Fae (Fae #1) by C.J. Abedi

Fae (Fae #1) Reviews

• 
  Summer

  More like 2.5 stars.
  
  It seems that I've been cursed for the past few weeks or so, as I have read some pretty horrible books. This book wasn't exactly horrible, but I didn't enjoy myself while reading this.
  
  I understand that this is an ARC, but there are way too many spelling and grammatical mistakes, to the point where it distracted me from the plot. I can't count how many times your and you're were mixed up.
  
  At the beginning of every chapter, there was a few pages of back-story on the Fae. In my opinion, they were a bit useless. The only thing they achieved in doing was that it prevented the plot from moving forward, and nothing really happens until the very end.
  
  It was frustrating how much Caroline kept denying Devilyn's feelings. She noticed and acknowledged them one second, then the next, she would be questioning whether or not he liked her. It got pretty annoying.
  
  One thing I don't understand was why Devilyn took so long to actually tell her of her heritage. Ultimately, it would have kept her safe, and would have prevented a lot of the bad stuff from occurring. Really, why put it off?
  
  Heck, I'm starting to think the author did this just to cause other events to happen and to complicate the plot. In reality, it could have all been prevented very easily, and I found it hard to take the story seriously.
  
  Devilyn was annoying as well. All he spoke of was Caroline, Caroline, Caroline. Dude, obsessive much? That’s pretty much all that ensued during his point of view.
  
  My main pet peeve: There was a lot of high school stereotyping here. A lot. Not everyone who is a cheerleader/jock is a total jerk, FYI.
  
  With a slow-moving plot and characters that I feel indifferent to, I find it hard to give this book higher than 3 stars. It wasn't very entertaining, and didn't make good use of the topic of the Fae as much as I had hoped it would.
• 
  Leigh

  ORIGINAL REVIEW AT:
  LITTLE BOOK STAR
  RATING: 2.5 stars out of 5
  
  Thank you so much to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
  
  I didn't enjoy reading this book at all. I found myself bored a lot of times and I forced myself to finish it. One thing was on my mind when I finished it.. "YES! I'M DONE!" There was A LOT of redundancy with words, descriptions, and scenes. From start to finish, it was 90% about romance. It was romance, romance, romance! I lost count on how many times our male protagonist, Devilyn, told us how much he cared about Caroline, how much he loved her, how much he wanted to touch her, how much he wanted to see her, how much he wanted to protect her, how much he cared about Caroline, how much he loved her, how much he wanted to touch her.. YEAH I know I said things twice because this book is like that! Devilyn was so redundant and I didn't care what he felt anymore. Um, when is the Fae & magik part going to come, you ask? Well there's about 18 pages per chapter and there was only 3 pages about magik per chapter and the rest of the chapter about Devilyn saying "I have to protect Caroline, but I have to stay away from her." Um WHAT? How can you protect her if you keep pushing her away and instead hurt her feelings by being in a relationship with a snobby cheerleader?
  
  I didn't like Caroline either. I did at first, but everything that she said became redundant like Devilyn which made her an annoying character. I thought it was weird how she thought Devilyn spoke like he wasn't a high school student because he used big words, but all of a sudden at the end, Caroline started speaking like she wasn't a high school student either. For example "as you wish" and there were other phrases that Caroline wouldn't say but said it anyways. That was definitely an inconsistency with her character.
  
  There was also instalove and some of the things Devilyn would say was so cheesy and corny. Yeah, this book... is like Lady Gaga's song.. Bad Romance. HA. Ha. Ha. *badum tsss*. It could've been so much better! I like the concept of having Devilyn as a king and wanting to save the future Fae queen which is Caroline, but the romance took over the plot. If there was less romance and more action (there wasn't any action, guys) then I would've liked this book. There was also a lot of info-dumping and I thought those information could've been given to us readers in a better way. I do like some of the supporting characters though. I liked Teddy (Caroline's best friend) and her dog Famous. Overall I didn't enjoy this book and there's a lot of room for improvement.
• 
  Ilse

  Caroline is supposed to die as a queen, the queen of Fae. Queen of Devilyn Reilly, the future king and the only Fae that has dark AND light in him. This book is about the struggle that these two people have when they fall in love with each other. And it’s especially hard on Devilyn, because he wants her to be safe, but he knows that she won’t be as long as they’re together.
  
  At the beginning of this book I got the feeling that it was too cheesy. Caroline kept thinking of how hot Devilyn is, and how she wants to kiss his lips and touch him and be with him and argh. It irritated me. But after a while I came to like this character. Caroline is a brave teenager who loves her dog, best friend, and running.
  Devilyn though, gave me something to think about. He’s the one who has two sides, but it’s hard for him to juggle that. He can be a real jerk, but from the inside he’s sweet. So I don’t know what to think of him.
  Odin though was a great character. A real father figure, one that you can rely on, and that’s why he was my favorite character in this book.
  
