The good:

• one of the few stories about Fae recently that don’t make me want to roll my eyes or bash my head in

• story felt unique. It wasn’t convoluted, but it still had elements of surprise, as well as a fairytale vibe that I loved.

• characters are not all idiots

The fine:

• towards the end the book the reasoning for how the story was progressing didn’t make sense or at least didn’t feel satisfactory.

The bad:

• middle to end of book was slow slow slow.

Overall it was a good read, I will likely continue the series and honestly feel the second novel will be better. The writing style is vivid without being too flowery. While there are character tropes it doesn’t feel forced. There are comparisons to Cruel Prince (which to this day I’m obsessed with) and honestly I don’t see it. This book is uniquely its own.

This cover is beautiful and the synopsis was so intriguing. I absolutely loved the celtic folklore and the enchanting vibes of this story. I'm not one who likes descriptive and flowery writing but I thought the author had a very magical way of making it tolerable for the story. The beginning was promising. I really wanted this to be a friend to lover story and the fact Rogan is blonde. I was like yes a blonde love interest. They had good chemistry. However this book really started to drag at 25%. The characters just kept having the same argument over and over. When the dark and broody male character enters the picture I was worried. I had a right to be. I dnfed this book at 60% I hated the sireection it took and after 3 weeks I had only made it 60% in. I'm so disappointed that this didn't live up to the beginning.

I adored this! Romantic and lushly written, it was clear Lyra Selene can turn a phrase. I luxuriated in her prose and it swept me away — I was not a huge fan of Rogan, but I loved Fia's journey throughout the book.

Thank you Orbit for the eARC! I loved this and I'm grateful I read it early, it better get all the hype.

Here's some initial thoughts - more details to come when I post my review closer to release date. (4.5⭐️)

Picture this: the world of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (especially in book 2), a main plot loosely reminescent of The Cruel Prince and glimpses of ACOTAR - if the High Lord was more like Azriel.

Tropes/favorite aspects:

Cool elemental powers
Morally grey hero (shadow wings, hello)
Strong FMC
Fairytale retelling
Rich rich world building
Found family with a twist
Love triangle (sort of)
Faery gates, revels and secret meetings under the full moon
Spice


I've seen many Fantasy books blurbed as "for fans of ACOTAR" over the years but they either didn't actually have anything to do with that series, or they felt like fan fiction. For me, this book is the most similar to that, and not in a copy paste kind of plot, but in the nuance. In the little things, vibe, writing and characters.

But all those things that are familiar to us somehow fade into the background, as the story progressed and delves more into its own fairytale, adventures, magic, trials and situations. Into Fia's character, her growth, her awareness of her powers and the world around her, into love, sacrifice and heartbreaking odds. The fae world is rich and mesmerizing and I was looking forward to her new visit on the other side with each chapter. I was vibrating with anticipation until her path sent her the shadow winged morally grey hero again. I was consumed by his presence on the page, then their little moments, stories and slow burn tension. I couldn't get enough of it. The ending left me gasping and wondering and hoping for a positive outcome. Even when you feel the impending doom approaching, it still manages to shock you when it happens. See, the more I process what I just read, the more I love it. And the more I *need* to know what happens next.

My only issue is that what was one of the strongest, most original attribute to the story sometimes it became a weakness - the writing is very descriptive and flowery, which is beautiful of course, but sometimes it was distracting. I felt like all the metaphors and adjectives affected the flow of the storyline. Which may be a problem of my scattered impatient brain and not necessarily a flaw. Still, i wanted to mention it, is not an easy, quick read but all worth it in the end. Beautiful.

Rating: 3.5⭐

"A Feather So Black" took me on a captivating journey into the complex and toxic relationship between the FMC, Fia, and her foster-mother, the queen. The story unfolds as Fia grapples with accepting herself, and the author skillfully portrays the nuances of this unhealthy dynamic, opting to show rather than simply tell the reader.

One of the book's strengths that resonated with me was the well-executed character development of Fia. Despite occasional frustration with her decisions, I found myself frequently reminding myself to approach her actions with empathy, considering the trauma she carries. The exploration of self-hatred and internalized racism added depth to the narrative, shedding light on Fia's struggles beyond the fantastical elements. However, I couldn't help but wonder about the author’s potential lack of lived experience in addressing certain issues. The desire for a deeper exploration of themes left me yearning for more authenticity, especially in navigating sensitive topics.

