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The Fae of Bitter Thorn #1
Court of Bitter Thorn
Faerie wasn’t supposed to be real.
Tricked by a fae prince, Elora is stuck in the Faerie realm far from her young sisters who depend on her for survival. Under the terms of her bargain, she can’t go home to the mortal world until Prince Brannick becomes the next High King.
Or until he’s taken out of the running…
Sabotaging Brannick’s chance at the crown will be much faster than helping him win. The fae prince may be charming, powerful, and wickedly handsome, but that won’t stop Elora from selling his secrets to the highest bidder.
By day, she uses her master sword skills to train the prince, while ignoring her growing attraction to him. By night, she conspires with a rival king in a nearby court whose plans could destroy half of Faerie.
If she gets caught, Brannick will kill her. But what’s life without a little bit of danger?
Tricked by a fae prince, Elora is stuck in the Faerie realm far from her young sisters who depend on her for survival. Under the terms of her bargain, she can’t go home to the mortal world until Prince Brannick becomes the next High King.
Or until he’s taken out of the running…
Sabotaging Brannick’s chance at the crown will be much faster than helping him win. The fae prince may be charming, powerful, and wickedly handsome, but that won’t stop Elora from selling his secrets to the highest bidder.
By day, she uses her master sword skills to train the prince, while ignoring her growing attraction to him. By night, she conspires with a rival king in a nearby court whose plans could destroy half of Faerie.
If she gets caught, Brannick will kill her. But what’s life without a little bit of danger?
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
About the author
Kay L. Moody
34 books837 followersKay L. Moody is the YA fantasy author of COURT OF BITTER THORN and THE ELEMENTS OF THE CROWN. Her books feature rich world building, slow burn romance, mythical creatures, and twisty plots.
As a lover of strong female characters, books, and the color pink, she enjoys diving into magical worlds where characters can overcome even their darkest struggles. She lives in the western United States with her husband and four sons. Connect with Kay directly when you follow her on social media @kaylmoody
Visit her website to learn more.
www.KayLMoody.com
As a lover of strong female characters, books, and the color pink, she enjoys diving into magical worlds where characters can overcome even their darkest struggles. She lives in the western United States with her husband and four sons. Connect with Kay directly when you follow her on social media @kaylmoody
Visit her website to learn more.
www.KayLMoody.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews
September 13, 2020
Thank you Book Sirens for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Elora's family is on the brink of financial ruin. The only way they can save their family is through Elora's marriage, but all Elora wants is to do is practise with her sword and fight in a tournament.
After a trip into the village disaster strikes and Elora's family find themselves more in need of Elora's marriage than ever before. Soon after, Elora inadvertently makes a deal with Prince Brannick, a faerie Prince, and finds herself trapped in Faerie and unable to help her family.
Whilst trying to figure out a way to get home, Elora makes a deal with a king from another court and finds herself mixed up in a plot that could destroy half of Faerie.
What I liked about this book
The story is really easy to follow. The writing is coherent and flows really well.
The world is really well described and explained. I loved all the creatures.
What I didn't like
I found Elora's one track mind quite unbelievable.
There was too much eye rolling throughout the story.
I think that people who enjoy fairytales or lovers of Holly Blacks the Folk of the Air series would like this book. This was a really good start to a promising series.
3.75 stars
✮✮✮✯
Find this review and others on my blog
May 11, 2021
*sighs*
This was... uneventful.
While the plot of this book has been done at least a thousand times before, the characters and the sword fighting element of it, drew me in. So, imagine my disappointment when there is not a single duel and the characters basically do nothing.
I don't think you grasp the level of dissatisfaction this book left me with...
I'll talk about some of the mayor things that frustrated me:
- The protagonist IS NOT well written at all. She is presented as this cool, strong and capable character, but the moment she enters the Fairie world, she becomes annoying and stops using her brain all together. It really pissed me off that she just decided not to gather information whatsoever and preferred jumping into stupid conclusions, just to end up trusting the obvious bad guy (I'm sorry but girl why are you so eager to trust a sketchy king and not everyone you already know?). It was infuriating seeing her make every mistake possible, but hey, in the end she does the right thing (was it that freaking hard?). Also, if you are not going to give us romantic tension (because who ever liked a good hate to love trope in fantasy?) please do not make the protagonist say "He is so handsome it's illegal" every time she sees him. It's forced af, and if it doesn't go anywhere... why bother?
- There are so many conveniences in this book it's just stupid. Why does the bad guy tell the human his evil plan? Why does a random ass poem in the human world, tell them how to kill this random ass guy? Why is this human girl the solution to his problems? Why? Just why every plot point. It feels like a wattpad story where the author just keeps coming up with plot points and shoving them into the story. And don't get me wrong, I'm 100% sure in the next book the murder of the parents and every other thing is going to be connected to the scar and all that, because the author does a very bad "oh, do you see that mysterious thing? Oh, I wonder how it happened? Well, I'm not going to address it again... Unless" so yeah, pretty obvious.
-Every aspect of this book could have been better. The protagonist is a sword master that is going to train a fae prince, okay, so, give me battles, give me training with the sword, give me the human proving her skills and leaving the fae to eat his pride, idk give me a duel filled with obvious attraction both of them are trying to ignore! It's so easy, but no, we get multiple chapters were they don't even train because... the sword is bad, followed by two training sessions, one very lackluster and another one where they don't even fight... I'm bored
And like this, every other exciting thing. The protagonist gets FREAKING WINGS, that obviously are important because they are in the cover of the book (and that personally drew me to continue reading) and SHE DOESN'T EVEN BOTHER TO TRY TO FLY! She is not even curious, like what? For someone so supposedly eager to have adventures and to escape, she doesn't give a crap about the wings.
