Book Review: Dark Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Dark Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Published: April 1, 2021
Series: Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac #1
Genres: Adult // Romance, Fantasy
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ (explicit open door)
Quick Thoughts: This reverse harem romance delivers over-the-top characters and pure entertainment. Think trashy reality TV in the best possible way. Dark Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti is perfect for fantasy romance readers craving immediate fun and easy-to-follow plots, though those seeking dense world-building might want to skip this one.
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Death/Grief
Substance Abuse
Addiction
Abandonment
Kidnapping
Self harm
Bullying
Murder
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Reverse Harem/Why Choose?
Academic Settings
Zodiac/Celestial Magic Systems
Working Class FMC
Possessive MMCs
Murder Mystery
Hidden/Secret Identities
Dual Timeline
Multi-POV
What is Dark Fae about?
Below is a spoiler free synopsis of Dark Fae:
What do a heartless Dragon Shifter, a cold-blooded Basilisk, an arrogant Lion Shifter and a brooding, tattooed Harpy have in common...?
Me. Elise Callisto. Vampire. Angel of vengeance. And a girl on a mission to destroy one of them for murdering my brother. I just don't know which one did it yet.
When I kicked the ass of a Werewolf who was high on a new and dangerous drug called Killblaze, his final words painted a dark reality for me.
The King of Aurora Academy killed my brother.
The trouble is, there's four kings at that school and each of them have motive and cutthroat natures.
Aurora Academy isn't a place for the faint of heart. To put it lightly, my town is the asshole of Solaria where the dodgiest Fae in the kingdom reside. The school itself is divided by the two gangs who run this town. The Lunar Brotherhood and the Oscura Clan. And guess what? Two of the kings run the gangs at the school, their hatred for each other so fierce I hear a day doesn't go by without blood being spilled in the halls.
I might be a petite, lilac-haired girl who looks like a fragile doll, but they haven't been introduced to my fangs yet. And they don't know why I'm really here. Or that I'll do whatever it takes to bring down the Fae who took my flesh and blood from me.
I don't believe in fate, but I do know this... the King who killed my brother is a dead man walking. And I'm prepared to sacrifice my heart, body and soul to ensure I get my revenge .
This is a reverse harem series set in the world of Zodiac Academy four years before the Vega Twins were Awakened. Expect some character cross-over, dark and hot romance, and a twisted murder mystery which will leave your head spinning.
My Initial Take
I begrudgingly started this series as part of the recommended spoiler-free reading order for the Zodiac Academy series. After the cliffhanger at the end of the third Zodiac Academy book, it took me a little while to shift gears and commit to this series, but I'm so glad I did.
Dark Fae Review
Dark Fae is set in the same world as Zodiac Academy (Solaria) but takes place in a different town. Our FMC Elise Callisto enrolls in Aurora Academy to investigate her brother Gareth's murder. Her only lead is that "the King" of Aurora Academy is responsible. This leaves her with four suspects: two leaders of warring gangs, the most powerful student in the school, and the son of a successful family of thieves in Solaria. Elise throws herself into the middle of these four students to try and figure out who killed her brother.
If you're familiar with the pacing, writing, and characters in Zodiac Academy, you'll know what to expect here. If you haven't read Zodiac Academy, think of this book like your favorite trashy reality TV show—the characters are over the top and there are more vibes than plot, but it's entertaining. I was really craving something fun that I could get into quickly, and anything written by these authors is a go-to.
That said, establishing the characters, their backstories, and relationships takes up most of the pages in this book. The entire plot seems to take place over the span of a few months, so some readers may feel like the story is full of filler or drawn out. I really enjoyed it, but if you're looking for denser plot and world-building, this one may not be for you.
Because there weren't a ton of details about the world and plot to keep track of, I really enjoyed all of the POVs (there are six), especially with the murder mystery element. Being inside our four suspects' heads plus having Gareth's POV recount events in an alternate timeline, including his interactions with the boys, added a lot of mystery and intrigue to the story. I definitely suspected all four of the boys at some point while reading!
As for the romance, this book was my first foray into the reverse harem trope, and I think I've found a new favorite, especially with the unhinged possessiveness between the boys. At the same time, Elise makes it crystal clear she doesn't want anything serious with any of them, which made the dynamic between all of them even more fun as they groveled for her attention. I was smiling and kicking my feet throughout the whole book.
So, should you read Dark Fae?
Overall, I had a blast reading Dark Fae, though I'm curious to see how the authors develop the plot over five books.
This one is perfect if you're looking for a book that takes off right away and is easy to follow. If you're looking for more plot and complex world-building this probably won't scratch that itch!
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
Dark Fae FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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No, Dark Fae is the first book in The Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Series.
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Yes! The Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac is a complete series.
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Dark Fae is rated a 4🌶️ on Romance.io meaning the spice level is explicit open door. That means spice scenes are detailed and plentiful.