Book Review: Seeds of Sorrow by Elle Beaumont and Christis Christie

About the Book:

Title: Seeds of Sorrow

Author: Elle Beaumont & Christis Christie

Series: Immortal Realms #1

Page Length: 409

Publication Date: May 25, 20022

Publisher: Midnight Tide Pub.

Synopsis: Life for Eden is simple—until she’s given to the nightmare king.

Wishing for more adventure in her life, and hoping to escape from under her overprotective mother’s thumb even for just a night, Eden accepts an invitation to a ball in another king’s court. Despite her mother’s ire, it all seems worth it as their travels take Eden away from home for the first time and into the middle realm.

Draven, known as the king of nightmares and ruler of the dark realm, Andhera, desires only to remain in his kingdom and maintain control and order over the ravenous creatures that lurk in the shadows. However, he finds himself drawn away by the mysterious summons of his brother, who appears to need his aid desperately.

In one evening, thrust unwittingly together, Lady Eden and King Draven find themselves beguiled, betrayed, and betrothed. Neither is prepared for what it means for them, or for the immortal realms.

As politics and death intermingle, can two entirely different fae learn to rely on one another? Or will the dark realm destroy all that is held most innocent and precious within the realms, and Eden herself?

LINKS:   Goodreads   |    Amazon

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My Review:

A Hades and Persephone retelling, Seeds of Sorrow is a fantastic start to the Immortal Realms series! The characters are well developed and interesting, and I was drawn to Eden and Draven’s stories. Eden has been sheltered by her mother and desperately longs for freedom and adventure. Draven is the King of Nightmares and is feared among humans for having a ruthless and depraved reputation.

When Eden meets and connects with a mysterious man at a ball, she has no idea that it’s Draven, and when she finds out, she is stunned. She’s even more shocked when her betrothal to the King of Nightmares is announced. As Eden travels to the dark realm with Draven, she begins to realize that not everything she knows about him and his world is true. But political dangers, mysterious murders, and more plague the couple.

I loved Eden and Draven. They are so different, yet they fit together so well. I like how much Eden grows over the course of the story, from shy and timid to empowered and confident. She reminds me a bit of Rapunzel – naive and sheltered by a domineering and abusive mother and falling for an anti-hero.

Speaking of anti-hero, Draven is a super swoon-worthy character. Mysterious and dark with a reputation that proceeds him, Draven proves that there is more to him than the rumors suggest. And he and Eden have the best romance! There’s so much chemistry between them, and the way their love story progresses from a forced marriage to a deep, loving, and passionate romance is positively swoon-worthy.

The world-building is rich, immersive, and so unique, and the intrigue is filled with suspense and action. There are many nail-biting scenes, and as Eden and Draven slowly figure out more about the deaths and the targets on their backs, the stakes get really high. I’m interested to see how the bigger plot plays out as the series continues.

I’m not sure how I feel about Draven’s brothers, but I’m certainly intrigued by their stories and look forward to learning more about them. I feel like they, like Draven, are more than what people think, and I do like the scenes where the three brothers are together, especially toward the end. They have a long and rich history, and their connection is strong. I think there’s definitely more to all of them than meets the eye! This is a great story for readers who enjoy paranormal romance or Hades and Persephone retellings. It’s immersive and unique, and the love story is fantastic!

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance!

• The world-building.

Favorite Line:

“Not all warriors battle on a field.”