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Fey Touched #1
Changeling
Fey go missing in the mortal realm. Everyone knows that.
When Lizzy's mother is the next to vanish she's expected to grieve and move on. Instead, Lizzy wants to find out what happened, but the answers she seeks can't be found in the fey realm of Arbaon.
With the help of her best friend, Booker Reed, Lizzy's determined to retrace her mother's final steps... straight through an illegal portal and into the mortal realm.
Whatever leads she expected to find, it wasn't an academy of vampires, and a world stalked by their rabid cousins—the kavians.
Forced to rely on the vampires for protection, and secluded away behind the high walls of Speculo School, it quickly becomes clear not everyone is pleased with Lizzy and Booker's investigation. With danger building the further they dig, the two fey need to decide if the closure they seek is worth risking their lives for.
But the longer they remain amongst the vampires, the more Lizzy suspects that her answers lie with the deadly kavians instead.
When Lizzy's mother is the next to vanish she's expected to grieve and move on. Instead, Lizzy wants to find out what happened, but the answers she seeks can't be found in the fey realm of Arbaon.
With the help of her best friend, Booker Reed, Lizzy's determined to retrace her mother's final steps... straight through an illegal portal and into the mortal realm.
Whatever leads she expected to find, it wasn't an academy of vampires, and a world stalked by their rabid cousins—the kavians.
Forced to rely on the vampires for protection, and secluded away behind the high walls of Speculo School, it quickly becomes clear not everyone is pleased with Lizzy and Booker's investigation. With danger building the further they dig, the two fey need to decide if the closure they seek is worth risking their lives for.
But the longer they remain amongst the vampires, the more Lizzy suspects that her answers lie with the deadly kavians instead.
- GenresFantasy
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2023
2 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 30, 2023
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of Changeling (Fey Touched, #1) from Book Sprout in exchange for an honest review.
Also please note, this review was Due in March, I thought it was posted. It was not so I do apologize.
Please DO NOT let my star count fool you.
I LOVED this book and I LOVED the characters. This story took me a few chapters to sink my teeth into, but once it snared me, man it had me until the end.
Things I loved:
It was not your usual Fae -Vampire read. The usual Vampire rules seem to not apply in this story and for me, it makes the characters more interesting. The Fae and the magic they are or are not able to do is also different.
The characters: Lizzie was the best protagonist in every way. Booker and Cara are just the best-supporting characters. Mia is absolutely who you visualize when you say "Mean Girl" and the ever-growing connection with Andric is something I cannot wait to see in the coming books.
Things I struggled with:
That we (the reader) do not know why Maddie left the Fae realm to begin with. I am aware that may not have bothered anyone else but me, but I am hoping to find out in the next book.
You should read this book if you like fantasy, fae, vampires, or just want to read a good book.
Also please note, this review was Due in March, I thought it was posted. It was not so I do apologize.
Please DO NOT let my star count fool you.
I LOVED this book and I LOVED the characters. This story took me a few chapters to sink my teeth into, but once it snared me, man it had me until the end.
Things I loved:
It was not your usual Fae -Vampire read. The usual Vampire rules seem to not apply in this story and for me, it makes the characters more interesting. The Fae and the magic they are or are not able to do is also different.
The characters: Lizzie was the best protagonist in every way. Booker and Cara are just the best-supporting characters. Mia is absolutely who you visualize when you say "Mean Girl" and the ever-growing connection with Andric is something I cannot wait to see in the coming books.
Things I struggled with:
That we (the reader) do not know why Maddie left the Fae realm to begin with. I am aware that may not have bothered anyone else but me, but I am hoping to find out in the next book.
You should read this book if you like fantasy, fae, vampires, or just want to read a good book.
March 16, 2023
Changeling is an ARC review. I had the pleasure of reading this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book was great! It's the real meaning to fantasy. I'm a lover of LOTR and this book is a close second. Our main character Lizzy is strong, emotional, layered and complex! She is a half-fey who stops at nothing to get one of the two people she lives back in her life. So she takes her best friend Booker into the mortal world to learn what happened to Maddy. But the mortal world has changed and created trials for them to overcome.
The underlying characters are not voting, but instead you want to know more about them. Having them in the book actually made it better. The family trope in this book was described beautifully.
