3.75 ( )

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC of this book.

This was another 2021 release that I was really excited for. As a transmasc person who love fae fantasies and witchy vibes, this seemed to be the perfect book. The book wasn't too hard to get through, however the pacing was slow and disjointed for a good 75% of the novel. Even the blurb of the book is misleading, for Wyatt does make a deal with the enemy but then nothing actually comes of it. Plot? What plot? My favorite parts of the book, the relationship between Wyatt and Emyr, as well as the characters of Emyr and Briar themselves, were the only things holding this book at a 2 star for me. And all of their development happened in the last 20% of the book unfortunately. The book was an average read and I wish I enjoyed it more than I did. I think I will still give the sequel a chance, but I will be going in with realistic expectations. ( )

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
0🌶 (YA) - But there's some intense tension though

Wyatt has been in hiding for a few years now. He grew up with a family that resented his very existence, and his future has been all but signed away since childhood. After a horrible accident he escaped and was able to find love and acceptance with an indigenous family in Texas who's daughter, Briar, is his best friend. But his past has just come calling: his childhood fiancé has just found him again and is insisting he come back to rule by his side.

Couple key problems with that whole situation:
1) When the marriage contract was signed, Wyatt was still living as a girl... and the intention was for him to become queen. Now that he came out as trans... the queen part is off the table.
2) In that same vein... his old best friend and fiancé Emyr had been intending to marry him as a girl... and even if he still had feelings for Emyr... Wyatt has no idea if Emyr would still reciprocate those feelings.
3) Love and friendship aside... Wyatt is a witch born to Fae parents and witches are treated horribly in the Fae kingdoms, like second class citizens. Wyatt isn't exactly keen to go back to a world where his only value was seen as the mate of the new King and potential mother to his heirs. Hard pass.

Sadly that original marriage contract was signed in blood, and now Wyatt is forced to dive right back into a world of danger, prejudice, and political upheaval.

This is the first installment of a gripping story that explores the sometimes impossible choice between being true to yourself and sacrificing yourself for the greater good (or maybe finding the elusive third path). There are so many important struggles and topics that the author is able to tackle and give a perspective on through the eyes of both our MMCs and our side characters.

Through Wyatt, we see the struggle he faces as not just a trans man but also as a member of the marginalized witch community in an antiquated and almost segregated Fae world. We see Emyr struggling to create a more fair and just Fae society, but having to fight against everyone, including his family, to do it. We see Briar as a warrior for good change on all fronts, willing to call out the injustice and hypocrisy she sees all around her. We see Wyatt's sister coming to terms with how brainwashed she was as a child by her parents and the consequences it caused for her brother. Plus so so many more.

The best way to learn about the world is to see it from a diverse variety of perspectives, and the author has given us quite the gift with this story and the vast diversity of the cast of characters. And somehow, with all of that intense topic coverage... the author still manages to infuse snark and brevity into Wyatt's voice (it's a single POV) to give us hope.

I listened to this in a single day and am already ready to dive into book 2 to see how this story continues! ( )

Not really for me. Would have preferred more plot and less character struggle, but well done and nice to see representation. ( )

Picked this up from the library. I enjoyed the over all story and the world that is fleshed out and created. And the conflicts are relatable.
I just wish that Wyatt wasn't such an annoying character. I should give him some credit, being 17 and going through what he has, doesn't lend to the most self aware or introspective person, or the most reasonable about self. But it's so hard to be the back seat conscience that is screaming, 'Stop lying to your fucking self!! Listen to yourself and deal with your shit! Don't ignore it! Bitch!'
Maybe a very relatable comment for many of us, we never take our own good advice.
I enjoyed this book enough that I am going to keep an eye out for the next one. I want to see how the world and characters grow. ( )