“Oh what a tangled web we weave…”Kesh fled Faerie as a queen killer. Now she returns as the Faerie King’s secret obsession. But on Faerie, nothing is as it seems, not even Kesh herself. With days to stop Arran’s execution and the stoic guardian, Sirius, as her constant shadow, Kesh must weave her lies deep within Faerie’s courts where magic and whispers combine and conspire. Soon, Kesh learns … and conspire. Soon, Kesh learns there is more at stake than Arran’s life. Faerie is dying. Oberon’s reign is crumbling. The time to strike against the fae is now. But with Talen, Kellee and Sota a thousand light-years away, Kesh cannot succeed alone…
Beneath the courtly politics, the glittering facades, and the King’s fragile hold on his people, the Dreamweaver is locked in eternal slumber, dreaming of the day his Queen of Hearts will set him free… because he knows, Kesh Lasota has no other choice.
Kesh survived the Dreamweaver once before. Now all she has to do is control him.
But Faerie’s Dreamweaver has other ideas for the peoples’ Messenger. He knows who, and what Kesh really is and he has every intention of using her to make all his dreams come true.
He takes your mind, makes it his, takes your soul, makes you cruel.
Dare you answer the Dreamweaver’s call?
The “mind-blowing” fae-in-space bestselling series continues in Prince of Dreams, Messenger Chronicles #4
more
Pippa DaCosta is a master of both world-building and dramatic tension. I’ve been avidly following the Messenger Chronicles since the first book, and this penultimate installment does not disappoint.
Loved by a few and hated by many
What a phenomenal series, coming close to the end. One more book to go and then Mesh and her lives will come to an end. How exciting, to have the tainted love of a mad prince and the true love of some phenomenal and brilliant men. Willing to be something you hate to save those you love from destruction…
This review contains minor spoilers.
This series has seriously captured my heart. It brings my love of fantasy and my love of science fiction crashing together to form something truly unique. The mashup of genres is like drugs for me. I get so excited just thinking about the fantasy and science fiction aspects that compliment each other splendidly. My fangirl heart just won’t rest.
One thing to mention about this series is that it is a reverse harem series. I am very new to this genre, but I have learned very quickly what I like and what I don’t like when it comes to these types of books. The one thing that I can’t stand and that really ruins the reading experience for me if when the plot is exceedingly unconvincing or ridiculous. Pippa DaCosta knocks this out of the park with a truly convincing story. She does this very well with an interesting and compelling plot that doesn’t feel smothered by the reverse harem aspect. I like that it is there, but it doesn’t dominate the story. The reverse harem aspect has a slow-burn romance as well so that also makes it more convincing than a lot of other books that I have read by other authors in this genre. The last thing that really makes the reverse harem aspect great in this series is the complex characters and the way that they interact with each other. The chemistry between the characters is really top notch.
There was a ton of development with the plot in the last book. This book seemed more character driven. There are some new developments with the plot that I really liked, but this book felt like the characters were at a crossroads. Kesh is on Faerie with Sirius trying to save Arran and Talen and Kellee are trying to get back to Kesh and find the pieces of the Polestar. Each side had decisions to make that put them at odds with other aspects of the story.
I loved the character development in this installment of the series. In this book, we get chapters from Kellee’s point of view as well as Kesh’s, which was new. I liked seeing things from Kellee’s perspective. Since this is a slow-burn reverse harem, the harem is being introduced slowly. We get to know some of Kesh’s harem better in this book. We get a deeper look at Sirius, which I adored! His mysteries are slowly uncovered and I loved the journey from broody guardian to loving protector. We also get to see more of Eledan in this book. I don’t know if he is actually a part of the harem or not, but I sure as hell hope that he is. His development in this was amazing! I have always liked Eledan, even when he was a creep and a dick. The chemistry and he and Kesh had is undeniable in my opinion. He is also so flawed, just as much as Kesh is, and I love that! All of the characters in this series are flawed in one way or another and I think that also makes this series so incredible. But, back to Eledan. He was still his usual cryptic self, but I loved the small things that he did for Kesh. He can come off as a little possessive, but he still gave Kesh the “gift” of having Kellee in her dreams. He may be a little twisted, but I am sure that he cares about Kesh. I am excited to see where their relationship goes in the last book.
