The Raven Lady | Book 2 of The Faery Rehistory | ARC Review

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

The fairy court is restored. Who will win the game of crowns?
In the aftermath of Ireland’s battle with her ancient enemies, Queen Isolde orders her cousin, smuggler Duncan O’Malley, to assume the throne of fairy as King Finvara. He’s a fish out of water when it comes to nurturing the alliance between Ireland’s mortal and fairy peoples. And the queen wants him to wed the daughter of Ireland’s enemy, the king of Icelandic shadow elves, to help keep the peace. But the Irish think of the elves as goblins, and Finvara refuses.
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Elven princess Koli, affronted by the king’s rejection—along with his decision to bring her to court as little more than a captive—vows vengeance. Shortly after her arrival, she uncovers a plot that would bring swift satisfaction. A dark and powerful fairy lord, Far Dorocha, wants to take Finvara’s crown and lead both the fairy and elven people to war against the Irish. And he wants Koli to help him.
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It’s the perfect setup for revenge, but Koli soon discovers that Finvara’s not the haughty lord she believed him to be. And as she navigates treacherous waters inside the court, she gets glimpses of the magic and passion that have been slumbering inside her. She must choose a side in the new battle for Ireland—will it be the fearsome father she has served for nearly a century, or the fairy king who has helped awaken her to herself?

Last year I was fortunate enough to read The Absinthe Earl, the first book of the Faerie Rehistory trilogy. It took me by surprise. So I was excited to pick up this sequel. It didn’t quite give me the same feeling.

This book focuses on two different characters. Duncan O’Malley, who we met in the first book, and a completely new character, Koli, an Elven princess. I think what mostly let me down in this book were the characters and the romance.

I enjoyed Duncan in the first book where we met him from afar. And I was glad that we got him as a main character now, not in the least because he is a black man. And might I point out that the longer I stare at the cover the more white looking I find him on there? Like could they have not gone a little darker? In this book however he feels immensely naive and trusting despite his situation of having inherited a whole court of people that don’t care for him after having been inhabited by Finvara.

Koli didn’t really strike a chord with me either. Her switch to the other side felt unnatural almost when she came with so much will power. Adding in their romance, it was a bit messy. They really hadn’t had that many talks. She really wasn’t there that long and there were days where they didn’t see each other. The quickness of their feelings was too much for me.

Other than that I think the writing and fantasy plot surrounding them was fine and fit in with the continuation of the Absinthe Earl.

I am curious who we will focus on in the last book and how that book will play out. I’m still interested in reading it.