 1,000 year old MMC that acts like a 12 year old, and 600+ pages of boredom.
Do expect to continue reading wondering when the story will actually begin and then ending the entire book feeling like what happened could be the first five chapters of a well paced book.
There are absolutely zero “sexual situations” in this book, so ignore that warning completely.
J Bree, I don’t think this is your genre. You can’t write chapters of inner monologue and pass it off as world building without showing us the actual world at all. You can’t expect us to want to read about characters that completely ignore reason for the entire book. You can’t write a fantasy book with such a minimal plot line (it wasn’t until 50% of the way in that ANYTHING actually happened). In all fairness, you can do whatever you want, but don’t expect fantasy romance readers to like this how it is currently marketed.
Do expect a mountain of repeated inner dialogue, extremely minimal actual dialogue, enemies with zero love, a 1,000 year old MMC that acts like a 12 year old, and 600+ pages of boredom.
Do expect to continue reading wondering when the story will actually begin and then ending the entire book feeling like what happened could be the first five chapters of a well paced book.
There are absolutely zero “sexual situations” in this book, so ignore that warning completely.
J Bree, I don’t think this is your genre. You can’t write chapters of inner monologue and pass it off as world building without showing us the actual world at all. You can’t expect us to want to read about characters that completely ignore reason for the entire book. You can’t write a fantasy book with such a minimal plot line (it wasn’t until 50% of the way in that ANYTHING actually happened). In all fairness, you can do whatever you want, but don’t expect fantasy romance readers to like this how it is currently marketed.
February 27, 2024
I don't think I've ever read a fantasy romance like this before. These are true enemies to lovers. In fact there's no romance in this first book. You just see little inklings of how it will come in the second. I loved the politics at play in this as well as the epic scale of the world building. There's so much going on in this book and it all worked for me.
I do think that the characters are VERY frustrating they are stuck in their prejudice. And if you don't like feeling frustrated by your characters this may not be the one for you.
I do think that the characters are VERY frustrating they are stuck in their prejudice. And if you don't like feeling frustrated by your characters this may not be the one for you.
did-not-finish
September 20, 2024˖ ࣪ ⟡˚ DNF @ 17% ˚⟡ ࣪ ˖
⤷ 03/09/24 ⋆ˎˊ˗
the MMC said he’ll “heal” the FMC’s trauma from being kidnapped (by him).
nope. kys.
⤷ 03/09/24 ⋆ˎˊ˗
the MMC said he’ll “heal” the FMC’s trauma from being kidnapped (by him).
nope. kys.
June 1, 2023
B. O. R. I. N. G.
This was boring. After reading the two novelas I was really excited to get to know Rooke and Soren more. I thought I was going to get a nuanced and complicated relationship between two people that are fated together, but the world doesn't think they should be together. I thought that they would fight TOGETHER against these prejudices. Yes there would be problems, but they would work hard to build up the trust and respect that is a the root of any romantic relationship. Instead, I got a USLESS MAN who was so unbelievably blinded by prejudice TO DO THE ONE THING THAT WAS GOING TO SAVE HIS LAND, and a mature women who understood that their current problems were bigger than themselves and accepted her fate.
I just couldn't do it. I got to 60% before I physically couldn't handle the enemies part of the enemies to lovers (just kidding there were no lovers moments I think they have 2 total conversations in 60% that I read). Rooke is simply too good for the High Fae. All of them are hateful spiteful losers. She was the only character that I enjoyed reading about even though she did nothing other than sit on a dungeon floor.
This was boring. After reading the two novelas I was really excited to get to know Rooke and Soren more. I thought I was going to get a nuanced and complicated relationship between two people that are fated together, but the world doesn't think they should be together. I thought that they would fight TOGETHER against these prejudices. Yes there would be problems, but they would work hard to build up the trust and respect that is a the root of any romantic relationship. Instead, I got a USLESS MAN who was so unbelievably blinded by prejudice TO DO THE ONE THING THAT WAS GOING TO SAVE HIS LAND, and a mature women who understood that their current problems were bigger than themselves and accepted her fate.
I just couldn't do it. I got to 60% before I physically couldn't handle the enemies part of the enemies to lovers (just kidding there were no lovers moments I think they have 2 total conversations in 60% that I read). Rooke is simply too good for the High Fae. All of them are hateful spiteful losers. She was the only character that I enjoyed reading about even though she did nothing other than sit on a dungeon floor.
February 26, 2025
When I tell you I lost sleep for this!!! Amazing!! More coherent review to come because I just finished this amazing masterpiece and it’s 1am in the morning, and I have in a couple of hours.!!!!!
