Phineas Smith is the only human at Mather’s School for Magick. He doesn't have magick, per se, instead he can pull the magick of ley lines through the earth, a rare and dangerous talent. No one can remember the last human who could do so, and its universally acknowledged that Finn is the oldest living human to wield this power. All previous persons died young due to lack of control--not that Finn's really controlling things. And, he has to call upon the ley lines to rescue himself time and again from beings bent on capturing him and using him as a power conduit of their own. One of these beings is the Unseelie Queen, who happens to be his roommate Roark's mother.

Prince Roark Lyne is the Unseelie liaison on campus. He's gruff and challenging, especially to Finn, but they share an undercurrent of sexula tension that belies all of their interactions. Roark is centuries old, and powerful but it seems that he and Finn have a bit of synergy and symbiosis that allow their powers to mend in ways that could turn the tide of the oncoming Fae war. Their partnership could dissolve if Finn can't handle the secret that Roark is hiding from him.

The sexual dynamic seems to hover between fated mates and enemies-to-lovers, what with the longstanding animosity, the constant rescues and challenges, and the secret nature of their budding relationship. I thought the fantasy elements were fresh and interesting, and there are lots of cool chararcters to round out the fantasy. It was cool to see the parent-child dynamic here, with its inherent imbalance in power, as Roark brushes against and battles with his mother's controlling ways to benefit Finn.

This is the first story in the series so, while there is some wrap-up and a resolution to the romance question, we still have a lot of intrigue and tension due to the impending Fae war. Pacing was a bit slow to begin, but really picked up as we approached the climax, and I found myself reading late into the night to get to the end. Finn and Roark do find their happiness, sometimes with explosive results, and their power issues seem to be settled for the moment. I liked the story and would definitely read on in the series.

This novel is a good one that I’ve read this year! The characters are so dynamic yet relatable. I loved the flow of the story. It held my attention the whole time.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

It was really promising, but I found a lack of information about the world building. Sometimes they were a bit confusing. I do love an enemies-to-lovers but I couldn't enjoy the couple here as much as I wanted

The first quarter of this book was very slow, and had me regretting picking it up - I'm not a huge fan of enemies to lovers and I didn't think that the school setting meshed well with the fae politics. There was almost no explanation of the world, the fae courts, the history, or how the magic worked, and it seemed to rely on the reader already having a lot of fae knowledge. Once the story started to focus more on the romance, it was more enjoyable, and the pace picked up a bit, but overall, this wasn't particularly memorable for me. The romance might be more striking if you've never read any Harry/Draco fanfic.

After a prologue filled with blood, torture, and pain the reader is suddenly thrown into a "school" situation. Moreover, Finn being hearty and whole, when he was last seen anything but, is jarring. Unfortunately I found not just the structure but the language of the beginning choppy. It made it hard for me to connect to the characters.

Eventually, though, I did and it was worth the time invested. I came to love Roark, doing his best in an excruciating spot, and to wish Finn weren't so oblivious... (view spoiler) The secondary characters, however, were not that interesting to me - apart from Mab (obviously).

Despite the choppy beginning, this tale of a love growing while Faerie descended into war grew on me. I want to know if the Seelie are really behind all of this, or if someone else isn't playing the sides against each other for the enrichment of someone else entirely. So, definitely worth the read!

This book Prince of Air and Darkness by M.A. Grant just wasn't for me. I couldn't get into it, sadly. It failed to grip me into the story.

Holy cannoli... Magic + Sexytime (explicit at times) = a steamy, unputdownable read. I must admit, I tried to read this book twice before and I wasn't impressed in the least. This, the third and final try, was my last ditch effort and thankfully my tenacity paid off. I really enjoyed it this time around. Maybe my headspace was all wrong in previous attempts or maybe I was another person mere months ago, whatever have you, today I am thrilled to give this book a glowing review. It went from a vitriol-lite review to fanatical praise.

The writing was succinct and straightforward yet not curt or lacking. The world building was excellent as was the case with the character development. There was a satisfyingly torturous slow burn m/m romance. The relationship grew into a really sweet codependency and ultimately a solidly, labeled entity. There was of course a Fae presence though it did not take up the entirety of the plot like many Fae stories do. It was primarily about these two Male MCs and their juxtapositions with one another and their world as a whole.

Overall:
This book is solid on all fronts. I am wholly invested in these Characters and this World and can not wait to read book #2!

