I agree with many other readers who mention an editor is needed. It’s 294 pages (on kindle) and somehow a lot and not much is happening at the same time? There’s a need for more build up and tweaks to world building. I do like the storyline so I’ll continue the series to see what’s cracking

The first book was a bit of a struggle to get through. This one, I BLEW through. Reyna is growing on me little by little. BUT. I feel like I was a little mislead with dual POV. I think there’s four chapters (at most) that hold a secondary POV and that is something I really like in books, so it was disappointing going into this thinking I would get more perspective than I did (we get that you’re pining but maybe give us some answers or a personality???) Also. When they say slow burn they mean ✨s l o w b u r n.✨ I LOVE it. I’ve been looking for something that has the same slow burn level as the Plated Prisoner Series (again, first book was rough but the rest are amaaaaazing) and this is delivering. If you can look past some minor errors, this book blows the first out of the water. More Frima please & thank you.

3.5/5

Summary:
“Court of Greed and Gold
Instead of running from the Queen, Reyna manages to save the Prince. They hide in a cave and she discovers his wound is serious, and glows gold. He is forced to admit to her that he is cursed, and that he only has until his thirtieth birthday to break it. He will not tell her any more details. They are rescued from inside the mountain and the Queen announces a games festival, known as a Leikmot, between all the fae Courts except the Fire Court, who are reclusive. The Queen tells the Court that if they are to trust Mazrith’s decision to take a human bride, she must prove herself by being the champion of the Shadow Court. Three other champions arrive, Lord Dakkar of the earth-fae, Lady Kaldar of the ice-fae, and Lord Orm of the gold-fae. The Shadow Court host three games, the first two Reyna loses, but as she is competing she gets visions through the eyes of her opponents. Between the games they are able to fix the statue in the shrine and it gives them a riddle. They solve the riddle and visit an ancient statue of a fabled berserker, inside the mountain. With Voror’s help they are able to get a piece of jade from the crazy statue. Before they can take the jade to the shrine, Mazrith says something that makes Reyna realize that he has been a part of the fae-wine dreams she has been having about him. While arguing, she touches the piece of jade and triggers a vision of his stepmother holding a mist-staff. She blurts what she has seen, including the vision of Mazrith’s mother dying. Mazrith is furious, tells her he will carry on the quest alone, and leaves. When she goes after him he has been called away to fight an attack by the Starved Ones. She competes in the race, and wins. But Orm mocks her and she realizes her friends are in danger. When she runs to them, they are gone.”

This book is a good read to do in between major emotional damaging books ⭐️ ⭐️ .75. Decent little adventure that pulls you in, but not super immersive. Second book in the series.

Synopsis: Now that the prince is trying to save the rune-marked in his charge, the queen decides to celebrate his impending thirtieth birthday. ((Spoiler comment on this below)). To celebrate, a Liekmot or games/trials of each court’s champion is sponsored by the ever-reclusive Shadow court. Things are not what they seem during the trial when Reyna is picked to be the champion of the Shadow court, a human against four powerful fae. There is also a race against time for a specific reason that will change the prince’s life. Though Reyna and the prince both hold their own secrets and build mistrust through the whole book. The gaps mentioned in my last book review are still there, hence the 2.75. Some of the gaps are never answered (whole series completed in one day).

This is set in a Norse-mythology type setting, but it’s also set up like a typical fantasy, with Norse words. Honestly, it was a really bad attempt at trying their hand at Norse myths and seems like an afterthought. There is a “dictionary” of words at the beginning of the book for those who don’t know what some of the words mean.

ENDS IN A CLIFFHANGER


***QUOTES, TROPES AND CHARACTERS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***







Tropes: Enemies to lovers, trials & games, riddles, touch her and die, forced betrothal, kidnapping, banter/sharp tongue

Spice level:

This is part of the Brides of Fae and Mist series. The previous book should be read first to fully enjoy this story.

First, I absolutely appreciated the glossary and summary at the start of the book. And the gorgeous map? Loved it!

This story builds on the first book and develops the relationship between Maz and Reyna. Lots of tension between them that I hope we see build in the next installment.

There is a lot going on in this book and it does end on a cliffhanger.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.