Sorry Cardan fans, but the romance in here between Suren and Oak is way cuter than Jude and Cardan from The Cruel Prince. Yup, I said it.

Our heroine was the ultimate black cat—a literal feral forest creature with blue skin and serrated teeth (and she scratches). And our hero was one of those swoony rakes (manipulating people into loving him is literally his fae power) with a secret hurt.

And you know who loves overanalyzing the misdirecting dialogue of these fae who physically cannot lie? Me 🙋🏻‍♀️ I read all the dialogue in here so many times, especially the parts where they’re trying not to admit their feelings for each other without actually lying. Love that.

That said, this first book in the new spin-off series had a “picking up where we left off” feeling? Instead of the sense of wonderment I got from the introduction to this bizarre fae world in the first book of the main series? It’s been so long since I read the main series that I would’ve liked more of a refresh. I think it would have made the story feel more whimsical.

Still, I had fun. And I’m looking forward to book two.