~ Enjoy

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

***I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ***

It was a little bit slow for me before I got hooked by the Seelie world and the politics, but once I got unto them, I really enjoyed this book. I really like Phineas Smith and Roark Lyne chemistry. I'm a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope and this book just gave me the slow burn romance that I need.

I'm excited to see what would happen next.

4/5 stars!

This book was absolutely delightful and hit all the right buttons. I also listened to the audio and the narration was seemless and I really enjoyed the point of view of both Rourke and Phin and how their relationship developed. I also really liked how it wasnt just the seelie and unseelie but other pantheons existed as well which is rare. I loved the universe and everything about this book.

I am, with every single molecule of my being, in LOVE with this book.

Absolutely gorgeous writing, combined with a compelling plot and beautifully flawed, complex characters make this book so outstanding. The author has taken the age-old story of the Seelie and Unseelie courts and woven it into something original and fresh.

This is a fantastically fun urban fantasy romance, with a true sense of wonder to the magic and a swooningly romantic feel. The moment I finished, I immediately looked up the author to see if there were more books coming in the series, and I was delighted to find that there's another due in August with a different couple but the same fantastic setting. The romance was SO romantic and the magic was SO much fun. I just devoured this!

Alas this one wasnt for me. It took me far too long to get into and I failed to get to grips with the Seelie, Unseelie, Finn and all the politics and the magic. I do like Seelie stories but this one didn't pull me in. I think this is just a personal issue of different tastes.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased reveiw.

This one… grew on me? I wasn’t sure at first and it took me a lot longer to get into than it normally takes me, but once it grabbed me, it wouldn’t let go… Like “staying up until 1 am so I could finish” not letting go…

I’m not sure why it took me so long to get into Prince of Air and Darkness, other than the fact that the story went in a lot of directions. I didn’t have a problem with the characters though, at least not Finn. I liked him from the beginning, Roark… not so much. Things weren’t exactly as they seemed though – for the record, those are my favorite kinds of stories.

There were a lot of twists and turns and secrets… One of the major twists came at the very end – which I’m still a little confused about because… well, for a lot of reasons. Even though The Marked Prince, the next book in The Darkest Court series centers around another couple, I’m hoping that readers haven’t seen the last of Finn and Roark… for well, reasons. 😉

Phineas Smith is the only human at a Mathers University, the power of the ley lines run through him. A place for a magical folk, the Seelie and Unseelie have an awkward truce on the grounds. Roark is Prince of the Unseelies, Phineas' roommate and a pain in his ass. He always turns up when Phineas is being attacked by a monster and saves his ass, but complains about it the entire time. Someone is trying to upset the balance though, the Unseelies are getting attacked and the power-hungry want Phineas' power.

I was excited for this, I wanted a romance and I love a paranormal romance. Let me just get it out-of-the-way; I liked this book, but damn did the first half drag. It was so slow, I put the book down and read another before I came back to it. But once the pace picked up and Phineas and Roark started interacting more, DAMN! I was in. So much cute angst.
As they began to get to know each other properly, as the walls were slowly lowered, they began to trust and learn from each other. It was to bloody pure, I loved it. Watching Phineas' grow and embrace who he is, watching him become more confident was so heart warming.

Told from both boys points of view, the direct line into their thoughts and feelings, means the thoughts and feelings are contagious. Whenever Phin was happy I would smile, when he was confused or hurt, I wanted to give him a hug. Same with Roark. They both have so much going on, they are both scared. Phin was tortured by Roark's mother, it makes for some issues for both of them. In the background of this budding romance, the Faerie world is beginning to fall apart. Pacts are broken and Roark is pulled in every direction.

Overall I give this book a big thumbs up, I just wish the first half didn't drag. The writing was good and I will pick up the next book, although (SPOILER) so bummed it's not all Phin and Roark. This book left me in a daydream happy state for a couple of days. Total swoon fest.

I received an arc from the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this one. Phineas and Roark had such dramatic tension, and I loved how they were each willing to care and be cared for.

Phineas Smith - Finn - is a human who can tap into ley lines on earth and conjure vast amounts of magic. He's attending a magic school and everything would be fine and dandy, except he can't control the power and he'll more likely to burn the building down than levitate a feather. Finn's roommate is a Fae prince Roark Lyne, who might be the only one who can help to control the magic. There's just one problem - they're arch nemesis and can't stand each other, and it doesn't help that Roark's mother kidnapped and tortured Finn years ago for something Finn can't remember.