Huge thank you to Book Sirens and the author Arista Holmes for allowing me to read this book! I truly enjoyed it!
This book was great! It's the real meaning to fantasy. I'm a lover of LOTR and this book is a close second. Our main character Lizzy is strong, emotional, layered and complex! She is a half-fey who stops at nothing to get one of the two people she lives back in her life. So she takes her best friend Booker into the mortal world to learn what happened to Maddy. But the mortal world has changed and created trials for them to overcome.
The underlying characters are not voting, but instead you want to know more about them. Having them in the book actually made it better. The family trope in this book was described beautifully.
Huge thank you to Book Sirens and the author Arista Holmes for allowing me to read this book! I truly enjoyed it!
February 28, 2023
4.75 /5 (rounded up for Goodreads)
I received a complimentary ARC copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book is what fantasy is made of, and I will say so until my last breath. A debut fantasy writer, Holmes creates a compelling story with masterful and nuanced characters. Lizzy, our main character, does not fall into the pitfall of flatness that seems to happen with many fantasy books. She is emotional without exaggeration, layered and complex. She reacts like a realistic teenage girl or a new adult woman would.
Additionally, on a similar tangent, the side characters, from the love interest to the friends and enemies of the main character (Lizzy), are not cardboard cutouts meant to fill space or prop up the main characters. Booker, Cara, Andric, Nameer, and even Mia Harris all have distinct personality traits, ambitions, and other pivotal details that make them three-dimensional. My enjoyment of them didn't diminish at any point.
The worldbuilding takes familiar concepts of fae, vampires, and magic and turns them on their heads with the inclusion of original lore with boldness. Thus, it won't feel like reading the same few tropes that the fantasy genre often regurgitates. The inundation of the same tropes is not as prevalent in the adult fantasy genre, which this book is, but the book's lore and mythology read like a breath of fresh air. Furthermore, Holmes avoids the common error of information dumping onto the reader, delivers the information into small bite-sized pieces, and flows them into the characters' actions/dialogue/internal monologues nicely.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I enjoyed the story. It can keep a reader captivated, and while in some parts it has a bit of predictability in its foreshadowing, I would recommend this story to the average reader. We have a mystery, a journey of personal discovery, and the best setup for future books in its ending. But I can say that the book never loses sight of its goal, with Lizzy determined to find a missing fae delegation that includes her beloved mother.
This is a modern classic fantasy book, worth the read.
I received a complimentary ARC copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book is what fantasy is made of, and I will say so until my last breath. A debut fantasy writer, Holmes creates a compelling story with masterful and nuanced characters. Lizzy, our main character, does not fall into the pitfall of flatness that seems to happen with many fantasy books. She is emotional without exaggeration, layered and complex. She reacts like a realistic teenage girl or a new adult woman would.
Additionally, on a similar tangent, the side characters, from the love interest to the friends and enemies of the main character (Lizzy), are not cardboard cutouts meant to fill space or prop up the main characters. Booker, Cara, Andric, Nameer, and even Mia Harris all have distinct personality traits, ambitions, and other pivotal details that make them three-dimensional. My enjoyment of them didn't diminish at any point.
The worldbuilding takes familiar concepts of fae, vampires, and magic and turns them on their heads with the inclusion of original lore with boldness. Thus, it won't feel like reading the same few tropes that the fantasy genre often regurgitates. The inundation of the same tropes is not as prevalent in the adult fantasy genre, which this book is, but the book's lore and mythology read like a breath of fresh air. Furthermore, Holmes avoids the common error of information dumping onto the reader, delivers the information into small bite-sized pieces, and flows them into the characters' actions/dialogue/internal monologues nicely.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I enjoyed the story. It can keep a reader captivated, and while in some parts it has a bit of predictability in its foreshadowing, I would recommend this story to the average reader. We have a mystery, a journey of personal discovery, and the best setup for future books in its ending. But I can say that the book never loses sight of its goal, with Lizzy determined to find a missing fae delegation that includes her beloved mother.
This is a modern classic fantasy book, worth the read.
July 18, 2023
Enchanted by Changeling
*I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review*
I love it when I book isn't quite what you expect (in a good way). While I appreciate traditional fey and vampire lore, I appreciate it when authors put a fresh twist on an old classic.