The romance in this is hard to explain. There is a slow-burn between Kesh and Sirius. True feelings aren’t revealed until the end of the book, but it was awesome. Perfect, really. The relationship with Eledan is up in the air. He clearly wants her and makes the deal with her to be his. He mentioned to the Fae guards that she would be his queen, so yeah. Kesh and Eledan’s interactions were much softer than in the past. They used to clash and now they seem to be comfortable with each other. Kelle and Talen are away from Kesh, but we get Kellee’s point of view and we can hear his thoughts about how he loves Kesh. I loved his moment with Kesh at the end of the book once they find her. I love that he wanted to share his Vakaru customs with her when it came to being mates.
Overall, this is a bloody fantastic series and I can’t urge you enough to read it! If you appreciate real and flawed characters, intricate plots, and entirely unparalleled worlds then this is a perfect book series for you. There is only one more book left in this series after this book, and I am honestly getting a little nervous because I simply don’t want this journey to end. I have been so taken with this series and it will hold a special place in my heart for years to come.
Pippa DaCosta’s Messenger Chronicles series is wildly imaginative and increasingly complex (though somehow still easy to follow along) as each book in it adds more and more layers. It’s hard to summarize either the series or it’s most recent book, the wonderful Prince of Dreams (Book 4) without spoiling anything so I’m not going to even try and instead refer readers to the publisher’s blurb. I love the lead here, the wonderfully crafted and gloriously complex mess that is Kesh. I love the slow burn (growing to be an inferno) reverse harem relationship. I love the individual book plots and overall story arc (which really needs to be read each book in order) and the shifting POV approach taken by the author. I love Eledan, Kellee, Talen, Sirius and Arran, how each one gets his moment to shine and how each really has his own “voice”. With apologies to my hubby (who knows that I do totally love and adore him so should be able to handle this), I’m envious of anyone who gets the yummy hunk-harem in the making here. I also love the character development of others in the supporting cast such as Sota, but most especially the gloriously complexity that is Oberon. I just love this latest addition to this already much-loved series. Frankly, but for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed, I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
*Disclaimer, I received an ARC book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Not that it matters because I also pre-ordered the book because I LOVE this author!
How to explain why I love this entire series so much…. It isn’t often that a book can make you run the gamut of the emotional spectrum and leave you feeling wrung out, but also anticipating the next part of the story. That is how I have felt with EVERY book so far in this series. The emotional capacity of all the characters, even the “villains” is so well conveyed that it seems the reader is going through the upheaval of every twist, turn, and betrayal with them.
Kesh- I can only hope that one day Kesh can truly forgive herself and realize that she is someone worth saving, instead of sacrificing. Her capability to put everyone before herself has the potential to fall into that “self-sacrificing” trope, but it never does. She isn’t trying to throw herself away, she is just trying to save those whom she believes are more deserving.
Kellee- Once again surprises with his evolution into realizing that he can trust both Kesh and Talen, that he NEEDS to trust them if they are truly going to save Faerie and what is left of the human planets.
Talen- Seeing Talen fight to come back from his darkness, and being willing to succumb in order to save Kellee and Kesh. It just yanks those feels deep in your chest.
Sirius- Oh how I love thee, with the quiet unassuming way he just creeps into Kesh’s heart catching both of them by surprise.
Sota- I want a Sota of my own. He is amazing and now he is better than ever. If you ever watched Bones (the tv series) then you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say Sota is The Messenger’s Caroline Julian. Without Sota the whole Messenger crew would fall apart.
