This book was fun and magical everything you're kind of looking for in a fantasy. Unfortunately i didn't love the characters enough to be excited about a sequel.

The Forest King's Daughter by Elly Blake

This YA Fantasy came out swinging. I was absolutely hooked for the first 25%—completely engrossed in the world, the magic, and the atmosphere. It had that beautiful, almost whimsical storybook feel that made me want to curl up with it for hours.

However, after that strong start, the pacing slowed considerably and I found my attention drifting. I was hoping for a little more momentum to carry me through to the end.

I did really enjoy the slow-burn connection between Cassia and Zeru. There is something satisfying about a subtle, developing bond when it's done right. I also loved the fairytale vibes throughout the story. For readers who like to be swept away by that classic, magical atmosphere, this book might be the perfect fit.

One thing I want to call out: I’ve seen this book compared to SJM (Sarah J. Maas), and I would have to disagree. While The Forest King's Daughter has its own lovely charm, it doesn’t quite capture the same level of epic drama or intensity. Still, it’s a solid read if you adjust your expectations.

As for the audiobook, I thought the narration by Eleanor Bennett was superb. The narrator brought a beautiful, engaging energy to the story that definitely enhanced my overall experience.

Themes you’ll find:
Slow-burn romance
Hidden magic
Storybook fantasy vibes
Fairytale kingdom
A touch of forbidden elements

Would I recommend this book?
If you love slower-paced, atmospheric YA fantasies that feel like a lost fairytale, yes. If you're hoping for something action-heavy or more intense, this might not hit the mark for you.

Thank you Hachette Audio, Little Brown, and NetGalley for allowing me to enjoy this advanced listener copy.

This was fine. If you're enjoying fae princesses in desperate quests falling in love with sworn enemies, this will definitely keep you up past your bedtime.

When reading the first book in a series, I always consider whether or not I'd read the next book when giving my rating.

In this case, I likely will not read the next book in the series. However, I didn't HATE this one. I just wasn't interested or invested in it enough to keep going with the story.

I loved the opening. The prologue was wonderfully written and hooked me right from the start. Unfortunately, the author failed to uphold that momentum for the rest of the novel.

It's a basic YA enemies-to-lovers tale with the slight twist of the "enemies" starting out as childhood friends. Cassia and Zeru come from two different races who occupy the same land. Both are from high-ranking families but do not realize as children who the other is. The befriend one another, and Zeru gives Cassia a very special gift -- a gift that was never meant to fall into the hands of the enemy race. (Or was it?)

After that, they are ripped apart, and a huge war starts over said gift.

We're quickly fast-forwarded to the characters' teenage/young adult years. So much time has passed that Cassia has created a whole new narrative about what happened with the two were children. As a result, she now hates Zeru and his family and is fully invested in the world. Zeru, too, hates Cassia but for very different reasons. It turns out that after the two were ripped apart as children, he came back every day hoping Cassia would also return. She never did.

Overall, the premise was decent, but the story itself was weak. There wasn't enough world-building, and it made the narrative very hard to follow at times. There was also a very stagnant bit in the middle that just felt like... hmmm... like the author needed to drop a bunch of information about the story and didn't know how to work it in, so she just dumped it there in the middle.

Outside of the two main characters, the characterization and evolution was also subpar. All the side characters felt half-formed and 2-dimensional. Very black and white with little to no nuance.

The "romance" -- such as it was -- is also far too much of a slow burn. Like, such a slow burn that I think it just kind of fizzled out.

Overall, I wasn't a huge fan. As a standalone book, it was meh. As the first book in a series, it fell a bit flat to me.

Actual rating: 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

The Forest King’s Daughter is a YA fantasy that weaves together whimsical world-building, forbidden childhood friendship, slow-burn romance, and a coming-of-age journey through a realm of demons, fae, and magic. If that sounds like your kind of escape, you’ll probably find plenty to enjoy here—even if it doesn’t quite reach its full potential.

The story follows Cassia, a fae princess caught between the weight of her father’s ruthless expectations and her own quiet strength. Her journey kicks off when she receives a simple amber ring from her childhood friend Zeru, which turns out to be way more than it seems. Suddenly, she’s thrown into a world of war, prophecy, and personal power she never wanted.

One of the book’s standout features is the atmosphere—it’s dreamy and mystical, with settings that range from shadowy forests to the underworld to cloud-suspended mansions. The fox spirit? Total bonus points. And the romance? That classic enemies-to-lovers tension, but built on a shared past rather than ideological conflict. Think Jude and Cardan vibes—but a little softer, less snarky.