  I would say that this book is a preparation for some action packed books in this trilogy, so I’m excited for the next books and hope it doesn’t take long for them to come out. I was a little bit sad though that the main plot of this first volume was about the struggle for love. It was a bit too much. Maybe it would’ve been better to tell this all in a smaller volume, or get 2 volumes in 1 book.
  
  Still, I really enjoyed this book, even though I had some things to say about it. What I really liked was the quotes at the beginning of every chapter. Every chapter had it’s own quote. I thought it was a nice twist. Also the fact that there was a separation between Fae’s (dark and light) was nice and something else. The battle between dark and light and things like that. Though I think I can already predict that light is going to win.
  
  I gave it 3 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, and meant to give it 3.5 stars. It’s a nice, fast read, and even though some things irritated me; overall I think this book was good.
  
  I got this book from Diversion books to read and review before the release, so thank you so much Diversion books for letting me read this! It was a great experience. This book will be released on July 30th.
• 
  books are love

  This is a sweet book. I love the love story aspect and how one that has both good and evil in him is struggling to do the right thing. Even going as far as to show how sometimes the right thing is always the good thing but can sometimes cause not nice consequences.
  
  What I like:
  I like the true love story between Caroline and Devilyn. The slow build to the acceptance of their love for one another is beautiful to see.
  
  I love the acceptance they have for each other and watching Devilyn struggle to do what is right for Caroline.
  
  I love how we see the struggles of devilyn and how this struggle to do good when you feel you are evil because of who your birth parent is seen through his eyes. I love how he feels Odin is his father in all aspects of the phrase.
  
  I love how Caroline and Devilyn feel they can beat anything as long as they have each other.
  
  I love the sacrifices devilyn makes for Caroline. I cry when he saves Famous and what it costs him is so heartbreaking. Here you see how much he truly loves her.
  
  I love odin and I love Caroline best friend. He is a hoot.
  
  What I am on the fence about:
  
  The redundancy of repeating the love declaration to themselves. This is not needed as much for it is seen in their actions.
  
  Caroline's reaction to being adopted is a little over the top. She makes assumptions before finding out the truth.
  
  The absolute extremes of some things such as the hatred towards his sister devilyn has in the end. There is no understanding.
  
  Overall this is a sweet book that shows us the struggles one faces when trying to do the right thing and how hard it is when we have both good and bad in us.
  
• 
  Alisha-Dear Constant Reader

  I can't do it. I've already wasted too much time on this book at I'm only at %6.
  
  The final straw came when I read this description concerning dining with Odin:
  
  "I sat down at the massive dining room table and allowed one of his servants to fill a plate for me. As usual, the large mahogany table was filled with every type of sumptuous meal known to man. Filet Mignon stuffed with a rare French imported cheese, asparagus, mushrooms infused with red wine, whipped mashed potatoes and other vegetables, exotic fruits and juices. You know it, we had it. The luxurious display was after all, the food of the Gods."
  
  other vegetables, exotic fruits and juices. Also see: I grew bored of my short description, so I just said gave up.
  
  This book needs a lot of help. There's so much word for word repetition that it's distracting. Devilyn (what a stupid name) describes his own behavior as acting "as cool as possible" on three occasions within three pages. I don't have words for how awful it is that issues like this have not been edited. This isn't the only issue by far.
  
  Besides awful repetition, we have rules and info dumping almost immediately, where it makes no sense to dump. The cheerleaders are all lions hunting their prey in multiple instances. If that's not enough, there's the stereotyping of jocks and cheerleaders. Because you know, pretty people who are athletic are stupid. Kill me now.
  
  
  
  This book is not ready.
• 
  Joana V.

  Opinião completa em:
  http://pepitamagica.blogspot.pt/2015/...
  
  2.5*
  
  (...)
  Aqui temos a história de Caroline e Devilyn, uma jovem que é algo invisível e um rapaz (se é que se pode considerar “rapaz”) desportista, que tem uma hoste de raparigas atrás dele. E claro que Caroline e Devilyn se apaixonam, não fosse isso estar ligado a uma profecia antiga.
  
  Devilyn, filho de um Fae (fada) das trevas e de uma Fae de luz, é o único Fae a ter luz e escuridão dentro de si – e está destinado a ficar com a descendente da Virginia Dare, descendente esta que tem em sangue de Faes de luz.
  (...)
  Admito que o livro é um bocado confuso e, talvez se o tivesse lido à uns cinco anos atrás, teria gostado mais. A história e a maneira como está escrita é talvez demasiado infanto-juvenil para o meu gosto. A escrita das autoras (duas irmãs) precisa de evoluir um pouco para nos prender mais, a história tem alguns clichés que poderiam até aparecer mas de outra forma, para mostrar sabem trabalhar uma situação que já foi tão mexida.
  (...)
• 
  Naurarwen