I could give infinite examples of this aspects (the harp, the drawings, every other character presented with cool skills) that are grossly wasted, just to give us boring chapters of the protagonist thinking (wow so interesting), betraying the only characters we know (which makes her unlikable) and wandering around doing nothing.
I really could number infinite things that made this book so much worse that it should have, because infuriatingly, it had so much potential, but it just wasn't it.
Idk if I'll continue the saga, especially because I have to wait for the next book and I'll probably forget about this read. But well, it really wasn't that bad, I'm just pissed because nothing happened.
This was... uneventful.
While the plot of this book has been done at least a thousand times before, the characters and the sword fighting element of it, drew me in. So, imagine my disappointment when there is not a single duel and the characters basically do nothing.
I don't think you grasp the level of dissatisfaction this book left me with...
I'll talk about some of the mayor things that frustrated me:
- The protagonist IS NOT well written at all. She is presented as this cool, strong and capable character, but the moment she enters the Fairie world, she becomes annoying and stops using her brain all together. It really pissed me off that she just decided not to gather information whatsoever and preferred jumping into stupid conclusions, just to end up trusting the obvious bad guy (I'm sorry but girl why are you so eager to trust a sketchy king and not everyone you already know?). It was infuriating seeing her make every mistake possible, but hey, in the end she does the right thing (was it that freaking hard?). Also, if you are not going to give us romantic tension (because who ever liked a good hate to love trope in fantasy?) please do not make the protagonist say "He is so handsome it's illegal" every time she sees him. It's forced af, and if it doesn't go anywhere... why bother?
- There are so many conveniences in this book it's just stupid. Why does the bad guy tell the human his evil plan? Why does a random ass poem in the human world, tell them how to kill this random ass guy? Why is this human girl the solution to his problems? Why? Just why every plot point. It feels like a wattpad story where the author just keeps coming up with plot points and shoving them into the story. And don't get me wrong, I'm 100% sure in the next book the murder of the parents and every other thing is going to be connected to the scar and all that, because the author does a very bad "oh, do you see that mysterious thing? Oh, I wonder how it happened? Well, I'm not going to address it again... Unless" so yeah, pretty obvious.
-Every aspect of this book could have been better. The protagonist is a sword master that is going to train a fae prince, okay, so, give me battles, give me training with the sword, give me the human proving her skills and leaving the fae to eat his pride, idk give me a duel filled with obvious attraction both of them are trying to ignore! It's so easy, but no, we get multiple chapters were they don't even train because... the sword is bad, followed by two training sessions, one very lackluster and another one where they don't even fight... I'm bored
And like this, every other exciting thing. The protagonist gets FREAKING WINGS, that obviously are important because they are in the cover of the book (and that personally drew me to continue reading) and SHE DOESN'T EVEN BOTHER TO TRY TO FLY! She is not even curious, like what? For someone so supposedly eager to have adventures and to escape, she doesn't give a crap about the wings.
I could give infinite examples of this aspects (the harp, the drawings, every other character presented with cool skills) that are grossly wasted, just to give us boring chapters of the protagonist thinking (wow so interesting), betraying the only characters we know (which makes her unlikable) and wandering around doing nothing.
I really could number infinite things that made this book so much worse that it should have, because infuriatingly, it had so much potential, but it just wasn't it.
Idk if I'll continue the saga, especially because I have to wait for the next book and I'll probably forget about this read. But well, it really wasn't that bad, I'm just pissed because nothing happened.
October 12, 2020
This was a really fun read. With adventure and romantic tension, I was intrigued from the first page. A few parts were a little predictible, but it didn't make it less enjoyable. I look forward to the second book.
August 17, 2020
THIS WAS SO GOOD! Major Cruel Prince feels with some Iron King vibes. Brooding fae royals, enemies to lovers, warrior heroine. It’s going right up there with Evermore Academy as my top favorite indie fae books!
May 12, 2021
Court of Bitter Thorn is a fantastic start to Kay L. Moody’s new YA fantasy series. The story is paced well and grips you from the start with a young woman named Elora who longs for a life of adventure. Faced with a wedding to a man she barely knows, Elora sees the life she wants slipping away, especially after tragedy strikes her family. However, when Elora makes an agreement with a Faerie prince, she’s pulled away from her sisters and into an adventure she never expected. Elora will do whatever it takes to get back to her sisters, but whom can she trust? As she reluctantly teaches Brannick how to sword fight, she learns that things are not always what they seem in the Faerie world.
The author’s talent in creating a vivid and fascinating world is evident throughout the book, from the intricate world-building to the well-developed characters. I love the incredible amount of world-building that went into this book. First in the human realm and then in the Faerie realm, the author’s skillful use of imagery and sensory language creates a captivating and immersive setting. Filled with faeries, magical powers, dryads, courtship intrigue, and curses, this world is as original and defined as the characters.
Elora is a fantastic protagonist. She’s resigned to the fact that she must marry to ensure her and her sisters’ financial stability and feels a strong sense of responsibility to her younger sisters. This sense of responsibility compels many of her actions. That doesn’t stop her from connecting with the characters she meets in the Faerie world, especially Brannick.