The story is intricate and there's monsters on the heels and danger ahead. Captivating page turner that I just couldn't put down! Prince of Air and Darkness is definitely enjoyable and entertaining read, and has a great cast of characters. As for the romance, it was everything; I love a good enemies to lovers story. There was denial, snark and angst, all of which was delicious and kept anticipation high for what's going to happen. There was beautiful change of how Finn felt. There's nothing more gorgeous than change in perspective and realizing that not everything is what it seems. And Roark's the best; suffering idiot, who's basically a cinnamon roll. They have great chemistry together and it's so captivating to read.

If you're up to a urban paranormal magic school and fae story with a side of gorgeous romance, then don't miss Prince of Air and Darkness. I can't wait for the sequel; I want to learn more about the world and hopefully get a peak on Roarke and Finn!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This book is two things. Firstly, it is the story of the long simmering romance between college roommates Finn and Roark. It is also the story of Roark, prince of the Unseelie Court, as he attempts to protect his subjects from escalating conflict between the Seelie and the Unseelie courts. This is a long and complicated read, but I really enjoyed the relationship between the prince and the human he can’t help falling for. I liked the action in this book, and I enjoyed the way the author brings familiar high fantasy characters to life.

For most of this story, Finn struggles as the only human on a college campus full of magical creatures. He has access to enormous power – but he is unable to control it. Roark’s royal responsibilities mean that he is just as much an outsider as Finn. I love how the relationship between these two moves from open hostility to an uneasy truce to a partnership. This is a low heat read but the chemistry between these two is electric from the start. Like all good new adult books, this story is as much about Finn and Roark growing into themselves, their roles, their relationships, and their identities as it is about the relationship between the two men.

In the last year, I’ve noticed a shift away from vampire/shifter Urban Fantasy towards more High Fantasy/UF writing. Laurell K. Hamilton and Patricia Briggs may have been mixing these genres ten years ago, but the hybrid genre seems to have only recently caught the popular imagination. High Fantasy is a tricky genre to do well (there’s a reason Spencer’s Faerie Queene is more than 1200 pages long) and mixing High Fantasy with contemporary culture is not an easy task. In this first book, the author demonstrates a well-grounded understanding of fantasy lore and weaves the story around familiar fantasy characters. After the first couple of chapters, I did have to check that I was actually reading the first book in the series because at the start of the book there is already a good deal of history between Roark and Phineas and readers are expected to have a basic understanding of the Faerie courts and the conflict between Roark, his brothers, and their mother.

I feel like this book could do with a bit more explanation at the start. Fantasy fans will catch on quickly but readers looking for a new adult m/m romance might end up slightly lost in this story. The plot is complicated and it took me some time before I was fully engaged. Overall, I enjoyed the story and from the halfway point I raced to the end in a single sitting.

An up-all-night m/m fantasy romance

I'm having a hard time reviewing Prince of Air and Darkness because there was just so much that happened, and I don't know where to start. On the surface, it felt like the story just didn't know what it wanted to be. Romance? Faerie Courts? Roman Pantheons? Paranormal Creatures? School of Magick? ALL of which I adored in this story, but there were a lot of moving, intricate pieces that just needed to be fleshed out a bit more for this to be a 4 or 5 star.

The story is told in first-person present POV of Phineas and Roark. Phineas (Finny, or Finn) Smith is the only human at Mather’s School for Magick. He has the ability to tap into the most powerful raw magick, but Finn cannot control the power. Magickal beings of all kinds try to possess Finn for his ability and both Faerie courts, the Seelie and Unseelie, want his allegiance. Roark, Prince of Air and Darkness, is Finn's roommate. He is allowed to live at the college as the liaison to the Unseelies on campus. Roark is also the only one able to help Finn tame his magick. And based on character descriptions, the cover must be of Roark.

So, why three stars? Well, the reader is left to piece together too many half explained elements. The first being why it has been six years for Finn to learn the smallest bit of magick? SIX YEARS? What was Finn doing for all these years to not have even the ability to levitate a feather?

“Six years, and you still can’t control your magick. They should have expelled you after the hydra."

While we're on the topic of magick, I'd love to know where all of the magick was hiding in a School for Magick? I wanted the magick, the spells, the instructors, the classes, etc, etc.

This isn't a bad thing, but the story felt like those books I read, not for the world, but for the romance and sex scenes. M.A. Grant wanted to tell a romance story. Much of the court politics and developing faerie war took place off-screen. I would've loved to see the relationship between Finn and Roark unfold more, especially because I live for the enemies to lovers trope. It was a little confusing when suddenly they start becoming more. It left me scratching my head-- it's been six years so why all of a sudden are these feelings changing. In any case, I loved their intimacy. My heart was bursting with happiness and the banter between them felt real.

