A Court This Cruel and Lovely: Kingdom of Lies, Book 1

Well now, that was lovely! This book was so fun! It gripped me from “go” and didn’t stop! I loved the growth of the characters, the chemistry between them both romantic and platonic, the twists, and the storytelling! It was definitely worth staying up until 2am and getting up three hours later! If you’ll excuse me, I have another book to start!

Stacia Stark's A Court This Cruel and Lovely weaves an enchanting tale filled with betrayal, magic, and rebellion. Set in a richly constructed world where humans, hybrids, and fae coexist, Stark delivers a captivating narrative that holds the reader from start to finish.The book's plot thrives on the tension between its characters, particularly through the forced proximity trope. The dual POV adds depth, allowing readers to delve into the minds of both the possessive male main character and the strong, compassionate female lead. The slow burn romance between them is laced with spice, adding an intoxicating layer to the court intrigue and forbidden magic that permeate the story.Stark excels in world-building, crafting a realm where rebellion simmers beneath the surface, and the stakes are as high as the towering fae courts. The blend of human and fae magic creates a unique backdrop that enhances the narrative's complexity. The strong and compassionate FMC shines as she navigates the treacherous waters of court politics, while the possessive MMC's intensity provides a perfect counterbalance.While the pacing is generally well-handled, the slow burn might test the patience of some readers. However, the payoff is well worth the wait, as the climactic moments are executed with precision and impact.Overall, A Court This Cruel and Lovely is a spellbinding addition to the fantasy genre. With its compelling characters, intricate world-building, and a story that brims with intrigue and emotion, it's a must-read for fans of court fantasy and slow-burn romance.

Prisca is just a poor girl from a northern village, trying to pay off her family’s debt after her father’s death. She lives with her mom and brother, and they’re just scraping by. But Prisca has a secret: she’s one of the ‘corrupt.’ In this world, when babies are born, they sacrifice their power to the gods in exchange for protection from bloodthirsty fae. The humans who keep their powers are the corrupt, and they’re burned at the stake if discovered. When Prisca saves a girl in her village, her secret is out, and she has to run for her life. She ends up with a pack of mysterious mercenaries led by the swoon-worthy but ruthless Lorian. They strike a deal—she’ll help them sneak into the city, and they’ll help her harness her power. But Lorian has his own secrets that could tear the kingdom apart.The world-building in this book is fantastic. It’s a strong start to a series with so much promise. I loved spending time in the castles, inns, and villages. The setting feels so vivid and real. And Lorian? Total book boyfriend material. He’s a bit of a brute at times, but you can tell he’s down bad for Prisca from the start, even if he doesn’t want to admit it. Prisca, on the other hand, is a total badass. She’s always ready to stab someone if needed, even if she’s a bit naive sometimes.The plot keeps you hooked. Some might have seen the ending coming, but I definitely didn’t. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series. There’s so much more to explore in this world, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.Read if you like:-Dual POV-Enemies to lovers-Cliffhangers-One horse / one bed-Slow burn

I very rarely write reviews but this is one of the few I had to give since this series absolutely blew my mind! The magic and world building is next level amazing, the characters have so much depth and the conflicts are so intricate and intriguing without being too complicated or conviluted. Usually I can get a sense of plot lines and be able to predict what might happen next but the twists got me in several places, I am so impressed with this whole series.5 ⭐4.5🌶️(definitely a slow burn but the tension is delicious and when it hits, damn!)💰 Totally worth any price

I loved this. It’s well written, fast paced, and lots of little unexpected turns which I love. I’m not always for a book that’s too predictable. I will say, I figured the main plot twist at the end out fairly early on, but in no way did that lessen the appeal. I liked the slow burn as well, though it built up steadily throughout so I didn’t think it was THAT slow. I will say, the main male character is portrayed as a savage. I suppose in some ways it makes sense, but it was a little heavy on some of those vicious traits that it got a few eye rolls at the end. Still, it was a good read over all. No where was it too slow which is great! Definitely reading book 2

Okay, I’ve probably read over 100 Kindle Unlimited books this last year, chasing that SJM high. I tend to avoid books with a title that follows this pattern, “A Court of ____and____”. With that said, I stumbled upon this book and found it to be genuinely good. The writing is well edited, the storyline is interesting and dynamic, and I found myself really excited to read on. The protagonist is fierce and interesting. I tend to read so many books that don’t quite achieve what this author does, and I have to appreciate when there’s just great first person writing (rare), and while there’s some predictability, there are still marvelous surprises. Well done, Stacia Stark!