The way Holmes handles vampires in this novel is great, and the concept of the vampire hierarchy was intriguing.
There were also some of my favourite tropes in here from the missing magical parent to the supernatural half-ling.
I just wish there had been a little more exploration of Maddy's disappearance.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Lizzie's story develops, and will certainly be reaching for the next book in the series.
*I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review*
I love it when I book isn't quite what you expect (in a good way). While I appreciate traditional fey and vampire lore, I appreciate it when authors put a fresh twist on an old classic.
The way Holmes handles vampires in this novel is great, and the concept of the vampire hierarchy was intriguing.
There were also some of my favourite tropes in here from the missing magical parent to the supernatural half-ling.
I just wish there had been a little more exploration of Maddy's disappearance.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Lizzie's story develops, and will certainly be reaching for the next book in the series.
March 16, 2023
The Search for Maddy . . .
When Lizzy's Fae mother Maddy disappears in the mortal realm, Lizzy is not willing to accept that she is dead unless she knows exactly what happened to her. She and her best friend, Booker Reed, are ready to cross through a portal to follow her mother’s trail. They end up at a vampire academy and must avoid the kavians. The vampires protect Lizzy and Booker to the best of their ability. But as they get closer to the truth, things get more dangerous. If she truly wants answers, Lizzy is convinced she will need to face off with the deadly kavians. Is it worth losing her life to satisfy her curiosity?
When Lizzy's Fae mother Maddy disappears in the mortal realm, Lizzy is not willing to accept that she is dead unless she knows exactly what happened to her. She and her best friend, Booker Reed, are ready to cross through a portal to follow her mother’s trail. They end up at a vampire academy and must avoid the kavians. The vampires protect Lizzy and Booker to the best of their ability. But as they get closer to the truth, things get more dangerous. If she truly wants answers, Lizzy is convinced she will need to face off with the deadly kavians. Is it worth losing her life to satisfy her curiosity?
March 14, 2023
Disclaimer: I haven't finished reading it yet but my review is due so here we are!
Changeling is a book that reminds me of the books I used to love as a teenager. The worldbuilding is interesting (to me), the characters really grab your investment, and the premise is one that keeps you engaged. I'm really, really loving this book, I think it may be the book to drag me back into reading fiction regularly again!
Always a massive fan of fantasy meets human world premises, and I gotta say the take on the vampire was absolutely exquisite! I can't wait to finish it!
Changeling is a book that reminds me of the books I used to love as a teenager. The worldbuilding is interesting (to me), the characters really grab your investment, and the premise is one that keeps you engaged. I'm really, really loving this book, I think it may be the book to drag me back into reading fiction regularly again!
Always a massive fan of fantasy meets human world premises, and I gotta say the take on the vampire was absolutely exquisite! I can't wait to finish it!
March 13, 2023
A compelling story with interesting characters and relationships. Overall, a fun and captivating book.
Interested to see where this trilogy goes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Interested to see where this trilogy goes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 7, 2023
Great World building, captivating character & fascinating plot.
Thank you to the author & Vaoracious Readers for the ARC.
Thank you to the author & Vaoracious Readers for the ARC.
March 17, 2023
Well written story where the story unfolds naturally. Loved the character’s personalities too, especially Lizzy and Booker. Can’t wait for the next book.
June 4, 2023
This is a story about fey (fey in the sense of fairies, rather than elves, or some other meaning) and vampires.
The story centers on characters in their late teens and early twenties (the main character turns eighteen during the story) and the various relationships between those characters. Both the age of the characters (and the setting in a school environment) likely mean the story would be the most interesting to readers in their late teens and early twenties. While it is a “Book 1” of a longer series (the “Fey Touched Trilogy”), it is also a self-contained story (having both a well-defined conclusion and a reasonable lead-in to the next book).
Disclaimer: I received a free digital ARC for this novel. However, both the decision to post a review and the contents of the review are voluntary and my own alone.