That said, the story’s pacing is a mixed bag. It starts strong and immediately pulls you in, but about halfway through, things get a bit muddled. Plotlines multiply, and instead of deepening the core story, they feel like they’re competing for space. The slow-burn romance also ends up feeling a little rushed by the end, like it needed more room to breathe. And while the world is rich with potential, some elements could’ve been more fleshed out to avoid that “too many ideas at once” feeling.

Still, the emotional beats between Cassia and Zeru—their reconnection, their tenderness, their shared pain—really shine. Themes of self-acceptance, the burden of legacy, and fighting for your own voice give the story heart, even when the plot stumbles. If you enjoy YA fantasies with magical forests, family drama, and a touch of fairytale flair, this is worth checking out.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Young Readers for this ARC Audio Copy!

When I saw this cover, I knew that I would absolutely be reading this book and then I saw that there is a demon love interest and knew that I had to have it! I really enjoyed the world building and the whimsical and lyrical storytelling. The romance was enjoyable, and watching the characters go through their character arcs from being childhood friends to rivals was interesting. I really felt immersed into the world and the story, and I look forward to more books from this author.

The Forest King's Daughter is a fantasy novel following two enemies as they travel to a magical place in the clouds to learn more about a magical artifact. I enjoyed elements about this book (mostly the side characters), but I struggled to connect with the main character or the romance. I loved the writing style and imagery, so it could just be that I had too high of expectations for Book 1 in a series.

Narration by Eleanor Bennett was outstanding and a huge component of how fast I read this book.

I received an ALC from Hachette Audio | Little, Brown Young Readers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dangerous and utterly captivating, with a few jumps along the way—that’s how I would describe this book.

In Thirstwood forest, a young princess befriends a lonely boy who gifts her an amber ring—a decision he later comes to regret. Years later, fate positions them on opposite sides of a war between their realms, rekindling emotions that take them from friendship to animosity and, perhaps, to something much more.

The book is targeted toward fans of Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black, but I’d say it leans more into Holly Black’s magical vibes—which I absolutely loved. (I’m not really an SJM fan, so this was a win for me.) The chemistry between Cassia and Zeru was brewed like a French press coffee: slow-burn at its finest! I appreciated how the author didn’t rush their relationship, giving it enough time to develop the tension, pull, and connection. Even their banter was witty, sharp, and so much fun to listen to. For example:
“It’s a book about flowers! Are you worried I’ll garden you to death?”

The only downside for me was that certain rules of this magical world weren’t explained with enough reasoning, which left me with a few unanswered questions.

The audiobook narrators did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. They conveyed the emotions and depth of the characters perfectly, elevating the experience even further. And since this is the first book in the series, you’ll definitely be left wanting more by the time it ends. 🤭

For fans of:
- the Courting of Bristol Keats (for the writing style)
- The Stolen Heir (for the plot)
- A Feather so Black (for the atmosphere and setting)


This is a cute story about friendship and believing in one self. It includes:
- seelie and unseelie creatures
- forbidden friendships
- broken hearts and broken promises
- a magical realm in the clouds
- winged creatures

This book is cute and pretty well written. The imagery is very descriptive and atmospheric, creating a very lush imaginary world that I could very easily picture in my mind eye. The characters were flawed in a way that was lovely and believable, while still showing strength and resilience in the face of unsurmountable odds. While I didn't connect deeply with the characters of themes, but I think younger teens would really feel kinship with these characters, and i would recommend it to those looking for a whimsical YA. It was very reminiscent of Holly Black's "The Stolen Heir" and had very similar plot points.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Elly Blake, and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
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This was an enchanting fantasy with friends-to-enemies-to-lovers. Cassia and Zeru's relationship are reminiscent of The Cruel Prince, and their dynamic is captivating. The world-building is a bit slow but still enjoyable. The story combines dark fairytale elements with modern romantasy. The audiobook narration by Eleanor Bennett is well done and adds a lot of depth. If you love dark fairytales and complex characters, this book is a refreshing take on fae myths and a must-read!

✨Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC✨
This book was just fine, very middle of the road, and I’m a little disappointed because it sounds like such a good YA story. The prologue was interesting, but it kind of fell flat after that. I need a little more action in books to hold my attention and this just didn’t give me that.
I do appreciate that it’s a clean, YA novel though so maybe my younger children will enjoy listening to it. The writing was also very nice too, so points for that.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the ARC audiobook.