Also, the (first) MMC, Rogan, was dumb. That’s really all I have to say about him.

The book successfully captured the disorientation and inhuman characteristics of the Fae world, showcasing the author's vivid descriptions of the fantastical setting. However, the plot, despite its unique elements, followed a familiar pattern, reminiscent of ALL of the other romantasy books out there. One glaring example was the (second) MMC, Irian, is (another) "Shadow Daddy," which obviously gives you a hint at the clichéd tropes, which may deter readers seeking a more innovative narrative. I know it did for me

Despite these critiques, the incorporation of Irish/Celtic lore was well done (as far as my Googling could confirm), adding a distinct flavor to the story. For those readers who enjoyed the Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, specifically it's portrayal of traditional Fae (more frightening than swoon worthy), you may like this, but don't expect the cozy, light academic feel of EW in this book. While "A Feather So Black" certainly has its strengths and unique elements, it inevitably falls into some well-trodden fantasy conventions.

In conclusion, the book offers an engaging exploration of toxic relationships, trauma, and fantastical realms. I commend the author's ability to depict complex emotions and the Fae world, but the narrative left me yearning for more originality and depth in certain aspects.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

DNF @ 48% - I tried.

Another book with a beautiful cover that did not reach expectations. I do not understand how this book is compared to The Folk of The Air series other than that there is fae. That's it. The FMC was mildly insufferable and the "love triangle" between her childhood best friend and the new mysterious, and creepy, guy was meh. I read almost 50% of this book and I couldn't tell you what happened other than they just went through a fae portal to find the FMC's "sister". Her family SUCKS! Also Rogan needs to get whacked in the head with a shovel or something. He is a king of gaslighting and constantly stringing Fia along with whether he's into her or not. Quite literally the most insufferable love interest I have ever read. Fia was also a conflicting FMC because she is supposed to be this strong spy/assassin for the queen, but then she gets a small injury and must be nursed by one of the MMCs. I also got extremely irritated with how much it was mentioned of how "small" she is (I am talking PARAGRAPHS), and how often she called her mother's right hand man/advisor a whore. These two things really set the tone for me in the beginning as things I really don't like it books, and it was kinda downhill from there as this book couldn't keep my interest or attention.

I can see how people will love this book, it has all the tropes that I really enjoy reading and then some. It takes a lot of effort in general to write a book, which is always extremely impressive to be able to put yourself out there and create a work of passion. A lot of detail and research went into this book with the Celtic lore and the Grimm's fairy tale of The 12 Dancing Princesses. I think a lot of people will eat this book up, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Pitched as The Cruel Prince meets For the Wolf and I think this is an apt description - the book gave me vibes for both (including Howl's Moving Castle) while simultaneously being wholly its own thing.

AFSB is a bewitching romantasy with lush and lyrical prose, immersive world building and forbidden romance, steeped in Celtic mythology.
It reads like dark fairytale and it's very character and romance driven so I can definitely see how it won't be for everyone, but if you are like me and you love character driven stories with morally grey characters who have complicated relationships and dynamics then you should check this book out.

I loved everything about this.
I really wish i'd paid more attention to the table of contents in the beginning because there is a glossary in the back and that would've really helped with all of the Irish words, especially at first when I was still figuring out what's going on.
It took me about 100 pages to get really immersed but once I was I didn't wanna put it down.
There's so much going on — from quests and Faerie curses to complicated family dynamics and forbidden romance — and I was captivated the whole time.

Two of the MCs, Fia and Irian, read as Jude and Cardan coded to me and I'm obsessed with them.
Do I need to say more? Enemies-to-lovers with fantastic banter and delicious tension - I. Couldn't. Get. Enough. Their chapters were my fav.
Irian actually gave me Cardan x Jacks vibes, so yeah I'm in love, we're planning a June wedding.
Absolutely loved Fia, she's the type of FMC i love - strong, relatable, flawed - and her character development was the best.

I wanna address the love triangle very briefly. Is there one? Kind of. I don't know how to elaborate on this without spoiling too much but let me just say that one relationship kind of runs its course before there is another. I'm not a fan of love triangles and I don't think that the one here should put you off from reading the book. There's a point to this "love triangle" , and there's a lot of history and complicated feelings between 2 of the characters.

The whole time I was questioning where this book was going and how it's gonna end and let me just say the ending really surprised me. There're two big plot twists right at the end and they both shocked me.

