I read the first book in this series months ago, but the minute I saw the author in my NetGalley list, the strength of that story and characters came pouring back, making me eager to return to their world. The author did not disappoint.

The Marked Prince is a continuation of the story began in Prince of Air and Darkness where the Winter Court is in isolation and the Summer Court is preparing for war. The details of the conflict never quite added up, with both sides blaming the other, but it also didn’t feel like a continuity error. In this book, we learn why. As with the first, though, it’s much more complicated than it seems, with multiple layers and characters driven by their weaknesses as much as their strengths.

We already understand, in a gut-level way, just how far Roark will go for Finn, based on the first book. Sebastian’s very presence in the Winter Court is proof of that even if most are unhappy with his half-Seelie presence. They’re sure he’s a spy for the Summer Court, but they have no idea how impossible such an idea is in Sebastian’s eyes. He stormed out of his mother’s world in his youth to go live with his Unseelie father, and she did nothing to stop him. But the only reason he’s there is Finn’s friendship when his half-Seelie blood would have denied him refuge in either court.

Roark may love Finn with everything he possesses, but it doesn’t change his upbringing. He gets Sebastian to agree to help them recover Roark’s brother, who has defected to the Summer Court, because Queen Mab ordered Finn to go. Between Sebastian’s dislike for the Summer Court and his shared worries over Finn’s health, the request doesn’t take much thought. But he lets his guard down a little too far and ends up returning to his childhood home as a spy when he meant to provide only intel.

Remember what I said about more complicated?

Once again, this book is a mix of high fantasy politics and intrigue. It’s set deep in a Summer Court in uproar, though with more of a focus on dress code and procedure because much of the story occurs at the actual court.

Sebastian isn’t quite who he’s made himself out to be. Not that he lied, but he let people make their own assumptions based on his father and growing up on the edge of the Wylds. To be honest, that’s how he sees himself as well.

Then there’s Duine, who is much more than he appears. As with the first book, we have both perspectives and know just what Duine hides behind his servant’s mask. A curse strangles his tongue so he cannot confess the truth no matter how deep his connection to Sebastian grows.

Sebastian’s not stupid, though. He can tell there’s more to Duine’s story as the apparently magicless Unseelie servant he rescued from the grasp of his childhood tormentor guides Sebastian through the complexities of court procedure. He just doesn’t know the full of it.

Their relationship develops beautifully with a connection running deeper than words, a lucky thing when Duine must choose every one to avoid crippling pain. The romance is filled with conflict and worry, but you can see their growing mutual respect and wistful hope spring to life. Their connection is much more than physical, though they manage one open door scene before their worlds fall apart once again. Every time they are together, the tension is tangible not just to the reader, but also to those around them. Some find this a threat, for good reason, while others are delighted to see Sebastian win happiness.

You might have noticed, speaking of choosing words carefully, the mad dance I’m enacting between giving a glimpse of the story without spoiling anything not already in the back of the book blurb. The most telling point is the huge gap in my notes when I was too caught up in the story to make any. I figured out a crucial element about halfway that is supposed to be the big reveal at the end, but it didn’t undermine my enjoyment one bit–and I didn’t know for sure until it was confirmed.

Ultimately, Grant offers another powerful story with high court mixed with down to earth in more ways than one. Celtic myths wind into a new whole through love, danger, manipulation, fear, and trust. Things are not quite what they seem, nor is everyone taken in by the false faces. Loyalties are tested, old truths retold, and a fabulous story brought forth through well-drawn characters.

This is a middle book as far as the overarching tale of the war between Seelie and Unseelie, but it forms its own full and complete arc of courts and courtship that will captivate the romantic heart. I walk away satisfied on all fronts and yet eager for the next book to come.

P.S. I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I've been eagerly awaiting the next book in this series ever since I finished the first, and M. A. Grant didn't disappoint. I actually liked this book a bit more than the first. That may be because I already understood the background of the court politics that confused me a little in the first book. Ultimately, I enjoyed the very slow unfolding of Duine and Sebastian's relationship, made even more fraught by the secrets hidden between them. I've always enjoyed epic fantasy, so some of the mythology behind the events was familiar to me, but there was quite a bit I wasn't expecting. I also enjoyed seeing Roarke and Phineas again and seeing how he has been coping as the Winter Knight. The setup for what I assume will be the final battle in Lyne's book was dropped in careful pieces and left me anxiously awaiting the next installment.