June 27, 2023
Overall Score: 4.5/5
Character Development: 3/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Readability: 4.5/5
Enjoyment: 4.5/5
What I Liked:
◉ Rooke - I'm pretty sure I have a MASSIVE crush on the FMC. Easily one of my favourite characters that I've read for a long time. BADASS. She's powerful, kind-hearted yet stubborn (and is definitely going to make everyone grovel for how they treated her).
◉ Enemies-to-lovers - I mean when J. Bree said this was going to be enemies-to-lovers, she wasn't wrong. This book is so strong in the enemies department, that they payoff is going to be magnificent. I'm gagging for book 2 already because I need to see every High Fae GROVEL. Kneeling, tears in their eyes kind of grovelling.
◉ Side characters - this book contains a lot of side characters that you both love and hate, but makes this book so much more interesting because you don't know who to trust.
◉ The writing style - incredibly easy to read and despite the lack of plot for the majority of the book, I found this book so easy to read and enjoy.
◉ World-building - the world-building is very well done, possibly a little too well done at times that certain parts did become repetitive, particularly Soren's POV.
What I Didn't Like:
◉ The pacing - this book could have honestly been 150 pages shorter, especially if you took out some of the repetitive world-building.
◉ Soren - our MMC needs to develop a personality because he's just coming across as a hateful person, with the personality of a wet wipe. I hope book 2 allows him to grow as a character otherwise he's getting a swift kick to the family jewels (you've been warned buddy).
Overall - J. Bree is a must read author for me and this book did not disappoint. I can't wait to see what book 2 gives us.
Character Development: 3/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Readability: 4.5/5
Enjoyment: 4.5/5
What I Liked:
◉ Rooke - I'm pretty sure I have a MASSIVE crush on the FMC. Easily one of my favourite characters that I've read for a long time. BADASS. She's powerful, kind-hearted yet stubborn (and is definitely going to make everyone grovel for how they treated her).
◉ Enemies-to-lovers - I mean when J. Bree said this was going to be enemies-to-lovers, she wasn't wrong. This book is so strong in the enemies department, that they payoff is going to be magnificent. I'm gagging for book 2 already because I need to see every High Fae GROVEL. Kneeling, tears in their eyes kind of grovelling.
◉ Side characters - this book contains a lot of side characters that you both love and hate, but makes this book so much more interesting because you don't know who to trust.
◉ The writing style - incredibly easy to read and despite the lack of plot for the majority of the book, I found this book so easy to read and enjoy.
◉ World-building - the world-building is very well done, possibly a little too well done at times that certain parts did become repetitive, particularly Soren's POV.
What I Didn't Like:
◉ The pacing - this book could have honestly been 150 pages shorter, especially if you took out some of the repetitive world-building.
◉ Soren - our MMC needs to develop a personality because he's just coming across as a hateful person, with the personality of a wet wipe. I hope book 2 allows him to grow as a character otherwise he's getting a swift kick to the family jewels (you've been warned buddy).
Overall - J. Bree is a must read author for me and this book did not disappoint. I can't wait to see what book 2 gives us.
December 27, 2024
I have a few issues with this book, and at first I was kinda getting into it but then it started to slowly go downhill.
I think we gathered early the fates wanted the fmc to find her mate. So why is it constantly (and I mean constantly being repeated)
The Mmc went on a long spiel about how he wants to be his mates saviour long before they ever met. It's almost if the author is desperately trying to make him a popular character that we will fall over head over heels because for over 2 pages all he spoke was how he would get revenge for his mate. (Who he hadn't even met yet and assumed she was kidnapped)
After all that, he tortures her (essentially) because she's a witch. That's literally the completely opposite to what he just spent 30 minutes explaining.
Not only that, the FMC didn't feel angry pain to that. She was completely nonchalant to the fact she was being harmed.
It feels that there characters are so omnipotent, she doesn't feel pain apparently and he, is so great he can do all these things. He knows of everything. He has everything no one else has. 🙄
It's so repetitive and dull. I don't think chapters need to be so long, the author was just adding backstory rather than the actual plot. It took ages for me to understand what the character was doing because they were so busy talking about the past.
Do not get me started on the naming of the characters. Please stop naming your characters things like eveningstar or kharl (😭😭) it's not unique.
I did listen to audiobook might I add. But my god I don't think I could read it physically.
I think we gathered early the fates wanted the fmc to find her mate. So why is it constantly (and I mean constantly being repeated)
The Mmc went on a long spiel about how he wants to be his mates saviour long before they ever met. It's almost if the author is desperately trying to make him a popular character that we will fall over head over heels because for over 2 pages all he spoke was how he would get revenge for his mate. (Who he hadn't even met yet and assumed she was kidnapped)
After all that, he tortures her (essentially) because she's a witch. That's literally the completely opposite to what he just spent 30 minutes explaining.