I'm super excited about the sequel, still have a lot of questions about Fia's past and what's gonna happen after the way the AFSB ended, and that sneak peek at the end of the book made me even more excited!!

eternal gratitude to netgalley and the publisher for the arc

Quick Thoughts Reviews + a #sundayshelfie

🚊 The Getaway List by Emma Lord. Emma Lord writes dependably satisfying YA. In this book, uncertain high school graduate Riley determines a path forward & a new life in NYC, as she & her long-time bestie Tom cross items off their Getaway List. TGL is cute, with moments of sadness as the besties reveal their struggles to each other, & underneath a lovely burgeoning romance is a strong friendship that gave me lots of feels. 4.25 ⭐️. Out now. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

✏️ Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace. This queer historical romance with some fantasy is so cute! It’s EPISTOLARY, (that’s the magic word, right?), featuring letters written from a sometimes clueless lead, Gavin, to an eventual love interest, his family, etc. Charming, funny, & sweet, this kissing-only book is a delightful & quick read. So happy I read it! 5 ⭐️, out now. (Read for the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge: a cozy fantasy book.)

🪶 A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene. A fae fantasy featuring a Changeling who’s been raised as the foster daughter of a human queen out for revenge against the Folk. This fantasy has steam, a love triangle-ish situation, & a heroine who’s felt the sting of not being fully accepted most of her life. Lots of angst in this one, & a romantic relationship that grew a bit annoying for me, but also an intriguing story & a nice setup for book 2. 3.5 ⭐️, out 03/12. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

📖 have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

Truly incredible. I loved the lyrical writing, it really demanded my attention and brought me into the world. I loved Fia and her battles and her inner thoughts. I really didn’t know who to trust until the end. Can’t wait for the next one.

Let me just say, I really wanted to like this book. He fell first, love triangle, dark and brooding MMC? Sign me up. And on top of it, it was beautifully written and descriptive.

I found it really heavy in world building for a good portion of the book and (I hate to be that person), it was really dense with Gaelic and I was struggling following along with it.

🌶️ / 5

✨ Fae magic 💫
✨ Celtic mythology
✨ He fell first ❤️
✨ Cute nicknames
✨ Love triangle

I don't know if I wasn't paying close enough attention, or what, but I was really confused for a lot of it - some of it related to the heavy Gaelic usage but also just the magic usage. There was just a lot going on.

I really tried to get into Fia and Irian's relationship, but they hardly knew each other and didn't actually meet until a large portion of the book had begun and then before you knew it, he was desperately in love with her.

I know a lot of people will love this book, it unfortunately, just didn't click with me.

* Thank you to Orbit Books and Net Galley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review *

I adored this book. I found it to be much more character than plot driven, but it works. It’s a beautiful story of self-discovery and finding strength in love. The pacing was perfect and time moved quickly, going immediately to the important moments. I would’ve liked to see a bit more of the characters working toward the plot goals and world building during those “down times” but, again, I think the point was to be about internal character growth so I’m not mad about it either.

I’ll admit that at first I thought it seemed predictable, but for a romantasy I knew going into it the tropes I’d find — morally grey characters, love triangle (love square in this case), enemies to lovers. That said, I was really, pleasantly surprised by the ending! I wouldn’t say it’s a high fantasy, but a good intro to the genre, and romantasy given its medium spice.

This book could definitely be a standalone, even with the unanswered questions I think the important ones are wrapped up in a way that could leave things to your own interpretation, but I’m interested to see how Selene turns it into a series.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.

Sad to say I really didn’t like this. It started off really good actually but then around the 40% mark it started to get SUPER repetitive and boring (they go to the magical fairy land, try to rescue the long lost sister, unsuccessful mission, return to human land, repeat every month).

I think those that like high fantasy with romance may enjoy it, it just wasn’t for me. I went in to it expecting the Cruel Prince so maybe my expectations were too high cause it was not that at all.

