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K. A. Riley is probably most well known for the tales of post-apocalyptic United States of America which feature a land ravaged by nuclear wars and dominated by the huge imposing Arcologies that the wealthy population live in. From tales of Kress and her conspiracy in the massive Emergent Chronicles to the Cure Chronicles, Riley most certainly spins brilliantly vivid, dystopian nightmare-scapes of our future. Of course, there’s also Seeker’s World Series, which involves a bi-world/portal trope, with magic and secrets buried deep – but again, that series is a half-way point of sci-fi and an all too recognisable world. And that’s what marks Fae of Tíria out from the authors other offerings. This series is completely different from anything of Riley’s that I’ve ever read before, and I am completely here for it. We’re not just in a world of strangely innocent teenagers, sharing illicit kisses when they should be saving the world. No, we’re in a steamy, dangerous world of magic, deceit and passion.
Lyrinn Matel is a human girl, living near to the deadly Fae’s Breath – a mist that will scour the flesh from your bones as soon as you touch it – that cascades over the Onyx Rise in the northern village of Dúnbar in the Realm of Kalemnar. Her father is the blacksmith, and he has raised Lyrinn and her younger sister Leta alone since the night their mother died in a fire. The same fire which gave the girls their thick scars. While Leta is considered the beautiful sister, Lyrinn doesn’t begrudge her that; she prefers to keep unnoticed in the shadows – having learnt when she was small every secret nook and cranny of Dúnbar. Until one night, when she’s chased by the village letch and has only one place to run – the Onyx Rise. Knowing she faces either rape and a slow painful death at the hands of the men, or a relatively quick death in the deadly mist, she makes a decision and takes her chances with the Fae’s Breath. Except… she doesn’t die. Indeed, the mist parts to let her climb a concealed stair case to the Fae Realm above.
As Lyrinn comes face to face with the strange, painfully beautiful Fae, she learns that there are secrets buried in her past that are about to destroy her world. She goes from being a simple resident of the village where she grew up to being a competitor in the Blood Trials; an event which happens only once a millennium, all but betrothed to the prince of Domignon. But she must follow her heart, despite it being pulled in a million different directions as she learns the truth behind her heritage.
Honestly, A Kingdom Scarred was a revelation. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it; Riley had well and truly sucked me into Lyrinn’s world before the first sentence had finished. I was completely spellbound. And that was even before the magic started. In this novel, you have everything; mystery, magic, devastatingly handsome Fae, roguish princes, duplicitous politicians and slimy villains. At times, there were hints about the upcoming twist, but then it would be snatched away and leave you wondering once again. When the twist was revealed, I half shouted ‘I knew it!” and half gasped in shock. And not to forget, there’s some very, very steamy sex scenes that could almost make Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valanteni blush… almost.
To say that I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, that would be an understatement. I can’t wait to see where Lryinn’s story goes next.
S. A.
You can buy A Kingdom Scarred now from Amazon. It’s also available to read for free via Kindle Unlimited.
I reviewed this book after downloading the Kindle Unlimited version of it.