The overall story line (spoiler alert for this paragraph) begins with Lizzy and her best friend (Booker) leaving (escaping from?) the Fey realm to search for her vanished mother. They do an unauthorized transport from a fairy circle and end up in the mortal realm, where they are immediately attacked by a rabid female vampire (which we learn are called “Kavian”). They are rescued by a non-Kavian vampire (Andric) and end up temporarily enrolled at the Speculo School (for vampires). During their time at the school, they form a number of relationships (both positive and negative) and learn some martial arts (taught by Andric) but gain little from the educational experience itself. However, during their stay, one of their teachers (Hilda Gladstone) turns into a rabid Kavian and escapes the school. Through the process of chasing her down, Lizzy discovers that her mother is still alive, and gains some clues as to how to proceed in tracking her down.
There were several things I liked about the story:
Reveals and twists. While there are no shortage of fey/vampire stories, this one is distinguished by the author doing an excellent job with periodic reveals and story twists. While I don’t want to avoid the fun by giving any of these away *GRIN*, I will say I was surprised multiple times where I expected the story to go one way, and *BOOM* there would be a reveal or a twist, and it would go somewhere totally different.
Some clever spins on the usual fey/vampire tropes. A great example is the story beginning, where Lizzy and Booker escape through a fairy circle. This is not your grandmother’s fairy circle, by the way; but more of a 22nd century version (with guards and glowshrooms and the like). There is also some interesting politics with the Fey, with them being simultaneously isolationist, xenophobic, and (curiously) pacifistic. Similarly, there is some equally interesting politics between the Fey and the vampires, with some unusual (and unexpected) tensions around the setting up of the Fey world.
High-school clique politics. The book has a disturbingly accurate portrayal of high school “clique” dynamics. (As an aside, it has been many years since I went to high school, and, as near as I can tell; not one thing has changed in all that time …)
More romantic than sexual: The story emphasizes the romantic relationships between the characters much more than the sexual relationships. While the book is most certainly not 1950s on this topic, it is more restrained than many recent publications intended for this age group.
There were also some things that I struggled with.
Lizzy and her tantrums. I can probably find a more tactful way of putting it, but the main character seems to be either (1) erupting in a rage, (2) stomping off in a rage, or (3) being talked down from a rage. While losing her mother does provide (some) justification for this, the character came across (to me at least) as being both spoiled and entitled.
Too much trust by the protagonists for the big things (and not taking advantage of unexpected opportunities for the little things). Lizzy and Booker escape into the mortal realm, and immediately make a verbal (i.e. not written) deal with the headmaster AND give up their jewelry (i.e. their only means of support). Once enrolled in classes, they go passive-aggressive on their teachers and consciously avoid learning anything. Both of these seem like Very Bad Strategies for “our heroes” (think sex trafficking in the first case, and avoiding the opportunity to acquire critical information for survival in unfamiliar location in the second).
The fight scene between Lizzy and Nameer in C-32. I am not going to do a spoiler on this, but I question whether this scene was a good idea for this age group. Yes, vampires have unnatural healing ability, but STILL.
The scene between Nameer and Logan in C-39. I am not going to do a spoiler on this one either, but this scene raises serious ethical issues. As with the above, I question whether this scene was a good idea for this age group.
The story centers on characters in their late teens and early twenties (the main character turns eighteen during the story) and the various relationships between those characters. Both the age of the characters (and the setting in a school environment) likely mean the story would be the most interesting to readers in their late teens and early twenties. While it is a “Book 1” of a longer series (the “Fey Touched Trilogy”), it is also a self-contained story (having both a well-defined conclusion and a reasonable lead-in to the next book).
Disclaimer: I received a free digital ARC for this novel. However, both the decision to post a review and the contents of the review are voluntary and my own alone.
The overall story line (spoiler alert for this paragraph) begins with Lizzy and her best friend (Booker) leaving (escaping from?) the Fey realm to search for her vanished mother. They do an unauthorized transport from a fairy circle and end up in the mortal realm, where they are immediately attacked by a rabid female vampire (which we learn are called “Kavian”). They are rescued by a non-Kavian vampire (Andric) and end up temporarily enrolled at the Speculo School (for vampires). During their time at the school, they form a number of relationships (both positive and negative) and learn some martial arts (taught by Andric) but gain little from the educational experience itself. However, during their stay, one of their teachers (Hilda Gladstone) turns into a rabid Kavian and escapes the school. Through the process of chasing her down, Lizzy discovers that her mother is still alive, and gains some clues as to how to proceed in tracking her down.