I admit I am a sucker for romance, and I really enjoyed the slow-building romance between Elora and Brannick. It was a subtle addition to the story, and I loved the gradual development of their relationship. If you read Heir of Bitter Thorn, the prequel to this story, you’ve already witnessed the amazing chemistry between Elora and Brannick. (If not, no worries. Elora and Brannick can’t remember their first meeting either.) I love their chemistry-laden interactions and their resistance to the ever-growing feelings between them, and I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops in future books.
Court of Bitter Thorn is an interesting and immersive story that I thoroughly enjoyed! Readers who like young adult fantasies with well-developed and unique characters, fascinating political intrigue, messages of strength and resilience, and dynamic world-building will enjoy this captivating story. Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my fair and honest review.
https://onebookmore.com/2020/08/19/ar...
The author’s talent in creating a vivid and fascinating world is evident throughout the book, from the intricate world-building to the well-developed characters. I love the incredible amount of world-building that went into this book. First in the human realm and then in the Faerie realm, the author’s skillful use of imagery and sensory language creates a captivating and immersive setting. Filled with faeries, magical powers, dryads, courtship intrigue, and curses, this world is as original and defined as the characters.
Elora is a fantastic protagonist. She’s resigned to the fact that she must marry to ensure her and her sisters’ financial stability and feels a strong sense of responsibility to her younger sisters. This sense of responsibility compels many of her actions. That doesn’t stop her from connecting with the characters she meets in the Faerie world, especially Brannick.
I admit I am a sucker for romance, and I really enjoyed the slow-building romance between Elora and Brannick. It was a subtle addition to the story, and I loved the gradual development of their relationship. If you read Heir of Bitter Thorn, the prequel to this story, you’ve already witnessed the amazing chemistry between Elora and Brannick. (If not, no worries. Elora and Brannick can’t remember their first meeting either.) I love their chemistry-laden interactions and their resistance to the ever-growing feelings between them, and I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops in future books.
Court of Bitter Thorn is an interesting and immersive story that I thoroughly enjoyed! Readers who like young adult fantasies with well-developed and unique characters, fascinating political intrigue, messages of strength and resilience, and dynamic world-building will enjoy this captivating story. Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my fair and honest review.
https://onebookmore.com/2020/08/19/ar...
October 28, 2022
This book started of so strong for me. I was so exited and flew through the first few chapters. Human girl goes to fae realm and makes a deal with a Fae prince. It reminded me of the cruel prince but this MC misses all the sass and guts Jude has. She’s a fighter and an expert with sword fighting but never fights? It also felt like “oh no we have a problem. The solution just happens to be here”. It was just not as well thought out of a book that I enjoy. So for me I probably won’t be continuing the series. If was just okay.
September 21, 2020
I received this as an ARC. This book had a lot of potential and it just wasn't executed well at all. It read a lot more like a children's book than young adult, and it felt like reading someone's renaissance fair fan fiction. Character descriptions were repetitive and unnecessary and made it feel like the book was dragging on. This would be a good intro to the fantasy genre for tweens and middle grade, but it was just not for me.
Want to read
April 26, 2023Free on Kindle US (4/26/23)!
September 9, 2020
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I love stories of the fae, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this book.
And by the end, I was really intrigued and I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure with Elora, Brannick and all the other fae.
The first third was a little rough for me, to be honest. While I understand the decision to start with Elora's parents alive and then have everything happen ... it felt a little forced to me. Like we should see all that Elora lost, but we were only told and had the story point a finger and say: see? Isn't that sad? I didn't actually feel anything though when reading the first couple chapters. But the potential was certainly there. Which somehow made it only that much more disappointing.
But luckily the story really picked up once we go into Faerie. Not only is the plot really interesting once there, but the descriptions are so beautiful and finally! I could see the emotions behind the words. And that point I became invested in Elora, Blaz and Brannick.
Although there were still scenes that needed more polishing there were also some true gems! Scenes that evoked deep emotions.
The scenes I liked the most where when Elora was alone in her room or when she was with Brannick. A lot of things git hinted at that we can be excited to explore in the sequel! And I can tell you, it ends in a way that'll make you crave the next book.
I quite liked the dynamic between Elora and Brannick and all the complications that arose from that. And I really appreciated her reason for changing her decision about something (you'll know when you get to the point. A quite powerful line comes right before it that I loved quite a lot.
I hope we get to know the side characters a bit better in the sequel as I'm sure they all have intriguing secrets and stories of their own. I was a bit sad that we didn't saw more from Chloe and Grace as I quite liked them. But then again, I understand why they couldn't be more present.
All in all I can recommend this to all you fae lovers (you just have to get past the first couple chapters and then the story will really grip you)
I love stories of the fae, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this book.
And by the end, I was really intrigued and I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure with Elora, Brannick and all the other fae.
The first third was a little rough for me, to be honest. While I understand the decision to start with Elora's parents alive and then have everything happen ... it felt a little forced to me. Like we should see all that Elora lost, but we were only told and had the story point a finger and say: see? Isn't that sad? I didn't actually feel anything though when reading the first couple chapters. But the potential was certainly there. Which somehow made it only that much more disappointing.
But luckily the story really picked up once we go into Faerie. Not only is the plot really interesting once there, but the descriptions are so beautiful and finally! I could see the emotions behind the words. And that point I became invested in Elora, Blaz and Brannick.
Although there were still scenes that needed more polishing there were also some true gems! Scenes that evoked deep emotions.
The scenes I liked the most where when Elora was alone in her room or when she was with Brannick. A lot of things git hinted at that we can be excited to explore in the sequel! And I can tell you, it ends in a way that'll make you crave the next book.