I also just didn’t care for the characters and it felt way too trope-y

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars! "I was made of earth and sky and endless waters. I was made to be loved fully, or not at all."
This story follows our main characters Fia and Rogan on a quest to rescue the Queen's daughter from the Fae and wow what a journey! The pacing definitely threw me off for a while but by the end I was sad to see the characters go. So sad that I even read the "Keep reading for a sneak peek" of book 2 (which I never do) and know I'll be looking forward to the second installment of the Fair Folk series! Fia was such a relatable character struggling with her sense of self, growing up in a place that despises her and as a result she learns to despise herself. To accept whatever modicum of love thrown her way because why would she be deserving of anything more? On this journey we get to watch her find herself and demand more (respect, love, loyalty) from those around her and it is truly an evolution. Also, this messy love triangle/ square was so entertaining (and there is a fair bit of spice!) but we all know the man who says "Another time, I might have let them live. But they tried to hurt you. So I killed them all." AH! I hope this book makes it onto everyone's TBR and receives the hype it deserves! Now, when do we get a release date for book 2???
Thank you Orbit Books and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

The book's descriptions were captivating and intriguing. It fulfilled the fantasy of a new world. The main character evolved and the story stretched far beyond what I thought capable. A long read, indeed. But the beauty is in the words.

I deserve a medal for finishing this.

Another author promising high-stakes fantasy and a strong female protagonist, only to deliver too many tropes, Shadow Daddy #334948, a horrendous love square, and enough awful prose that I'm going scratch my eyes out.

This book is the perfect example of how social media has ruined the quality of books. Since romantasy has gained traction as a genre, good fantasy novels with a romance plot-line are hard to find. This book is nothing more than smut and faerie porn disguised as a "quest." Our bad-a female MC would give seventeen-year-old emos a run for their money with all her brooding. As for the tropes? Our "tough as nails" protagonist gets A FINGER BOOBOO and is immediately whisked off to the brooding love interest's castle to get it bandaged. Good thing she isn't diabetic.

I'm not going into detail about how awful the writing is. Take a shot every time our MC describes herself as random things found in nature, and I'd be dead before getting halfway through this book. I like purple prose, but A Feather So Black mocked good writing.

Run away from this one. Worst 500 pages of my life.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit Books, for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This feels a bit like cheating, because I already knew I would LOVE this book. Celtic fae inspired stories are some of my all-time favorites and I read Lyra Selene's previous duology and knew that I loved their writing. Still, I was thrilled to discover that I enjoyed A Feather so Black just as much as I knew I would! This book felt cozy to me at times, but that could be because it features many of favorite tropes. I would not label this book cozy, there are many dark elements in it. The book has a bit of a slow start, but after the first quarter or so the pace picks up it was impossible to put down. I would highly recommend this to readers who love fae stories or Celtic-inspired worlds!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions are my own.

I had no idea when I requested this book it was pitched as a for the wolf and cruel prince read alike. I didn't enjoy either of those novels. I also want to add that some of the content made me super uncomfortable. For example the word used for women in this book who are sex workers. Didn't sit right with me. I'm sure others won't have a problem with it though.

Fodla has been left magicless and is plagued by disease, failed harvests, and social strife. Fia, a changeling left by the Fair Folk in place of the princess, was left behind before the gates locked to the Fae realm, Tír na nÓg. She has spent her life reviled and ostracized, despite being adopted and raised by the High Queen. After Fia is sent on an impossible quest to break a curse in the Fae realm, she begins to learn that what she has been told is not always as it seems. Time is running out to break the curse and Fia must decide who she can trust: the people she’s known her whole life or the Fae prince who understands her like no one has before.

A Feather So Black has a strong Celtic influence and is set in a high fantasy world. It is filled with mythology and folklore. It straddles the cozy fantasy realm with its focus on character development, relationships between characters, seasonality, and domestic tasks. This book doesn’t fit neatly into cozy fantasy because it contains some gore, isn’t very heartwarming, can feel very bleak and hopeless at times, and explores some of the darkest parts of humanity. So, it has aspects of cozy fantasy but it has TONS of action and dark scenes as well.

Please check trigger/content warnings before reading!

I LOVED this book. It was full of beautiful prose that was a feast for my eyes. The character development and relationship building (or destruction) were incredible and made this book shine. The romance plot was a major focus, but the fantasy world-building did not suffer for it. Romance helped the plot move forward. There were a few open-door scenes, but they flowed with the story and made sense in the moment. They weren’t there for the sake of spice alone.

The tropes are classic but done refreshingly.

Example (possible spoiler): there is a love triangle, but it’s written as leaving/growing out of one relationship and finding a new person who fits who you are better and supports your continued growth.
(end spoiler)

I do think this book would benefit from a more comprehensive glossary/pronunciation guide. Many common items were given a different name, which makes sense in the Celtic context. Many readers don’t know how to pronounce Celtic words or what these terms mean. There is already a glossary/pronunciation guide. It just needs to be beefed up a bit more!

