Dance With the Fae is so so good. I couldn't stop reading this book. I rated it 5 stars because I really enjoyed every single second of it.

A stunningly enchanting, heartwarming and emotional read. Dance with the Fae is unique, I adored Kit, Valentine and Valentin and his heroic efforts to rescue Addie. A five star read.

This is a such a wonderful story full of real history as well as fairytale staples. The whole cast of characters is so unique and well written. I love the world building of Faedemesne in particular as well as Kit’s reaction to it. Kit is such a loyal and protective person and always wants to do what he believe is right, even at a detriment to himself. It’s clear that he doesn’t jive with Addie more than a sisterly bond and has better chemistry with other characters. Great pacing and character development and an enchanting story with great representation. I think I would like Silas more if I saw more of his ‘missing two years’ development. But a wonderful read overall! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

This story is an intoxicating blend of romance, mystery, sci-fi, and magic. The blend of historical context and fantasy is beautifully done, pulling you into a world where the line between reality and magic blurs. The eerie “sleeping sickness” mystery keeps the tension high, while the underlying romance between Kit and Adelaide adds emotional depth. It’s a captivating tale of healing, secrets, and the supernatural.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

📚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.

"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.

Dance with the Fae
by Elisabeth J. Hobbes


Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

Well, I really liked the sound of this, anything Fae catches my eye ;) I found it very slow to start though, struggled a bit to get in to it, and wanted to smack Adelaide a few times she was so shallow. Then suddenly everything clicked and I was carried along on a mysterious whirlwind of a story, that felt as it it could be so very real. Or maybe thats just my wishful thinking.
There's the horrific tragedies of the Great War, which Kit knows only too well but which everyone wants to gloss over as being In The Past. I so felt for him, and others like him. His losses, hi heartbreak, and the future mapped out for him by tradition and convention. Adelaide grew on me eventually and of course the Fae side of the story – perfect.
I love that it all works out in the end, the mystery of it, the weaving of human life stories and Fae. I know its a story I'll reread, it was fabulous.

Stars: Five, a marvellous read, I loved it.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

Combine historical fiction about post-First World War trauma with fae fantasy and LGBTQ representation, and you’ll never go wrong. Dance with the Fae turned out to be so much more than I expected. It’s a captivating story—both tender and melancholic. I truly loved this book.

The protagonist of Dance with the Fae is Kit, a young hero of the Great War. Upon returning home, he must contend not only with the haunting memories of the trenches but also with the heavy societal expectations placed upon him. As the eldest son, Kit is expected to inherit the family estate and marry his childhood friend Adelaide, who comes with a generous dowry. However, at their engagement party, Kit and Adelaide meet the enigmatic duo—Mr. Silas Wilde and Miss Alexandra Dove. It quickly becomes clear that this encounter will lead to unforeseen consequences—and a journey into the fae realm.

Some readers might find the pacing in this book a bit uneven, especially at the start. However, the slower beginning didn’t bother me at all. I was deeply impressed by Kit’s portrayal: a man who survived the war, only to return home and feel even more isolated, with no one who shares his experiences or with whom he can truly talk. Honestly, I could have read about this alone and never gotten bored. Once the story shifts to the fae world, things pick up considerably—the action becomes more dynamic, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked.

This novel also excels at capturing the social realities of post-war England. On the one hand, it’s clear that returning to the pre-war world was impossible, and certain attitudes were no longer sustainable. On the other hand, England remained a deeply intolerant country, still rooted in conservative social structures. The fae world, dangerous and unpredictable, acts as a magnifying lens that amplifies the harshness and injustice of the human world. The fae realm also provides an excellent backdrop for the book’s LGBTQ representation, which is handled convincingly.

I’m aware of a few flaws in the book. Aside from the slower pacing, I sometimes felt that the behavior of certain secondary characters was a bit too overtly designed to provoke specific reactions from the reader, making it difficult to fully root for Kit’s relationship with them. Additionally, the resolution of the main “quest,” while satisfying, came surprisingly quickly and without much of a struggle.

That said, I still consider this book an ideal read for me. It strikes a perfect balance between history and fantasy, and should appeal to anyone interested in historical fiction and the First World War (especially if you’re looking for something a bit sweeter than the usual tales of trench warfare). On the other hand, fans of fae stories will definitely want to give this one a try. I highly recommend it.

This was really well done, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed about the genre. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed from this type of book. I thought this worked well as a way to tell the world and was engaged with what was happening. I enjoyed the way Elisabeth J. Hobbes wrote this and hope to read more from Elisabeth J. Hobbes.

This story was definitely different to read! It was good, but very different. I would highly suggest this book to anyone who wants something different than the norm fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

I love fantasy and faeare one of my favorite fantasy characters.

This book kept my interest from page one to the end.

I read it over the course of a day and a half .

Hoping for a sequel.

Recommend.