This is such a fun story. I loved the world building and characters. The fairytale vibes made me want to read on and I fell in love with Kit and Valentine.

This was such a fun take on a fae story. Dragged into a realm of magic, Christopher tries to figure out what's going on with his fiance.

“Dance with the Fae” is, put simply, a historical fantasy romance. But underneath that it has other layers too; the exploration of grief, trauma, loss, shame. I thought that the execution of those specifically was very interesting and compelling. The protagonist, Kit, is challenged by these throughout the entirety of the book, but in a way that feels realistic and thought out. I do wish that they were explored a bit more in-depth at times, but for the most part I think it was utilised well.

The story is set just after WW1 (or The Great War) which Kit had previously fought in, which causes a lot of distress for him and is a large contributor to the plot. After returning home from the battlefield, he is arranged to marry his childhood best friend and cousin, Adelaide, despite his lack of romantic interest, and his feelings towards his previous lover who he still isn’t over. Despite that, when she suddenly falls ill - into a deep sleep - he can’t help but feel the need to rescue her.

I did enjoy the plot and thought it was actually really quite unique - definitely not what I was expecting and it was refreshing and immersive. I particularly enjoyed the segments of traversing between the worlds and the adventuring.
There were actually a couple scenes where I was genuinely stressed on behalf of the characters too, which doesn’t happen very often for me, and made a nice change!

I do feel like the pacing could’ve been better - it had a slower build up (which I actually quite enjoyed) but the last 20% or so did feel just a bit too fast for me. I would’ve liked longer and maybe more action scenes and a little more time with relationship development between Kit and the love interest, as it does kind of feel like it was quite sudden.

A pretty fun read, and definitely one I’d be happy to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and of course to the author for providing me with an eARC for this in exchange for my honest review.

Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth J Hobbes is a fabulous Fae filled tale with an interesting historical setting that gave it a unique feel. Set in the immediate aftermath of the first world war, we meet Kit Arton-Price , heir to the family estate at a party to celebrate his engagement to Adelaide. Recently returned from the trenches the emotional and psychological scars he bears are even worse than the physical ones that mar his once handsome face, and the secret that he is hiding is weighing heavily on him. When he sees Adelaide dancing with a mysterious stranger, Mr Wilde, he is more curious than jealous but when she fails to wake up the next morning and medicine is not yielding any answers he is forced to look for a more supernatural cause and finds himself traveling to a mysterious and dangerous land in the company of the enigmatic but captivating Miss Dove. His only hope of saving Adelaide may be to trust the Fae, but given their reputation as tricksters, how can he believe anything they tell him?
I absolutely loved the melding of history and fantasy in this book, I think the author did a wonderful job of depicting the horrors experienced by soldiers during the war and the addition of the love story between Kit and another soldier was heartbreaking , the scene where he finally opened up about what happened and the guilt and shame he carried almost had me in tears. I also loved the characterisation of the Fae, both Mr Wilde and Miss Dove were complex and had a certain level of moral greyness that made them particularly interesting. The pacing of the book did feel a little uneven, it definitely started quite slowly, which I did not mind but some readers might find off putting and by contrast the ending felt a little rushed, almost abrupt, which surprised me. Even though I had not read anything quite like this before, I appreciated that the Fae aspects of the story adhered to the many traditions of the genre, the dangers of eating food offered by one of the Fae and the need for specificity in any bargains for example. I went into this book not knowing what to expect and I was very pleased and pleasantly surprised - I can already think of several friends I will be recommending it to. I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I regret to say that Dance With The Fae didn't capture my heart as I'd hoped. While the concept of blending historical fiction with fae fantasy is intriguing, I found the execution lacking. The world-building is undeniably rich and immersive, but the plot unfolds at such a sluggish pace that it was hard for me to stay engaged. I found myself struggling to connect with the characters on a deeper level, which is crucial for my enjoyment of a story. Sadly, this disconnect made it challenging to fully appreciate the book's unique blend of genres.

In short, despite its ambitious attempt to cover a multitude of aspects, Dance With The Fae fell short in delivering a cohesive and captivating narrative for me.