I quite liked the dynamic between Elora and Brannick and all the complications that arose from that. And I really appreciated her reason for changing her decision about something (you'll know when you get to the point. A quite powerful line comes right before it that I loved quite a lot.
I hope we get to know the side characters a bit better in the sequel as I'm sure they all have intriguing secrets and stories of their own. I was a bit sad that we didn't saw more from Chloe and Grace as I quite liked them. But then again, I understand why they couldn't be more present.
All in all I can recommend this to all you fae lovers (you just have to get past the first couple chapters and then the story will really grip you)
February 13, 2021
Thank you very much Kay L Moody and BookSirens for the ARC. Don't worry, this review is a 100% honest.
I have to say that this book wasn't for me. It started off great but I started to lose interest in the last few chapters. The plot made me feel intrigued at first but couldn't keep me hooked enough.
I expected more romance. I love a good banter and the characters didn't deliver. This is just a personal opinion, I like it when fantasy books have a romance sub plot. I understand not everyone needs this.
This books is just fine.
I have to say that this book wasn't for me. It started off great but I started to lose interest in the last few chapters. The plot made me feel intrigued at first but couldn't keep me hooked enough.
I expected more romance. I love a good banter and the characters didn't deliver. This is just a personal opinion, I like it when fantasy books have a romance sub plot. I understand not everyone needs this.
This books is just fine.
May 29, 2022
3.5 Stars ✨
January 30, 2023
⇢ Actual rating: 3.5🌟
Another popular book that failed to impress me ... I'm getting used to it.
⤏ What to expect:
∘ Young Adult Fantasy
∘ Romance
∘ Fae world
∘ Royalty
∘ Magic & Curses
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Sword Master FMC
∘ Broody Fae Prince love interest
Another popular book that failed to impress me ... I'm getting used to it.
⤏ What to expect:
∘ Young Adult Fantasy
∘ Romance
∘ Fae world
∘ Royalty
∘ Magic & Curses
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Sword Master FMC
∘ Broody Fae Prince love interest
September 28, 2022
Once again, I have been lucky enough to score an ARC of a great book. I'm going through a slow burn fae romance kick right now, and Kay L. Moody delivers. We have our heroine, the eldest of three girls, who accidentally makes a bargain with someone who turns out to be a fae prince. Next thing she knows, she's whisked away to Faerie where she must teach the fae prince how to sword fight in order for him to win the contest for the high throne.
Five great things about this book:
1. The world building. I loved the fae and their abhorrence of emotions and how that plays into everything. I also loved all the cute fae creatures (and have you seen the author's cute pictures of the side characters?!)
2. Espionage.
3. The chemistry between our fae prince and his mortal girl. Slow burn to the max; I'm so ready to settle in for the long run with this series.
4. The fae prince period.
5. The things that come out at the end! What a twist!!! I can't wait to read both the prequel short story and the rest of the series once I get a few more ARCs read.
Note to more sensitive readers: there really isn't anything bad in here that would have traumatized younger me. It is a delightfully innocent book.
If you like fae, fantasy, slow burn romance, and YA that actually feels like YA, this one is for you!
Review first posted on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...
Five great things about this book:
1. The world building. I loved the fae and their abhorrence of emotions and how that plays into everything. I also loved all the cute fae creatures (and have you seen the author's cute pictures of the side characters?!)
2. Espionage.
3. The chemistry between our fae prince and his mortal girl. Slow burn to the max; I'm so ready to settle in for the long run with this series.
4. The fae prince period.
5. The things that come out at the end! What a twist!!! I can't wait to read both the prequel short story and the rest of the series once I get a few more ARCs read.
Note to more sensitive readers: there really isn't anything bad in here that would have traumatized younger me. It is a delightfully innocent book.
If you like fae, fantasy, slow burn romance, and YA that actually feels like YA, this one is for you!
Review first posted on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...
January 15, 2021
First off, this cover is gorgeous! I am not great at reviews at all. I really just say what I enjoyed, loved and hated about the book and characters. I absolutely loved this one. I adore Elora and Prince Brannick so much. I knew my heart would end up breaking for him😩 he was bound to have a sad story. I’m happy to know that Elora will most likely be there for and to help him with his curse and become a “thing.” Poor boy needs someone to really love him. I’m excited that Castle Of Bitter Thorn is out in just a few days!!!
Want to read
March 18, 2021I need to buy this series just to give love to my bookcase. The cover is beyond gorgeous!! 😍
Want to read
August 5, 2023More The Cruel Prince fanfiction?? I must read
September 18, 2021
Vermakelijk!
Het is leuk geschreven alleen miste ik wel diepte in het verhaal en de personages. Alles gebeurde vrij snel en de hoofdpersonage was soms niet echt te volgen in haar gedachten en gevoelens.
Dit is het eerste deel dus wellicht dat wat diepte en uitbreiding nog in de vervolgdelen komt.
Het is leuk geschreven alleen miste ik wel diepte in het verhaal en de personages. Alles gebeurde vrij snel en de hoofdpersonage was soms niet echt te volgen in haar gedachten en gevoelens.
Dit is het eerste deel dus wellicht dat wat diepte en uitbreiding nog in de vervolgdelen komt.
May 31, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Court of Bitter Thorn was a fun quick read. I found the story a bit predictable and at times I was disappointed that the storyline was not pushed a bit more. I loved the concept of a young women being interested in sword fighting despite it being a taboo topic for females. Her love of her siblings and the sacrifices she was willing to make for them was endearing.
