I was not expecting this book to be as political as it is (positive)! This is an urban fantasy (the first book of the Deadly Fae duology) with a big romantic thread. I thought Sav saving her fellow fae in the beginning was a small part of the plot that would lead her to falling in love with Jack and the rest of the story took place in Faerie, but I was SO wrong. This is the first Fae VS Humans novel I've ever read and we actually spend a lot of time jumping back and forth from Earth to Faerie, and we get several POVs as well. I overall enjoyed the story but I'm surprised it's a duology because I feel like we still have so much lore to learn and plot points to explore.

what I loved:
-Sav's fiery personality
-the friendship between Sav and Kaspar + Sav and Hazel
-the mix of the urban setting of NYC with the magical, adventurous one of Faerie
-Dane as a villain (hate the man but he's a good villain)

what I didn't love:
-the blurb is kind of deceiving? "Caught between duty and desire, Jack must choose a side before one is chosen for him." but you find out from the very beginning he wants to help the fae?? he's already chosen a side?
-I would've rather had fewer POVs with plot twists appearing later in the story than random side characters getting a chapter or two (e.g. Foxglove or Janet) it was a little jarring to have multiple random shifts in POV.
-the romance was more insta-lust, would love to see more intimacy in general between Jack and Sav and I hope we get more connection in book 2
-we don't get as much background on Sav as I would've liked (I still have questions about her past?) and considering this is a duology I'm afraid I'll still have questions even after the second and final book

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Urban Romantasy | Fae Bargains | Political Intrigue | Slow-Burn Tension

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Cassandra Aston for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Whispers Among Thorns delivers a moody, modern fae tale with sharp edges and slow-burning stakes. Cassandra Aston blends courtly fae intrigue with urban grit, bringing us an atmospheric romantasy rooted in themes of rebellion, identity, and the price of power.

The story centers on Sav, a High Fae noble who finally rebels after a lifetime of being manipulated by her family. When she refuses to marry her childhood friend, Kaspar, she’s stripped of her magic and exiled into the human world. We pick up three years later in New York City (yes, there’s a Fae hotspot in Central Park), where Sav’s path collides with Jack—a human who harbors a deeply personal grudge against all things Fae.

What follows is an uneasy alliance between a magicless Fae trying to reclaim her place and a human with secrets that even he doesn't fully understand. Their reluctant partnership sparks a forbidden romance that doesn’t rush to the altar—thankfully. It’s a slow, wary build, full of guarded glances, tension-filled arguments, and moments of shared vulnerability. It works, though I did wish for just a little more time and development to fully fall for their dynamic. The connection simmers, but never quite boils over.

The second half is where this story shines. Once the action returns to the Faerie realm, the stakes escalate—political games intensify, family secrets unravel, and truths about Jack’s identity come to light. Sav’s sister Sage is a standout antagonist, full of quiet menace and strategic cruelty, and side characters Kaspar and Hazel add emotional depth and moments of much-needed levity.

My one gripe? The beginning wanders a bit, with the plot meandering through exile life and world-building that’s more suggestive than immersive. But once the pieces fall into place, the payoff is worth it. The tension builds, the politics twist, and the emotional arcs deepen. Plus, Aston’s prose is clean, atmospheric, and just lyrical enough to draw you in without bogging things down.

This is a great entry point for readers newer to romantasy or anyone craving an urban fantasy that blends real-world themes—like prejudice and radicalization—with magical stakes.

Tropes to love:
🖋️ Fae Bargains
💥 Reluctant Allies to Lovers
💫 Fated Mates
👑 Court Intrigue
🚫 Forbidden Romance
🏙️ Close Proximity

Final thoughts:
A promising first half of a romantasy duology that balances political games, personal growth, and slow-burn romance with a modern twist. I’m definitely grabbing book two when it releases—there are too many secrets left whispering in the thorns.

🌿Whispers Among Thorns🌿
4⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alright, fae lovers, buckle up! Whispers Among Thorns is not your average urban fae story. This book plunged me into a truly unique world, and I'm utterly fascinated by the intricate history between fae and humans. Seriously hoping we get more of that lore in book two!