"I will kneel for you. Only you, from this moment until my last."

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. In a heartbeat. IN A HEARTBEAT. ALL the freaking stars for this book! The truly funny thing about all of this is that after reading it's predecessor, Prince of Air and Darkness (PAD), I was So In Love with Roark and Finny and their love story, that I thought there was No Way I could possibly buy into any other love stories in this universe. Boy oh boy was I Wrong.

This about sums up my emotional evolution while reading this book:

Me before starting The Marked Prince: I hope I can get into this book, but I'm honestly worried I won't like them as much a I liked Finny and Roark.

Me about 96% into The Marked Prince: OMG Roark, stop being such a self-righteous ass and LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!! My babies Seb and Slaine need some space!!!

I won't say too much about the plot itself, because it's all one big, massive, mind-blowing spoiler. Long story short - Sebastian (who we don't really get to know too well in PAD), is more or less forced to return to the Seelie Court on a secret undercover mission to retrieve Roark's traitorous older brother, Slaine. Upon his arrival, he discovers an Unseelie slave, Duine, who is being mercilessly tortured by Sebastian's truly awful cousin, Aoife. Sebastian convinces his uncle (Aoife's father) to turn Duine over to him to be his personal manservant. As Duine helps Sebastian navigate court life, and Sebastian attempts to show Duine that not all Seelie Fae are terrible monsters, it becomes clear that both men are not who they at first appeared to be.

This book....This Book. I've put off writing this review because I was so overwhelmed with how much I loved it, and how much it made me feel - I was worried (and still am) that I wouldn't be able to do it justice or put it all into words.

So, if you couldn't tell, I ended up (more than) buying into the love story in this book. Do I like this pair better than Roark and Finny? It's hard to say, but maybe? I loved these two characters, and I loved how much I felt like they needed each other. It's probably best to not compare them because both couples are glorious in their own way.

We learn so much in this book, so many secrets, so much backstory. About Sebastian, Slaine, the driving forces behind the imbalance in magic between the courts...we even learn some new (and super shocking) things about Roark. I felt like this book did a great job answering some of the questions I had from PAD, and really fleshing out the story in a cohesive way. It's tone is very different from PAD, though - this book gets a bit darker and grittier. And our main characters are actually separated for good portion of the book (which is such a heart-breaking section of the book but so necessary - we see just how connected these two have become, just how much they need each other).

"His call echoes into my bones, and I obey because he's my prince, my king, the only man I ever wish to kneel before and he's here, waiting for me. 'Seb,' I whisper, and the leaves stretch toward me. 'I've come back.'"

I'm excited and nervous for the next installment. I'm no longer worried in the least that I won't completely fall for the new love story (Kieran and Lugh). I know I will. I'm nervous, however, to see how the impending Civil War between the Courts plays out. I have my fingers crossed that we won't lose any of the characters we've come to love, but what's an epic story without some loss? All I know is I will for sure have the tissues on hand when I start reading The Iron Crown.

*This review appears on GoodReads and will be posted to my personal blog and retail sites once available.*

I will be honest and admit that I didn't really pay much attention to Sebastian in Prince of Air and Darkness . He was mentioned here and there but wasn't someone who caught my attention.I actually had to go through the previous book to reacquaint myself with him.

First thing I will say is I can't tell you any specifics about this book. I know I know but you deserve to experience all the ups and downs, twists and turns and the REVEALS. Trust me, it made the book soooo good!

Look out for Duine's past ... it comes out and hits you right up the side of your head. Man! I cannot even HINT at something because it will totally spoil the book but it was a healing and redemption story as well for him. He was not as expected and I totally loved him and the sweetheart that was Sebastian.

The relationship first started as a means of survival then morphed to friendship, attraction and then love... *Happy Sigh**

The baddies were truly evil in this one and blew my mind with their casual cruelty. I thought I hated Queen Mab of the Unseelie Court(and still cannot stand that woman) but the nobility of the Seelie Court really took the cake... What cruel beings; ESPECIALLY Aoife. I mean she deserves a special hell because of the "purity" of her evil. My skin crawled every time she came on page. *Shudders*

As I've said, I loved all the twists and turns in this book but once again(like in Book #1) the ending left much to be desired.It wasn't a cliff hanger but it was the most HFN ending to ever HFN.