Court of Bitter Thorn was a fun quick read. I found the story a bit predictable and at times I was disappointed that the storyline was not pushed a bit more. I loved the concept of a young women being interested in sword fighting despite it being a taboo topic for females. Her love of her siblings and the sacrifices she was willing to make for them was endearing.
September 30, 2020
For those who loved ACOTAR series ( good for u) pick this one up it was rather similar, well written and with some suspense here and there.
Due to that similarity, I wasn't that impressed nore that excited.
Nevertheless it is was readable and enjoyable for its inspiration.
Oh the cover is a no no
.
.
.
.
.
This was an arc given freely in order to review fellow readers 🤗
Due to that similarity, I wasn't that impressed nore that excited.
Nevertheless it is was readable and enjoyable for its inspiration.
Oh the cover is a no no
.
.
.
.
.
This was an arc given freely in order to review fellow readers 🤗
November 6, 2021
I loved it, just disappointing that her editor failed her so much. Aside from the many many errors this was a great start to a hopefully wonderful series 😄
June 16, 2021
I really liked this book, it's a fast-paced, entertaining, and fun journey. I liked the riddles and the faes (it isn't the dreamy, romantic fae that you might find in other books, at least in this first book). But the thing that I liked the most was the plot, and the characters were interesting although there isn't any character development.
This book is pretty much an introductory book to the series, with a lot of politics that are a big part of the plot, which I really enjoyed (but the synopsis doesn't say this).
I must tell you that it isn't a romance book, the romance is barely in there, and maybe in the next book the romance become a big part of the book. But not in this book. It's more about the plot and how the main character finds her way into this tricky, complicated, and sometimes cruel world. And I loved the warrior energy of the main character.
In the end, I was left with so many questions (I need to know what is up with the wolf, and how they are going to break the curse). I'm hoping to pick the next one soon and find out more about these characters and the plot. Although, I have my theories.
So, I would recommend this book if you want a fast-paced, entertaining YA fantasy (without much romance) with a lot of world-building and politics. And the intricacies of the fae world. And a badass bigger sister warrior, who loves her sword and having adventures of her own.
This book is pretty much an introductory book to the series, with a lot of politics that are a big part of the plot, which I really enjoyed (but the synopsis doesn't say this).
I must tell you that it isn't a romance book, the romance is barely in there, and maybe in the next book the romance become a big part of the book. But not in this book. It's more about the plot and how the main character finds her way into this tricky, complicated, and sometimes cruel world. And I loved the warrior energy of the main character.
In the end, I was left with so many questions (I need to know what is up with the wolf, and how they are going to break the curse). I'm hoping to pick the next one soon and find out more about these characters and the plot. Although, I have my theories.
So, I would recommend this book if you want a fast-paced, entertaining YA fantasy (without much romance) with a lot of world-building and politics. And the intricacies of the fae world. And a badass bigger sister warrior, who loves her sword and having adventures of her own.
February 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this!
The book did take a little while to take off into the plot, roughly the 18-20% mark, but it was necessary information I guess.
I was bothered by Elora's simple mind. She lost her parents and the first thought she has is about not being able to fight in a sword tournament. That's a little selfish and a lot troubling :')
"Sobs would have burst out instantly if she had let them. But only a child would believe tears could save her now."
I find it challenging to stop sobs when really traumatic things happen. It's cool that she has that control.
Also, I don't think tears save anyone.. so that's a bit weird to say???
Elora seemed to only care about one thing (the tournament) and everything else was last. I can understand being passionate, but her priorities were a little warped and she comes across as childish.
I loved how the story developed, the detail to surroundings and the facial descriptions throughout the story. It was a really nice added detail.
I really love some of the characters, especially Brannick, and how cold he seems. He stays consistent throughout the story, which was nice.
I really enjoyed the history of Bitter Thorn's curse and the Fae stories we get to read throughout. I was eager to keep reading and didn't want it to end.
I have read one other book by this author and I think this one is much stronger, more mature and shows her growth in writing. I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in the series, and the cliffhanger was not too frustrating!
This was a wonderful introduction to the Faerie world Moody has built, and I'm pre-ordering the next book to get back into this world.
Absolutely recommend.
✨I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.✨
The book did take a little while to take off into the plot, roughly the 18-20% mark, but it was necessary information I guess.
I was bothered by Elora's simple mind. She lost her parents and the first thought she has is about not being able to fight in a sword tournament. That's a little selfish and a lot troubling :')
"Sobs would have burst out instantly if she had let them. But only a child would believe tears could save her now."
I find it challenging to stop sobs when really traumatic things happen. It's cool that she has that control.
Also, I don't think tears save anyone.. so that's a bit weird to say???
Elora seemed to only care about one thing (the tournament) and everything else was last. I can understand being passionate, but her priorities were a little warped and she comes across as childish.
I loved how the story developed, the detail to surroundings and the facial descriptions throughout the story. It was a really nice added detail.
I really love some of the characters, especially Brannick, and how cold he seems. He stays consistent throughout the story, which was nice.
I really enjoyed the history of Bitter Thorn's curse and the Fae stories we get to read throughout. I was eager to keep reading and didn't want it to end.
I have read one other book by this author and I think this one is much stronger, more mature and shows her growth in writing. I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in the series, and the cliffhanger was not too frustrating!
This was a wonderful introduction to the Faerie world Moody has built, and I'm pre-ordering the next book to get back into this world.