🌿If you’re a fan of Emily Wilde, this one will definitely pique your interest! I love when fae are written as eerie, otherworldly creatures that feel plucked straight out of old fairytales.

🌿The plot was super promising, though I did find the pacing a bit slower than I’d prefer. But, the mental health representation throughout was a huge highlight, it felt thoughtful and authentic. And the romance? Absolute chef’s kiss! The chemistry between the characters was beautifully done.

🌿Speaking of characters, the development was one of my favorite aspects of the book. By the end, every character had grown and changed in ways that felt earned and meaningful.

A classic story that will stay with you long after the final page, in the manner of the finest fairytales. A quest for a stolen maiden, a hero filled with angst and with a shameful secret, a shape shifter who also needs freeing from an enslavement - will true love conquer all? Can Kit decide which love is the truest for him? Will his honourable nature demand that duty and obligation are his first concerns or will he be able to both open and then follow his shattered heart?

Kit, the heir to a large estate, comes home from the war broken, with both physical and emotional scars. His companion and best friend from childhood is now his fiancée, although their love, whilst deep, is perhaps more of a filial one than passionate, but the marriage has been long expected and her family's money will be helpful for the maintenance of his family's estate! At their engagement party they meet a fae pair, Silas and Miss Dove, although they are unaware of their true nature, who are charming and entreat them for their help to free their country. Kit and Adelaide have a falling out over this as she wants to go, quite under the spell of charming Silas, but he doesn't feel he can with too much to do here and having also seen his fill of conflict.

The story unfolds around how Adelaide goes, and Kit follows with Miss Dove to try and bring her back. The writing is beautiful, with characters you quickly become invested in, credible lore and world building. There is action, romance, fun, heartbreak, adventure, several moments where I laughed out loud, and equally several that moved me to tears. This author is fast becoming one of my favourite 'must-reads'. I read an awful lot of crime fiction but Hobbes' stories stay with me in a way that crime rarely does.

This was an enjoyable, slow burn, standalone fantasy story. The pacing was a little all over the place, but the world building and character development more than made up for it!
Valentine and Kit were wonderful characters, whereas I kinda just wanted to bop Adelaide and Silas on their heads 😂
Definitely worth a read for good character development!

The premise was fascinating, and I enjoyed the concept of someone being stolen by fairies and a former soldier having to save them. Then after a promising start, the pacing took a nosedive and the book ended up falling flat for me

When your only real criticism of a novel is that it should've been longer, you know you've read a good book.

Kit Arton-Price has returned from the Great War a changed man -- mind and body. We meet him and his fiancee Adelaide Price at their engagement ball.

Kit has his misgivings about the match, but recognises the sense of it in that resigned, gently impoverished way of the declining aristocracy of the early twentieth century (think Downton Abbey vibes). He's inheriting the declining family estate and his cousin, Addie, will be inheriting all the money.

Enter two gatecrashing (oddly alluring) strangers who seem intent on seeking some type of assistance from the pair and the cool, weird, lesbian Aunt-Of-My-Dreams with a dire warning that she's only able to express in riddles.

My, my...who could these gorgeous, tricksy visitors be?

I cannot tell you how much traditional fae protrayal in novels thrills me. "Dance with the Fae" gave perfect Holly Black meets Susanna Clarke vibes and I especially appreciated the charming little touches of lore scattered throughout.

Hobbes treads the line perfectly of drawing Kit -- a victim of the horror of war -- as a figure that inspires empathy rather than frustration in his initial persistent self-doubt and uncertainty: in short, he is bisexual disaster babygirl.

The antagonism between the main pairing is likewise deliciously painted. He wants to shake her until he rattles her teeth, yet...is also desperately horny for her? Yes, please. Immaculate chemistry that I look for in all my reads.

I *keep* using art metaphors but what I really should be leaning into is food metaphors because this prose was delicious. I wanted to lick the page, drink it down like the mimosa scented fae protagonist.

The presentation of this character as genderfluid was really sensitively conveyed. I applaud Hobbes for the inclusion and the respect and earnestness with which she has dealt with queer issues in this novel.

As previously mentioned, the only flaw I found here was that the climax and resolution felt ever-so-slightly hurried and I would've loved to stay a little longer in the world that the author had built.