There were several things I liked about the story:
Reveals and twists. While there are no shortage of fey/vampire stories, this one is distinguished by the author doing an excellent job with periodic reveals and story twists. While I don’t want to avoid the fun by giving any of these away *GRIN*, I will say I was surprised multiple times where I expected the story to go one way, and *BOOM* there would be a reveal or a twist, and it would go somewhere totally different.
Some clever spins on the usual fey/vampire tropes. A great example is the story beginning, where Lizzy and Booker escape through a fairy circle. This is not your grandmother’s fairy circle, by the way; but more of a 22nd century version (with guards and glowshrooms and the like). There is also some interesting politics with the Fey, with them being simultaneously isolationist, xenophobic, and (curiously) pacifistic. Similarly, there is some equally interesting politics between the Fey and the vampires, with some unusual (and unexpected) tensions around the setting up of the Fey world.
High-school clique politics. The book has a disturbingly accurate portrayal of high school “clique” dynamics. (As an aside, it has been many years since I went to high school, and, as near as I can tell; not one thing has changed in all that time …)
More romantic than sexual: The story emphasizes the romantic relationships between the characters much more than the sexual relationships. While the book is most certainly not 1950s on this topic, it is more restrained than many recent publications intended for this age group.
There were also some things that I struggled with.
Lizzy and her tantrums. I can probably find a more tactful way of putting it, but the main character seems to be either (1) erupting in a rage, (2) stomping off in a rage, or (3) being talked down from a rage. While losing her mother does provide (some) justification for this, the character came across (to me at least) as being both spoiled and entitled.
Too much trust by the protagonists for the big things (and not taking advantage of unexpected opportunities for the little things). Lizzy and Booker escape into the mortal realm, and immediately make a verbal (i.e. not written) deal with the headmaster AND give up their jewelry (i.e. their only means of support). Once enrolled in classes, they go passive-aggressive on their teachers and consciously avoid learning anything. Both of these seem like Very Bad Strategies for “our heroes” (think sex trafficking in the first case, and avoiding the opportunity to acquire critical information for survival in unfamiliar location in the second).
The fight scene between Lizzy and Nameer in C-32. I am not going to do a spoiler on this, but I question whether this scene was a good idea for this age group. Yes, vampires have unnatural healing ability, but STILL.
The scene between Nameer and Logan in C-39. I am not going to do a spoiler on this one either, but this scene raises serious ethical issues. As with the above, I question whether this scene was a good idea for this age group.
March 14, 2023
A huge thank you goes to Book Sirens & Author A Holmes for letting me read an e-ARC of Changeling! As soon as I saw the cover & read the blurb, I knew this was a YA fantasy I was desperate to read. Changeling is a tale of broken hearts, desperate hope & the found family you can create along the way…
Lizzy is a half-fey, & one of the two people she loves most in the world has now gone missing in the mortal realm. No one in Arbaon is willing to search for the missing fey delegation, but Lizzy will stop at nothing to find her Mum. Along with Booker, her fey best friend, Lizzy races headlong into the mortal world to learn what happened to Maddy. But within the mortal realm not everything is as it seems… Because the vampires are actually the heroes, & their rabid cousins (the kavians) are wreaking havoc across the world. How did the fey get their information so wrong? Can Lizzy find answers at Speculo School, the vampire academy? And if the kavians have the answers Lizzy seeks about her mother, is she willing to risk her life for them?
Changeling is a wonderful example of how to write about found family, even as it inserts humour into a deadly adventure! I adore how Lizzy & Booker will go to the ends of the earth for each other, & their determination to be true to themselves. When so many vampires tell them to stay away from Cara, Lizzy & Booker defy them, & my heart soared at this. It’s awful when someone is treated horribly, & Cara doesn’t deserve the hate she gets from her classmates. So here’s to the beautiful found family trope Arista gives us!
Arista also highlights within Changeling that the fey are not like the warriors they are in so many other stories. And not only that, but the fey can literally die of a broken heart. Now *that* is a powerful message, am I right?! It’s been such a rollercoaster in this new realm...