Tropes:
Love triangle
Fae
One horse
Swan Princess influence
Star crossed lovers
Friends to lovers
HFN Ending
Touch her and die
All the seasons vibes
Complex characters
Storytelling and riddles
Monsters
Complicated family dynamics
Morally grey characters
Lyrical writing
Hidden libraries

Whoever said this was like “the cruel prince meets for the wolf”, I WANT THEM LOCKED UP BEHIND BARS ASAP 😭😂. Cause that was a cruel comparison.
That’s not to say this was entirely terrible, but it was an okay read with room for improvement in the sequel. While I heard this is trilogy, at this point, it will depend on how well book 2 is to keep me coming back for the finale.
This is a retelling of Swan Lake and the 12 Dancing Princesses which I will admit that I have not read many of, so I went into this with a open mind. While not an entirely disastrous read, this falls squarely into the category of an okay fantasy with undeniable potential for improvement in its sequel. The trilogy's fate now hangs on the balance of how well the second book can redeem and elevate the narrative to keep me invested for the impending finale.

The story follows Fia, a Changeling raised in the human realm to be a weapon against the Fair Folk. Tasked with retrieving her stolen sister, Princess Eala, Fia's journey takes her to the magical land of Tír na nÓg, setting the stage for a mission filled with political intrigue, faelore, and unexpected romantic entanglements.
The novel is a retelling of Swan Lake and the Twelve Dancing Princesses, providing a fresh perspective on the story. Fia's determination to break the geas upon her sister and challenge the tànaiste of the Sept of Feathers, Irian, adds a layer of complexity to her character, making her journey engaging.

The magic system and world-building, while not groundbreaking, offers a satisfactory foundation for the story. The romance, unexpectedly prevalent, will cater well to romantasy readers, though it does at times overshadow other elements of the story. The political intrigue and the faelore contribute positive points to the plot, and a love triangle adds an extra layer of misunderstandings which i can see unfolding in book 2.
Overall, I think this was a decent start to a trilogy which I hope improves in book 2.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

This was hands down one of the best fantasy/fairytale books I've read in a very long time. It's up there on my list with Naomi Novik, Juliet Marillier, Holly Black. This is a take on the mythology of The Swan Maiden and 12 Dancing Princesses. I will not shut up about it, I happily recommend if you like mythology and Celtic fairytales and Fae that you think about picking this up! I know I'll be slamming the pre-order button as soon as I can. And I was delighted to find out that there is a second book on it's way!

12 young maidens were stolen by The Folk, and one Changeling was left behind in exchange.
The 12 gates to Tir Na Nog were sealed, cutting off the otherworld and The Folk from the human world after a brutal war between them, the High Queen's Husband/ King, and daughter a victim. Each gate was ruled over by a Guradian whose wild magic has been stripped from the land and bound into Treasures, only one living heir to those 12 Sept's remain- the other heir's murdered, treasures stolen and their powers released to flow wild over the land wreaking havoc. Only the heir to The Sept of Feather's remain, and the only treasure the Sky-Sword with it.

Fia is the lone Changling left behind, a swap in exchange for the High Queen's Daughter at 8 years old- Eala was the lone Princess of Fodla.
While the Queen could have killed the Changeling, she instead raised her as a Fosterling, she is the Queen's secret, her spy, her weapon, her tool. Fia will act on The Queen's word without hesitation. Concealing her true nature, her otherworldly powers, to other's she is her dutiful, modest, contrite, sweet daughter who loves her mother. And wants nothing more than to save her sister, the Princess Eala from her curse, her geas and bring her home to Fodla, only then can she truly belong, can she truly be loved by her people.

Fia despises her true nature, and The Folk above all. But she is smart, ruthless and well honed.
The time finally arrives for the recovery of Eala, and Fia and her childhood friend, and love Prince Rogan, raised along her as a hostage fosterling- Eala's betrothed are sent away to try to break the Geas at last, and bring the Princess home.

Nothing is as it seems, and Eala, Fia, Rogan must come to terms with who they truly are, and grapple with the pressure and expectations of each other, and what their family's have placed on them. Weather their destinies are already played out and paved ahead of them or can they break the cycle and forge new paths.