  I actually really enjoyed this book. I'd been recommended it by a friend and I'm glad she did because I loved it. I have to say I really want to read the next one kind of now! I got to the end and had a bit of a "no you can't end it there, no no no" I'm not usually overly keen on cliff hanger endings especially in some series the next book isn't for a year but thankfully I only have to wait till May for the next one!
• 
  Angie

  **Rating is 3.5 stars, not 3 stars**
  
  Characters—
  
  Caroline: Can I just brag on this girl for a second? She was my all-time favorite aspect of this novel. She begins and stays so witty that I found myself literally laughing out loud. Her internal monologue is so relatable and real. Most high school girls would think exactly like her. I’ve read some reviews in which people criticize her for fawning over Devilyn when they first meet, but if we’re being honest, almost any teenage girl with hormones would be immediately drawn to Devilyn. The authors describe him as incredibly hot, a star athlete, and a mysterious boy arriving in a small town. I am impressed that Caroline does have self esteem. She doesn’t walk around feeling ugly and insecure. She knows where her strengths lie, both physically and personality-wise. With that said, she’s also not vain or conceited. She doesn’t realize the extent of her beauty. I do wish that Caroline would have uncovered more secrets about her past and delved deeper into the world of Faerie, but that’s what the second and third books are for, right?
  
  Devilyn: Let’s just describe Devilyn as a much more intense and less sarcastic Daemon Black (Lux Series). He’s got the prickly, overprotective, secretly sensitive and romantic thing down. I guess we will all understand him when we are an immortal teenager constantly battling our evil temptations while trying to defy Fate and protect the person we love. What I love about Devilyn is that he has everything: looks, wealth, charm, you name it. But he doesn’t care about any of it. He can see through false beauty. Long story short: if you’re a fan of the brooding, self-sacrificial, gorgeous type, Devilyn Reilly is your man.
  
  Odin: Every story needs the “rock” character, the person who stays constant and represents goodness, and Odin fits that bill. He may be quirky but I always get a sense of safety and warmth when he was in the scene. Great addition to the book!
  
  Teddy: I hate to say it, but Teddy is the formulaic guy best friend that’s so common in paranormal romance. He’s utterly human—and a good one at that. He seems to only show up in the plot when it’s convenient, which has some pros and cons to it. I can tell you (no spoilers) that he doesn’t constitute the third party of a love triangle! How refreshing. Teddy, while a more minor character, adds some depth and some well-roundedness to the story.
  
  The World—
  
  There’s a prophecy foretelling of an epic battle, romance that defies ancient laws, a conniving, manipulative villain, and human drama throughout it all? Yes please! While the back story and the prophecies behind Fae have a dark and medieval feel to them, the story itself isn’t dark. If you’re looking for something reminiscent of Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey, you won’t find it here. Instead, it has more of a Twilight feel—with a way less whiny narrator and a way cooler world. The romance here is different. It isn’t sensual or built on witty, sarcastic banter. Instead, it’s sweet and bittersweet…if that’s possible.
  
  Final Thoughts—
  
  This book has its flaws. It does. There were times that I wanted to tell Devilyn to take a chill pill and to stop using such girly sentences. “I had to close my eyes and gain control over my racing heart.” So not okay for his character. What about “…and HE, the one that will not be named…”? This isn’t Voldemort we’re talking about. Some of the descriptions within the story were a bit excessive and the authors could have tightened up the plot, but the story itself is enjoyable. It has some great qualities; it’s just not for those seeking mystery and action. Those who are seeking a teen romance with a paranormal edge will LOVE this book! Moreover, I’m sure that everyone will appreciate the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. They’re all relevant, insightful, and hail from Seneca to Shakespeare to Emerson to Italian proverbs! I’m a huge fan. Lastly, the transitions from Caroline’s POV to Devilyn’s and back again are flawless. You’ll have to read for yourself to see how flawless. Do it.
  
  Memorable Quotes—
  
  “Enchanting. Loveable. Forbidden. I had to stop.”
  
  “How ugly my world was. Ugly even with all the outward beauty we possessed.”
  
  “It may be what I am, but right now it’s far from who I am.”
• 
  Lillian

  WARNING:
  There will be gushing in this review and
  
  
  Fae by
  C.J. Abedi is book one of a series by the same name and centers around two main characters, Caroline Ellis and Devilyn Reilly. Caroline is a high school junior, well educated, and considers herself an old soul. She doesn't care what people think about her, that is until she sees Devilyn for the first time. Devilyn is also a high school junior, or at least he is pretending to be. He is actually a part of a prophecy, a prophecy that involves Caroline and his job, his destiny as he sees it is to protect her at all costs.
  
  I don't think I can say enough just how much I loved this book! From beginning to end, I was hooked. The world-building is so detailed and so intertwined with the main story that it felt real. The authors blend mythology with the world they've created seamlessly. There are characters from Norse mythology (Odin being a main character!) and then of course the world of the Fae and the Goddess Dana. I personally can't compare it to other Fairy fantasy books because I haven't read much of that genre, but this book now has me hooked!
  
