Book: The Devil of Arden by Rh Linehan
Reviewed by Micca
Rating: 5/5
The Devil of Arden by R.H. Linehan is absolutely amazing! Take a mash up of Robin Hood (also a mash up of all the Robin Hoods, now that I think about it), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, mythology, and your favorite fae book.
It starts with an epic dedication. Make sure you read the content warnings in the front of the book (you can also see them in the ebook preview), especially that last one (there are serious topics, but the last one hits).
Great Banter, including nicknames, so here are a few of my favorites used for various people:
Bat Boy
Devil
Unwanted Prince
Mayhem
Captain Cockroach
Mothling
Menace
The comedy woven through this book is great. At one point I saw some of the banter as very Johnny Depp as the mad hatter or as Loki. That “I would 💀, revive you, just to 💀 you again” enemies to lovers, orange cat vs black cat energy in the book is spot on. There is also grief and anger, anger, dread, and betrayal that will have you feeling traumatized.
Oh gosh. I guess I should talk a but more about what the book is about. Marina grew up in Locksley Abbey, after being left there as an infant. She loves to work in the garden, but also has a secret. She is a talented healer thanks to the “blessing by The Daughter”…well, actually it is thanks to a bargain she made as a child with the infamous faerie in Arden woods. The bargain was worth it to this point, but lately the Sheriff of Nottingham has been watching everyone closely for any use of magyk. It doesn’t help that the jackhole Sheriff doesn’t like that she is close with his son. What would a weird orphan girl that loves bugs, digging in the dirt, and a gift that seems suspicious have to offer his son?! Nothing! So, not only are eyes on her, it has put more critical eyes on her beloved sisters and the abbey.
When The Devil of Arden calls in the favor, she must live amongst the Fair Folk until her party of the deal is met. It is not as simple ask she thinks. Not only does she have to deal with an absolute maniac, her entire world is about to get very complicated and turned upside down. As she desends into what feels like a constant cycle of chaos, can she also learn to let go and enjoy the pleasures that can be found in Arden? Can she protect those that raised her and those she has grown to care about?
The different types of magyc are so interesting, and I really loved the way everyone’s works a bit differently. There is romance that is a slow burn. Sometimes flames. No, I mean literal flames. Overall I would say it is about 2.5 on the spice scale, but the spice that is there is hoooooottttt!!!
The book also has LGBTQIA+ rep, mixed family units, diversity, and also shows learning to move past your own internal biases.
Oh, it’s a duology. So, do you if you think the book is going to end how you want it to? LOL Nope. So, that meme with the poor kid being interviewed about being excited about starting school, and he laughs, cries, laughs, cries? Yeah. Contribute to the tear jar. Just, also add in needing to spray yourself down with some cold water as well. This book releases on May 1st, so I now am trying to figure out if I need to find the fae to make a deal to travel forward in time to get to book 2…
Thank you to R.H. Linehan for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC team. There were no expectations for reviews, but perhaps for book 2 I might look to see if group therapy is included. My review is my honest opinion and my thoughts are all my own.