There was No epilogue, No extra chapter with our MCs being in love... it was just an end with the threat of another conflict on the horizon. I just stared at the last line of the book completely dazed.

Fortunately, there are extra scenes on her website (with Finny and Roark) which somewhat appeased me. But like the greedy reader I am, I hope we get more from them, and more from the MCs of this book!

High Prince Slaine of the Unseelie Court appears to have defected to the Summer (Seelie) Court and become betrothed to Princess Aoife. In reality he has been put under a Thrall and his face has been given to an imposter, unable to tell the truth. He spends his days being tortured and ridiculed by Aoife as a political prisoner, his identity hidden by a gold mask and the name Duine.

Sebastian has hidden his real identity for many years, half-Seelie, half-Unseelie and son of King Oberon's beloved sister, he hasn't been in the Seelie Court for years, not even after his mother's death. But when bringing Slaine back is the only thing that is likely to prevent war between the two courts he is the obvious choice.

Sebastian is shocked at the lack of glamour in the Sidhe when he returns to the Summer Court, his cousin Aoife is advocating war and gathering supporters, King Oberon appears afraid of Aoife and the nobles seem indifferent to the suffering of the ordinary fae. When he sees Aoife torturing an Unseelie prisoner he requests him as a manservant.

Despite not wanting to be designated a prince of the Seelie court Seb cannot ignore the suffering of the fae and with Duine's help he starts to muster support for peace and a more equitable sharing of the Sidhe's glamour. But he has made a dangerous enemy in Aoife and there are forces at work that neither of them understand that threaten the very existence of both courts.

This is a deep contrast to the first book which I likened to Harry Potter with the fae. This is set entirely within the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Despite the abrupt change of focus I enjoyed this book, once I realised that it was not about the couple from the first book, but Prince Roark's older brother (poor memory for names). These novels are not for the faint hearted, the fae can be frighteningly imaginative with their tortures but the writing was engaging and Seb and Slaine/Duine are a charming couple as the prince turned servant teaches the new prince how to win over the nobility.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Wow. Just…wow.

No, that isn’t a particularly eloquent opening, but once again I’m left somewhat speechless by my love for a book. M.A. Grant doesn’t tell stories in half measures or with a lack of passion. Prince of Air and Darkness proved this, and The Marked Prince reinforces that fact. With vigor. So, take my Wow as it’s intended—with absolute and unequivocal adoration of this book.

A looming battle was presaged in “Prince”. There was little evidence presented to contradict the possibility that the Unseelie and the Seelie would enter into a war. And so we witness, in real time, not only the Winter court High Prince Sláine’s abject failure at diplomacy as the story begins, but his defection to the Summer court on top of it. Moreover, we learn that politics and perception, especially where the fae are involved, are rarely clear-cut and never without multiple factions working their own agendas. The suspense in this novel is sustained throughout the telling of its story, peaking and ebbing at times but never truly abating, and that kept my anxiety levels pegged at maximum, which only made the reading more engaging and exciting. Especially as Roark and Finny are determined to storm the Seelie court and drag Sláine back home. Whether that’s for Sláine’s benefit or to ensure he answers for his defection is somewhat immaterial when weighed against who they’ve earmarked for the quest.

We met Sebastian in book one and know him as Finn’s sweet and unassuming friend. Seb is a hybrid, a Seelie on his mother’s side and Unseelie on his father’s. There have been countless stories about characters who straddle two worlds and belong fully to neither, and that is certainly the case in The Marked Prince, which works to build empathy and compassion for Seb and his reluctance to set foot back in the Seelie court to face his childhood memories and the grief he carries over the loss of his mother. Not to mention facing the King and Queen. His relationship to the court further complicates his mission as well as compromises his safety. Seb, Roark and Finn have not underestimated the risks involved in Seb walking headlong into the Seelie sídhe, with little power to his name. They know there’s a possibility that Seb will not live long enough to drag Sláine back to his mother, Queen Mab, and whatever consequences might await him. Their goal is to make sure Seb succeeds, of course, but it’s not long before we realize that help from Roark and Finn is improbable at best. At worst, it’s hopeless. So Seb must rely on a tortured servant to become his unlikely ally.