The central mystery of Sav's banishment kept me glued to the pages, but it was the forced proximity between her and Jack that was truly chef's kiss. Their dynamic was a delicious push-and-pull: her fierce independence clashing with his instant, possessive instincts, all while he subtly healed parts of her she didn't even realize were broken. That slow burn was agonizingly good, leaving me both raving and dying for the next installment!

Every single side character brought something interesting to the table, making it easy to follow all the unfolding subplots. If you're a fan of unique fae novels, sizzling tension, and a slow-burn romance that will test your patience (in the best way!), then this absolutely needs to be on your TBR!

Mark your calendars – Whispers Among Thorns is available June 24th!

Big thanks to NetGalley and the author for my ebook ARC!

Tropes:
Fae bargains, reluctant allies to lovers, fated mates, court intrigue, forbidden romance, close proximity.

Whispers Among Thorns by Cassandra Aston is an urban romantasy that blends modern world with the lands of Fae, court politics, reluctant alliances, and the simmering tension of fated mates. Told from multiple POV, where Sav, a High Fae who has been forced to bow to her family’s cruel whims most of her life, finally refuses to marry Kaspar—a childhood friend turned political pawn. Her defiance leads to exile in human lands and her magic bound, which leads us to present time, 3 years after exile. There (Central Park, New York City seems like an odd place for the Fae to land but it adds a spark to the story) she meets Jack, the bitter son of an anti-fae extremist. Jack, fueled by secrets and hatred for his father, is no typical human. Sav and Jack’s uneasy alliance starts a forbidden romance full of betrayal, magic, and complicated feelings.

The story kicks off with simmering conflict. Anti-fae human radicals actively hunt and kill Fae who found themselves exiled into human world, though in my opinion, story doesn’t fully catch fire until the 50% mark, when the stakes have risen after we see our duo venture into lands of Faerie to try and gain some support in freeing Fae from the radicals in NYC.

There, some truths come to light: Jack’s heritage, his mother’s mysterious past, and the political cruel games Sav’s sister Sage plays. However, a lot is left unanswered and I hope the conclusion to the duology answers all my burning questions. Apart from the FMC and MMC main POVs, additional view of Kaspar and Hazel, aka Sav’s oldest friends, add a spark of loyalty and magic that balances out the darkness of the story.

While the opening feels a bit meandering, the payoff is worth it once the political machinations and forbidden romance really kick in the second half. Fans of fae bargains, reluctant allies to lovers, and court intrigue will find much to love here. Personally, I appreciated an underlying potent metaphor for real-world struggles with prejudice and fear of the “other”, which is well drawn out throughout the story.

A solid start to what promises to be a fascinating romantasy duology—perfect for those venturing into fantasy, who like their fae tales with a little modern, political edge. World building isn’t too overwhelming and characters are drawn out well. If you’re looking for spice, look away, but if you prefer your stories with a little less open door romance, you will love it.

I’ve given it 3.75 stars and I look forward to the conclusion of the story, which should be out later on this year.

Thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing and the author for providing the e-ARC.

3.75 ⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read this book! I enjoyed the storyline and the overall plot. This book is different and unique which I really appreciated! I did find myself confused a few times throughout the book, but it may have been a "me thing" and not the book itself. I really liked the characters, however I felt myself wanting more depth and personality. Same goes for the romance aspect, I wish we had more depth to it. Overall, I thought this was a good first book in a series and I'm looking forward to see what happens next in book 2!

3⭐️

I tried to a few times to finish this book but I did end up dnfing it. I had trouble connecting with the fmc l, which makes it hard for me to continue reading a story.

Whispers Among Thorns
*ARC review* Release date: June 24th
2.5/5 ⭐️ (Rounded up to 3)

Whispers Among Thorns by Cassandra Aston is an urban fantasy delving into the worlds of Fae and humans. I was excited for this book, but unfortunately, I could not get into this. I could not connect with the FMC and didn’t like how she treated the side characters. I liked the personality of the MMC but the speed in which he fell in love with the FMC was way too quick. The chemistry was lacking, and it felt very forced. I liked getting pieces of the story from multiple characters’ points of view. The diversity of magical creatures was nice, especially loved Kaspar and Hazel. I wasn’t a fan of the world building and had some confusion regarding the portals and the lore. This book almost felt like it had so much going on, yet the plot didn’t seem to go anywhere. This book could not keep my attention and just didn’t work for me. Recommend: No

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions! My review has been posted to Goodreads as of today, 06/01/2025. I also plan to post to Amazon on publication, 06/24/2025.