You should read this book.

TW/CW: Mention of sexual assault, sex trafficking, slavery, war, violence, infidelity, mild sensuality

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and One More Chapter and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Dance With the Fae is the story of Kit, a veteran of WWI, who comes home from the war to marry his sweetheart, Adelaide. Two of the guests at their party claim to be from far away, although neither Kit nor Adelaide realize just ~how~far. What they discover is a world of magic parallel to ours and a new way to live their lives.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the incorporation of the post-war world into the fae world, and I really enjoyed the bisexual inclusion. It was pretty well written and easy to read quickly.

I did think that the pacing was a bit off – it took Kit over 1/3 of the book to get where he was going and the ‘final battle’ sequence seemed very rushed. Also, the end scene was a little more than the book needed and really kind of made the book a little too long.

All in all, though, I enjoyed this book.

A unique blend of world war I history and fantasy with an added LGBTQ element I was pleasantly surprised at. Kit is an interesting character, scarred and haunted by memories of the trenches he almost uses his escape in the Fae realm as a way to get away from his memories and the obligations of his station. The juxtaposition between the read world and the lush Fae world was one of the highlights of the story.

I will say, this is a slow building plot, taking its time to develop Kit as someone deeply affected by war. He's compelling and interesting and when he enters the Fae realm he really comes into his own. I was less impressed by Adelaide, who I found selfish and spoiled. She's also nowhere near as well developed as Kit.

A really intriguing story that perfectly balanced two opposing worlds with a deeply troubled and intriguing character in Kit.

I loved the two worlds and the differences between them, post-war England the fae realm. But sadly the characters were a little flat for me to care enough. I would like some depth to them. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dance with the Fae- Elizabeth J. Hobbs
Release date: 03/06/2025
3.75 stars rounded to 4.

✨️Devious and mischievous fae of old fairy-tales
✨️Magic
✨️Magical lands
✨️Adventure
✨️World War I references
✨️Forbidden romance
✨️Morally ambiguous characters

This novel follows Kit Arton-Price who is on a quest to discover the reason behind the sudden "sleep sickness" which has overcome his fiance Adelaide.

What I liked about this novel was the older representation of fae in fantasy. In this novel, the fae are tricksters and Devious, much like old fairy-tales growing up. It reminded me of being a smaller girl, mot stepping in mushroom or fairy rings, so as not to upset the fair folk.

I also enjoyed the character growth that Kit displayed. After surviving the Great War, Kit is plagued by his memories from the trenches and a forbidden romance. Seeing Kit acknowledge his struggles with this and grow from these was impressive.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishing for allowing me to read this arc.

Dance with the Fae combines post-World War I historical fiction with fae fantasy, creating a story rich in atmosphere and vivid detail. The world-building, particularly within the fae realm, is beautifully crafted, with lush descriptions that bring the setting to life. The contrast between the stark realities of post-war England and the dangerous, magical fae world is one of the book’s strengths.

While the premise is intriguing and the descriptive writing is strong, I ultimately didn’t connect with the characters, which made it difficult to fully engage with the story. The pacing felt uneven, with a slower start that eventually gave way to more dynamic scenes in the fae realm, though these moments didn’t entirely make up for my lack of investment in the characters.

That said, the book’s imaginative setting and vivid descriptions will likely appeal to readers who love richly detailed fantasy worlds. It offers a unique blend of history and magic that adds an interesting twist to the genre.

📚Dance with the Fae by Elisabeth J. Hobbes📚

Overall Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Spice Rating: Fade to black

✨Tropes✨
⚔️LGBTQIA+ Rep
⚔️Healing from Trauma
⚔️Fae x Humans
⚔️One Bed

✨Initial Thoughts✨
Historical Fiction ☑️ Fantasy ☑️ Strong LGBTQIA+ representation ☑️
This was such a fun and unique read. It takes place just after WWI and our MMC Kit is still reeling from his time during the war. Kit not only has battle scars, but he also has guilt over loving and losing a fellow soldier, Andrew. He is supposed to marry his childhood friend Adelaide, who he does care about, just not romantically. When Adelaide meets and dances with a handsome stranger, Mr. Wilde, at their engagement party, she is more than just captivated. And when Adelaide enters a mysterious sleeping illness, it’s up to Kit to try to save her. He and Missy Dove, the woman who was with Mr. Wilde during the party, go into the land of the Fae to rescue Addie.

