E is for Exiling

I’m doing folklore and book review posts to reach and please a larger audience. Previous years have shown select interest in both and to minimise blogging throughout the year, I’m focusing my efforts on April.

Focusing on an A to Z of my TBR (to be read) list, each letter will have books starting with that letter on my list, a book I’ve read and reviewed (with the review!) and one of my books matching the letter with a link about more info about the book.

I chose the books this year quite randomly from my Goodreads Want to Read page. Some are quite creatively added to letters.

If you’d rather check out my folklore post for today, go here.

You can read reviews for from previous years for this letter here, here and here, and my year-end reviews here, here, here, here and, most recently, here and here.

My TBR

About the Book I’ve Read

Exiling a Fae Queen (Raven Court #0.1) by Joanna Reeder

I’m the heir to the throne.
My birthright comes with a dark legacy.
But to save Faerie, I must betray my sister.

I can’t dodge the responsibilities that come with being a Crown Princess of the Raven Court any longer. I’ve always left the boring responsibilities of learning to rule Faerie in the capable hands of my twin sister Carys—with whom I’ll share the throne someday—trading stifling meetings for the freedom of riding stormy seas on waterhorses.

To appease my father—and the brooding Captain Tien Firetail who thinks I’m just a silly girl—I must journey to a neighboring court on a diplomatic peace mission. But what I discover about my own kind is devastating and makes me question everything.

The truth is dangerous and pits me against everyone I love… including my sister. But who am I sworn to protect?

Her?
Or our people?

And with the fate of faerie resting in my hands, I must make an impossible choice: condemn fae to die, or claim the throne alone.

Whatever I decide, one thing is certain: I must become a traitor.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Interesting worldbuiding. I liked the bond between Aria and her waterhorse. I do wonder about her twin’s dual nature revealed at the end… A good prequel for a series on my TBR I can’t wait to start reading.

About the Book I’ve Read

Bargaining with a Fae Queen (Raven Court #0.2) by Joanna Reeder

She banished her sister to exile.

Carys Elmwisk is being crowned the High Queen of Faerie. But guilt over banishing her sister and everything that led up to her betrayal begins to gnaw at her…

Bargaining with a Fae Queen is a enthralling short story prequel to the Raven Court Series by USA Today bestselling author, Joanna Reeder.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Poor Carys! Reading why she exiled her sister from her POV makes her a much more sympathetic character.

The big blocks of italics were an issue, though. I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

Can’t wait to start the series.

About the Book I’ve Read

Imitating a Fae Queen (Raven Court #1) by Joanna Reeder

They say I look just like her.
They say I could save the realm if I pretend to be her.
But I’m just a human girl and can’t leave my life to save their precious Raven Court.

My boyfriend, Sterling, might be a fae, but I want nothing to do with Faerie. Luckily, he promised never to take me. But when his painfully gorgeous brother, Tien, shows up and says I look identical to their missing High Queen, I’m asked to go with him to prevent Faerie from sinking into chaos.

When I refuse, I’m kidnapped.

As I’m forced through the portal to Faerie by the brooding Tien, he promises my captivity is only temporary. If I can convince the Raven Court their beloved queen is alive and well, he’ll take me back home. But while I’m pretending to be her, dark secrets surface. I try not to care, but realize I might have the power to change an injustice that suddenly means so much to me… even as a fake queen.

Faerie is magical and cruel, full of wonder and madness. But it isn’t my home. And yet, it feels so familiar…

Torn between two different worlds, I’m forced to consider: where do I truly belong?

◆For fans of The Iron King and The Vampire Diaries, you’ll love this page-turning first book in the Raven Court Series by USA Today bestselling author, Joanna Reeder.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

If I hadn’t read the prequels first, the odd start to the book might’ve made me stop reading (teenage girl already in a relationship with a faery boy, already part of a foster family – where can it possibly go?). It’s a good premise, though, and reads easy even if the start is a bit slow (which is why I wondered where this was all heading).

The waterhorses are awesome! The romance is a bit awkward, mainly because we’re just told that she’s involved with Sterling and didn’t get that whole build-up – her fledgling relationship with Tien is much more believable.

The end feels a bit blunt and the epilogue was a bit weird.

The big blocks of italics were an issue, though. I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

An enjoyable story and I’ll start with the next book ASAP.

About the Book I’ve Read

Hiding a Fae Queen (Raven Court #2) by Joanna Reeder

Faerie is still dying.
Only I can pose as queen.
Until the real queen shows up…

I royally messed up the last time I played the part of the “returned” High Queen Carys. So when the brooding Captain Tien Firetail asks for my help again, I jump at the chance of redemption. And not only because Tien is my boyfriend’s infuriatingly attractive older brother, but I want to help. This time, I’m doing things differently.