Not only that, the FMC didn't feel angry pain to that. She was completely nonchalant to the fact she was being harmed.
It feels that there characters are so omnipotent, she doesn't feel pain apparently and he, is so great he can do all these things. He knows of everything. He has everything no one else has. 🙄
It's so repetitive and dull. I don't think chapters need to be so long, the author was just adding backstory rather than the actual plot. It took ages for me to understand what the character was doing because they were so busy talking about the past.
Do not get me started on the naming of the characters. Please stop naming your characters things like eveningstar or kharl (😭😭) it's not unique.
I did listen to audiobook might I add. But my god I don't think I could read it physically.
May 29, 2023
I really wanted to like this. Pretty slow and repetitive for the first 50%, and while I understand it can be necessary when world building needs to occur, this was excessively boring for the first 300 pages!!! There is also literally like no dialogue between characters. It’s all just internal character monologues. Made it hard for any progression. Rooke is so unemotional. I’d be okay with this type of FMC if it was just a front to protect herself, but even in her inner monologues she has the emotional bandwidth of a piece of cardboard. She’s flat. Also the MMCs actions and thought were so atrocious I’m not sure a redemption arc can save him. He was so mean. Overall, I feel like if the main and side characters actually had personalities (they had none in this book) it would have been slightly better.
October 25, 2024
‧₊˚ ⋅ Actual rating: 3.75🌟‧₊˚ ⋅
⤏ What to expect:
∘ Adult High-Fantasy Romance
∘ Dual POV
∘ Fae, Witches & other supernaturals
∘ Complex Worldbuilding
∘ Incredible magic system
∘ Strong, powerful, warrior FMC
∘ Cold hearted MMC
∘ Political Intrigue
∘ Kingdom at war
⤏ Tropes:
∘ True enemies to lovers
∘ Slowburn
∘ Fates-cursed Mates
∘ Rejected Mates
∘ Forced Proximity
∘ Dagger to the throat
⤏ Trigger Warnings: war themes, violence & gore, torture, mistreatment of the main character (including MMC), mentions of loss, childbirth
⤷ Note: Discovering that I might have accidentally deleted the review I know I posted when looking up this book is one of the most frustrating things I've experienced. Nonetheless, it's time to rewrite it, as I have many thoughts about this one and I must put them somewhere.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
As excited as I was for this book, I can't help but feel a little let down. No matter how much I love Bree's work, I couldn't bring myself to give this one more than 3.75 stars.
The concept and the plot? Great. The history and lore? More than intriguing. The side characters? Grew on me.
Rook, the FMC? Flawless—I admire and respect her. She's such a beautiful soul and so powerful!
The MMC, though...
Let's take them in order.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
⤏ Plot & Writing
After hundreds of years fighting in a war for a king who was not her own, far from the place that was once her home, Rooke is returning to her homeland to face her fate, turning her back on the life she built.
She is not prepared for the sight of what her land has become, and it's clear she has her work cut out for her. Especially since there is a war brewing and she is considered the enemy. The Fae are at war with the witches, which complicates things for Rooke, a Witch of the Woods, who is supposed to help the Fae win.
The book started out pretty slow and there was a lot of info-dumping that was a little hard to digest, but no less interesting. What stood out to me the most was the worldbuilding. It was so well-written that I completely lost myself in it. The lore played a significant role in the story, and I truly loved the magic system—I couldn't get enough of it!
The plot was a little slow-paced, but I think it was a good way to give us time to explore this world, get to know the characters alongside Rooke as she forms connections, and gain more insight into her abilities. I suspect things might pick up in the second installment.
While some might complain about the long monologues, I didn't mind them because they helped me connect with the characters and understand their personalities, allowing me to form my own opinions about things.
This is, of course, a personal opinion, as I've always liked well-written monologues—maybe that's because I have them myself, haha.
⤏ Characters
∘ Rooke
Rookesbane Eveninstar, also known as The Favored Child, is a force to be reckoned with. She is one of the most powerful witches alive, and she's nothing like what I expected from a war-hardened warrior.
Dismissed as no more than an enemy witch sent to sway their prince to the enemy's side or enchant him, she is captured and locked up. Even then, she simply accepts this as just one more obstacle she has to overcome.
She's kind, patient and wise. She treats her enemies with the same respect she'd treat anyone else; she does not judge them, despite how they treat her or how wrong they are about her. Compassionate at heart, she never loses hope or hesitates to extend her help, regardless of their actions or words. In certain instances, she opts to see goodness where it seems absent, and she comprehends the origins of their hate.