This story has such a wonderful message of self acceptance, healing from multiple forms of trauma, and forgiveness. I love that it’s also a standalone and therefore did not end on a cliffhanger. The story was nicely written and the ending was perfect.

✨Pros✨
* The immersive world the author weaves.
* The combination of historical fiction and fantasy. It felt like Downton Abbey meets Fae and I loved it.
* Really great LGBTQIA+ representation.
* Valentine/Valentin. They were the only reason I could like Kit. Seeing him through their POV was a breath of fresh air for his character. They’re also a really lovable character in her own right.

✨Cons✨
* I spent a lot of time not liking Kit’s personality. He is so confrontational at the best of times that it was hard to like him fully. I understand where the anger and mistrust is coming from and I think the author wrote Kit very realistically considering the trauma he went through. That doesn’t mean I necessarily like him any better during the first 2/3 of the story. Kit does grow and I did like him at the end.


Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the gifted copy and the opportunity to review this book.

I tried so hard to get into this book. The premise was great and I like different aspects but overall this was not the fantasy book for me. There just wasn't that engagement with the characters. I just don't develop a bond with them and therefore had no desire to see them rescued and things resolved. I might try this again at a later time as I just might not have been in the mood for it.

I had very high hopes for this book as the synopsis sounded very intriguing, however, this unfortunately fell quite flat for me.

The world building felt clunky and very choppy, and the plot build-up was achingly slow. All of the action happened in the last 15% of the book, but it was so rushed that it was over before it even really started.

The romance plots also were quite disappointing - I didn't feel the connection or tension between the characters, and I just had trouble overall connecting to the characters in general.

While the premise of the book is a really great idea, I just didn't feel like it was executed in the best or right way.

Dance with the Fae is set just after World War 1 and is a blend of fantasy and historical fiction. The story follows Kit Arton-Price who has recently come back from the war as he uncovers the world of the Fae on the night of his engagement party.

Some have said that the book is slow to start, but I don't see that as a strike against it. It beautifully sets up this fictional world we are in and describes all the relevant details so that I had a great image in my mind as I got further into the book.

The writing was very easy to read and the book left me thinking about it when I wasn't reading. Some of the sentence structure was a little off at times, but nothing too bad.

I would love to have seen more of the intriguing world of the Faedemesne and felt like the end came very quickly. There were a few twists and turns which I didn't expect and I enjoyed being surprised.

Overall a solid book.

"Dance with the Fae" weaves a captivating tale that seamlessly blends historical fiction with the enchanting world of faerie. Set amidst the aftermath of World War I, the novel follows Kit Arton-Price, a war veteran grappling with the physical and emotional scars of his past.

The story takes a dramatic turn when a mysterious illness sweeps through his village, leaving his fiancée, Adelaide, inexplicably asleep. Driven by desperation and a gnawing sense of unease, Kit is drawn into a hidden realm – the ethereal world of the fae.

Hobbe's prose is evocative, painting vivid pictures of both the mundane world of 1919 England and the fantastical realm of the fae. The characters are richly drawn and deeply relatable, with Kit's internal struggles and his burgeoning romance with a captivating faerie providing the emotional core of the narrative.

"Dance with the Fae" is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of hope. It's a captivating read that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

My favorite things:

Its unique blend of historical fiction and fantasy: The novel seamlessly intertwines the realities of post-war England with the magic and intrigue of the faerie world.
Its compelling characters: Kit's journey of self-discovery and his complex relationship with the faerie world are both poignant and captivating.
Its atmospheric prose: The author masterfully evokes the mood of both the human and faerie worlds, creating a truly immersive reading experience.
Its exploration of themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of hope: The novel offers a poignant reflection on the human condition and the importance of finding beauty and meaning in the face of adversity.
Overall: "Dance with the Fae" is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, fantasy, and readers who enjoy stories that delve into the depths of the human soul.