Book: Veiled Court by C.N. Crawford
Reviewed by Nikkisnightreads
Rating: 5/5
I was immediately sucked into the world of the Veiled Court. I read it so fast, and now I officially need to binge the entire Avalon Tower series immediately! This story is meant to stand alone from that series and I did not feel lost at all by not having read them first. The world-building is delightful, brilliantly blending London with the dangerous allure of the Fey realm. The clever Arthurian tie-ins infused the story with an even deeper sense of magic.
Let’s talk about Syn. A sassy, ex-assassin FMC in her thirties who has survived immense trauma, escaped the fey realm, and had been trying to live a quiet life in London, until a clash between mortals and fey that forces her to return to said fey realm. I was obsessed from page one. Watching her accidently infiltrate the fey court and having to recall her training, all in an effort to find the Grail and save her sister was absolutely riveting. Made all the more harrowing since she no longer has her magic.
The banter in this book is elite. It is sarcastic, sassy, sexy, and everything I utterly adore in a story. The dynamic between the characters is so well-written, especially with the history between Syn and Tristan, her friend and spy for the Avalon Tower. The depth of their past adds so much weight to their friendship (even when she completely friend-zones him, poor guy!).
And then... there’s Rion. An enigmatic, powerful warlord. When he and Syn team up for a fake courtship to win over the nobles, the chemistry is electric. She’s lying about who she is, he’s trying to soften his ruthless warlord reputation, and the underlying tension had me screaming. Are they fated mates? Maybe. Is he keeping massive secrets? Absolutely. The slow burn was burning so hot, and it left me desperately begging for more.
If you are obsessed with deadly trials, magical creatures, dragons, complex court intrigue, secretive warlords, and a resilient, badass heroine, you need to pick this up!