I have so much admiration for this woman, you have no idea. I don't know how many times I cried my eyes out for her. And seeing how her own mate, who's supposed to be her other half, mistreated and insulted her every step of the way, is truly heartbreaking.
And yet, despite it all, she still doesn't hate him.
∘ Soren
The Savage Prince is one brute worthy of that title. He lives up to it, and while I admire his qualities as a warrior and leader, I can't help but despise him for letting himself be influenced by his beliefs over facts.
He's so closed-minded, clinging to his hatred for the corrupted witches who started the war, despite his mate being nothing like them. So blind to our heroine's actions, and I don't see him as worthy of the wonderful woman she is.
He's meant to stand by her side, supporting and comforting her, and at least listening to what she says, rather than letting his own hatred to cloud his judgement.
I don't know what it would take for him to overcome his hatred and open his eyes to the reality.
Allowing hate overshadow logic was never a quality I appreciated.
⤏ Romance
There's no romance to be found in this installment, and if I'm being honest, I don't even know how we're going to reach that point. Considering how much Soren hates Rooke and how he allowed her to be mistreated, not to mention his own treatment of her, he has a lot of groveling to do before I forgive him for his actions. I just hope Rooke isn't going to let him off that easy either.
I stand by my opinion that he doesn't deserve her, and one day, I hope he realizes that too. Because no matter how harsh, it is the damned truth.
⤏ Conclusion
Setting aside the aspects I didn't enjoy in this book, I can honestly say it's one I'd recommend. The FMC is one of my all-time favorites, and that won't change, no matter what happens in future books.
However, I must warn you that if you're a fan of romance, you might feel mad, frustrated, sad, and even devastated at some points.
⤏ What to expect:
∘ Adult High-Fantasy Romance
∘ Dual POV
∘ Fae, Witches & other supernaturals
∘ Complex Worldbuilding
∘ Incredible magic system
∘ Strong, powerful, warrior FMC
∘ Cold hearted MMC
∘ Political Intrigue
∘ Kingdom at war
⤏ Tropes:
∘ True enemies to lovers
∘ Slowburn
∘ Fates-cursed Mates
∘ Rejected Mates
∘ Forced Proximity
∘ Dagger to the throat
⤏ Trigger Warnings: war themes, violence & gore, torture, mistreatment of the main character (including MMC), mentions of loss, childbirth
⤷ Note: Discovering that I might have accidentally deleted the review I know I posted when looking up this book is one of the most frustrating things I've experienced. Nonetheless, it's time to rewrite it, as I have many thoughts about this one and I must put them somewhere.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
As excited as I was for this book, I can't help but feel a little let down. No matter how much I love Bree's work, I couldn't bring myself to give this one more than 3.75 stars.
The concept and the plot? Great. The history and lore? More than intriguing. The side characters? Grew on me.
Rook, the FMC? Flawless—I admire and respect her. She's such a beautiful soul and so powerful!
The MMC, though...
Let's take them in order.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
⤏ Plot & Writing
After hundreds of years fighting in a war for a king who was not her own, far from the place that was once her home, Rooke is returning to her homeland to face her fate, turning her back on the life she built.
She is not prepared for the sight of what her land has become, and it's clear she has her work cut out for her. Especially since there is a war brewing and she is considered the enemy. The Fae are at war with the witches, which complicates things for Rooke, a Witch of the Woods, who is supposed to help the Fae win.
The book started out pretty slow and there was a lot of info-dumping that was a little hard to digest, but no less interesting. What stood out to me the most was the worldbuilding. It was so well-written that I completely lost myself in it. The lore played a significant role in the story, and I truly loved the magic system—I couldn't get enough of it!
The plot was a little slow-paced, but I think it was a good way to give us time to explore this world, get to know the characters alongside Rooke as she forms connections, and gain more insight into her abilities. I suspect things might pick up in the second installment.
While some might complain about the long monologues, I didn't mind them because they helped me connect with the characters and understand their personalities, allowing me to form my own opinions about things.
This is, of course, a personal opinion, as I've always liked well-written monologues—maybe that's because I have them myself, haha.
⤏ Characters
∘ Rooke
Rookesbane Eveninstar, also known as The Favored Child, is a force to be reckoned with. She is one of the most powerful witches alive, and she's nothing like what I expected from a war-hardened warrior.
Dismissed as no more than an enemy witch sent to sway their prince to the enemy's side or enchant him, she is captured and locked up. Even then, she simply accepts this as just one more obstacle she has to overcome.
She's kind, patient and wise. She treats her enemies with the same respect she'd treat anyone else; she does not judge them, despite how they treat her or how wrong they are about her. Compassionate at heart, she never loses hope or hesitates to extend her help, regardless of their actions or words. In certain instances, she opts to see goodness where it seems absent, and she comprehends the origins of their hate.