  The Characters
  Caroline and Devilyn are the main characters of this particular story but there are also some wonderful ancillary characters. Teddy is Caroline's life-long friend and a potential to create a love triangle (ugh! I personally hope not, hate love triangles!!). He's fun loving, carefree, and smart like Caroline, taking all AP classes. Caroline's mom is also another favorite of mine. She pushes her daughter out of her comfort zone but loves her immensely. Then there's Famous, Caroline's dog. I'm not sure how the authors did it, but Famous has such a cute personality that if I could find him I would bring him home with me! Odin is a great character as well, obviously he is the All-Father and we get a chance to see him on Earth and in Valhalla which was just cool. He raised Devilyn and loves him very much. Then there's Alderon the high elder of the Dark Fae. He makes for an excellent villain. He has just the right amount of cunning and intimidation to actually make him formidable and semi-likeable (I love a good villain!)
  
  The Plot
  The book itself starts with the story of the lost colony (which if you are a history buff, you know is a real legend) and then the prophecy. In other words, you get the story almost in its entirety up front. Which is a great hook!!! However after that, the plot drags a bit. I personally loved the characters enough to stick through the lull but I know from reading other reviews many did not. This particular book focuses on the relationship between Devilyn and Caroline. There are definitely times where I wanted to yell at Devilyn because he was wishy-washy in his feelings. Well, I take that back. Not wishy-washy in his feelings but on how he would act on those feelings which left poor Caroline (and me) very upset! The climax comes in the last few chapters of the book and definitely left me wanting more!!
  
  Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to see just where the series will go from here. The imagery, the blending of mythology, history, and the authors' own creation are so well written the world comes alive on the pages. Personally I'm counting down the days to the next installment (hurry May!!!!). If you enjoy books about fairy mythology, young adult lit, and romance I highly recommend this book. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
  
  I received a copy of this ebook from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Margaux Espinosa

  *Received copy in return for honest review*
  
  I hate having to write bad reviews! That being said just because I didn't like this book doesn't mean that you wont like it, to each his own and all that. Overall I think with some changes and some editorial help this book would be much better and keep the reader hooked and fully engaged/immersed in the story. The writing wasn't have bad, the story line although slightly reminiscent of "Twilight" was actually really original. The characters were pretty self absorbed and very love sick teen. At one point I fell asleep while reading this book, that has only happened to me once before and lets just say again I hate writing bad reviews.
  
  Now the story wasn't half bad, but it was so slow-paced that it became boring really quick. I usually really enjoy when the author builds up the plot, it makes it more dramatic, but this was just too slow. I also didn't appreciate the information overload at the beginning of each chapter, it was incredibly annoying and only slowed down the progression of the story. Then the ending of the book was so jumbled and incohesive that I had to re-read it several times before I fully understood what happened.
  
  So this story is about Devilyn and Caroline, who are, surprise surprise, part of a Prophecy from before their time. Devilyn is the seemingly unwanted son of the oldest Elder of the Dark Fae and a Light Fae woman. The Prophecy states that it's Devilyn's destiny to protect and love Caroline, who is the heiress to the throne of the Light Fae, and is destined to be their future Queen and also destined to give her life for them. Caroline happens to know nothing of her heritage, her destiny or this Prophecy.
  
  For originality, you may find me strange, but I feel that C.J. Abedi went in a completely, previously unthought of direction by adding in the Norse mythology. Although it could have been incorporated into the story in a more convincing manor. Where were the other Norse Deities? Loki, Thor, Ullr, Ran, Elli, Freyja? I think the presence of any of the other gods would have made a significant impact to the overall story seeing as we see a lot of Odin in this book, being a father to Devilyn. We got to see a bit of The Valkyries and even The Vikings, why not some other the other Deities?
  
  Now here is the kicker, I may have been harsh in this review but the book as a whole was actually pretty good. Will I be reading the follow up to this? YOU BET! I have to know what happens next and I hope that Abedi takes these reviews into consideration and adds onto the story that she has created.
• 
  Jaclyn House

  I picked up this book because it came highly recommended from Giuliana Rancic. She can do no wrong in my book so I figured it was worth checking out! The book starts off with a lost colony of people that suddenly disappeared, that seems random but plays a major part in the book. Devilyn is the only half light and dark Fae, and knows his destiny, the love of his life will need his protection and love, but will eventually die! He decides that instead of facing heartbreak he will protect her, but falling for her is not an option. Caroline is a typical teen, awkward, shy, waiting for love. She doesn’t expect to find it in high school, especially not at a football pep rally, but that’s exactly what happens! They have an instant attraction but they go through the mundane teenage drama of boy meets girl, boy and girl like each other, but they won’t admit it!
  