I was missing the fae after reading ACOTAR. This book wasn’t bad, I may read the next book in the series but we shall see. It is an entertaining read, but I don’t know if it caught my attention enough to read all 4 books yet. TBD.

No começo fiquei um pouco confusa mas depois com o desenrolar da trama fez todo o sentido. Li em 2 dias pq é envolvente toda a história. Espero gostar dos próximos ☺️

Do yourself a favour and READ THIS SERIES RIGHT NOW! This book helped me recover from my iron flame hangover. This is literally the perfect romantacy book!!! If you want enemies to lovers, strong female lead characters, morally grey male characters, witty banter, amazing side characters who you will love with all your heart then this is the friggen book series for you!!! I love this series (dying now that I have to wait for the last book coming out in May) and it has a world that is unique and different and the book itself always kept me entertained and guessing what would happen next. Please….just read this series!!

Lorian character is not one of my favourite to bossy sor my liking but the story is so well tell put together I’ve loved all the characters even the secondary ones. Can’t wait to start the second book.

𝐼’𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑡. 𝑆𝑜𝑜𝑛, 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑡.🥀 Enemies(ish) to lovers/ Hate to love🥀 Slow Burn🥀 Faes/ hybrids/ humans🥀 One horse🥀 Secret identities🥀 Power/Magic🥀 Touch her and ..🥀 Found Family⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Who hid this book from me ?How is it possible I didn’t hear about this series until a few days ago ?It was so so good !!The more I read, the more I fell in love…The world building was perfect, i pictured everything easily without being overwhelmed by information.I loved Prisca , she grows throughout the book and is becoming more feral. She is endearing, fierce, loyal and smart .Lorian is your typical favorite book boyfriend, brooding, bloodthirsty, possessive, mysterious..and with the found family trope we meet good secondary characters, and I loved everyone.Very good plot, the writing hooked me from the beginning, and I struggled to put my kindle down ..The romance is a delicious slow burn , full of tension ..Nice cliffhanger.. I’m jumping in the sequel right away ..I highly recommend it.

The main thing I look for when finding a new author/series is whether I would read it again. I know not everyone likes to re-read, some even need years before picking up a story again to give them time to forget. But I need a book and its characters to be so engaging that I want to read the book again as soon as I’m finished. I miss them and their world, they become my companions and comfort. I find extras I missed the first time around because I gobbled the words up too quickly, each read brings something new.A Court This Cruel and Lovely, the first in the Kingdom of Lies series, is this for me and more.Stacia Stark has created a world both familiar and new, with many a romantasy staple sprinkled throughout to draw in the ‘enemies to lovers/forced proximity/one horse’ crowd…of which I am a proud card carrying member.The world building is clear and easy to follow, giving the reader just enough to keep them intrigued without bogging down in too much detail.The characters are *chefs kiss*, nuanced and varied, funny and infuriating, lovable and heart wrenching.Prisca is the female main character, the book opens with her trying to hide in plain site, suppressing her abilities in a world that does not accept or appreciate power of any kind being bestowed upon the ‘unworthy’. The story follows her as she learns more about her heritage and her own abilities.Admittedly this isn’t a new journey for an FMC to embark on, and as a tall dark haired woman of the curvier persuasion, Prisca being small and fair haired does rankle a little, however I cannot help but love her as an individual. She is spicy and feisty, and entirely relatable in her inability to let go of a slight. Her progression and growth throughout this first book is enjoyable to follow.Lorian as the main male character is everything I could want in a book boyfriend and more. He is ruthless and 100% morally grey at times, he makes cutthroat decisions and his methods are at times questionable - both of which Prisca falls foul of - but he is fiercely loyal to those close to him. As the reader learns more about Lorian and his history the decisions he makes and his need to push those he cares for to be the best version of themselves becomes clearer.I am a fan of spice in fantasy books and there are a few scenes in this book, none of which are gratuitous. What I hugely approved of is that each scene was led by Prisca and for her, Lorian although aggressively male is very PROgressive when it comes to satisfying his woman.A Court This Cruel and Lovely also contains many a lovely side character who are integral in the main characters journey, adding to the story and creating a family that the reader cannot help but love.Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. It follows in the footsteps of many a Romantasy book before it, but has enough uniqueness and individuality that it has become one of my ultimate favourites.I am hooked by the world Stacia Stark has created and I don’t want to leave it.Bullying my book bestie in to abandoning her worryingly unstable TBR pile to read this series is the highest compliment I can pay it. Please jump on the Prisca and Lorian train, it’s a ride well worth it.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.