Duine is under the control of the High Princess Aoife, which has become increasingly dangerous to his health. When Seb witnesses Duine being tortured in front of a salivating crowd, the servant’s death seemingly imminent, Seb steps forward and requests the King to grant Seb the favor of taking Duine on as his personal aide. And that is the beginning of something utterly beautiful. Duine not only responds to Seb’s kind and gentle and generous nature, but a friendship grows between them in a slow and essential way. They become each other’s greatest champions, are loyal and committed to remaining by each other’s side, come what may. But the battle lines are drawn within the Seelie sídhe; there is unrest brewing between the classes along with the rise of a power madness that promises to deliver death to both Seb and Duine.

Laid out in an elegant prose, Grant draws readers into this story by the heart, gives us two heroes to support, to suffer the sting of failure with, and to celebrate with. The world-building in this series is as vital to its scenery as it is to its characterizations and the inner-workings of the Winter and Summer realms. The emotion wrung from Duine’s storyline is significant, but it does not overshadow the secrets that surround Sebastian and how his lineage influences their story. There are wins and losses, and the revelations are exquisite, rendered in sometimes excruciating but often poignant ways. In the end, there is home and people who are loyal, the alchemy of faith and a steadfast devotion, and the promise of a deep and abiding love is fulfilled.

I am utterly infatuated with this series and cannot wait for the next book, even knowing that it will be the last.

DNF, but not because I didn’t enjoy the story. I quite liked the worldbuilding and protagonists but had difficulty following as I didn’t realize this wasn’t the series opener. I need to read the first book but then come back to this to fully appreciate this book.

I enjoyed The Marked Prince a lot more than The Prince of Air and Darkness. It felt less dark and grim, and I found it easier to get through. Sebastian is a half-Seelie, half-Unseelie Prince of the Seelie court and when the threat of war caused the courts to seal their borders he went to the Unseelie court because of the friends he had from Mather’s. Unfortunately because of his mixed lineage and his use of Seelie glamour he was unwelcome in the Winter Court, so Roark and Finny offer him protection if he’ll help them reclaim/rescue the defected High Prince. Sláine was sent to the Seelie court to help negotiate accords and keep the threat of war minimized, but was tricked by the High Princess and held in Thrall as a prisoner of war, and unable to reveal his true identity. When Sebastian returns to the Seelie court to rescue who he thinks is Sláine he ends up claiming the prisoner Duinne from Aoife as his personal attendant. As Duinne helps Sebastian navigate politics and social niceties in order to prevent war and equalize the treatment of lower Fae, they become close and form a bond.

One thing I really enjoyed is the politics in this story. I think because this story takes place at court we see more of the intrigue and machinations that go into the different end goals characters have. I especially like how it shows the Summer Court, thought to be the good fae, is full of more backstabbing and manipulation than the Winter Court, though Winter Court politics are mainly only glimpses from Sláine’s recollections.

The romance has a wonderful slow burn quality to it because Sebastian and Duinne have to learn to trust each other and transform the developed friendship into a romantic bond. They don’t kiss until 60% into the story and their relationship is never a point of contention for them, though it is a concern if known because Sebastian is trying to get the Seelie court on his side, and if he’s known to be consorting with an Unseelie prisoner it could undermine all his carefully cultivated alliances.

Overall, this was a really good read. There’s a lot of fae politics and well done world building that added new layers after Prince of Air and Darkness. I really enjoyed the romance and the way when Sebastian finally learned who was under the mask and that Duinne was Sláine it didn’t change his feelings because it was still the same person he’d fallen in love with. If you enjoy court intrigue and slow burn romances, this may be right up your alley.

HUGE shoutout to Carina Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read this masterpiece early!

After the magnificence that was Prince of Air and Darkness, I was a little nervous that the sequel wouldn't be able to live up to it. Although the prologue gave us a huge, giant plot twist, I was also worried that the reveal of this twist so early would take away some of the tension.

I am glad to report that I was horrifically wrong on both accounts.

The Marked Prince somehow manages to be even better than its predecessor, and that huge prologue reveal made the tension even better. Grant also managed to throw us at least two more absolutely insane plot twists that changed the whole foundation of the story and that I'm pretty sure not even Sherlock Holmes could have seen coming.