Absolutely recommend.
✨I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.✨
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March 31, 2021I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I can honestly say I haven't read many books involving Fae, but this one was quite different from the ones I have read and I enjoyed the different take on things. World building was fantastic and kept me completely immersed. Loved most of the characters, especially Brannick. For some reason, I'm not the biggest fan of the main heroine, Elora, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story any less.
Loved the author's writing style and will definitely read any books she puts out. The only reason I'm giving four stars vs five is because I feel like the plot sort of fell flat for me. However, I feel like that speaks volumes for the book because even then I couldn't see leaving less than a four star review for this book. It still kept me completely hooked and wanting to know what happened next. The ending definitely got me hyped for the second book and I'm excited to see how the story develops and to continue to follow these characters. Definitely rooting for Brannick over here.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Loved the author's writing style and will definitely read any books she puts out. The only reason I'm giving four stars vs five is because I feel like the plot sort of fell flat for me. However, I feel like that speaks volumes for the book because even then I couldn't see leaving less than a four star review for this book. It still kept me completely hooked and wanting to know what happened next. The ending definitely got me hyped for the second book and I'm excited to see how the story develops and to continue to follow these characters. Definitely rooting for Brannick over here.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 29, 2020
I love the fae, usually. In this case, not so much. I felt like there was this preparation throughout the book for something big in the end. It was very disappointing to see it was only a cliffhanger. I wouldn't mind it as much if the book was shorter.
I received an ARC of the book via Book Sirens.
I received an ARC of the book via Book Sirens.
December 6, 2021
I’ve been thinking about whether or not to give this book 5 stars or “only” 4.5 stars and the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I have nothing to complain about. There is nothing that rubbed me the wrong way, nothing that didn’t convince me and nothing that in any way fell off. The only reason I had for giving this book 4.5 stars is the feeling that book 2 and also the rest of the series probably have a lot more in story for me and that I need room for a higher rating later on in the series. And this is a dumb reason to lower a rating, isn’t it?! So, here I am with my 5 star review.
The story sucked me in immediately. I didn’t really know where the story would go at first, especially with King Huron in the picture. But the more I read, the more I loved everything about the story. The characters were likable and I clicked with Elora right away, because I just love her personality so much! The side characters were wonderful and all their personalities were so unique! Tansy, Soren and Blaz immediately stole my heart. Brannick was fascinating and the world was wonderful and magical and I wish I lived there myself!
The storyline has some really nice twists and turns. I didn’t know what to expect, I was surprised (especially by one thing in the end!!!!) and the last 40% of the book I just wanted to binge read the book, I didn’t want to put it down, I didn’t even want to sleep, but of course I had to fall asleep while reading.😂❤️
I fell in love with the story, the world and the characters, so I plan on reading not only the prequel novella, but also book 2 in the series very soon! <3
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story sucked me in immediately. I didn’t really know where the story would go at first, especially with King Huron in the picture. But the more I read, the more I loved everything about the story. The characters were likable and I clicked with Elora right away, because I just love her personality so much! The side characters were wonderful and all their personalities were so unique! Tansy, Soren and Blaz immediately stole my heart. Brannick was fascinating and the world was wonderful and magical and I wish I lived there myself!
The storyline has some really nice twists and turns. I didn’t know what to expect, I was surprised (especially by one thing in the end!!!!) and the last 40% of the book I just wanted to binge read the book, I didn’t want to put it down, I didn’t even want to sleep, but of course I had to fall asleep while reading.😂❤️
I fell in love with the story, the world and the characters, so I plan on reading not only the prequel novella, but also book 2 in the series very soon! <3
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 2, 2024
Court of Bitter Thorn is the first book in the "Fae of Bitter Thorn" series. Elora is the oldest daughter of a sword-fighter/blacksmith and a former royal harpist. She has two younger sisters Chloe (a hopeless romantic, poet and future fmc of the "Fae and Crystal Thorn" series) and Grace (a goofy, playful young girl who dreams of being a harpist as talented as her mother). In order to save her family from destitution, Elora must take part in an arranged marriage to a wealthy, older merchant who promises he will still allow her to practice her swordfighting once they're married. Though it goes against her adventurous nature, Elora is resigned to her fate.
When tragedy strikes and she and her sisters are left alone, her marriage becomes the only hope to take care of what's left of her family. But then Brannick, a mysterious fae prince, enters her life three weeks before her impending nuptials and makes a bargain for her to teach him swordfighting. He abducts her to Faerie and enchants her so she can't tell anyone about her skill with the sword or the details of their bargain. Furious, Elora makes a deal with a rival king to give up Brannick's secrets in exchange for a way back home. But she soon realizes that betraying Brannick may not have been the great idea she thought it was. Could it be that Faerie, and a certain fae prince, are growing on her?
This is a fun, entertaining book. I enjoyed it, and am excited to read the next in the series and find out what happens between Brannick and Elora. They seem like they'll eventually be a couple, or at least I hope so. This book and series is not quite as intense as "The Folk of The Air" series by Holly Black. I wouldn't really compare the two. I think Fae of Bitter Thorn is its own fun thing. 4 stars. Off to read Castle of Bitter Thorn...
