Owl King is a rich and atmospheric return to the darkly enchanting world Bex Hogan created in Nettle. While you technically can read it as a standalone, I’d strongly recommend reading Nettle first to fully appreciate the character arcs and overlapping storylines, and the fact that it adds emotional depth and context.

We’re swept back into the faery realm, but this time, the story shifts focus to sisters Islette and Lyra. When Islette’s dangerous secret threatens to be exposed, Lyra steps in to protect her, only to catch the attention of the mysterious, chilling Owl King. What follows is a tale of sacrifice, sisterhood, and peril as both women navigate different corners of the faery world.

Hogan’s lyrical prose paints each court with vivid distinction, immersing you in a realm that’s both beautiful and brutal. It’s classic fairy tale storytelling with sharp teeth: whimsical, yes, but also layered with danger, cruelty, and emotional complexity.

What I loved:
- The expanded world-building and faery court lore... each realm felt distinct and alive.
- The themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice, especially through Islette’s determination to save her sister.
- The interwoven stories that echo folklore and timeless fantasy.

A few downsides:
- The pacing was uneven in places. Some plot beats dragged, while others felt too rushed and conveniently resolved.
- One of the romances struck me as troubling, bordering on emotionally abusive. While the "people can change" message is there, the execution felt too ambiguous, and the lack of deeper reckoning with it made it hard to swallow.
- Personally, I found the writing style a little challenging at times, as I did with Nettle, and may try the audiobook when it’s available, since the narration brought the previous book to life in a stronger way for me.

Still, Owl King was a beautifully imagined continuation of a magical world I’ve come to love. It reminded me of old-school fairy tales as it was haunting, tender, and occasionally cruel. A solid read for fans of lyrical dark fantasy with roots in myth and fae lore.

Perfect for Holly Black fans!!!!

I loved Nettle for its fantasy elements, including the goblin market and fairy tale atmosphere, and Owl King delivered on these too. It's not necessary to read both books, but I would recommend doing so, starting with Nettle, as they do overlap but I won't spoil it by saying how.

I felt the faery world expanded in this book, which I really enjoyed, as I liked getting to know more characters and realms.

I will say that I still struggled with the writing style, so I am hoping to listen to the audiobook when it comes out because I enjoyed Nettle much more on audio. In both books, I felt some parts dragged and others were rushed and the ending felt way too convenient.

Also, I did find a certain romance quite problematic, seeing it more as domestic abuse, but I understand the thinking behind "people can change" and think this can be true. That said, it's a very fine line and the way it was handled didn't really sit right with me.

Overall, I still liked this story because it reminded me of folklore and other timeless fantasy stories. For that reason, I'd rate it 3.5 stars and I'm happy to have read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with the advanced reader copy.

The Owl King is a visually rich and emotionally ambitious installment in Bex Hogan’s fantasy repertoire, brimming with atmosphere and lyrical prose. The world-building remains one of Hogan’s strengths — moody forests, ancient magic, and a creeping sense of unease make for a compelling setting.

That said, while the premise promises a high-stakes journey, the pacing often drags, especially in the middle chapters. Some characters feel underdeveloped or inconsistent, which made it harder to stay emotionally invested. The central conflict resolves a bit too conveniently, leaving lingering questions that might frustrate some readers.

Still, there’s beauty here — especially for fans of darker fairy tale vibes and introspective protagonists. The Owl King doesn’t quite reach the heights of Hogan’s earlier work, but it’s a decent read for those already invested in her world.

Owl King was a beautiful and lyrical story and I loved every moment. I was hooked from the start and loved the whole fantasy realm

I have been sitting with this beautiful tale for almost a fortnight, trying to find ways to describe it without going into a ton of detail and giving things away!

I read Nettle which I adored, and was very excited to be invited to read Owl King and you know what, I loved it even more.
All the things that I appreciated about Nettle was present in Owl King but it was also more. I am not sure how to explain that except by saying that whatever I hadn’t realised was potentially missing, whatever it was I didn’t feel, from Nettle was in abundance in Owl King.

The Swan and the Nightingale are such beautiful characters. They would do anything for each other, and Ilsette almost seems the villain rather than the hero in the way she would do anything to save her sister from the Owl Kings grasp.

We meet Pi who is a lovely companion during the story, as well as familiar faces and head to both strange and familiar places, along with characters who play important roles in Ilsette's journey.