* You can read my full review on my blog via this link: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/chang... *
Lizzy is a half-fey, & one of the two people she loves most in the world has now gone missing in the mortal realm. No one in Arbaon is willing to search for the missing fey delegation, but Lizzy will stop at nothing to find her Mum. Along with Booker, her fey best friend, Lizzy races headlong into the mortal world to learn what happened to Maddy. But within the mortal realm not everything is as it seems… Because the vampires are actually the heroes, & their rabid cousins (the kavians) are wreaking havoc across the world. How did the fey get their information so wrong? Can Lizzy find answers at Speculo School, the vampire academy? And if the kavians have the answers Lizzy seeks about her mother, is she willing to risk her life for them?
Changeling is a wonderful example of how to write about found family, even as it inserts humour into a deadly adventure! I adore how Lizzy & Booker will go to the ends of the earth for each other, & their determination to be true to themselves. When so many vampires tell them to stay away from Cara, Lizzy & Booker defy them, & my heart soared at this. It’s awful when someone is treated horribly, & Cara doesn’t deserve the hate she gets from her classmates. So here’s to the beautiful found family trope Arista gives us!
Arista also highlights within Changeling that the fey are not like the warriors they are in so many other stories. And not only that, but the fey can literally die of a broken heart. Now *that* is a powerful message, am I right?! It’s been such a rollercoaster in this new realm...
* You can read my full review on my blog via this link: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/chang... *
March 10, 2023
This book took me a little while to get into (mostly because of school interfering with my reading) but I'm glad I gave it a chance. Though the first part failed to catch my attention completely, because I ended up really enjoying this story. The greatest strength of this book is the relationships between the characters - especially Lizzy and Booker. They're truly ride-or-die friends and it's obvious from the beginning how much they care about each other, and though they have their clashes, they're loyal to the end. I was wary of their vampire friends, Cara and Andric, at first, but I grew to really like them as well throughout the book as they proved their trust. I also appreciate that none of their interactions turned into a weird love triangle/quadrangle situation, including with the other minor antagonist/potential love interest/resident mean girl, Mia Harris. Their interactions were always a lot of fun and the switching of POVs worked well to facilitate the story. Maddy's absence haunts the narrative and Lizzy's grief and desire for answers is the driving force of the story. Even though we never meet her, it's clear the impact she's made on Lizzy and Booker's lives.
I found the world-building confusing and a bit lackluster at first, but by the time the whole deal with the kavians was explained, I was already invested in the character's stories so it was worthwhile. Urban fantasy is always a tricky space to play with - the creatures you use must be recognizable to the usual tropes and traits, without falling into the realm of cliche, and I think Holmes strikes a simple but effective balance here, and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the series!
I found the world-building confusing and a bit lackluster at first, but by the time the whole deal with the kavians was explained, I was already invested in the character's stories so it was worthwhile. Urban fantasy is always a tricky space to play with - the creatures you use must be recognizable to the usual tropes and traits, without falling into the realm of cliche, and I think Holmes strikes a simple but effective balance here, and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the series!
March 15, 2023
Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of Changeling by the author and voluntarily leaving an honest review of the book.
MY HEART!
From the very first page all the way through the closing pages, Arista Holmes tugged at not only my heartstrings but my intrigue as well. Guiding readers through a well-developed world, main characters Lizzy, Booker, and Andric have an interesting dynamic that kept me on my toes almost as much as the twists woven into the plot as they searched for Lizzy’s mother.
I wasn’t certain what to expect of this portal fantasy novel, or what the relationship between the fey and the vampires would be (as past reads like The Shadow Falls series have been touch and go for me), but the way Holmes skillfully balanced necessary details about the setting and the history between the Fey Court and Vampire Council without interrupting the plot had me turning page after page.
My only disappointment with Changeling is actually no fault of author’s, but my own. I finished this much too quickly and am eagerly looking forward to book 2 because I desperately need to know where Lizzy, Booker, and Andric’s search for Madeline Hail will take them next!
March 11, 2023
I received an ARC read (Advanced Reader's Copy) and am now leaving a review voluntarily.
Changeling starts off with an escape from Arbaon, the fey realm, but what really drew me in was the fight against the kavian (supposed vampire). Here, readers get a glimpse of the power of the fey, and when Andric shows up, Lizzy is drawn in by the fight, a hint that she's {SPOILER}
Speculo School was well fleshed out, with cool characters (Cara, Nameer), and Andric was perfect for Lizzy in my opinion :)
As for Lizzy and Booker? Greatest friendship ever.