When tragedy strikes and she and her sisters are left alone, her marriage becomes the only hope to take care of what's left of her family. But then Brannick, a mysterious fae prince, enters her life three weeks before her impending nuptials and makes a bargain for her to teach him swordfighting. He abducts her to Faerie and enchants her so she can't tell anyone about her skill with the sword or the details of their bargain. Furious, Elora makes a deal with a rival king to give up Brannick's secrets in exchange for a way back home. But she soon realizes that betraying Brannick may not have been the great idea she thought it was. Could it be that Faerie, and a certain fae prince, are growing on her?
This is a fun, entertaining book. I enjoyed it, and am excited to read the next in the series and find out what happens between Brannick and Elora. They seem like they'll eventually be a couple, or at least I hope so. This book and series is not quite as intense as "The Folk of The Air" series by Holly Black. I wouldn't really compare the two. I think Fae of Bitter Thorn is its own fun thing. 4 stars. Off to read Castle of Bitter Thorn...
September 28, 2021
Some who know me may say I have a weakness for fae bargains. But what can I say, there’s something about the secrets, romance and mystery that would have me accepting any bargain from a handsome fae prince.
That being said, I was so excited to get a chance to review this novel. At a first glance I was like okay so fae prince is going to fall madly in love with the human and they’re going to find a way to be together forever. The classic fae tale.
I was happily surprised with the twists this novel held. There was that suspense throughout the story that had you well aware there was more at play here than we really knew but I definitely did not call it the way I thought I had.
The world building was so fun and while we meet a handful of fae, their cunning personalities really make the interactions between them and Elora had me laughing at some points and cringing at others (mostly because I knew I would have fallen for the same tricks).
Overall I highly recommend picking up these series and getting lost in the court of Bitter Thorn. But remember the golden rule, “Only the truest weapon against him can win, and that is always the weapon of sin.”
That being said, I was so excited to get a chance to review this novel. At a first glance I was like okay so fae prince is going to fall madly in love with the human and they’re going to find a way to be together forever. The classic fae tale.
I was happily surprised with the twists this novel held. There was that suspense throughout the story that had you well aware there was more at play here than we really knew but I definitely did not call it the way I thought I had.
The world building was so fun and while we meet a handful of fae, their cunning personalities really make the interactions between them and Elora had me laughing at some points and cringing at others (mostly because I knew I would have fallen for the same tricks).
Overall I highly recommend picking up these series and getting lost in the court of Bitter Thorn. But remember the golden rule, “Only the truest weapon against him can win, and that is always the weapon of sin.”
December 14, 2021
Elora is stuck in the Faerie realm after being trucked by a Fae Prince (My favourite). Her sisters depend on her to survive and she is willing to do anything to get back to them, even when going back will lead her to be married off to a random. She made a bargain with the Prince to help him become High King or should she help a revival king to go home faster?
This was a fun read that reminded me a bit of The Folk of the Air and A Court of Thorns and Roses. It was fun and will I ever dislike a book with a 'charming, powerful, and wickedly handsome' fae prince? I enjoyed this, it was an easy read with great characters. I do wish more happened and that Elora's character developed a little faster but other than I really enjoyed her character and loved how determined she was. The world was immersive and I liked it, I will be picking up the next book!
This was a fun read that reminded me a bit of The Folk of the Air and A Court of Thorns and Roses. It was fun and will I ever dislike a book with a 'charming, powerful, and wickedly handsome' fae prince? I enjoyed this, it was an easy read with great characters. I do wish more happened and that Elora's character developed a little faster but other than I really enjoyed her character and loved how determined she was. The world was immersive and I liked it, I will be picking up the next book!
August 23, 2020
I so wanted to like this book more than I did. Don’t get me wrong, I sped through it in a day and a half. It was entertaining but unfortunately not very memorable and somewhat confusing at times.
The characters just didn’t resonate with me at all. The only one I had any interest in was Brannick and even he fell flat. There wasn’t much of him until near the end of the story and then his characterization was patchy at best. His speech changed between cultured and immature teenager which made it hard to see him as this swoonworthy fae prince. His tortured backstory, which was supposed to carry more impact, came across as something sadly adolescent and not a trick a fae prince who’s touted as so powerful and smart would fall prey to. The main heroine, Elora, annoyed me pretty much the entirety of the book. I wanted to like her but the insistence that she was smart when she continued to make dumb choices and do childish things didn’t endear her as a character. She acted like she was so mentally tough but broke at the slightest thing, stomping around and having outbursts. She claimed to care so much for her sisters and family but forgot those responsibilities easily when her own desires got the better of her. One moment she seemed completely incapable of something and the next she was so smart and able to achieve what a powerful fae prince could not. It’s those traits that bothered me about her. Not to mention her constant whining about marriage, it’s like I got it, you don’t like it, enough already.
The romance was practically non-existent. It was a weird combination of insta-love and slow-burn. Elora would moon over Brannick’s stunning looks while he belittled her and that pretty much summed up their relationship until around the last 20% of the book. Suddenly Brannick admired Elora for growing a spine and she’s now head-over-heels for him because he was a little kind to her and has a tortured past *massive eye roll*. We’re supposed to infer that he has deeper feelings for her that he’s restraining because of the curse he’s been placed under but honestly the way he behaves towards her is childish and not like he respects her in any way. The two barely interact for most of the book and when they do the scenes are short and not at all engaging. The bulk of their interaction is spent on Elora waxing about how hot the prince is and how he makes her heart race, as he calls her “mortal” and says something she did is disgusting or annoying. Their banter at certain points was entertaining but the chemistry was lacking.