TL;DR- If you enjoyed the first 3 Messenger Chronicles than Prince of Dreams is for you. Just make sure you have someone to give you a hug when you are done, keep a box of tissues nearby, and possibly a pillow to punch when you get frustrated.
Holy wow…….. that’s all I can say. I finished this book a few days ago, and It took me a while to process everything. Ms. DaCosta takes slow burn to an epic level, taking four books to build to a controlled inferno, I predict that once ignited things will explode in a very memorable fashion. Each book gets better and and more complex, and you see more and more of each persons broken pieces that somehow manage to fit perfectly between the group. This series is a mastery of intrigue, half understood truths, and a plethora of things not said that wraps you up deep in the story, and keeps you up all night because you just HAVE to find out what happens next! Fantastic story, and thank you for the opportunity to review this gem!
Be prepared to experience Faery as you’ve never seen it before and never ever trust anything that comes out of the mouth of a Fae. They might not be technically capable of lying but if someone can lie with the truth it’s them.
As the Messenger plays a dangerous game with the Dreamweaver and his brother Oberon, Talen and Kellee are dancing with the humans of Earth while racing against time. And in that game Kesh shows how much she’s grown since Shoot the Messenger and manages to not falter despite everyone trying to put her back in the Wraithmaker box.
Prince of Dreams delivers on all the promises Ms. DaCosta made in the previous instalments. There’re scorching hot scenes and nerve wrecking action sequences. There’s heartbreak and elation and lots of new layers that make me wonder how all of it will be wrapped up in only one more book.
Well, that’s some rich karushit.
I think I fried and lost thousands and thousands of brain cells while making an attempt to deliver the poetic justice of a review this read deserves. And at the same time, I don’t want to be the one to spoil any of you because let’s be real here…I can’t NOT speak about any of it without ending up revealing spoilers every now and then. And I know most of the times I end up having side notes/comments. So here goes:
(Non-spoiler ver)
I want to say I haven’t expected this…I mean, yes I haven’t expected any of this EXACTLY as they are BUT I have dreamed about a couple of theories, a couple of possibilities. And I have expected a lot from the author. So let it be known here first and foremost that the story and the author DISHED. OUT. AND. MORE. To steal Oberon’s words, “It is a dangerous thing to wish for the dark. It answers.” (In this context, the dark is the author herself LMAO. And my wish is to be annihilated and/or be completely fudged by the whole thing. JFC.) The Messenger Chronicles as a whole is everything I feel like I haven’t really deserved but most definitely needed. I’m just nothing but smithereens of emotional messes and major, major book hangover. I’m done, I just am.
Lol, kidding. Obviously, I’m not done. Yet. I still have a whole lot to talk about. And speaking of things to talk about – the PLOT, jesus, mary and joseph, the freaking PLOT you guys. I think it’s safe to say that I expect the twists, the mind-fudging word games. There is just something so exceptional with the way the author unravels the great picture that is the plot. The way she uncovers each layer while leading up to the (upcoming) end. It’s crazy-genius level. As in mind-blown. The bigger picture is becoming less and less blurry as the plot unravels but holy wow, one can’t just simply expect everything to happen like this-and isn’t that the most fun part of reading? To escape, to delve and to discover.
Then there are the characters….no one’s spared, not one out there is just to stand still and be pretty. Well, maybe Talen…but nah, that’s just him being all mysterious and incognito and on the down low. But seriously, what I’ve been meaning to say beneath all the mumbo-jumbo is, every single one of them is so UNREAL that they’re all basically REAL. You get whatever I’m saying? Nobody’s a filler, no one’s just an accessory. Everyone has a role to take and carry out. They’re all raw and complex and just. So. Fudging. GD. Real! (Who’s hysterical? NOT ME, OKAY)
—–
Now onto the more fun part, since I can barely contain what I actually am thinking about this read, here’s the spoiler-filled part of my review. (SPOILERS, SPOILERS EVERYWHERE. Consider yourselves THOROUGHLY WARNED.)
