**We were gifted an eARC of this book, however all thoughts and opinions are our own**
Dark Romantasy is a genre I feel is being talked about everywhere right now and I’ll be honest unless I’ve unwittingly read some before I’m new to the party.
Author Gemma Preston recently sent me over a copy of her newly released book The Faerie Guild Trials which describes itself as being a dark romantic fantasy and I’ll admit I was intrigued enough to push it up my TBR list. With the mention of fae in any synopsis I’m hooked to be honest and I couldn’t wait to check out this first instalment in a new Earth and Shadows duology.
About The Book
Efia Mathonwy, the last Nüwch, must survive the deadly trials of the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wielding the rare power to control shadows. As she faces ruthless foes and navigates the cutthroat faerie politics, Efia discovers an unexpected ally in Ansel, a mysterious fae with secrets of his own.
In a contest where each decision could mean life or death, Efia’s journey unfolds in a dance of danger and intrigue. Shadows cling to her every move, exposing hidden dangers and family secrets.
With the realm on the brink of chaos, Efia must choose her path wisely. Will she conquer the trials and emerge triumphant, or will the enemies that surround her become her undoing? In a world where survival is a deadly game, alliances will crumble, and the fate of the realm will be decided.
Review
With the her Uncle, the High King, dead and the next ruler undecided Efia is faced with the impossible, fight to the death in the Faerie Guild Trials to win or be punished by her Father.
Thrust into three trials against creatures of all shapes and sizes she will need to use everything she has to make it to the end, even if it means creating a forbidden alliance. But who can she really trust and even if she wins and claims the ultimate prize will she gain her freedom?
The world building in this book is perfect & the characters are well written and perfectly fleshed out. It’s much more brutal than I expected going in but to be honest I’m so hear for it. I found the romance elements a little more subtle than expected and found it didn’t overshadow the action, finding the perfect balance between the two in my opinion. I also really need to give a special mention to the friendship between Efia and Wen which I absolutely adored.
This book reminds me of a mix of The Folk of Air series & The Hunger Games- two of my favourite series and this duology looks set to join the list. I couldn’t put this book down and I sincerely hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next instalment! An easy 5 star all day long.
About The Author
Amazon bestselling author of fantasy, Gem L Preston, comes from a small town in South Wales. It was there that she was influenced by the mythology and legends of her country and that, along with her love of video games, led to the creation of her debut series: The Stag & Hollow Chronicles.
Her characters are brave and outgoing, but in real life, Gem is scared of moths and loves nothing more than relaxing with a cup of tea.
When she is not writing (or trying to write whilst her two demon daughters run wild), Gem spends most of her time reading, gaming or spending time with her family and friends. A member of perhaps too many fandoms, Gem loves nothing more than indulging in Marvel/Harry Potter/Star Wars theories—a passionate discussion is probably one of her favourite things.
In 2015, Gemma was diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension, a rare disease that involves a build up of pressure in the fluid surrounding her brain. She pushes for education on the various symptoms that accompany this disease, including potential blindness and severe headaches.
The Faerie Guild Trials is available to purchase now from Amazon*
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