Review: “A Dance with the Fae Prince” is the best “Married to Magic” book yet!

Inspired by “Cinderella,” “A Dance with the Fae Prince” is told from Katria’s perspective. The daughter of a once prosperous merchant, Katria is forced to occupy the role of her step-family’s servant when her father falls prey to the sea. That is, until the money funding their lavish lifestyle runs out. In a bid to return their estate to it’s former glory, Katria’s step-mother sells her hand in marriage to the mysterious Lord Fenwood—a man that refuses even his new bride the pleasure of seeing his face. Little does she know that her husband is actually Davien Aviness, a fae prince looking for a way to reclaim his throne. 

It is important to note that “A Dance with the Fae Prince” is set in the same universe as other “Married to Magic” books. I really enjoyed the complexity of the world Kova created and how it is divided into different parts: the Natural World (inhabited by humans), Midscape (inhabited by elves, fae, vampir, lykin, and mer), and the Great Beyond (inhabited by the dead). Because Davien hails from the fae wilds, the reader gets to fully explore a region that was only touched upon in “A Deal with the Elf King” when he returns to take up his crown. Kova’s imagery is fantastic, detailing how vibrant the fae wilds are in comparison to the Natural World. 

Through Katria, we learn of the Boltovs and the Aviness, two families competing for control over the fae. In order to reign over the wilds, an heir of the Aviness bloodline must possess the magic of the old kings, be anointed, wear the crystal crown, and rule from the high court. All of these qualifications contribute to Kova’s worldbuilding and the intrigue surrounding the identity of the true heir, no matter that the obvious hinting took away the element of surprise. 

The romance in this novel is subtle and slow to develop, which I personally did not mind, but some may find it underwhelming considering that the book is advertised as having “the right amount of steam.” The few spicy scenes that are present are well-written, but not as impactful as they could have been because of Katria and Davien’s surface level connection. Regardless, I enjoyed how the two started out as enemies and ended as lovers—I truly am a sucker for this trope.