I will not get into the plot, the story itself because I have just realized I might as well highlight the whole thing. And let’s be real here, I can’t be any much more coherent if I’m to get into the insanity that is this series. The plot twists, the mindfudgery thing going all over and all throughout, all the foreshadowing that has happened but I have missed and just remembered again…see? I’m saving us all from the madness. So let’s just not.
What I want though is to psychoanalyze my most beloved and most favored characters. Starting with the heroine of the year, Kesh. Just, WOW. Started from the bottom, a simple messenger from Calicto; and now we’re here, GD wraithmaker, queenkiller, kingkiller turned THE Messenger. I really think she’s one of the most developed heroine out there, if not, the most well-developed character. Period. She’s strong, crazy smart, and so fracking beautiful it always hurts to think of my literary life without her. She’s got one of the bloodiest and most tragic history and metaphoric baggages. Then when she decided to bat for the right side, she built herself even more passionate ideals. But for all her strength and fire and ice, there’s a fragile not-saru/not-fae/not-human underneath. As in one crack against those things and people and ideals, which and whom she all holds dear to her heart, and this amazing female will either go batshirt crazy or crumble helplessly.
Imagine identity crisis with the additional weight of doing what her conscience is telling her to do. And her conscience has taken a brutal beating. So let’s just say guilt upon guilt upon more guilt. All those times she, almost, wants to just throw it away and be done herself, I cried. All those times she’s being haunted by the mistakes and sins and wrong decisions she made, I felt it all. Her emotions are so tangible I just want to give her a freaking hug. And a break. And a breather. And for all the negativity directed at her (the fear, the hate, the suspicions and distrust from basically, everyone), I see her. I see Kesh. Yes, I’ve seen the wraithmaker, the nothing girl, the Mylana…but those pieces of her aren’t her everything.
There is also Kellee, whose POVs has been provided in almost every other chapter. At first, I’m like ‘I must’ve been real good in my previous lives to earn this’ then I’m like, ‘oooh, can I get ones from Talen or Sirius or Eledan or Sota?’ (Give the girl a piece and she gets greedy.) And honestly I’m kind of still reeling from his POVs because I. Have. No. Freaking. Idea. Whatsoever. Just how taken he is with Kesh. And boy is he taken with the messenger real bad. The image of this frustrating marshall (whom I might have wanted to kiss in the face with five fingers ala Kesh style) is such a jarring one because deep inside he’s a big softie. I feel like I’ve had a whiplash from the Kellee in Kesh’s perspective to the actual Kellee without the messenger. Ughhh (I feel like joining his fan club is equal to being caught with one hand inside the metaphoric cookie jar.)
Then there’s Talen, still as quiet and as mysterious as before. Only, since Kesh is not around her man-toys, Talen and Kellee are forced to act more civilized with one another. All the meanwhile, they protect each other against common enemies (in fear of Kesh’s wrath in case the other one’s lost or left behind.) I most definitely love this side of Talen. Is it too much to want his POVs too? (commence staged ugly sobbing here)
Sirius…yep, that guardian. The one who is just as frustrating and as judgemental and just so freaking hard on Kesh as Kellee has been before. Maybe even worse. And of course, in the end, I do understand why he’s wired like that, why he’s acting like that to Kesh specifically. But even during my second reading, I still want to punch him for all the hurtful things he has said to Kesh. He’s like Kellee and Talen wrapped in one, which is such a frustrating thing because, hello? Stubborn + mysterious = the death of me. But yeah, he has pulled through. Esp that very adorable and very special moment with Kesh during their stay at the knoll? I freaking melted and sizzled like butter on a hot pan. Ugh, stupid and stubborn males.
Eledan. This one, I may have not survived. It’s more probable for me to walk in the moon than for me to have any insight to Eledan’s mind. With that said, he’s the most interesting one and def deserved this whole book.
