The Charmed - bookrastinating.com

English language

Published Nov. 30, 2023 by Lorikeet Ink.

ISBN:: 978-0-6454052-7-9

A spirited young woman's quest for the extraordinary entangles her in a deadly investigation, where she must unravel murder and a forbidden love that transcends realms to save all she holds dear.

Bound by the constraints of Victorian England, Lady Alice Hyde's future appears secure in a marriage arranged by her uncle, the Viscount. But her heart yearns for more than being a traditional and dutiful wife. Blessed, or cursed as it seems, with a curious mind and a thirst for knowledge, she eagerly anticipates a visit to The Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace.

However, her journey takes a darker twist when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of a young woman. Drawn into the investigation alongside the enigmatic and exasperating Cyan, Alice finds herself on a treacherous path fraught with danger and desire.

Together, Alice and Cyan battle not only dark forces but also a …

A spirited young woman's quest for the extraordinary entangles her in a deadly investigation, where she must unravel murder and a forbidden love that transcends realms to save all she holds dear.

Bound by the constraints of Victorian England, Lady Alice Hyde's future appears secure in a marriage arranged by her uncle, the Viscount. But her heart yearns for more than being a traditional and dutiful wife. Blessed, or cursed as it seems, with a curious mind and a thirst for knowledge, she eagerly anticipates a visit to The Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace.

However, her journey takes a darker twist when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of a young woman. Drawn into the investigation alongside the enigmatic and exasperating Cyan, Alice finds herself on a treacherous path fraught with danger and desire.

Together, Alice and Cyan battle not only dark forces but also a growing attraction that defies the chasm between their worlds.

As they unravel the mystery behind the murder, Alice discovers a whole new realm of terrifying possibilities that leads them to an all-powerful and vengeful fae who threatens everything.

In a mesmerising blend of romance, fantasy and intrigue, The Charmed is a spellbinding tale of love, magic and choosing one’s destiny. Join Alice and Cyan on a heart-stilling journey where they discover that even in the darkest of shadows, love can illuminate the way and potentially conquer the impossible.

The Charmed is the first book in the Fae of the Crystal Palace series and brings together the historical romance of Bridgerton with the mystery of Sherlock Holmes and an irresistible sprinkle of A Court of Thorns and Roses fae. It features medium level steam.

1 edition

lastblossom reviewed The Charmed by Kylie Fennell (Fae of the Crystal Palace, #1)

Dedicates most of its time to the historical romance and the fantasy adventure. Mystery gets a bit lost along the way.

No rating

According to the description, this book is a blend of three genres: historical romance, mystery, and fantasy/fae stuff. I came away feeling like it mostly only hit two of those genres, with the mystery being more of a set piece rather than the core focus. The front of the book read mostly like a Victorian romance, complete with an intelligent lady trapped by societal expectations, and strong historical setting with some well-researched flourishes. The back half read mostly like a fantasy/fae adventure with magic, plot twists, and some interesting time travel(ish) lore. Yes, there is a murder. Yes, occasionally clues are found or suspects interviewed. But through it all, the mystery took a back seat to the developing romance and the much bigger fae plot that comes into focus, so anyone looking for your usual mystery plot might find themselves a bit deflated on that point. Anyone looking for a …

According to the description, this book is a blend of three genres: historical romance, mystery, and fantasy/fae stuff. I came away feeling like it mostly only hit two of those genres, with the mystery being more of a set piece rather than the core focus. The front of the book read mostly like a Victorian romance, complete with an intelligent lady trapped by societal expectations, and strong historical setting with some well-researched flourishes. The back half read mostly like a fantasy/fae adventure with magic, plot twists, and some interesting time travel(ish) lore. Yes, there is a murder. Yes, occasionally clues are found or suspects interviewed. But through it all, the mystery took a back seat to the developing romance and the much bigger fae plot that comes into focus, so anyone looking for your usual mystery plot might find themselves a bit deflated on that point. Anyone looking for a very romance-forward romp will probably find plenty to enjoy, however. Alice and Cyan's attraction isn't instant, but it is fast-paced and very passionate, with some medium steam and plenty of drama. Writing style is very straightforward, with copious narrative detail, and some compelling supporting cast (the informant in particular is a lot of fun). This is the first in a series, and I hope that future installments lean further into the fae lore set up here, because it feels like there's a lot to mine in there.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lorikeet Ink for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!