  The story gets interesting as Devilyn is trying hard to fight what he already knows will happen, he’s doing everything he can not to care, but he just can’t help it. He’s the most advanced teenage character I’ve read about, he’s smart beyond his years, but he’s no typical teenager. I really liked Devilyn, he was an arse at first and really got on my nerve trying to fight his feelings in the name of protecting Caroline. I liked Caroline’s character as well, she’s unsure of herself, but not to the point that she’s willing to do anything to get Devilyn to notice her. I couldn’t put the book down around the last 100 or so pages, and the ending was really heartbreaking, just when these two have FINALLY confessed their feelings, Devilyn is about to do the unthinkable, and that my avid readers is where the book ends. Major cliff hanger, but I’m totally team Devilyn and can’t wait for book 2!
  
  “From the minute I set eyes on him, I loved him and there was no shame in acknowledging that. There was no shame in obeying what my heart felt”
  -Caroline
  “I just don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to keep you safe when all I want to do is hold you and kiss you when you’re around. How can I even think clearly when my head is in the clouds?”
  -Devilyn
  
• 
  Britt

  I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! I received this copy for a read to review and was so thrilled that i managed to snag the last copy. I am a lover of all things Fae and this is my favorite Fae book so far to date. (sorry Megan & Ash, your #2)The relationship that was slowly formed between Caroline and Devilyn couldn't have been portrayed any better. There was the perfect combination of want i wanted to happen and give. This is an insta-love free zone. Even thought the two are destined to be together it wasn't love at first sight, especially for Caroline. It felt so real and easy to relate to. Sorry but most love isn't love at first sight its more like lust at first sight. Thats what happened here, they felt it but it wasn't all out in the open in 2 seconds. I think Caroline was the perfect lead character as well. She was so smart and well composed even when faced with extreme situations. She never rushed into danger or made stupid decisions. She took her time, thought things through, & was cautious which made me feel such a great deal of respect for her. The same thing went for Devilyn. He took his time and tried his best to fight his attraction. Also he wasn't an Alpha A**-hat!! Can you believe that?! He was pretty much perfect in my book. I love how there were so many aspects tied into this story such as Norse mythology, the legend of the lost colony of Roanoke, and the Fae. The internal struggles that characters faced were so intense and it really set the tone for the whole story. I cannot wait to read what happens next. I already pre-ordered the sequel which is out May 6th!! I am thrilled i don't have long to wait otherwise i probably would have cried a bit due to the dramatic ending. If you have any interest in the Fae this would be the perfect book. Look for a more fangirly review on my blog
  ❤ Brittany @
  Please Feed the Bookworm
  
  Want to win a copy of the sequel The Dark King?! Check out my blog tomorrow May 6th for a giveaway review and special interview with the Abedi sisters!
  ❤ Brittany @
  
  Please Feed the Bookworm
• 
  Mimie

  I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal);[p
  
  This is the first book about FAE that got me hooked straight to the end...and i feel pretty sad for some other review who think this bok is bad..maybe this just NOT your kind of book to read.
  
  First, there's Devilyn Reilly. Raised with love by Odin in hope to turn Light, he is the heir of the Dark Fae Kingdom. Son of Alderon, born with both Light and Dark, he was destined to be the King of Dark.
  
  Then, there's Caroline Ellis, the only decendent of Virginia Dare, the Queen to be of Light Fae. Little that she know her destiny of her true love is the Dark himself, Devilyn Reilly.
  
  The war is coming, and prophecy has told that the Queen will die to save the Kingdom. Something that Devilyn wont allow. When Caroline was taken to the Dark Kingdom, Devilyn faced his true father to save her.
  
  dam-- damm-- dammmm----
  
  i hate cliffhanger!!! I'm reading Dark KIng right NOW!
  
  P/s: C.J Abedi, you guys are one hell of a writer!! keep it up!!!
• 
  M.B. Bunnell

  Were this book any different, I would hate it. But as it is, this book hold a special kind of magick in it and I fell for the characters HARD. I couldn't decide if I liked the Norse bits until the end, when I decided the way the story was woven made even those parts delightful. One of my favorite books to have stumbled across and I bought the sequel the moment I finished this one. And unless CJ royally effs up the second book, I can guarantee I will be buying the third the very moment it comes out.
• 
  Charlotte