Once more, the characters and the plot are both absolutely sublime. Duine is a fantastic, well-rounded character with deep flaws and virtues, and Sebastian's development towards being a strong leader throughout the book felt organic and well-written.

I'm obsessed with this series, and I'm so sad that a) the third book won't come out for AGES and b) it's the last book in the series. Excuse me while I stalk Grant's bibliography now and forever amen.

Color me surprised, but the first book apparently wasn't a fluke for me, because I liked The Marked Prince just as much and I'm pretty such I still dislike fae themes in other books.

It looks like it is just this series that is the exception and I really don't know why. Still I really liked The Marked Prince. It was different and kind of dark. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the book but I at the same time I was kept on my toes while reading it, always wondering if the scene I'm reading at the moment would be the scene where Seb would finally find out the truth.

I will definitely pick up the third book of the series as well, which according to Goodreads is namen The Iron Crown, and I'm quite curious who this book will be about.

Rating: 3,75 stars

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Title: The Marked Prince
Author: M.A Grant
Rating: 4 stars
Rep: M/M romance (no sexuality stated)
Trigger Warnings: violence, prisoner of war, descriptions of war, torture, gore.

After reading "Prince of Air and Darkness" last year (also through NetGalley), I have been eagerly anticipating this second book, it was definitely one of my most anticipated for 2019 and it didn't disappoint!

M.A Grant has a way with writing, as soon as I started this I knew I wouldn't be able to stop reading until I finished. I stayed up until 2 AM to finish and I have zero regrets! I absolutely love the writing style, so fast-paced and engaging, with loads of twists and turns I really didn't see coming!

Seb and Slaine's relationship, I loved it so much. A connection built on trust, understanding and tenderness, these two worked so well together and they were so in sync. They built a friendship before a romantic relationship. One of my bookish pet peeves is miscommunication, I was a little worried, with a plotline like this one, that there would be a lot of miscommunication, lying etc between the MCs, but there was none at all! Seb & Slaine trusted each other, worked as a team and leaned on each other. I absolutely loved them as individuals and the relationship they formed.

The plot went a completely different way than I was expecting (in a good way), the twists I really did not see coming! The "villain" of the story is hard to pin down, but one thing is for sure, Aoife was pure evil. You know a villain is written well when you get literally angry whenever their name appears on your page.

A couple of reasons I didn't rate this 5 stars:
-It took a while for me to get into the story and immerse myself in this world again as I was a little confused, but still completely hooked from page 1.
-The plot dragged a little around the 80% mark and the ending was very abrupt, I honestly don't feel like Seb and Slaine's story is over yet, but I have no clue who the next book will focus on.

Overall, I am so happy I had the opportunity to read this one, I will 100% be reading more by this author and I am so excited about book 3! I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes diverse characters, fantasy romance and loads of twists.

Although this is book two in the series it is possible to enjoy it without having read book one. The MCs were engaging and well-written, I was pulled into their story right from the beginning. The world building was well done and the storyline flowed well and kept me engaged. All in all a very enjoyable read, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

It's the first book I read in this series and found it excellent.
I loved the well written cast of characters, the well developed and amazing world building, the plot that kept me hooked.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to this series and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Summer Court is nothing like Sebastian remembers. The oppressed lower classes are drained of their magick, and around every corner political intrigues threaten an already unstable regime. When I started reading I couldn't put it down. M.A. Grant is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

I was a little disappointed when I saw that this sequel didn't follow Roark and Finny, but I was pleasantly surprised by this! I so enjoyed the world that Grant created, fae are always a favourite of mine because of the politics and the subterfuge.
Seb is so sweet and pure, he deserves all the good things. I liked that he stayed straightforward and honest throughout the book no matter the circumstances.
Slain pulled on my heart strings with his past and the fact that he was essentially all alone. Seeing them heal together was cathartic and everyone must just leave them alone to be happy.
Bonus - lovely cameo's by Roark and Finny!

Can't wait to read the third book!

*Thank you to Edelweiss for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Oh, that was good, even better than the exceptionally good series opener for me and absolutely jam-packed with everything I want in a fantasy novel.

It's no secret to anyone who follows my reviews what a massive fan of this genre I am, and one of the overlooked gems for inspiration is Irish Mythology.

