Bridge Kingdom (the first two) are one of my favorite fantasy romance books so I quickly picked up A Fate Inked in Blood. Sadly, I was disappointed. The worlbuilding is nice, the premise of the plot are interesting and the beginning was really different. However, as the book progressed, I felt it got worse and worse. I didn't feel it had *some* clichés, I felt they were used as a blueprint. The ending was the typical ending for each of the tropes that are inserted in the book. I am so sad about it because Bridge Kingdom was so good 😢
I love the world in Folk of the Air too! Early on in the first book, I felt that "oh yeah, this is what I've been looking for" feeling. Holly Black writes fae the way our ancestors talked about them, they're not just gym-bros with wings 😂. I'm very excited to pick up the new duology, I was waiting for the second book to drop before I started🤓
I thought that "A Fate Inked in Blood" was really poorly written, the story was chaotic with the MC changing her mind about what to do way too often, to the point where nothing made sense anymore and I couldn't take it seriously. The only OK part was the romance, but with such a silly MC I couldn't care... And I really like the Bridge Kingdom series (vol 1&2). Such a disappointment :(
I agree with your book opinions most of the time but not this time 😅I would not recommend A fate Inked in Blood to fantasy readers. In fact, I would not recommend it to anyone (not sorry) The worldbuilding is miniscule and so many things do not make sense. Plus the main 'heroine' is extremely irritable and frustrating to read about. I only finished it because I was hoping it might get better by the end but nope. It just gets worse and worse. I was so frustrated I wanted to yank the book out the window when I finished it! I had conversations about it with quite a few people and while some do like it, majority was....let's say not impressed.
Have you read Heartless Hunter? It was a BOTM club fantasy pick in Feb. I own it, but haven't picked it up yet. It is getting very good reviews on BOTM. I also picked A Fate Inked in Blood and am looking forward to reading it as well! Thx for the great reviews!
I just finished A Fate Inked in Blood. The audiobook was sooo good, I would have never been able to read it with all the pronunciations otherwise. I am compelled to read the rest of her works.
0:19 The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett *Goodreads Rating:* 4.35 ⭐ out of 5 ⭐ *Genres:* Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Adult Thriller, Science Fiction *Page Count:* 413 pages 7:30 A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated, #1) by Danielle L. Jensen *Goodreads Rating:* 4.06⭐ out of 5 ⭐ *Genres:* Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Adult Fiction, Magic *Page Count:* 432 pages 13:36 The Prisoner’s Throne (The Stolen Heir Duology, #2) by Holly Black *Goodreads Rating:* 3.98 ⭐ out of 5 ⭐ *Genres:* Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fae, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Magic *Page Count:* 359 pages
I’m in line for Fate Inked in Blood at the library! I’ve been wary because of how ridiculous I’ve been finding “romantacy” novels. Have you read “Undertaking of Hart and Mercy”? It’s the best romantacy I’ve read!
I've seen a fate inked in blood but was hesitant to pick it up based solely on the beautiful cover..but now I'll add it to my tbr along with a tainted cup 😆
Hi Elle, I know you probably have lots of comments to reply to, but it would mean so much to me if you could let me know if there is SI or suicide in The Tainted Cup. I have a big boundary around that for safety reasons, and I would love to pick up this book but am afraid of that trigger. Thank you so much!
Been a big fan of Holly Black since her Modern Tales of Faerie series (predates Folk of the Air!) HIghly recommend MToF to anyone who likes Folk of the Air. Especially loved finding out that she modeled her faery characters appearance & style from Brian Froud's faery art.
I read both A Fate Inked in Blood and The Prison’s Throne and enjoyed them both. We will see Sophie again when we go to the undersea in the Elfhame world.
The Prisoner’s Throne is such a beautiful book! I haven’t read anything by this author yet but I want to change that soon. I love the look of A Fate inked in blood and I would buy it based on looks alone, but I’m not a fan of romance at all so I’ll probably pass on it. The Tainted Cup sounds good too.
I've just started on the Cruel Prince of Holly Black's folk of the air series, and have the next 2 in this trilogy but after listening to your review of The Prisoner's Throne I have now put this and the second one in my shopping list for when I've finished the folk of air trilogy. So, thank you for your reviews
Bridge Kingdom (the first two) are one of my favorite fantasy romance books so I quickly picked up A Fate Inked in Blood. Sadly, I was disappointed. The worlbuilding is nice, the premise of the plot are interesting and the beginning was really different. However, as the book progressed, I felt it got worse and worse. I didn't feel it had *some* clichés, I felt they were used as a blueprint. The ending was the typical ending for each of the tropes that are inserted in the book. I am so sad about it because Bridge Kingdom was so good 😢
Fate Inked In Blood started off strong but ended in such a predictable way. Hoping book 2 is stronger
I love the world in Folk of the Air too! Early on in the first book, I felt that "oh yeah, this is what I've been looking for" feeling. Holly Black writes fae the way our ancestors talked about them, they're not just gym-bros with wings 😂. I'm very excited to pick up the new duology, I was waiting for the second book to drop before I started🤓
I thought that "A Fate Inked in Blood" was really poorly written, the story was chaotic with the MC changing her mind about what to do way too often, to the point where nothing made sense anymore and I couldn't take it seriously. The only OK part was the romance, but with such a silly MC I couldn't care... And I really like the Bridge Kingdom series (vol 1&2). Such a disappointment :(
same. Only thing this book accomplished is making me frustrated 😅
I agree with your book opinions most of the time but not this time 😅I would not recommend A fate Inked in Blood to fantasy readers. In fact, I would not recommend it to anyone (not sorry) The worldbuilding is miniscule and so many things do not make sense. Plus the main 'heroine' is extremely irritable and frustrating to read about. I only finished it because I was hoping it might get better by the end but nope. It just gets worse and worse. I was so frustrated I wanted to yank the book out the window when I finished it!