Unfortunately this one didn't land for me. I found the beginning of the book fast paced and enjoyed the first 4 or 5 chapters a lot. After that the book became very trope heavy and bogged down the plot considerably to the point that it was becoming a slog.

The book suffers from an insta-love that fell flat for me and didn't ring true. I also found myself becoming frustrated when serious, time sensitive plot events were taking place, but there was still time for the main characters to drop everything and gaze longingly at each other. I found that a large percentage of the story was just sentence after sentence of the FMC or MMC describing the alluring appearance of the other one.

I could see how this could appeal to fans of a series like Powerless, but I am not the audience for that particular style of writing. Well wishes to this author and her books in the future!

This book surprised me in the best way. The mix of magic, myth, and mystery was so well done, I didn’t want to stop reading. I loved how the story slowly opened up. The world-building was honestly beautiful. I could picture every place so clearly, it felt real. Also, the way humans and fae interact was different, but in a good way. Hazel really stood out for me, at first I wasn’t sure what to think of her, but then she grew on me big time.
Everything just fit well. It had that slow burn too, but it worked. Now I’m just waiting for the next one because I need more. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. I’m sharing my thoughts voluntarily and with genuine appreciation

5⭐️ read!

One thing about me I love me a good fantasy story with a twist and this one right here had a lot of twists! In a good way

This gives vibes of acotar and tog but with a twist. I love the fact that you get a little bit of everything with this it’s a mix of two worlds the human world and the fae.

What’s not to love about this there’s magic realms!

It’s very fast-paced with enemies to lovers packed with emotions and some big feelings and of course romance it can be a bit slow in some parts but it picks right back up and boy once it does you don’t want it to stop I can’t wait for book two!

Sav is interesting it was fun to watch her character grow and find her way. It’s like she slowly finds her voice and strength and uses it in a way that she sees fit.

Jack grows onto you as well once you get to know the characters you get so deep with this story to the point you don’t want it to end. Overall the story is great and it pulls you in when you least expect it.

I would recommend this to anyone who reads fantasy and loves acotar and tog vibes.

Thank you, NetGalley and the author Cassandra Aston for providing me with this ARC

2.5 ⭐️

I think this book has amazing potential to be great. I loved the concept of the fae world and human world colliding but I was confused on how that actually happened. It was fast paced at the start letting you know that the majority or humans were not happy with the fae being a part of their world but again I was confused as to why there was so much hatred.

When the two main characters were in the fae realm there is clearly a lot of backstory for the FMC but it felt rushed and glossed over and you don’t even get some answers as to why things happened. There was yearning with the main characters but it felt a little rushed maybe? I wonder if their instant love/affection is because they are fated mates? Also I was confused on why so many fae wanted to marry the FMC when she is described as a fae with no extraordinary power or position.

All in all not much happens in the book. I felt like there was a lot of filler backstory stuff with no real progress and left you with a lot of confusion.

Whispers Among Thorns by Cassandra Aston – A Promising Start with Intriguing Lore
There’s undeniable potential in Whispers Among Thorns, especially when it comes to the rich Fae lore that’s woven throughout the story. While it wasn’t the perfect fit for me, I can appreciate the intriguing elements that could capture the right reader.
The world-building had moments of brilliance, but I found myself struggling to fully grasp the connection between Faerie and Earth, as well as the mechanics of the portals. Some historical details and side character roles feel a bit scattered, making it hard to immerse myself in the setting. That said, I can see how the depth of the lore could appeal to fantasy lovers eager to dive into a complex world.
The romance leans heavily towards Instalove, with Jack’s feelings escalating very quickly. His devotion lacked the build-up I personally craved in romantic arcs, but those who enjoy fast-paced love stories might find it compelling. Meanwhile, Sav’s family and court dynamics hold fascinating potential, though I wished the story had explored them more deeply rather than skimming the surface. I also found myself frustrated with how she treated Kaspar and Hazel, feeling they deserved more from her.
While this book had its challenges for me, the unique lore and intriguing story elements make it worth checking out for fans of fae fantasy. There’s promise here, and I’m curious to see where the duology goes next!

