About the Book:
Title: Crown of Bitter Thorn
Author: Kay L. Moody
Series: The Fae of Bitter Thorn #3
Page Length: 350
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Publisher: Marten Press
Synopsis: Faerie is forever changed.
Prince Brannick is still determined to become High King of Faerie but doing so will require support from the other courts. Many fae are still hesitant to back him because of the sins of his mother. He will have to offer favors and bargains that put him in danger.
He wants to fight for his rightful place as High King. He wants to end his conflict with the queen of Fairfrost for good. But his heart might be too broken to do anything.
Mortals in Faerie always bring trouble.
The cost this time might be too high to pay.
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My Review:
Crown of Bitter Thorn is a great addition to The Fae of Bitter Thorn series, and it picks up shortly after the last book ended. Moody’s fae world continues to expand, and we are taken to new kingdoms and are introduced to new and often frightening supernatural beings and creatures. Equally fascinating is the political intrigue as Prince Brannick and Elora try to gain allies against the queen. There are so many ulterior and hidden motives that Elora and the prince never know who they can fully trust or who is actually on their side.
Elora goes through a lot in the story and repeatedly puts herself in danger to protect Brannick, his kingdom, and his people. Determined to save Faerie and all who have been hurt by the evil High Queen Alessandra, Elora’s love for Brannick and the fae world fuels her. She is a determined and brave woman, persistent in her goals even when faced with the impossible. She’s also really kind and compassionate. She has such a tender heart, and she truly cares for those she meets. Elora always wants to do better and make things better, and she is stubborn, resilient, and extremely courageous.
I love that we see more of Elora’s sisters in this book. Like the other characters in the story, Elora’s younger sisters are well-developed and interesting. They only humans in Faerie, they have more to offer the fae than expected. The detestable queen becomes an even more dynamically developed character as well, and the story delves more into her reasons for wanting Brannick and power. I found this aspect of the novel interesting, and though it didn’t make me like her character more, it definitely provided good insight into her misguided and power-hungry notions.
The love story between Elora and Brannick continues to flourish, though I did hope for a little more in the romance department, especially in the first half of the book. After what happened at the end of the last book and what Elora did for Brannick, I found his initial treatment of her a bit extreme and unusual. His actions in this first half of the book contrasted with my expectations, but I think this has a lot to do with the fact that Brannick is not very experienced with feeling such deep and strong emotions for another person. I do like how their relationship progresses, especially in the second half of the book! It seems as if they are on more equal terms in this book, and I have a feeling their relationship is only going to get better from here!
Finally, can I just say how much I love Brannick’s wolf Blaz? A fiercely loyal and intelligent companion who becomes a great support and asset to Elora and Brannick, Blaz is also so sweet and caring. Blaz, the consummate protector, has some pretty cool magical gifts too.
Like all of Moody’s stories, this story has a ton of action, suspense, and a plethora of interesting and dynamically developed characters. And that ending! She’s the master of cliffhangers! I can’t wait to read the fourth book in the series and see if Brannick and Elora can help Faerie and find their own happy ending. Thanks so much to Kay L. Moody for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The amazing and unique characters.
- Blaz!!!
- The supernatural world/world-building.
Favorite Lines:
If there was danger ahead, it was almost always better to face it head on. Maybe she needed magic to be a true fae, but she didn’t need it to be her true self.
Love is not something you earn once and never fight for again. Love requires constant nurturing. In return, it often gives more than deserved.
Great review! I really want to read these!
Thanks! I hope you love them!