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This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
![A Fae Romance Based on Hades & Persephone! Promise of Darkness by Bec McMaster [ARC Review]](https://i2.wp.com/www.eyeheartromance.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/promise-darkness-bec-mcmaster.jpg "A Fae Romance Based on Hades & Persephone! Promise of Darkness by Bec McMaster [ARC Review]")
Promise of Darkness written by Bec McMaster
Publisher Lochaber Press
Publication Date: September 17, 2019
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Series: Dark Court Rising #1
Format: eARC
Pages: 436
Rating: 
Flame Rating: 
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Princess. Tribute. Sacrifice. Is she the one prophesied to unite two warring Fae courts? Or the one bound to destroy them?
In a realm ruled by magic, the ruthless Queen of Thorns is determined to destroy her nemesis, the cursed Prince of Evernight.
With war brewing between the bitter enemies, the prince forces Queen Adaia to uphold an ancient treaty: she will send one of her daughters to his court as a political hostage for three months.
The queen insists it’s the perfect opportunity for Princess Iskvien to end the war before it begins. But one look into Thiago’s smoldering eyes and Vi knows she’s no assassin.
The more secrets she uncovers about the prince and his court, the more she begins to question her mother’s motives.
Who is the true enemy? The dark prince who threatens her heart? Or the ruthless queen who will stop at nothing to destroy him?
And when the curse threatens to shatter both courts, is her heart strong enough to break it?
Join USA Today bestselling author, Bec McMaster, on a seductive journey through a mythic land, with a wicked prince who holds a thousand secrets, a princess determined to uncover the truth, and an evil queen who threatens to tear them apart.
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I didn’t know I needed a book like this until I started reading Promise of Darkness! It’s everything I want in a fantasy romance and more! Plus, did I mention that it is also a Hades and Persephone retelling?
Promise of Darkness is a first-person POV romance in the heroine, Vi’s perspective. I normally love it when it’s a multiple POV romance because I always want to get a glimpse of the heroes thoughts, feelings, and motives. For this book though, it is BEST if it is only in Vi’s perspective because we are kept guessing! Not only that, Vi is an extremely unreliable narrator because what she knows about Prince Thiago and his kingdom has been colored by her mother’s hatred towards the Prince and what she knows of his Kingdom. It was also clear that she was already convinced that she would hate.
Even though I was kept guessing, I figured out what the twist was about halfway through the book. That did not diminish my enjoyment of the book. In fact, I wanted to find out more and also verify if my guesses were correct!
Vi was an awesome heroine. Yes, her narration and POV was very unreliable but the change that happens to her throughout the book, especially when she found out the truth, was something that I really liked.
Thiago was a very interesting character. Because it was all in Vi’s POV, we are left guessing as to what he is thinking or feeling every time Vi spurns him. When everything was ultimately revealed, all his actions and reactions made sense! Bec McMaster really has a way of leaving plot points early on without spilling all the secrets!
I’m normally not a fan of fae romance, but this one was perfect! I also loved how Bec McMaster seamlessly weaves in elements of Greek Mythology into the book! I recognized a lot of the elements here – especially her take on the Fate sisters!
Promise of Darkness is a fast-paced mystery in a fae fantasy romance! I highly recommend this book! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
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| Overall: | 4.5 |
What is your favorite Hades and Persephone retelling?
What is your favorite fae romance?
About Bec McMaster
Bec McMaster grew up on a steady diet of 80’s fantasy movies like Ladyhawke, Labyrinth and The Princess Bride, and loves creating epic, fantasy-based worlds with heroes and heroines who must defeat all the odds to have their HEA. If you like sexy, dark, paranormal romance, try her Dark Arts series; for some kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance then check out London Steampunk; and for rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then see her Burned Lands series.
Bec has been nominated for RT Reviews Best Steampunk Romance for Heart of Iron (2013), won RT Reviews Best Steampunk Romance with Of Silk And Steam (2015), and Forged By Desire was nominated for an RWA RITA award in 2015. The series has received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, with Heart of Iron named one of their Best Romances of 2013.
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