To be completely honest, this book did not grab my attention the way that other books in the genre do. Maybe if the action picked up sooner I would have enjoyed it, but a book this slow is not for me.

I enjoyed this book! It follows Sav, a centuries old fae who has been banned to New York City from the Fae realms, along with other fae. In New York, Fae are the underdogs and are discriminated against and attacked by the humans. Despite having magical abilities, they are unable to properly defend themselves. After a traumatic attack, Sav takes on the cause of her fellow Fae and sets out to save them. Assisting her is the son of the leader of the humans attacking the Fae, Jack, who is not all he seems to be.

This book has one of my favorite tropes, he falls first! She's the centuries old fae and he's the young human, which was also a fun twist on typical romantasy.

I hope in the next book we get more world building and back story, but what we got in the first book was really compelling and I was hooked right away! Looking forward to the second book in the duology.

This was kind of a clusterf***. There was a lot happening, all at once. That being said, it was refreshing to read something that wasn't the typical fae story. Set in modern day NYC, Sav is on a mission to save the fae race and has to team up with Jack, who is the bane of her existence. He's the son of an infamous anti-fae activist. While it was kind of a mess, I really did enjoy the story and will look forward to reading the next book.

I didn’t know what was going on for MOST of the book. There was so much going on. It was fast but also not. There was insta-lust but also a slow burn. So many characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory for the eARC of Whispers Among Thorns. NOW let’s talk about it..:.

In short - Sav is a fae living in New York City post the collision of Faerie and Earth. The Anti Fae Faction burns down her apartment building and captures them. There she meets Jack who ends up in Faerie with Sav when she is able to escape the AFF. They set off to determine the best way to assist the fae on Earth

What I Liked:
- Sassy FMC that appeared stronger than MMC in the beginning. Jack was such a pansy at the beginning.
- The fae x new york city collab was interesting.

What Wasn’t for me:
- Insta-lust, they were trying to find a way to defy kingdoms by 40%. Which is wild considering they met at like 12%.
- Underdeveloped magic and world: I have no idea what was going on for most of this book. The world building was clunky to the point where I couldn’t connect the dots.
- Why were there so many characters with their own POV? At first, I thought oh cool the villain has his own pov, but then it just felt like too much.
- Everyone was horny. And in the cringiest way.

Overall - If you realllyyy liked the pace of Veiled Kingdom and that vibe… you might like this. I’m sad to say that I didn’t love this like I wanted to. I feel like there were a lot of missing opportunities to make this story smoother and less clunky and confusing.

Whispers Among Thorns is unlike other romantasies I’ve read. With its darker themes, faster pace, and imaginative world building, this book covers a ton of ground.

I find it difficult to stay engaged in a book or series if there’s too much going on. Whispered Among Thorns walks that line, which made the plot feel a bit rushed and/or chaotic at times. That being said, the way the cliffhanger sets up the next book(s) in this series offers a ton of potential.

Thank you to the author, Cassandra Aston, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced copy of Whispers Among Thorns!

I really enjoy a “unique” fantasy. It’s unusual to find something that doesn’t follow all the same rules as the rest. This one does follow some of the traditional lore, but not so much that it’s boring and predictable.

The plot is fairly straightforward, Sav is trying to navigate Earth and help rescue fae imprisoned by Dane, the leader of the AFF. In this book, fae are looked upon as lesser than humans, and most low fae are banned from Faerie and are forced to stay in their designated living quarters. They suffer lots of prejudice and ridicule and violence from humans. Sav’s goal is to get these people back to faerie, but it’s basically her against the world. When a riot destroys the fae’s living quarters, she finds an unlikely helper in Jack, Dane’s son. She schemes and tries to figure a way to use Jack against Dane, while trying to tell herself she isn’t falling for a human. Jack and Sav are forced to flee to Faerie and things go south with a quickness, but we discover that Jack isn’t what he seems.