  For the complete review, please visit
  Thoughts and Pens
  
  Fae relates the story of Devilyn Reilly and Caroline Ellis, two faeries who were sundered by inevitable circumstances. Devilyn Reilly, the only faerie of both light and dark and the heir to the throne of kingship of both courts, is burdened with the choices laid upon him, Dark or Light? And Caroline—half mortal, half-fae—is living normally in the world of humans and little did she know that the fate of the Faeries lies upon her shoulder. And a long ago prophecy forces the worlds of Devilyn and Caroline to collide and bring unity and balance to the two warring courts of Faes. Will Devilyn be able to hold on to the light as he attempts to protect Caroline or fall into the chasm of darkness like what his father desires? How will Caroline face the truth of her birth as she struggles to covet Devilyn’s love?
  Such a touching and curious summary that after finding this ARC in Netgalley, I immediately put in a request and was so glad to have been approved. But just like the old saying, “Do not judge the book by its cover (or summary in this case),” I immediately came across regrets with this book. Fae has a lot of potential if things weren’t just so immersed with Caroline’s obsession with Devilyn’s handsomeness and her self-pity of being not good enough for the too good to be true Devilyn. Yes, romance is a very important element for the Fae’s plot but I didn’t expect that I’d be drowning from Devilyn and Caroline’s alternating thoughts of wanting each other and at the same time, of how to avoid each other. This book wasted precious pages to put emphasis on that aspect that the other important elements of the story lay forgotten. For one, there were the secondary characters who should have been amazing but became dull and generic due to neglect. Aside from that, the master villain lacked lethal aura to scare me. Second, the plot which would have been epic became average as it lacked gripping scenes. Even the mystery and twist were merely passable. Third, the Norse mythology that was incorporated to the story would have been good but it wasn’t convincing enough. Where was Loki? Where was Thor? I think the presence of these gods would have made a significant impact to the overall story since we’ve seen a lot of Odin in this book, of how he made a good father to Devilyn. I mean, come on, wouldn’t it be nice to see Loki or Thor popping here and there to guide Devilyn as a brother? The Valkyries and Vikings even appeared in this book so how come those two did not?
  
  Now, the question is, would I still read the sequel of this book? Apparently, yes. You see, I still have faith in Fae that things would get better in the 2nd book. Devilyn and Caroline are likeable enough characters not that I wasn’t aghast with the former’s name (Devilyn? Why would someone so gorgeous be named as lame as this? Yeah, I know.) Caroline’s okay, she strikes me as someone waiting to unleash her true self, that behind the inferiority complex, she’d come out as a tough gal without forgetting her humanity. I just wished that she hadn’t pulled a Bella Swan in this book because I might have LOVED her. And Devilyn, well he’s gorgeous, dangerous, sarcastic and more intelligent than Edward Cullen so I guess I have to give him credit for that though he really reminded me of the latter the way he acted throughout the whole story. Another reason that I’m going to read the second book is that, I want closure no matter how difficult it is on my part, no matter how long it would take me. I’ve already started this journey, might as well finish it. Who knows, the story might take an interesting turn in the next Fae adventure?
  
  
  All in all, Fae is an interesting fusion of fairy tale and Norse mythology and a perfect remedy for those fans who are still suffering from the Twilight withdrawal.
• 
  Gabs

  Read more of my reviews at
  My Full Bookshelf Reviews
  
  I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
  I have a theory that out there, somewhere, there is a rubric for all YA Paranormal romances. Perhaps some of its requirements are this:
  
  -Story must have super hot hero
  -Story must revolve around girl who is special but does not know it
  -Story must have some 'friend' characters...but they must be pointless in regards to overall plot
  -Story must have insta-love between girl and hot hero.
  
  Just joking, of course. There obviously isn't a rubric. (But seriously, if there was, that would explain sooooo much.) Still, despite there not being a rubric, Fae, along with countless other paranormal romances I have read, fulfilled all of requirements on this list. And that, as you can see by my rating, annoyed me a lot.
  
  Super hot hero
  That is fulfilled in Devilyn, who is not only extremely hot, but extremely possessive. Now, he was trying to protect her from the forces of evil fairies, so I'm willing to let it slide this once, but still. It was quite annoying, and it made him seem like a borderline jerk at times.
  
  Girl is special, but she doesn't know it
  Caroline. Who is a blatant Mary Sue, there's no denying it. I mean, look how Devilyn describes her when they first meet:
  So fragile. So delicate. So...innocent.
  I will admit that elicited an eyeroll from me while reading this.
  
  I didn't feel that Caroline had a very original personality. It was bland, and she did not stand out in the crowd of YA heroines. I've read about a lot of girls who were exactly like her; plain, smart, not extremely popular, and who don't show a lot of signs of emotional growth throughout the book. She was a bit of a 'meh' character.
  
  Pointless Friends
  One of my hugest pet peeves in YA literature is sadly present in Fae. That one character who does absolutely nothing other than show that the MC is not completely friendless. Teddy. Poor Teddy really could have been substituted out of the book and it would have made little difference.
  
  Insta-love
  Yes, this book had insta-love. From the moment they meet, Devilyn and Caroline cannot resist each other, no matter how much they try. (At least they tried to resist at first. That is more than I can say for countless other stories.) Honestly, I would have thought that with all the complaints this aspect of books always gets, it would start to get moved off the imaginary rubric, but I guess not.
  
  Another, non-rubric related complaint is that not a lot actually happens in the book. It is mostly Devilyn protecting Caroline and Caroline wondering what the heck is wrong with Devilyn. And romance. This book is really romance heavy, which is great if you love that sort of thing, but I was getting quite bored with it. I wanted desperately for something to occur, but nothing really did until the end.
  