What I liked most though, was the worldbuilding. It spills little by little, through questions from characters or history lessons (hell of a debate between Lizzy and Mia, till things got personal btw), and even though vampires and fey are common in fantasy books, kavians and their history was special, and really fun to read.
I do believe the journey seems more of a gamble, without much distinctive proof that Lizzy and her friends are on the right track, but when paired with the prequel (Whatever Happened to Madeleine Hail), it is made up for.
Can't wait to read the next book in the Fey-Touched Trilogy!
Changeling starts off with an escape from Arbaon, the fey realm, but what really drew me in was the fight against the kavian (supposed vampire). Here, readers get a glimpse of the power of the fey, and when Andric shows up, Lizzy is drawn in by the fight, a hint that she's {SPOILER}
Speculo School was well fleshed out, with cool characters (Cara, Nameer), and Andric was perfect for Lizzy in my opinion :)
As for Lizzy and Booker? Greatest friendship ever.
What I liked most though, was the worldbuilding. It spills little by little, through questions from characters or history lessons (hell of a debate between Lizzy and Mia, till things got personal btw), and even though vampires and fey are common in fantasy books, kavians and their history was special, and really fun to read.
I do believe the journey seems more of a gamble, without much distinctive proof that Lizzy and her friends are on the right track, but when paired with the prequel (Whatever Happened to Madeleine Hail), it is made up for.
Can't wait to read the next book in the Fey-Touched Trilogy!
March 23, 2023
[Thanks to the author and BookSirens for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
It's been a while since I've read a book that made me sit up and take notice quite like Changeling did.
I adored the characters in this book. They were real, and their stories were so well developed and fleshed-out. Lizzy is a great protagonist - stubborn and brave, willing to fight for what she believes in. Booker and Cara were the perfect support for Lizzy's story, and the growing connection to Andric was so well done.
Mia was an excellent enemy - the kind you love to hate.
Lizzy's moods were palpable. You could absolutely feel her frustration and pain, and you were rooting for her when she finally thought she was on the right track.
Amazing book, and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
It's been a while since I've read a book that made me sit up and take notice quite like Changeling did.
I adored the characters in this book. They were real, and their stories were so well developed and fleshed-out. Lizzy is a great protagonist - stubborn and brave, willing to fight for what she believes in. Booker and Cara were the perfect support for Lizzy's story, and the growing connection to Andric was so well done.
Mia was an excellent enemy - the kind you love to hate.
Lizzy's moods were palpable. You could absolutely feel her frustration and pain, and you were rooting for her when she finally thought she was on the right track.
Amazing book, and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
March 17, 2023
Not your usual vampire or fey book which is something I really enjoyed about Changeling. It was engaging, entertaining and unique. I found the vampire concepts in this book quite fascinating and I liked that it was different from the usual rules vampires have to play by. The telekinesis and telepathy powers of the fey made for an interesting story. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed experiencing their growth. I definitely liked some characters more than others but they all felt authentic.
I recommend this book to readers who like fantasy , vampires and fey and are looking for a different take.
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from this author!
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only.
I recommend this book to readers who like fantasy , vampires and fey and are looking for a different take.
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from this author!
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only.
March 22, 2023
This was a strong entry in the Fey Touched series, I really thought it worked well overall. The characters were what I was looking for and they worked well in this universe. It was a strong start and I'm excited to read more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2023
Ingenious world building and impeccable character building. With this book, you get a great story with fully fleshed chacters and intriguing story. If you like your fantasy with fae and vampires, go for it but expect the unexpected.
A very good start of a series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A very good start of a series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 29, 2024
4.5 stars
FREE REVIEW COPY PROVIDED BY VORACIOUS READERS ONLY
Some of Lizzy’s decisions were a bit annoying towards the end but other than that I enjoyed it.
FREE REVIEW COPY PROVIDED BY VORACIOUS READERS ONLY
Some of Lizzy’s decisions were a bit annoying towards the end but other than that I enjoyed it.
July 3, 2025
This was a fun read! Hoping that the next part comes out soon! It was neat learning about the different characters and the way this world works.
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