I have so much admiration for this woman, you have no idea. I don't know how many times I cried my eyes out for her. And seeing how her own mate, who's supposed to be her other half, mistreated and insulted her every step of the way, is truly heartbreaking.
And yet, despite it all, she still doesn't hate him.
∘ Soren
The Savage Prince is one brute worthy of that title. He lives up to it, and while I admire his qualities as a warrior and leader, I can't help but despise him for letting himself be influenced by his beliefs over facts.
He's so closed-minded, clinging to his hatred for the corrupted witches who started the war, despite his mate being nothing like them. So blind to our heroine's actions, and I don't see him as worthy of the wonderful woman she is.
He's meant to stand by her side, supporting and comforting her, and at least listening to what she says, rather than letting his own hatred to cloud his judgement.
I don't know what it would take for him to overcome his hatred and open his eyes to the reality.
Allowing hate overshadow logic was never a quality I appreciated.
⤏ Romance
There's no romance to be found in this installment, and if I'm being honest, I don't even know how we're going to reach that point. Considering how much Soren hates Rooke and how he allowed her to be mistreated, not to mention his own treatment of her, he has a lot of groveling to do before I forgive him for his actions. I just hope Rooke isn't going to let him off that easy either.
I stand by my opinion that he doesn't deserve her, and one day, I hope he realizes that too. Because no matter how harsh, it is the damned truth.
⤏ Conclusion
Setting aside the aspects I didn't enjoy in this book, I can honestly say it's one I'd recommend. The FMC is one of my all-time favorites, and that won't change, no matter what happens in future books.
However, I must warn you that if you're a fan of romance, you might feel mad, frustrated, sad, and even devastated at some points.
December 15, 2024
I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t expect this book to be this good!
This book had TRUE enemies to lovers. At this point I’m not sure if they can even be lovers bc J Bree did such a good job at setting up the enemies part of it.
It was a real slow burn, but the book is well written. There was a lot of repetition throughout, so I truly don’t think this should’ve been a >600 page book, BUT I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless!
Rooke, my baby girl got so much hate but held her head high. She’s the wickedly strong yet vulnerable and kind FMC that I love to read about. I was kicking my feet when Airlie came around! The women in this story are the saving graces.
Soren and the rest of his high fae crew can all burn. Trash.
Off I go to read book 2 🫶🏻
This book had TRUE enemies to lovers. At this point I’m not sure if they can even be lovers bc J Bree did such a good job at setting up the enemies part of it.
It was a real slow burn, but the book is well written. There was a lot of repetition throughout, so I truly don’t think this should’ve been a >600 page book, BUT I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless!
Rooke, my baby girl got so much hate but held her head high. She’s the wickedly strong yet vulnerable and kind FMC that I love to read about. I was kicking my feet when Airlie came around! The women in this story are the saving graces.
Soren and the rest of his high fae crew can all burn. Trash.
Off I go to read book 2 🫶🏻
November 21, 2023
The first half of this book? Boring. 3 stars.
The second half? Epic. Amazing. Thrilling. 5 stars.
So I'll just go with an even 4 stars total lol. The first half is extremelyyyy slow going, but I promise, once you hit the halfway mark, everything picks up. It became the fantasy romance I expected from J. Bree. Just don't expect too much out of the romance, because it's only in the enemies phase of the enemies to lovers romance. But I expect allll the groveling in book 2!
The second half? Epic. Amazing. Thrilling. 5 stars.
So I'll just go with an even 4 stars total lol. The first half is extremelyyyy slow going, but I promise, once you hit the halfway mark, everything picks up. It became the fantasy romance I expected from J. Bree. Just don't expect too much out of the romance, because it's only in the enemies phase of the enemies to lovers romance. But I expect allll the groveling in book 2!
Read
February 26, 2024this book begs the question: what if you had a fated mate, and utterly f*cking hated them?
i can’t even rate this one, because i’m absolutely gobsmacked. completely clobbered over the head with an enemies-to-lovers fantasy story that doesn’t even remotely HINT at the lovers end of the spectrum, and instead digs its feet FIRMLY into the enemies side — and not just your everyday, run-of-the-mill enemy. i’m talking MMC actively and routinely wishes for the FMC’s death levels of enemy. i’m talking MMC imprisons the FMC, is cruel to her, has his friends be cruel to her, and denies her basic human rights like bathing and proper food levels of enemy.