I had conversations about it with quite a few people and while some do like it, majority was....let's say not impressed.
Have you read Heartless Hunter? It was a BOTM club fantasy pick in Feb. I own it, but haven't picked it up yet. It is getting very good reviews on BOTM. I also picked A Fate Inked in Blood and am looking forward to reading it as well! Thx for the great reviews!
I loved Heartless Hunter, it's a fun cat and mouse back and forth with thick tension. Great for reading slumps 😊
@@rubymoon1487 Good to know! Thx, I plan to start it this weekend.
I love Heartless Hunter
I just finished A Fate Inked in Blood. The audiobook was sooo good, I would have never been able to read it with all the pronunciations otherwise. I am compelled to read the rest of her works.
I can wholeheartedly recommend her Dark Shores series! I love that series so much!
Have you wrapped up Fifth Season? Looking for thoughts on it now that I'm finished!
I think Danielle Jensen's Dark Shores series is criminally underrated! It is so so good and has amazing characters!
0:19 The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett
*Goodreads Rating:* 4.35 ⭐ out of 5 ⭐
*Genres:* Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Adult Thriller, Science Fiction
*Page Count:* 413 pages
7:30 A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated, #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
*Goodreads Rating:* 4.06⭐ out of 5 ⭐
*Genres:* Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Adult Fiction, Magic
*Page Count:* 432 pages
13:36 The Prisoner’s Throne (The Stolen Heir Duology, #2) by Holly Black
*Goodreads Rating:* 3.98 ⭐ out of 5 ⭐
*Genres:* Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fae, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Magic
*Page Count:* 359 pages
I’m in line for Fate Inked in Blood at the library! I’ve been wary because of how ridiculous I’ve been finding “romantacy” novels.
Have you read “Undertaking of Hart and Mercy”? It’s the best romantacy I’ve read!
I've seen a fate inked in blood but was hesitant to pick it up based solely on the beautiful cover..but now I'll add it to my tbr along with a tainted cup 😆
Just finished A Fate Inked in Blood last night…really enjoyed it. The Norse mythology really enhanced the story for me.
Hi Elle, I know you probably have lots of comments to reply to, but it would mean so much to me if you could let me know if there is SI or suicide in The Tainted Cup. I have a big boundary around that for safety reasons, and I would love to pick up this book but am afraid of that trigger. Thank you so much!
That copy of The Prisoner's Throne is stunningly gorgeous! And it even has a fox on it!
My TBR just got 3 books longer 😆
I loved “The Tainted Cup”! I listened to the audiobook and it was amazing.
Thank-you for this lovely list. I'll have to think about all the Danielle L. Jensen books you mentioned. :)
Still stuck on my library waitlist for The Tainted Cup. I want to read that one so badly!
I need to find a copy of the tainted cup!!
Tainted Cup it is very good and amazing book and the love character and story 💙💙💛💗💗💗💜💙💙🌈🌼🩷❣️💕💕🩷📙📖🌻🌻📙🩷📚🩷❣️🌈🌈🌈💗💗💜💙💚💘📚❣️💕🪻❣️❣️💘💘💚💜💛💗💗🌈🌈
Been a big fan of Holly Black since her Modern Tales of Faerie series (predates Folk of the Air!) HIghly recommend MToF to anyone who likes Folk of the Air. Especially loved finding out that she modeled her faery characters appearance & style from Brian Froud's faery art.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend Elliot and Luna Sean 💕🌻🌻❣️❣️💛💕🪻🪻📚🩷📙🫶🏻🫶🏻🧡💖💖🪻🌞📙📖💕💕🌻❣️🫶🏻🩵🧡🌸💓💝🌞🌼📙📙🩷📚🪻💛💕💕💕🌻💛📚📚📚🪻🪻📚📖📖📖📖
I read both A Fate Inked in Blood and The Prison’s Throne and enjoyed them both. We will see Sophie again when we go to the undersea in the Elfhame world.
You always look so stunning ❤
The Prisoner’s Throne is such a beautiful book! I haven’t read anything by this author yet but I want to change that soon. I love the look of A Fate inked in blood and I would buy it based on looks alone, but I’m not a fan of romance at all so I’ll probably pass on it. The Tainted Cup sounds good too.
Hey Elliot! Where do you find your new fantasy? Looking for good book resources if you'd be so kind as to share. Is this off Goodreads or something?
I've just started on the Cruel Prince of Holly Black's folk of the air series, and have the next 2 in this trilogy but after listening to your review of The Prisoner's Throne I have now put this and the second one in my shopping list for when I've finished the folk of air trilogy. So, thank you for your reviews
I always wonder how you can do these awesome and detailed reviews? I wish I could do this.
Great Video!
Tainted Cup v good, like Black with fae stories. You're second book follows the first...... books you wrote..