War is brewing in the Faery Realm as the Solitary fae become bolder and more powerful. Despite new alliances, it feels like Sirius and his elves are fighting alone. Trouble spills into the Mortal Realm as the Solitary hunt new prey, swelling their numbers with stolen children. The elves struggle to find the Halflings before the Solitary can, but it’s difficult to hunt what they can’t see. But … someone else can. Elise is gifted with the Sight, though she’s more likely to call it a curse. When the elves discover her ability, they know it will be needed for the war against the Solitary. How can Sirius convince someone who wants nothing to do with his world to risk her life to save it?
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Note: I received this book from the author and I voluntarily give this review, it is my honest opinion.
The third book in the Faery Realm series, Beautiful Worlds, was wondrously good and has cemented my love for the series. It has all the elements I love about the fae, dark, beautiful, deadly, royal politics, and of course magic.
Beautiful Worlds was such a wonderful surprise, I can’t believe I loved it as much as I did. The story follows the elf leader, Sirius, who I read about in the previous two books and while I did like his character I didn’t know if I wanted a book that revolved around him. Truth be told I was and still kinda am too caught up in Alexis’s and Keir’s story and I didn’t really want a whole book revolved around other but I am so glad I was wrong.
The story is told from the pov of two characters I already know but also adds in a new character, Elise, who has the Sight and a few familiar faces also make an appearance. Elise has always seen the fae and has had many dealings with the fae already, not all of them good, but she has learned how to deal with them. When Sirus discovers Elise’s gift he offers her a job working for the fae. Elise is knowledge about the fae has always been at a bit of a distance and now she is about to get up close and personal with the fae world. With Elise’s help may be the elves have a chance to defeat the Wild King.
This book was so different from how I thought and I can’t believe I was so unsure about it. Jennifer has created a very interesting world with characters that are more realistic but set in a fantasy setting and I love it. I love all the characters but especially the main female characters. Alexis is brave, smart, stubborn and a little reckless but she doesn’t take any crap and fights back when she needs to. While Elise is brave, smart, cautious and caring. She has an extendible knowledge of the faerie world and she doesn’t just let them drag her in, the decisions are hers to make and she makes them wisely and while she doesn’t want to make them, she knows her way around a faerie deal. I really hope at some point the two have a joint adventure because I am so ready for that to happen.
The story was paced well and while there was no big plot twist it still kept my interests with more parts of the faerie world being revealed, more about the fae history being discovered plus how the previous two books intertwined with the current one. The characters were very interesting I loved seeing things from Finch and Sirius povs. Also, the overall arc with the Wild King is really interesting, some points were made about his origin that I just never thought of and I find myself totally invested in the answer to the question “Where did he come from?” The stakes are being upped in every book and I wonder what will happen in the next book.
Beautiful Worlds is a wonderful book that is diverse in culture, race, gender, sexuality and probably some other things I failed to mention but it’s done in such an elegant way. The world Jennifer created if full of deadly beauty and that is exactly how I like my fae. I know that there are supposed to be at least two more books in the series. I don’t know who the next book follows but I’ve been told that there will be another Alexis book coming our way and I am amped for it.
This is an interesting book 3. We hardly get any appearances by Alexis and none from Molly. I think… It’s a long book. We meet a Seer who’s a human girl with a tendency to change her appearances so the fae won’t remember her. This gal is strong and knows a lot about the fae. Along the journey, we get to see Jynx and Finch. Finch opens up and we learn her point of views on humans and her relationship with Lark. Lots going on. I don’t know how many books the series will have but I’m looking forward to seeing how Alexis and the Seer will work together.
For 17+ who like adventure, romance and traveling between worlds. The cover is imaginative.
Plenty of action and character building in this sensational and all-absorbing page turner
This is an absolutely fantastic continuation of this series. While it doesn’t stick with exactly the same characters, I honestly think that’s a strength. Through Sirius’ pursuit of the Wild King and attempting to unravel the mystery of his origins and power we see even more of the Faery Realm and its history through the elves’ eyes. And I didn’t realize until I got more of Sirius that it was exactly what I wanted. He’s an interesting and complex character by himself, and it was exciting to learn more about him.
Then there’s Elise, the real new star, who has True Sight, which gives her the ability to see all Fae exactly as they really are, penetrating all magic they use to disguise themselves. A useful trait when hunting creatures that are aiding the King’s quest to claim the whole realm as his own. Not that Elise sees it that way. She just wants to be left out of it all, and to not See the horrors around her that grow by the day. Though what she discovers as she’s sucked into Sirius’ mission is that her own history is more complex than even she knew, and as the layers unfold it all becomes that much more intriguing.
While this installment in large part sets things up for the major conflict between the Fae monarchs, the Wild King, the elves, and any humans caught in the crossfire, there’s still plenty of action and character building along the way that make this a sensational and all-absorbing page-turner, and I’m definitely looking forward to getting my hands on Strange Worlds!