“Everything we do is a disaster. Yet here we are.”

The story presents a variety of different creatures without really explaining what they are-- assuming that the reader already has this prior knowledge. If you're not familiar with faerie folklore and creatures such as hobs or redcaps, then Google will be your friend.

The ending did feel a bit rushed. There was so much going on, and there were parts I wished were explained with more depth and detail. Book 2 will be about Finn's best friend, Sebastian, who the reader didn't get to know extremely well. Actually, the entire supporting cast of characters seemed to be "just there" as filler and served no real purpose. I was hoping to return back to Finn and Roark's story in the sequel because their story was just getting started. In the end, I liked this book, and I just couldn't stop reading once I got started. I found myself filling any spare moment with a few pages.

CW: Torture Scenes, Violence, Sex Scene

I received an advanced reading copy of Prince of Air and Darkness from Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You know how you finish a book and before you even think to write a review you go and click “Want To Read” on the next book in the series even though its unpublished? That’s EXACTLY what happened to me here! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This was my first book by the author and I must say I was impressed. For like 99% of the book, I was happy with the direction the book was taking with pacing, dialogue, angst, characterisation and everything else. Finn and Lyne made the best enemies-to-lovers and the unknown curse kept me at the edge of my seat with excitement till it was revealed.

Then… the ending came, and I got the mother of all inconsistencies which bumped down my five-star rating to a 4-star.

What is it you might ask? Oh just the simple matter of the mechanics of being the Knight of the Unseelie court. How this knighthood could affect the new knight was completely ignored in favour of a quick, happy “bow on it” HEA. Now I don’t mind the HEA because Lyne and Finn were my sweethearts BUT, it should have at least been addressed.

Another thing that contributed to my taking a star off was the book’s assumption that the reader would be familiar with the what the Seelie and UnSeelie were. Yes, the courts’ purposes were outlined to my satisfaction but the makeup of both courts were not expounded on and I kept having to google new creatures whenever they came up. I think the next one needs a Glossary or something.

Overall, this was a solid beginning to the series and if this is any indication of what is about to happen in the subsequent books, then boy o boy, do we have a good time coming!

***Review Posted 03-February-2019***

Even though one of the main characters is a Fae prince who’s been alive for centuries, I’d classify this as a new adult paranormal romance. It’s got that angsty vibe that seems to feature in a lot of new adult romances.

In this case, only one of the characters, Phineas, is in his early twenties. Finn is attending a college that teaches magic, because unlike most humans, he can channel the power of ley lines. It’s not a comfortable power to have, since it usually leads to an early death after its possessor fails to master it, and Finn is having that very problem. Also attending the college are magical creatures from various pantheons, including Seelie and Unseelie fae and other mythic creatures, like satyrs. Roark is an Unseelie prince and Finn’s roommate, which is awkward, since Mab, Roark’s mother, once tortured Finn in hope of gaining control over his power. After Roark saves Finn from other creatures attracted by his magic and starts to help him learn control, the two of them go from annoying each other, to friendship, and then to more. The feelings developing between them are overshadowed, however, by the growing potential for war between Roark’s Unseelie Court and the Seelie Fae.

Overall, I liked both main characters. Roark has got that whole, “I love him but I’m not worthy” thing going on, and I tend to sympathize with that if the character has real reasons to feel unworthy. Roark calls Finn a golden retriever at one point, and that sums him up well: he’s a nice guy whose enthusiasm can get him into trouble.

I don’t mind angst in my books, although this one is very angsty indeed. Roark especially does a lot of pining over Finn. While his emotions were maybe a little OTT at times, some of those scenes really resonated with me. The way the two of them alternately push each other away but then can’t stay apart also worked for me.

What didn’t work so well was the way the story unfolded. The backstory between Finn and Roark is explained in bits and pieces over the course of the novel, and consequently I frequently felt confused. Just as an example: Finn knows that Roark’s mother tortured him, and he wants nothing to do with her. Why the heck is he still rooming with Roark? I certainly wouldn’t want to hang out with the son of my torturer! Eventually that gets something of an explanation, but it bugged me all the way up to that point later in the book.

Finn’s ley line magic also is a bit of an issue for me. He’s been studying for years and still has little control over it. When he finally does get control it seems a bit . . . abrupt? And then he’s immediately quite good at using it, too.

While I didn’t love everything about this novel, though, I’m sufficiently intrigued by the world and the possibilities for other books set in it that I do plan to check out the next in the series.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.