  However...towards the end when something did occur? It was quite interesting. The plot became quite different than other fae books that I have previously read. A lot of that was due to Tatiana, who was probably my favorite character in this book due to her interesting backstory and her choices during the course of the book. However, the book ended soon after things started to pick up.
  
  Conclusion? I am pondering reading the sequel. While not a lot happened in Fae, by the end it had become its own unique story, and I actually do think this series has promise if it doesn't remain more focused on the romance then other aspects of the plot. Plus, the title to the sequel intrigues me. So, if you are into paranormal, I actually would possibly recommend this despite not loving the majority of it, because the ending makes me think that this could become a really great series.
• 
  Stacy Sabala

  Book Review- Fae by C.J. Abedi
  
  
  This is a fascinating YA novel. It centers around Devilyn who is destined to be the king of the Fae. He is the only one born with light and dark intertwined inside of him, where he constantly has to battle himself. On top of the struggles he endures, he is half of a prophesy which involves his soul mate and the destruction of the dark fae. His father, king of the Dark Fae, is determined to stop the prophesy from happening by getting to Devilyn’s soul mate before she comes of age.
  Devilyn and Odin, the Norse god, have been keeping her hidden and protected, but now is the time that Devilyn has to enter her life. He becomes a high school student at her high school and tries to watch her from a distance. It is difficult but he is determined to keep her safe and then walk away. He refuses to let the prophesy play out where she sacrifices herself for love. He also refuses to love her and then lose her, leaving himself heartbroken for the rest of his life.
  Caroline is drawn to the new quarterback, Devilyn, but doesn’t understand why. He treats her like she is gum on the bottom of his shoe. She tries to keep a distance but they are constantly thrown together for class projects and stories for the school newspaper. Then suddenly he changes his attitude toward her and her confusion is almost overwhelming. She has no idea who he is or why he is the way he is. His behavior is baffling to her.
  However her life is about to change because Alderon, Devilyn’s father, has sent a seeker to find her and Devilyn needs to give into his feelings to keep her safe. He has to earn her trust, so he will be able to protect her from a world she has no knowledge of. She is half Fae and destined to be Deviln’s queen. She is definitely going to have the shock of her life when she learns the truth. The battle is coming and Devilyn, with the help from the light Fae and Odin, try to protect Caroline from being destroyed by the Dark Fae.
  I really liked this book. It was intriguing to see how Devilyn fought himself and how he approached his destiny. His frustration was warranted and his anger could consume him if he let it. He had to keep that balance so he wouldn’t succumb to the dark. I also felt sorry for Caroline. She was clueless about her life and what dangers lie in wait for her. She had no idea why she felt the way she did. She was different and she knew it.
  The cast of characters, which included Devilyn and Caroline, were interwoven well throughout. The reader could feel the fear and frustrations that were the main emotions for a majority of the book. It was fun to watch the story evolve and the relationships develop. I loved that Caroline’s parents wanted her to go do normal teenage things. They were happy she was going to a weekend party. Unfortunately, her parents were never going to get a normal teen. Caroline was anything but.
  I will definitely put this on my list of must reads for my students. I give it a 4 out of 5.
  
  
• 
  Marni

  I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my judgment in any way.
  
  I am not a big reader of books on Fae. If you look at my bookshelves on Goodreads, you will see very little of these types of books. The funny thing is, that I always seem to enjoy these books and FAE is no exception. A YA fantasy/paranormal book, I felt comfortable with the story right away, snuggled into it and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen from page to page.
  
  The book starts off with the story of The Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. A mystery all its own and the authors took this real life mystery, shaped it and spun a tale so incredible that you will wonder, wow, what if? Being that we will never really know what happened to the colony, even if some had integrated with local tribes, it's a truly safe mystery to take liberties with.
  
  This story brings to the reader the stories of the Dark and Light Fae. Odin, a god from Norse Mythology, with his wisdom and sorcery, guides Devilyn, the Chose One who was born from a father who rules the dark and a mother who was a princess of the light. Devilyn is determined that a prophecy not be fully fulfilled but finds out just how hard it is to undo a destiny foretold long before he knew what it was.
  
  This story is full of humiliation, betrayal, hope, insecurities, love, sadness, awakenings, lies, truth and more. The authors layer the stories of the modern teenage highs school scene, the insecurities of the teens not in the "it" crowd, the fae realms, a boy in turmoil, and the war being waged among other things and intricately weaves them throughout each other in a way that none are felt less consequential than the other and leaving all important characteristics in place. As a reader, it kept my attention and I was captivated with each different character, their role, and their story.
  
  The way the authors treated their characters showed a great deal of love for them. You could feel the emotions of each one as if you were them and experiencing it. The humiliations endured, the trepidation of Devilyn, the fathering of Odin, the friendship of Teddy, the awkwardness of attraction and I swear when Caroline blushed I could feel myself blushing!
  
  Of course, I didn't get the resolution I was hoping for, because I failed to realize that this is the first book in a trilogy, but I'm super eager for May when the second book, The Dark King, comes out. What will happen between Caroline and Devilyn? Will they ever be able to be together safely? The chemistry between these two characters is undeniable and I am rooting for this couple to overcome fate and create a new destiny.
  