Bex Hogan’s Faery Realms are true ‘Faery Tales’ complete with lessons to be learnt and Owl King teaches us (the readers) about hope, kindness, selflessness (and selfishness). It teaches us about redemption, about how simply showing kindness – even if it doesn’t seem like it is deserved – can heal, can save, and can altar a life course, granting a freedom that you may not have ever looked for but that you thrive with.

A solid 5 star read worth every minute you will spend in Faery.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Nettle by Bex Hogan and so was delighted to be able to read the sequel, Owl King. We are back in the realm of faery and this time we get to learn more about the different courts within the realm.

Islette has a secret and her older sister, Lyra, has helped her keep both it, and herself, safe. But when everybody is told to attend the Owl King's Court she knows she will be in grave danger. Lyra steps up once more to protect her sister but suffers a terrible fate when she herself gains the attention of the Owl King. Islette is determined to save her sister and sets out on a journey across the faery realm.

The book follows Islette as she struggles to keep her secret hidden on her journey. We are also kept up to date with Lyra as she tries to find a way to survive her situation. Interwoven with the sisters' stories are tales of love, loss and betrayal that have occurred to other faeries.

The whole book comes together as a delightful tale with teeth. The prose is lyrical and each court has a distinct and well written atmosphere. You feel transported to the realm of faery. But it is not all whimsy and light. This is very much a faery tale of old, with cruelty and darkness ready to snatch up the unwary.

A great story to lose yourself in for a while.

I always enjoy reading books set in the world of faery and devoured this in one sitting. The world building is wonderful and the descriptions are so clear and vivid. I loved the characters of Ilsette, Lyra and the Owl King. They were beautifully described, their characters revealing their true thoughts and intentions. I particularly enjoyed the mini stories within the story which certainly tugged on my heart strings.
Highly recommended.

Ilsette’s journey to rescue her sister from the enigmatic Owl King is a captivating tale woven with threads of classic fairytales and lyrical prose. The writing is enchanting—graceful and melodic, like a story passed down through generations. The world feels steeped in magic and mystery, evoking that timeless fairytale atmosphere that’s both comforting and haunting.

The characters carry a quiet depth, each cloaked in a touch of wonder, and it was such a delight to see Nettle make an appearance again. I was completely absorbed. I genuinely couldn’t put it down. Here's hoping this is just the beginning of a longer series, because I’m not ready to leave this world behind.

I LOVED Owl King by Bex Hogan ❤️💙💚🧡💜
Meeting new characters and visiting new realms in this amazing fantasy world
The lengths someone will go to try and help save someone they love no matter how dangerous that could be made my heart feel full
This brilliant sequel to Nettle is out in
October

Owl King by Bex Hogan is that perfect book you'll want to read on a cozy afternoon! I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't put it down for a second.

I really enjoyed Owl King.It’s the kind of book that pulls you into a world that feels both strange and fascinating, without overcomplicating things. The story follows two sisters, Ilsette and Lyla, who end up in the Owl King’s court—he’s powerful, mysterious, and not exactly someone you can trust. When Lyla is taken, Ilsette has to step up and try to rescue her, which leads to a lot of unpredictable fae magic and challenges.

The sister relationship was one of my favorite parts. It felt real and gave the story some heart. There’s also a magpie sidekick who was surprisingly fun and added a nice bit of humor. The pacing was steady, and I was curious to see where things would go next the whole way through.What I loved most was the blend of dark fairy tale elements with a heartfelt exploration of sisterhood and sacrifice. Ilsette's determination and Lyla's resilience made me root for them every step of the way. The prose is lyrical, painting vivid images of a world where magic is as beautiful as it is dangerous.

If you like fantasy that’s easy to get into, has a cool mix of magic and danger, and focuses on strong characters (without being too dark or too light), I’d say give this one a try. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wonderful whimsical fairy tale.

We follow Ilsette as she tries to save her sister from the Owl King. It is beautifully written, with fairytales intertwined with Ilsette and Lylas story. It was so easy to read as it flowed like a song. The setting was magical and mystical it was just lovely to read. A proper old fashioned fairytale told in such a wonderful way.

The characters were mysterious and it was so nice to see Nettle again. I couldn’t put it down and I really hope there is more in the series.