this was too much for me, and i cut my teeth on the zodiac academy brand of bully romance. not only is it 600+ pages long, 580 of those pages are the exact same circular ‘i hate her, i don’t trust her, i crave her death’ monologue from the MMC as the FMC works tirelessly to break centuries-long curses, heal the earth, and save his people in the process. to say i hate this man is to put it lightly. i have never hated a love interest more in my life — not only is he going for gold in the hater olympics, he’s a cowardly, indecisive, cruel, ignorant, and childish asshole that doesn’t even remotely deserve the beauty, grace, kindness, and strength that is our FMC — rookesbane eveningstar, love of my life and the pinnacle of every badass FMC ever written. and i'm content to leave space for the complicated history and nuanced relations between the fae and the witches, but even with that context, it still doesn't excuse his behavior imo. this book was so difficult for me, because i love rooke in equal, passionate measure to how much i hate soren, and it makes it difficult to root for anything (other than rooke abandoning soren to his willful ignorance and f*cking off with the hot goblin prince) related to their romance at all — not that there’s even a hint of that in this book.
this book not only feels very different from j bree’s bonds that tie series in every way — it’s a HIGH fantasy with witches and swords and magic — it’s written differently than bonds that tie also. while the writing feels much more elevated than bonds, the trade-off here is that there’s about 150% more telling than showing, making this behemoth a chore to get through, up until the last few chapters. every thought was reiterated multiple times, and the plot unraveled at a pace that would thrill miranda priestly. iykyk.
ultimately i think i don’t know if i recommend this one YET — unless you’re in the mood for some enemy-ing on a masochistic scale — but the last few chapters and rooke as a character show a lot of promise, and perhaps if the next book is 50 chapters of soren on his hands and knees groveling while rooke puts him through his paces, i perhaps might consider forgiving him. but no promises.
pick this up if you want an enemies-to-maybe-someday-hundreds-of-years-from-now-lovers of agonizing proportions, and don’t mind investing in 600+ pages of repeated lines for the sake of an incredible FMC and a cool, interesting world.
5 stars for the FMC, 1 star for the MMC, 5 stars for the world and the magic and the history and the lore, 2 stars for the repetitive writing and heavy-handed storytelling and general lack of brevity. i’ll read the next one, in hopes that we get the groveling of my dreams, but the jury is out on whether this is a series i’ll end up enjoying. proceed with caution. and also make sure you read the prequel novellas first.
i can’t even rate this one, because i’m absolutely gobsmacked. completely clobbered over the head with an enemies-to-lovers fantasy story that doesn’t even remotely HINT at the lovers end of the spectrum, and instead digs its feet FIRMLY into the enemies side — and not just your everyday, run-of-the-mill enemy. i’m talking MMC actively and routinely wishes for the FMC’s death levels of enemy. i’m talking MMC imprisons the FMC, is cruel to her, has his friends be cruel to her, and denies her basic human rights like bathing and proper food levels of enemy.
this was too much for me, and i cut my teeth on the zodiac academy brand of bully romance. not only is it 600+ pages long, 580 of those pages are the exact same circular ‘i hate her, i don’t trust her, i crave her death’ monologue from the MMC as the FMC works tirelessly to break centuries-long curses, heal the earth, and save his people in the process. to say i hate this man is to put it lightly. i have never hated a love interest more in my life — not only is he going for gold in the hater olympics, he’s a cowardly, indecisive, cruel, ignorant, and childish asshole that doesn’t even remotely deserve the beauty, grace, kindness, and strength that is our FMC — rookesbane eveningstar, love of my life and the pinnacle of every badass FMC ever written. and i'm content to leave space for the complicated history and nuanced relations between the fae and the witches, but even with that context, it still doesn't excuse his behavior imo. this book was so difficult for me, because i love rooke in equal, passionate measure to how much i hate soren, and it makes it difficult to root for anything (other than rooke abandoning soren to his willful ignorance and f*cking off with the hot goblin prince) related to their romance at all — not that there’s even a hint of that in this book.
this book not only feels very different from j bree’s bonds that tie series in every way — it’s a HIGH fantasy with witches and swords and magic — it’s written differently than bonds that tie also. while the writing feels much more elevated than bonds, the trade-off here is that there’s about 150% more telling than showing, making this behemoth a chore to get through, up until the last few chapters. every thought was reiterated multiple times, and the plot unraveled at a pace that would thrill miranda priestly. iykyk.
ultimately i think i don’t know if i recommend this one YET — unless you’re in the mood for some enemy-ing on a masochistic scale — but the last few chapters and rooke as a character show a lot of promise, and perhaps if the next book is 50 chapters of soren on his hands and knees groveling while rooke puts him through his paces, i perhaps might consider forgiving him. but no promises.
pick this up if you want an enemies-to-maybe-someday-hundreds-of-years-from-now-lovers of agonizing proportions, and don’t mind investing in 600+ pages of repeated lines for the sake of an incredible FMC and a cool, interesting world.