And Arran. I’m butthurt too with what he’s done but jesusfchrist he has the most tragic storyline here next to Kesh. It’s times and circumstances like this one when all the love in the world can’t be enough. There are too many external factors surrounding him and Kesh, outside the safe haven they built for themselves in the past, to ever survive each other. Yes, there are people who needed and deserved help. But not every one of them will be wanting it. And with the idea of him finally being at peace, I have to let him go. The idea that he won’t hurt anymore, or that in his final moments, he saved his loved one (Kesh)…I really have to let him go. Even if it freaking hurts like a mf.
Last but DEFINITELY NOT the least, SOTA. I want to take the humor and laughter where I can and the ‘where’ is with Sota. OMFG, I dare every reader out there to not fall for this tek-extraordinaire. I know no one’s surviving that challenge. I happily admit defeat for that one. His bantering with Kellee and Talen. His shyness to Kesh when he’s had his upgrades. He’s practically the source of joy and dark humor from this read. A total win istg…so, so curious if he’s joining team messenger in a romantic sense lololol whynotdoughnut
So yeah. /stares off into nothing because WHAT THE HECK TO DO AFTER. I’M FOREVER RUINED.
PS So I have read the latest newsletter from the author and Her Dark Legion, the last book in the series, will be released some time in April 2019. And that she’s working on another series, a dark one apparently, featuring LGBT characters.
First of all, WHAT THE HECKENING HECK? THE. LAST. BOOK????? Oh no, nope. Not going to touch that bit of info. ffs I’m prepared to read about Kesh’s grandkids from the 129th book. Nope, no no no, la la la.
Second thing, DARK SERIES? So what the heck have I been reading all this time? FLUFF??? (The messenger chronicles: Am I a joke to you???)
PPS There will be a time when I won’t fall for these sadists hiding in the form of genius author and heart-breaking characters and strong, very on-point plots…alas, this will not be the day huhuhuhu
Whilst I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) for this book, I own it, too – because it’s that damn good.
This has been a tough review to write. I’m not a fan of Multiple Points of View (MPoV) but I don’t think this story could have worked any other way. I do, however, find myself mistrusting Kesh’s story alone – she has proven to be an unreliable narrator in the past, and I don’t think we should quite relax about that just yet. It is a fascinatingly woven story, and does not disappoint. It does have a cliff hanger ending, so you will have to join the rest of us who are anxiously awaiting the final instalment of this epic story.
For those who are Team Eledan, you get your wish – he’s in this book in spades. For those who are Team Kellee or Team Talen or even Team Sirius, well, you certainly get your fair share in this story, too. Team Arran may be disappointed – whilst he’s mentioned all the way through, there is minimal interaction as he’s in death row, fae style. If you were wondering about Oberon, you even to get to see more about him, and the current debacle that is faerie. And if you are curious about Sota, there is a foreshadowing of what happens in this book in the author’s facebook group Pippa’s Book Fiends. Do your self a favour and join it – there are all kinds of snippets there, as well as awesome company!
There are sexy good times, there are “I can’t believe we’re rehashing this” times, there are “What? Where did that come from?” times, and it is all pulled together with the author’s masterful touch. I had never read a Reverse Harem book before this series and, having been lulled into a false sense of security by Ms DaCosta, I have tried one or two others – all to stop reading a few chapters in. If you’re looking for quick and meaningless sex, this is not the series for you. If you are looking for engaging and emotive relationships (and hot sex) then THIS is the series for you.
If you haven’t read the other books in this series, I strongly recommend you do so – so that you can keep up with the nuances, and fully embrace this wonderfully messy and thoroughly addictive story.
“Oh what a tangled web…… but who are the ones trapped in it’s sticky strands and who is the spider waiting to pounce on it’s captured prey?”