The characters are well written, although Jack has to have the messiest hair as many times as he runs his hand through it. I really enjoy watching Sav slowly figure out that she can’t deny how she feels about Jack, pretty sure we have some fated mates in this.

The writing is easy to read and descriptive enough to offer up some visualizations without being overpoweringly flowery.

I really enjoyed this and am super glad I don’t have to wait long for the second in the duology. 😁

Thank you to NetGalley, Cassandra Aston and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of Whispers Among Thorns.

This was an interesting read and I feel the plot had a lot of promise, whilst being very ambitious and incredibly fast paced. I’d have liked to see more character development, back stories and perhaps some more insight into what was happening in Faerie and why the fae and humans were forced together in the first place.

What I did particularly like about the plot were the parallels to real world politics. The Anti-fae movement hate the fae, do not want them in their cities, taking their jobs, and living amongst them. They are already living in segregated, fae-assigned accommodation, but for the anti-fae movement this is too much. They see them as completely less than, no better than beasts, and want them completely cleansed from society. This honestly feels very reminiscent of the rise of fascism within our own current political climates and the way in which some political parties talk about minority groups etc. It then becomes apparent that the anti-fae group is actually working with the human-fae alliance group, and further shows the corruption within political parties and people within power. Then in the fae realms, we get the politics between courts, the forged alliances through marriage, bonds and favours etc which adds another level of political intrigue to the story.

At the crux of the story, Sav is a banished high fae from Spring Court living in New York City, glamoured to look human and her powers bound. When her home is burned down by an anti-fae movement and fae are captured and killed, Sav decides she needs to try and free as many as possible and destroy this movement. When she is summoned back to Faerie, she takes the son of the anti-fae movement with her, Jack, to hopefully use him to blackmail his father and exchange him for the imprisoned fae. But as their journey across Faerie unfolds, so do their feelings for one another. It becomes apparent however that all is not well in Faerie. Parts of the lands are disappearing with no explanation, their mighty ruler Mab has been missing for years, and Sav herself is in the middle of a politically-forced arranged marriage.

The first part of the book, set in NYC, for me felt too fast paced and I found it difficult to follow the plot. Once the main characters were in Faerie, although the pace was still very fast, I think the plot made more sense and it was easier to follow. The world building was also really vivid in Faerie and I really enjoyed all the descriptive language and scene setting. We get to know our characters more here as well, and I feel it alludes to some really interesting back stories for both the MCs, which I wish was explored a bit more perhaps in exchange for such an action packed plot.

There are some really good side characters and I enjoyed the multiple POV, I’m just not sure if every character that was given a chapter needed it, and it perhaps didn’t help with pacing to keep swapping to some of the side character.

The ending was very action packed and overall left me wanting to know what happens next. There are still a lot of questions left to be answered, and I obviously didn’t expect everything to be answered in book 1 but I think we could have found out more about Jack and his apparent powers, or more about what’s happening in the fae realms, while still leaving some things unanswered and leaving readers wanting more.

📖 ARC Review: Whispers Among Thorns by Cassandra Aston

Thank you to Natgalley and Cassandra Aston for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Whispers Among Thorns" follows Sav, a fae who’s been banished to the human realm with her magic bound, along with many others of her kind. When anti-fae humans attack and imprison her people, Sav is forced to team up with Jack—the son of the movement’s ruthless leader, Dane Clyde. As they work together, Sav must fight back her growing feelings for Jack, knowing that falling in love with a human could mean death.

There were parts I truly enjoyed, especially the overall plot and the side characters.

While the story was a bit predictable, it pulled me in quickly.

The side characters were definitely a highlight for me—especially Kaspar. He’s so loyal to Sav, and I couldn’t help but love him for it. The antagonists are also really well-written.

I really enjoyed reading this book and flew through it.

This was my first book by Cassandra Aston, and I’m definitely curious to see where book two will take us. I’ll be keeping an eye on her future work!

-Whispers Among Thorns- will be out on the 24 June 2025

The author lists Content and Trigger Warning at the beginning of the book 📖


4/5 ⭐