  (4.5 stars given just because there were a few slow moments and times when I was going enough, get on with the story)
• 
  Lesley

  “Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.”- Seneca
  
  Caroline Ellis is a normal high school student. She gets exceptional grades, writes for the school paper, and gets along with mostly everyone. Until HE comes along. Devilyn Reilly. These two clash and it’s ultimately a battle of the wits between them. She thinks he is a pompous jock and he wants her to believe it. Although, Caroline has no clue why, we learn what exactly is happening. Caroline is the one left in the dark until fate forces Devilyn’s hand.
  
  Devilyn is the dark prince and heir to the throne. The prophecy warns of a terrible tragedy that will befall the light Queen, Caroline. (Like she could even attempt to figure that one out) Devilyn fighting against fate tries to protect her but he wrestles with how he is supposed to do that. Pushing her away and pulling her back. He fights with his heart and mind. This creates tension and confusion between the two of them. The one situation that Devilyn can’t fight is the fact that they are true matches. Two perfect halves. Fated.
  
  “Not fleeting love, but true, perfect love. The kind that makes your stomach churn, your whole body flush with an inner peace knowing that you’ve found you one true soul mate. The kind of love that’s worth dying for. Or living for. If you are lucky enough to find it.”
  
  Devilyn’s father who leads the Dark Fae is making a move to capture and kill Caroline. He seems to be a very evil man who will stop at nothing to gain power over all the fae. He also wants his son to fight the light in him and embrace the dark. Yes, that’s right on top of it all, Devilyn must fight to stay balanced. He is a child of the both sides. Keeping Caroline safe and alive is his top priority. In order for that to happen, Devilyn will risk it all for her and to see that the light and dark are united.
  
  “No matter how much light lives within me, it cannot encompass the darkness that consumes my soul.”
  
  This book was a pleasant surprise for me. I rarely read YA books anymore, but the fact that it was a paranormal drew me to in. I am so glad that I decided to read this one. Not only is the tale an intriguing one, but it’s also an epic love story. The attraction between the two is apparent and you can feel the chemistry in the words. The danger and suspense come in behind that towards the end of the book to really hook you in for the next installment. Which, of course, I am so looking forward too. Devilyn and Caroline are great characters and I enjoyed being in the moment with them. I will admit that it felt like the action was being held back and was slow to develop. However, I don’t feel that it would change my rating for the book. It would have bothered me more, if I hadn’t bonded with the characters. I rate this installment in the Fae trilogy; 4 stars. Keep your eyes out for the next one: The Dark King.
• 
  Stephanie Ward

  4.5 Stars
  
  'Fae' is the first book in a young adult fantasy trilogy that tells the story of our two main characterrs - Caroline Ellis and Devilyn. Devilyn is a full Fae, but is the only one ever created of both Light and Dark. Caroline is half Fae - a descendent of Virginia Dare, one of the settlers from the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island - but she has no idea. There's a prophecy that tells of Caroline and Devilyn being soulmates and creating a new kingdom together - one that will unity the Fae and banish the Dark. The prophecy doesn't end well, for it states that Caroline will die in the end. Devilyn has been tasked with protecting her at all costs - but he refuses to acknowledge the part of the prophecy that says he and Caroline are soulmates and will fall in love. He's convinced that he'll keep her safe and keep his distance - that it's best that way. Or is it?
  
  I'm not quite sure where to even start on this book. The plot itself intertwines so many awesome things - faeries, Norse mythology, the legend/myth of The Lost Colony of Roanoke Island - along with tons of action and romance, to create one incredibly enchanting and wholly unique book. I was immediately drawn into the story and found myself devouring each page to see what would happen next. The story is told from alternating viewpoints - those of Devilyn and Caroline. I loved that it was done in this way because the reader gets a peek inside the hearts and minds of the main characters that we wouldn't ordinarily get to see. Caroline and Devilyn are well written main characters whom I found to be realistic and easy to identify with. They both have their strengths along with their flaws, and I have to admit that I'm a huge romantic at heart, so I loved watching them grow closer and seeing how things developed between them. Even though it seems like the characters experience what some call "instalove," I didn't mind it because of the background we were given - the prophecy and the history behind it all. It made it feel all the more destined to me and not so much "lust at first sight" than an actual soulmate connection. As I mentioned, the plot encompasses so many amazing concepts that it had me hooked from the first paragraph. I literally couldn't stop reading until I finished the book. The way the author took all the different mythology, folklore, myths and legends and blended them seamlessly together into a fresh, original story is downright epic. I honestly can't say enough about it all that would do the story justice, so I'll stop my feeble attempts there. I'm definitely going to be reading the next book in the trilogy to see where the story will go next. Very highly recommended for fans of lots of genres including fantasy, paranormal, action, and romance.
  
  Disclosure: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.