Kesh, Kellee, Talen, Sota, Hulia, Arron, Sirius and Eledan return in this penultimate adventure of the Messemger Chronicles. Kesh, Arron and Sirius are on Faerie, playing a game of truth, dare or lie with both Oberon, King of all Faerie, and Eledan, the Prince of Dreams. Heartbreaking promises are made, truths are twisted and hearts are made and broken.
Kesh continues her battle to free all those oppressed by Oberon and the Fae, but without Talen, Kellee and Sota, will she have the strength to resist the temptation Faerie will weave? This is fast paced, action packed, full of intrigue, lies, plots, plans, highs and some shocking lows. Oh Ms Dacosta you are a cruel author who loves to toy with your readers emotions. Not only did she do that but she eviscerated them too.
The world building is phenomenal, the planning and plotting of both the characters AND the author will leave you spellbound. I wish I could say this was a one sit reading, but with its length of well over 6 hours, and the demands of life, I couldn’t manage it in one go. That said, it most certainly held me hostage, living in my mind in between those times where I could immerse myself in this magnificent creation.
I loved getting more of Kellee’s point of view, as well as seeing that the old adage of absence and the heart was true. Though there is yet more skulduggery by Ms D when she cruelly snatches away that which he has so recently only grasped ahold of.
Added into the mix we have some very lustful and steamy scenes that totally added to the emotional impact of this tale. By the end of this I was left feeling as though the Wild Hunt had ridden roughshod over me. I’m almost scared to read the culmination of this tale, not to mention sad that the story will be coming to a hopefully (though you never know with an author who obviously has a very devious and mean streak) happy and blissful conclusion.
But as Kesh has, to her great sorrow, learnt, nothing comes that easily.
I don’t even know where to start with the latest installment of The Messenger Chronicles, Prince of Dreams. What I do know is this series is getting better and better!
As far as I’m concerned DaCosta is the Empress of the Slow Burn. Every book builds on the anticipation of the previous one, and Prince of Dreams transitions from the slow burn to an full 4 alarm fire. DaCosta lived up to the potential, then exceeded it. Spending 3 books to work up to this is pure genius. DaCosta has a cast of beautifully flawed and damaged characters that somehow fill in each others parts, very much like a puzzle. You have to have all the pieces to see and appreciate the whole.
Prince of Dreams is nonstop action. Not only do the characters take their relationship to the next level, DaCosta is moving the storyline in the final stages. There’s so much going on, but yet you don’t get lost in the complexity. DaCosta is a master at keeping you guessing, but you always know where you are, just not where you’ll end up. Don’t bother trying to figure out, just enjoy the beauty of the journey DaCosta has created.
One of the things that makes Prince of Dreams stand out is adding an additional POV. We get to experience part of the journey form Marshal Kellee’s perspective. DaCosta was flawless in moving from one POV to the other without confusing the reader, but rather, leaving you wanting more.
At this rate, I’m going to need like 20 stars for the final book in this series. I can’t wait to find out where DaCosta is going and what the final end game is, but at the same time, I don’t want the journey to end. If only I had this problem more often!
This book is filled with action and intrigue, the chemistry between the characters is wonderful. I can’t wait for more from this author. I received this book as a FREE ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review,
As always, the author makes the reader go from tremendously happy to heartbreakingly sad, and sometimes all in one chapter, in this latest installment of the series. Events are progressing quickly, and Kesh is at the middle of everything, of course. I love the latest addition to her harem, and I admit to some reservations at the beginning when the signs were there. There are no reservations now! Talen, Kellee, and Kesh were not together for most of the book, and I missed their interaction. That is probably the only thing I didn’t like about this book. Keeping them apart was necessary, though. And, at the end, I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the author is going to conclude this series with everything going on. But, I’m not worried. Quite frankly, I don’t think there’s another author like this one, one so adept at writing and making you love the horrible emotional turmoil she puts you through. You need to read her ASAP to find out exactly what I mean. However, always start at the beginning so you can catch the full effect of her toying with your emotions. She’s awesome! I highly recommend this book and was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.