Wow!

This is my first experience of an Audio book. I'm a third of the way through but had to share my thoughts. I am really enjoying the book. It is beautifully narrated and the story is captivating. I will definitely keep listening and looking for more titles by the same Narrator and Author!

2 people found this helpful

Wonderful!

I haven't read a heroine that I have liked so much in years. I enjoyed every aspect of the story and the narrator was amazing; She made the characters come alive! This is now one of my forever favourites.

4.5

Since Heart of the Fae and Veins of Magic form a duology, neither standing alone, I'm going to write a single review encompassing both. But one of the main takeaway potential readers should understand is this point that they need both books for a complete story.

I really enjoyed this, both the story and the narration. I really like that Hamm's fae are old school scary fae, her female characters are strong and full of agency, and her male ones aren't afraid to show need. I especially appreciated that it was Sorcha who took the lead in most sexual situations.

My only complaint here is how very gendered everything is. While I appreciate that Hamm's goal was to emphasize that both a king and a queen are necessary, neither an accouterment to the other. (A pleasant change from most stories that center a king and make the queen little more than an accessory or political pawn.) But the book leans hard into women being soft and kind and caring and men being violent, rough and in need of tempering. True, Sorcha had to go against that in the course of the story but it was still a strong theme in the book. (As was how much bigger he was than her, another classic gendering technique.)

All in all, however, I can't wait to dive into more of Hamm's writing and Waring's narration.

Note: I received an Audible code for a copy of this book. I chose to listen and review it.

Amazing

I Enjoyed this audio book very much from start to finish great story line too

WOW

Wow, wow, and I say wow again! I listened to this audiobook and what an absolute pleasure it was. Not only was the story amazing, what a fabulous imagination the author has, but the narration was also absolutely perfect. Every single character she performed sounded perfect, each male was different from the other, each accent was absolutely spot on, and she brought an amazing book to life. I have to say that Siobhan Waring has just become my favourite female narrator!

I have to warn that there is a cliff hanger ending to this story, but at least you can go ahead and read/listen to the next book straight away to find out what happens next. That is exactly what I did. I couldn't leave the fate of Sorcha and her stone prince, Eamonn hanging...I NEEDED to know what happened next. Their relationship wasn't an easy one, she valued her independence and wouldn't have anybody tell her what to do whereas he was a man who demanded obedience from everybody especially lowly humans such as Sorcha. He had spent his life exiled by his family, losing his right to the throne, but Socha helped him to see that as it was his right, he should fight for it so that he could bring peace between the various species in the 'Otherworld'

I honestly can't get over just how much I loved this book. Instead of listening to maybe an hour of it at bedtime and then falling asleep, I actually made sure I didn't fall asleep and managed to listen to most of it, not going to sleep until around 5 AM and even then I wasn't happy that I had to stop to sleep. I just wish I could have had the energy to stay awake and listen to it all. Suffice to say that a small break was necessary then I listened to the end and nearly fell through the floor when I realised that the story concluded in the next book!

Despite the cliff hanger I loved this book and the narration of it and am more than happy to recommend it!!

Beautiful Written and Enchanting Story

Such a wondrous tale. I’d have to say Heart of the Fae is my favorite Beauty and the Beast retailing thus far. It’s amazing. From the beginning I was pulled into Sorcha and Eamonn story and enchanted by it. Theirs is a tale of strength, courage, betrayal, healing and discovery. The author’s attention to detail and the lovely narrator really bring this story to life. I can’t wait to dive into the next part of Sorcha and Eamonn’s journey.

excellent story

this is my first book by this author but she has excellent skills with weaving a story, I definitely am interested in listening to more of her books! the narrator does an excellent job bringing this story to life. can't wait for more in the series!

3.75 fairytale-enchanted ★★★✬✩

This book is for you if… you suspect an intricate combination of Celtic fairytale x beauty & beast is the retelling you've needed all your life. Be aware that it gives quite a lot of room to romance.

⤐ Overall.
My heart started pounding in anticipation of a beauty-&-the-beast x Irish-Celtic-mythology crossover when I discovered Heart of the Fae. At least to my knowledge, Celtic mythology and fiction don't mix well in the literary world yet, mostly because authors rip the scarce evidence we have about the civilizations in question apart and then put it back together, the results excruciating. I knew this of course but my silly heart still hoped for the best.

Altogether, I am very happy with the audiobook. Both the world-building and the style of story-telling agreed with me. It definitely carries typical elements of fairytales but also allows for a strong female character and a less creepy version of Beauty and the Beast. Although it's still one of my favourite childhood movies I feel increasing discomfort over the depiction of romance in the conventional story. Here, on the other hand, the Stockholm-Syndrome factor has not crossed my mind once. The narrator was Irish voice artist Siobhan Waring and I absolutely loved her. She narrated both the chapters from Sorcha and Eamon's point of view and did a great impression of the different voices, including the side characters.

Even though I was satisfied to a large extent, I felt that Emma missed out on a bit of the potential that Celtic mythology (and even archaeological facts) offers to make for a realistic fairytale. I'm aware it sounds like an oxymoron but I truly believe it is possible to smartly weave facts and fiction together in a way that satisfies both a Celtic civilizations enthusiast and a fairytale lover. I guess to make for a convincing romance, she had to drop a bit of that and give more time to the development of Sorcha's and Aemon's feelings. I suppose we had it coming but I still understand reactions such as this one. I wish some of that on-page-time would have been sacrificed in favour of a more adventure-driven plot. I'm excited to see how the story of Sorcha continues. I still believe Emma's story has the capacity to incorporate both aspects.
_____________________
Writing quality + easy of reading = 4*

pace = 4*

plot development = 3*

characters = 5*

enjoyability = 4*

insightfulness = 3*

Heart of the Fae

I found this story to be well written and lovely to listen to.I am looking forward to Bk 2,whcih I have ,so I can finish the story. Siobhan Waring has a wonderful voice and was the perfect narrator.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

alright

a little disappointed in this one. I love slow burn romances and this was that but the story didn't entice me enough to purchase #2.