5 stars for the FMC, 1 star for the MMC, 5 stars for the world and the magic and the history and the lore, 2 stars for the repetitive writing and heavy-handed storytelling and general lack of brevity. i’ll read the next one, in hopes that we get the groveling of my dreams, but the jury is out on whether this is a series i’ll end up enjoying. proceed with caution. and also make sure you read the prequel novellas first.
Want to read
January 8, 2023I only have one question. Will there be better smut and quality conversations? Boy, do I need that after Bonds. 👀❗
May 25, 2023
First things first.
When Rooke goes from Fates-Cursed Mate… to…. Fates-Blessed Mate?! I died.
Rooke has come back to her home land fo follow the Fates orders. She must marry the Savage Prince. A man who has slaughtered witches for hundreds of years.
“A marriage between two enemies to unite the land and save our people.”
The Fae have ignored the land for too land. It gives nothing in return and the people are starving.
Rooke, being treated like a prisoner, her words fall on deaf ears when she tries to make the fae understand they are the ones killing themselves with their arrogance and wars. They give nothing back. Why should the land and nature do anything for them?
This is a true enemies to lovers story only in this book, it’s simply just enemies. Hatred. Animosity.
This ain’t a romance. (Yet)
Spice level zero.
But this world building and the storyline is absolutely incredible.
I couldn’t stop reading. This world is tragic and desperate for peace and humanity.
Rooke is a fighter and an extremely badass female character true to author J.Bree.
Rooke is keeping her wits and is following through what her fate brings her. Even if her mate is a fool.
I cannot wait for the begging Soren needs to do to get in Rookes good graces.
This entire kingdom treated her terribly for being a witch.
I’m so hungry to this story to unfold.
I’m just literally speechless and I have no idea when we’ll see the next book but I’m 100% invested.
When Rooke goes from Fates-Cursed Mate… to…. Fates-Blessed Mate?! I died.
Rooke has come back to her home land fo follow the Fates orders. She must marry the Savage Prince. A man who has slaughtered witches for hundreds of years.
“A marriage between two enemies to unite the land and save our people.”
The Fae have ignored the land for too land. It gives nothing in return and the people are starving.
Rooke, being treated like a prisoner, her words fall on deaf ears when she tries to make the fae understand they are the ones killing themselves with their arrogance and wars. They give nothing back. Why should the land and nature do anything for them?
This is a true enemies to lovers story only in this book, it’s simply just enemies. Hatred. Animosity.
This ain’t a romance. (Yet)
Spice level zero.
But this world building and the storyline is absolutely incredible.
I couldn’t stop reading. This world is tragic and desperate for peace and humanity.
Rooke is a fighter and an extremely badass female character true to author J.Bree.
Rooke is keeping her wits and is following through what her fate brings her. Even if her mate is a fool.
I cannot wait for the begging Soren needs to do to get in Rookes good graces.
This entire kingdom treated her terribly for being a witch.
I’m so hungry to this story to unfold.
I’m just literally speechless and I have no idea when we’ll see the next book but I’m 100% invested.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2024
When they say Enemies to Lovers trope: they meant THIS BOOK!
What this book did to me:
1) I didn’t sleep before 3:30 am the three days it took me to finish this book. Also finishing this book in 3 days is no small feat because the book is huge.
2) Ruined me for all other Enemies to Lovers book for the foreseeable future.
3) Put me in the mother of all reading slump after finishing it! (Like what did I even expect from this Author? ) I JUST WANTED THE NEXT BOOK QUICKLY! My sincere well wishes to all who read this book last year when it released. I feel your pain guys!
Soren and Rooke were just amazing. I loved everything about this book. From their loving beginning to their first meeting and then all that Enemies to lovers goodness.
I won’t lie, I did want to give Soren a good shaking numerous times due to his horrible treatment of Rooke but I was enjoying it too much too.
That climax just destroyed me! I was constantly rereading paragraphs again and again, electrified because I couldn’t get enough of Rooke’s badass-ery!
Did I mention that I NEED the second book now? But I’m still grateful that she didn’t kills us with a horrendous cliffhanger like The Bonds That Tie series.
Loved all the secondary characters too, even though many of them needed a good a**kicking. The writing us as usual was addictive with superb world building.
Absolutely recommended.
P.s I didn’t like that it was implied maybe Rooke had lovers in the interim. But Soren was faithful.
What this book did to me:
1) I didn’t sleep before 3:30 am the three days it took me to finish this book. Also finishing this book in 3 days is no small feat because the book is huge.
2) Ruined me for all other Enemies to Lovers book for the foreseeable future.
