There is nothing the Unseelie king doesn’t acquire.That was until he meets Fionna Cathbad.A fierce druid, who won’t bow to anyone. Especially Lars. The demon king has every right to kill her, her treasonous acts against the crown are undisputable. But, she is the key to the one thing he wants more than anything. The cauldron of dagda. A powerful treasure that no fae should possess.To get what he … possess.
To get what he wants, he finds the very thing that forces her to help him, leading them down a dangerous path.
Because it’s not only Fionna who is deceiving him. His own mind is starting to turn on him, twisting his sanity, and releasing the demon he keeps pinned up.
As old ghosts and new foes step up into this game, Lars needs to find the cauldron before all is lost.
His kingdom and himself.
This is third book (Lightness Saga) in a continuing series of both the Darkness & Collector Series. Not meant to be read first.
Sexual content and language
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This review MAY contain spoilers.
If I am being honest, I was a little intimidated at the thought of reading this book. Eager to read it, yes, but also apprehensive. Lars is such a special character and I was nervous that I wouldn’t like his voice. I thought that if I got to know Lars on a deeper level then the magic would be undone and I wouldn’t see him in the same light anymore. Luckily, I was just getting myself worked up for nothing because I was very impressed by his character.
The amazing thing about the world encased in the Darkness series, the Collector series, and the Lightness Saga is that the characters are completely captivating. Just as much as the world itself. The characters are very deep and extremely complex. Lars is no different. He has been woven into this huge story, but this is the first time that we get to hear his voice. Lars is just as captivating as the other characters in this world that I have come to love so dearly. I loved that Brown was able to capture the essence of Lars power while still opening him up to the reader. Getting to know Lars inner thoughts and the demons that he fights inside didn’t diminish the authoritative qualities of his character. I didn’t think that it would be possible before reading this, but I think that getting to know Lars and seeing him relaxed instead of the demon that we have come to know has made his character stronger. More real. I also loved getting to know Fionna’s character. She is strong and won’t back down from a challenge, no matter the opponent. She fights for what she believes in. I also loved her humor. I loved when she and Lars would make snide comments to each other and make each other smile or smirk.
The romance was perfect. Another slow-burn hate-to-love romance that sizzles with so much intensity. Brown is a master at writing gripping chemistry between characters. All of her books, and this one is no different, have the most incredible chemistry between the characters. Not just with the romantic characters, but all of them. The romantic couples in her books just ooze with more spark. The romance in this book is just as addicting as her other romances. I loved the compatibility of Lars and Fionna. Lars always seemed so untouchable, even in love. Almost like he was so powerful that he could overshadow things like love. But if anything that just made their love story that much more intense. And the fact that Fionna truly is his equal, with her power and her unabashed way of never backing down, just electrifies the chemistry. I was very impressed with their love story. Things kind of left off on a cliffhanger, but I am so hoping for a happy ending for them in the final book.
Like with the other books set in this world and story, this one builds off of the previous world-building. Most of it is already established from the previous books, but I did enjoy the details about the different places that Lars and Fionna traveled to in the book. The descriptions of the people and surroundings were also great.
The loved both the self-contained plot of this book, of Lars and Fionna’s story, and also the all-encompassing plot from all three series: the Darkness series, the Collector series, and the Lightness Saga. I love how clever and well put together the overall plot is. So much time and energy must have gone into the story, and it shows. It’s brilliant, and I love it! I love the overall premise of this story and the world itself. I love the originality and freshness.
Overall, I was thrilled by this book! Getting to know a King is an intimate endeavor that I am honored to have undertaken by reading this book. This is the sort of paranormal romance that ignites my heart. I love that the romance is present throughout the book but it doesn’t dominate the story. It lives and breathes with the story. The same with the other books in this world. If you love feisty female characters, dominant bad boys, intriguing world-building, riveting plot, and romance that will burn your insides then pick up the first book in this world, Darkness of Light, and thank me later.
Wow …this was an amazing story ! Lars, the powerful King ….becomes so much more when you peal back the layers to the true man. I love the character growth between Lars and Fionna. Intense book with twists and turns. Loved it !
OMG so this is Lars’ story. In the last book he took Fiona, who happens to be Kennedy’s sister, and made a deal with Kennedy to keep Fiona alive. Kennedy has to find the last of the four treasures. The Cauldron of Dagda. In this book, you get to see inside Lars’ mind, and I have been waiting for this since he first made an appearance!! This is one of the best books so far in the series (and that’s saying a lot because I LOVED Sprig)!! If you haven’t read this one, DO IT!! The final book EVER is coming out soon and this book will have you in tears, tatters, and on the edge of your seat!!! You will run the gamut of emotions. I loved this one and cannot wait to read Rise from the Embers, but at the same time I’m a little sad because it is coming to an end.
I don’t know where to begin the fall of the king is one of the best series in 2017 I fell in love with Lars he’s ignorant sexy sweet nice mean all wrapped up in one and very vulnerable at time . In this book you get to see the real him. Fionna character is one bad Druid .she do not back down from no one not even the king .. their chemistry is hot .. their argument get so hot slowly she lets the king in to her life. Get ready for hotness action .. secret expose .Family reappears fighting for power or maybe fighting to keep love. Fighting to have a family the king battles with in himself and his feelings get ready
Must read if you love fae and all type of creatures.
Okay, I gotta be honest. I know a lot of Stacey Marie Brown readers were excited for Lars’ story, but I was a little hesitant. I *liked* that his character was this unemotional, inhuman, robot of a demon with a lot of mystery and enigma and a lot of scary-ness. BUT I actually felt she did his POV justice and that made it all the more powerful when he opens up. He was still petrifying and I totally felt for Fionna who continuously received his wrath. Her POV shows she’s a unique one with a tough background that’s made her tough enough to stand up to Lars. Both are dark and twisted, feeding off each other.
As per usual, SMB trips the reader up with mind-blowing twists and shocking connections, and lures on a whirl-wind exciting adventure across the world on a treasure hunt that leads into traps and dangers from themselves as well as unknown enemies… and of course also provides some giggles via lots of witty banter and strange but lovable side-characters. I read it in about 2 days; very fast-paced and exciting. The writing is always clear, vivid and grabbing. Honestly, I found the intimate scenes a little uncomfortable and they felt shoved into the story where they didn’t need to be, but if you’re into steamy and fiery love-hate, then this book definitely delivers. The cliffhanger is rough; I am very much looking forward to how she’ll knot together the ultimate of all ties from all her series in the final book! It’ll be bittersweet to have all my favorite characters–including new ones from this book–in one novel.