The book drew me in with its lush descriptions of Faerie and the concept of Elora training Brannick for the “tournament” to become High King. Unfortunately there was very little of that. The writing about Faerie was the best part of the book. The rest of the plot elements surrounding the tournament fell completely short. Moments happen too quickly to feel climactic and romantic tension that could’ve been built by having Brannick and Elora train more didn’t happen at all. He’s absent for chunks of the story and there were only two sequences of her and the prince sparring, in a book that’s supposed to be about her training him. I felt there were several scenes that needed to be longer while other ones could’ve been eliminated for the sake of giving the characters more depth and interest. Instead what we’re treated to the most is Elora internally complaining about the state of her circumstances, a half-hearted betrayal plot and a friendship with a sprite that took more focus than the main romance. By the end of the book I felt the only character I knew well was Tansy the sprite. Not Elora, Brannick or any of the fae helping him. Especially Blaz, while there were so many hints throughout the book that there was more to the wolf than meets the eye, the idea was never explored. While the book zoomed by as an easy read and entertaining, nothing memorable stood out. The scenes didn’t have impact because there was no pause for emotion. Even ones that were supposed to have weight didn’t, the characters sped through dialogue and new moments piled up before the last could be enjoyed.
Like I said above, the writing for the book is good in the descriptions of Faerie and the plot concept but after that it can get a bit muddled. This book has great bones for an excellent fae series and even originality in a trope that is starting to get stale fast. However, the characters would need more depth and the plot space to breathe instead of being sped along so quickly. Overall I think the series has good potential, this first book just didn’t quite hit the mark. Will I read the sequel? Probably, I’ll be curious to see if the next book answers any of the lingering questions or improves upon the characters.
– I voluntarily read and reviewed an e-copy of this book I received for free through BookSirens from the author Kay L. Moody. All thoughts and opinions are my own. –
Review on my blog: Babbling Books Blog
The characters just didn’t resonate with me at all. The only one I had any interest in was Brannick and even he fell flat. There wasn’t much of him until near the end of the story and then his characterization was patchy at best. His speech changed between cultured and immature teenager which made it hard to see him as this swoonworthy fae prince. His tortured backstory, which was supposed to carry more impact, came across as something sadly adolescent and not a trick a fae prince who’s touted as so powerful and smart would fall prey to. The main heroine, Elora, annoyed me pretty much the entirety of the book. I wanted to like her but the insistence that she was smart when she continued to make dumb choices and do childish things didn’t endear her as a character. She acted like she was so mentally tough but broke at the slightest thing, stomping around and having outbursts. She claimed to care so much for her sisters and family but forgot those responsibilities easily when her own desires got the better of her. One moment she seemed completely incapable of something and the next she was so smart and able to achieve what a powerful fae prince could not. It’s those traits that bothered me about her. Not to mention her constant whining about marriage, it’s like I got it, you don’t like it, enough already.
The romance was practically non-existent. It was a weird combination of insta-love and slow-burn. Elora would moon over Brannick’s stunning looks while he belittled her and that pretty much summed up their relationship until around the last 20% of the book. Suddenly Brannick admired Elora for growing a spine and she’s now head-over-heels for him because he was a little kind to her and has a tortured past *massive eye roll*. We’re supposed to infer that he has deeper feelings for her that he’s restraining because of the curse he’s been placed under but honestly the way he behaves towards her is childish and not like he respects her in any way. The two barely interact for most of the book and when they do the scenes are short and not at all engaging. The bulk of their interaction is spent on Elora waxing about how hot the prince is and how he makes her heart race, as he calls her “mortal” and says something she did is disgusting or annoying. Their banter at certain points was entertaining but the chemistry was lacking.
The book drew me in with its lush descriptions of Faerie and the concept of Elora training Brannick for the “tournament” to become High King. Unfortunately there was very little of that. The writing about Faerie was the best part of the book. The rest of the plot elements surrounding the tournament fell completely short. Moments happen too quickly to feel climactic and romantic tension that could’ve been built by having Brannick and Elora train more didn’t happen at all. He’s absent for chunks of the story and there were only two sequences of her and the prince sparring, in a book that’s supposed to be about her training him. I felt there were several scenes that needed to be longer while other ones could’ve been eliminated for the sake of giving the characters more depth and interest. Instead what we’re treated to the most is Elora internally complaining about the state of her circumstances, a half-hearted betrayal plot and a friendship with a sprite that took more focus than the main romance. By the end of the book I felt the only character I knew well was Tansy the sprite. Not Elora, Brannick or any of the fae helping him. Especially Blaz, while there were so many hints throughout the book that there was more to the wolf than meets the eye, the idea was never explored. While the book zoomed by as an easy read and entertaining, nothing memorable stood out. The scenes didn’t have impact because there was no pause for emotion. Even ones that were supposed to have weight didn’t, the characters sped through dialogue and new moments piled up before the last could be enjoyed.
Like I said above, the writing for the book is good in the descriptions of Faerie and the plot concept but after that it can get a bit muddled. This book has great bones for an excellent fae series and even originality in a trope that is starting to get stale fast. However, the characters would need more depth and the plot space to breathe instead of being sped along so quickly. Overall I think the series has good potential, this first book just didn’t quite hit the mark. Will I read the sequel? Probably, I’ll be curious to see if the next book answers any of the lingering questions or improves upon the characters.
– I voluntarily read and reviewed an e-copy of this book I received for free through BookSirens from the author Kay L. Moody. All thoughts and opinions are my own. –
Review on my blog: Babbling Books Blog
January 19, 2024
Unfortunately, I had to force my way through... It was definitely more on the young side of young adult.
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