The forest king’s daughter is an endearing fantasy that features a friends to enemies to lovers trope. The relationship between the main characters reminded me a bit of The Cruel Prince and overall I loved Zeru and Cassia ❤️ The world-building was a bit slow and it could have been better but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. Also kudos to the audiobook’s narrator that made me love it I think much more.

'The Forest King's Daughter' is a YA fantasy book, the first book of the series.

The book has many original and fantastical elements, and the author does a good job of giving the story a fresh twist and many interesting characters. However, there was a lot going on, and, especially, towards the ending, the story got tiring with the twist upon twist pattern.

Moreover, the audiobook was nicely narrated.

I love dark fairytales. Fae who are evil, or morally gray, political struggles, complex characters, and a world that could just as easily come out of a horror novel as a fantasy one. Elly Blake was able to do this.

The Forest King's Daughter captures what people love about the original Grimm Fairytales, combining it with the modern romantasy elements, and giving the female character autonomy. I loved Cassia and Zeru's relationship, and really appreciated the nods to many old fairytale couples.

If you are thinking of picking this book up, I really recommend it. It's a refreshing take on the myths of the fae, and a break from a lot of the same formula driven books that are being written today.

This was a beautiful love story about star-crossed lovers. The writing was enchanting, the world-building was masterful, and I was completely sucked into the story. Cassia and Zeru come from opposite worlds but are drawn together as kids despite their differences, she is a Sylvan fashioned from light and air and Dracu is a creature of earth and darkness. Their parents find out and put a stop to it and they spend the following years trying to win back their parents affection. Fate eventually draws them back together and thus begins our story! Eleanor Bennett did a really good job narrating the story and giving each character personality and bringing them to life.

I should have DNFed this.

It’s boring and unremarkable. It’s never ending.
by 50% i was fighting to continue
by 80% I set the audiobook to 2.5 speed.

It has all the overdone stereotypes. A dead mom, an emotional abusive/distant father, a teen girl who has the power of the world but can’t seem to wield it, an enemy that can’t completely hate her, a war with literally no point, a princess who has no concept of court or war.

Also, it’s labeled “enemies to lovers” but they’re enemies for maybe 200 pages.
I’m not sure why it’s a series. There doesn’t seem to be any more story to tell.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

1 sentence review: Magical and nostalgic forest inspired fantasy that’s full of adventure.

I really enjoyed this. It felt so nostalgic to me for some reason, almost like Narnia vibes! Beware this one is YA and it can feel a little “middle grade” at times, but I didn’t mind it at all because it felt so magical. I loved the world this was set in and the character development was great! The audio was also really well done and I loved the narrator.

Read This if You Like:
🌳 Forest fantasy elements
💍 Coming of age YA fantasy
Character development (👏🏼) and lovable characters

Where do I even start? This book was everything. I love a story that leans into the classic fae folklore—morally gray characters, an underlying darkness, and that almost Grimm-like quality to the fantasy. No sugarcoating, no softened edges—just pure, immersive storytelling with fae that actually feel otherworldly and dangerous.

The narration by Eleanor Bennett was chef’s kiss—her voice brought the world to life in a way that felt both haunting and mesmerizing. The visuals? Think A Midsummer Night’s Dream but with a darker, more ominous twist.

And let’s talk about the enemies-to-lovers here—because it was done so well. Cassia and Zeru weren’t just bickering for a few chapters before falling into insta-love. No, the tension lingered—even halfway through the book, they were still at odds, only now with layers of tension crackling between them. Their dynamic was everything—two strong-willed characters who never overshadowed each other but instead created this perfect push-and-pull balance.

Beyond the romance, I really loved the emotional depth woven into the story, especially with Cassia’s struggle to earn her father’s approval. It added a great layer of character growth and reflection, making her journey even more compelling. And the world-building? Absolutely lush. The story flowed effortlessly, pulling me in so completely that I never had a dull moment.

Did I mention how much I loved the tension between Cassia and Zeru? Because wow. Their chemistry was just right, and their development felt organic rather than forced.

If you love fantasy that feels like stepping into a dark fairytale, with a romance that burns before it blossoms, this is absolutely worth picking up. I already need book two.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. This was a very beautiful and interesting fantasy book. Sometimes it was hard to follow and very complex but I loved the characters. It had darker light Grimm like qualities to the fantasy occasionally.