3) Put me in the mother of all reading slump after finishing it! (Like what did I even expect from this Author? ) I JUST WANTED THE NEXT BOOK QUICKLY! My sincere well wishes to all who read this book last year when it released. I feel your pain guys!
Soren and Rooke were just amazing. I loved everything about this book. From their loving beginning to their first meeting and then all that Enemies to lovers goodness.
I won’t lie, I did want to give Soren a good shaking numerous times due to his horrible treatment of Rooke but I was enjoying it too much too.
That climax just destroyed me! I was constantly rereading paragraphs again and again, electrified because I couldn’t get enough of Rooke’s badass-ery!
Did I mention that I NEED the second book now? But I’m still grateful that she didn’t kills us with a horrendous cliffhanger like The Bonds That Tie series.
Loved all the secondary characters too, even though many of them needed a good a**kicking. The writing us as usual was addictive with superb world building.
Absolutely recommended.
P.s I didn’t like that it was implied maybe Rooke had lovers in the interim. But Soren was faithful.
June 2, 2023
“You've got it all wrong, Prince Soren—you're the one who's going to have to convince me of such a thing, because right now, I’d set you on fire just to watch the flames consume you.”
- 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑶𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 @jbreeauthor
First off just wanna thank @slay.the.prince and @jbreeauthor for sending me an physical ARC because wow this cover is gorgeous- she’s also super thick🙌🏼
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ✨✨✨✨✨
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆:🥶
This is a true fantasy book- and I think Jenna absolutely killed it!! I loved learning about the magic system and absolutely adored Rooke. She is such a strong admirable FMC I have so much love, respect, and empathy for her. She truly is selfless and shows so much restraint in this book( more than I ever could). Because her fated mate, Prince Soren? Yeah, he’s a freaking ASSHOLE omg insufferable lol. She is way more patient that I ever could be because I woulda burned him and suffered the consequences, fates be damned 😂 However- I can’t WAIT for the groveling and begging that is surely going to ensue 🙌🏼 This book was mainly 𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑴𝑰𝑬S- minus the lovers. I kind of saw it coming after her Bonds that Ties series and book one also leaning more towards enemies. I’m excited for book two and the epic journey that Jenna will be taking us on. If you love fantasy books and JBREE- read this book🖤
- 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑶𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 @jbreeauthor
First off just wanna thank @slay.the.prince and @jbreeauthor for sending me an physical ARC because wow this cover is gorgeous- she’s also super thick🙌🏼
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ✨✨✨✨✨
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆:🥶
This is a true fantasy book- and I think Jenna absolutely killed it!! I loved learning about the magic system and absolutely adored Rooke. She is such a strong admirable FMC I have so much love, respect, and empathy for her. She truly is selfless and shows so much restraint in this book( more than I ever could). Because her fated mate, Prince Soren? Yeah, he’s a freaking ASSHOLE omg insufferable lol. She is way more patient that I ever could be because I woulda burned him and suffered the consequences, fates be damned 😂 However- I can’t WAIT for the groveling and begging that is surely going to ensue 🙌🏼 This book was mainly 𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑴𝑰𝑬S- minus the lovers. I kind of saw it coming after her Bonds that Ties series and book one also leaning more towards enemies. I’m excited for book two and the epic journey that Jenna will be taking us on. If you love fantasy books and JBREE- read this book🖤
August 1, 2024
Don’t even ask me how I read this in 24hrs
May 28, 2023
I will read anything with an enemies-to-lovers trope. And I read the author's previous series, so I was really looking forward to the angsty romance. I also read The Scepter (a prequel to this) and very much enjoyed it, so I read this as soon as it came out.
Buuuuuut it ended up being a whole lotta nothing. The female character ends up sitting in the damn dungeon getting shit on by everybody in existence for 50% (50%!!!!!!!!) of the book and then some! I feel like most of the issue was the lack of progression in the story and there were no clear conflicts giving us readers something to keep us on the edge of our seats for. I had no emotional investment in defeating the supposed bad guys towards the end of this book.
I think there was a lot of potential here, shown in The Scepter, which is why I added the second star and why I'll be sticking around for the next installment. However, if you're on the fence about starting this series, you might wanna skip it.
Buuuuuut it ended up being a whole lotta nothing. The female character ends up sitting in the damn dungeon getting shit on by everybody in existence for 50% (50%!!!!!!!!) of the book and then some! I feel like most of the issue was the lack of progression in the story and there were no clear conflicts giving us readers something to keep us on the edge of our seats for. I had no emotional investment in defeating the supposed bad guys towards the end of this book.
I think there was a lot of potential here, shown in The Scepter, which is why I added the second star and why I'll be sticking around for the next installment. However, if you're on the fence about starting this series, you might wanna skip it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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