Get in.
Do as I’m told.
Get back home.

But everything changes when the High Queen secretly returns to the palace… and I’m still pretending to be her. I should tell someone, but she wants to keep her return between just us. I could go against her wishes, but I’m intrigued. She almost feels like a sister, someone I want to get to know… So I agree to her plan.

It’s not like she’ll go around kissing anyone while pretending to be me, right?

But Queen Carys broke a bargain and escaped the Winter Court to come home to the Raven Court. If the Winter Queen learns where Carys is, she’ll come after her.

And I share her face.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A better story than the last, though Aria so easily giving up her ideals to play all day with her waterhorse is a bit ridiculous (and makes it feel like she’s back to the girl she was in the prequel). I get that she feels that the rightful queen is back, but she never pushed the reasons things needed to change with Carys.

The blossoming romance between Aria and Tien could’ve been sweet – if not for Carys’s interference.

And knowing what Carys is really up to doesn’t endear her at all.

Aria grows in the story, but will it matter when the truth comes out?

About the Book I’ve Read

Evading a Fae Queen (Raven Court #3) by Joanna Reeder

I thought I’d be safe.
I thought my sacrifice would be temporary.
But now I’m imprisoned in a Winter Court cell.
I was told a human couldn’t even enter the Winter Court. Lies. Now I’m trapped in a prison, in literally subzero temperatures.

All I want is to go back to my world. To my home.

When I stumble upon an ability to become invisible, I take my chances and escape.

Conveniently, Captain Tien was on his way to save me, and now he has more questions about who I truly am. After all, what human can do that sort of magic?

He’s right, I want to know more about who I am. But I just want to feel safe again and I won’t be distracted by those gorgeous eyes and our undeniable connection.

But going home isn’t as easy as I’d hoped. Because now, I’m being hunted. And the Winter Queen won’t stop until she makes me suffer.

◆Evading a Fae Queen is perfect for fans of The Iron King and The Vampire Diaries. If you love brooding fae captains, fierce heroines, and slow burn romance, you’ll love this page-turning fae fantasy.

◆Evading a Fae Queen is Book Three in the Raven Court Series by USA Today bestselling author, Joanna Reeder.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Aria’s plight is even stronger in this book and it’s clear she’s remembering who she really is.

Rich worldbuilding, lots of action, and swoony romance between Aria and Tien. I like that she had this absolute faith that he would come to rescue her, even if she could do it herself.

Tien’s story is mostly in italics. I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

The waterhorses are awesome. I like the morrigu, too.

Carys has so much to answer for.

About the Book

Becoming a Fae Queen (Raven Court #4) by Joanna Reeder

Everything I knew was a lie.
But I must embrace my destiny.

The winter queen’s reveal has left me reeling, connecting the dots of my missing memories, my startling resemblance to Queen Carys, and my inexplicable bond with the deadly water horses. Yet, as fate would have it, I find myself once again barred from Faerie, this time with… Carys. While her struggles in the human realm provide a twisted amusement, I must return to Faerie.

There are questions that demand answers: Is Sterling still held captive by the winter queen? Does Tien, the fae I love, still draw breath? And can I find a way to save a dying Faerie, teetering on the edge of oblivion?

The stakes have never been higher. The fate of an entire realm rests in my hands, but the journey is fraught with frustrations, startling twists, and unexpected alliances.

One-click to read the final book in the Raven Court Series, Becoming a Fae Queen!

◆Becoming a Fae Queen is perfect for fans of The Iron King and The Vampire Diaries. If you love brooding fae captains, fierce heroines, and slow burn romance, you’ll love this page-turning fae fantasy.

◆Becoming a Fae Queen is Book Fourth and final book in the Raven Court Series by USA Today bestsellingauthor, Joanna Reeder.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Though Aria has every right to be mad at Carys, she still does her best to protect her in the human realm and help her to return to Faerie. Carys’ breakdown was well foreshadowed by how she acted in the human realm.

The story relies too heavily on TV/movie references – including quotes.

I’m glad Iris took a more pro-active role in this book to help Aria and the Firetail brothers.

The use of the POV character’s name at the start of each chapter made it easier to follow along as it was told in first person.

So much of the story is told in italics for some bizarre reason. I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.

Lots of magic, action, emotion and gut-wrenching moments. Madseok is the sweetest waterhorse…!

A fun series to get lost in if you like the romance and brotherhood of The Vampire Diaries (TV series) and faeries in all their forms.

My Book

Blaze of Glory (Irascible Immortals #5)

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