MA Grant has firmly established her world's heritage in the legends of the Sidhe (Irish Fae) and this instalment focuses its gaze on the Summer Court of the Seelie.

I love the Fae, they're my favourite paranormal inspiration and the Seelie/Unseelie in particular have such a wealth of stories that it's a challenge to create something new but with a deep foundation in the mythology.

With this narrative we get a glorious and, at times, viciously cruel tale of the Unseelie High Prince Sláine and his captivity at the hands of the Summer Court's High Princess.

There's a huge plot twist which I absolutely loved and which fits so perfectly with the character of the villain inhabiting that role that I cheered even though he's an absolute bastard because it so brilliantly exposes the trickster part of his history.

The romance, like book one, drives the narrative but in an incredibly subtle fashion, it's what underpins everything without ever being the direct focus.

I loved Sebastian. He's conflicted, hesitant and desperately naive but also so brave and compassionate and kind.

His friendship with the man he doesn't know is Sláine trapped behind a Thrall and mask is slow burning but compelling and I loved how their dedication and devotion to each other grew throughout.

The book goes in directions I'd never have guessed and I loved that it surprised me from start to finish.

I started this book hoping to read things that according to my opinion were missing in the first one.
And I found them.
I liked this book, it has a very good rhythm, the story becomes more complex and the system of magic and world built is well explained and all this is related with that magic touch that we all love in stories of faries.

This book continues the story we read in the first book but from the point of view of other characters, of which I have to say that I loved them. Especially Sláine, who stole my heart.
And since I talk about the characters, I want to highlight them because they are complex but easy to empathize with. That's something I like a lot to find in books, makes the characters much more real and less predesible.

I'm really looking forward to reading the one that follows, I really like the story, I like where everything is going and I want to know how these characters are going to end.

The super recommend, to all who like these worlds seelies and unseelies, with Courts, civil wars, complex characters and beautiful love stories with a little angst.

Go read them!

The second book in the series develops secondary characters from the first book and extends the overall plot. This is a dual point of view story written largely in the first person. Characterisation remains strong with a solid approach to the development of emotion. The difficulty is that there is not a great separation in personality and it is quite easy to get confused as to who is speaking particularly when they are in the same scenes. Nevertheless, they are interesting and it is possible to develop empathy for their experiences. Whilst in the first book the lead characters were human and fae, here they are from opposing Courts. The author is able to develop a larger plot through their different perspectives and experiences.

The world building and magic system are interesting and develop established characters and locations from traditional literature. Whilst some secondary characters are enriched, some of the more familiar names remain in the background or lack depth. This is a shame, though I am sure that the author has a reason for this. Locations are richly drawn and easily visualised, this aids in the effectiveness of the plot.

The flow of the story is pretty straightforward for the first half of the book. However, as the tension begins to rise, so does the level of complexity. There is only a single storyline, but different levels of consciousness are introduced. This, added to the lack of distinction between the characters, affects the clarity of the plot. Once you get your head around this, the story offers some interesting ideas and the resolution to one of the repeated problems outlined throughout. Of course, the resolution of one thing leads to the revelation of another, but such is literature.

This is not a story based around sex and much like the first book, it relies on the fade to black and hints rather than anything particularly explicit. The book doesn’t need sex to be successful, but I think it would have been a positive addition. The relationship between the central characters is pretty standard but benefits from a lack of angst. Things obviously get in the way, but overall it is a traditional fantasy profound love that is destined to be revelatory.

There is a steady pace throughout the first half of the book as the setting is explained and characters introduced as well as the dynamic. In the second half, what the reader has been led to believe unravels and plots are revealed. Here the pace increases and remains quite fast. Readers need to take care here as the point of view changes can be missed.

By the end of the book, it is clear that there is to be at least one more book as the stage is set with a quest to be undertaken and baddies to thwart. In addition, it also provides a new character focus. Overall, the story ends neatly with one problem resolved and the pieces laid out for what feels like a denouement. I look forward to the next book.

Thank you to Carina Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

Admittedly, I had not read the first book in the series. BUT this didn't create any issues, which is, I think a credit to the writer. It probably also helped that the Seelie and Unseelie court business is a familiar setting in many urban fantasies.

This book has the feel of a modern fairy tale with a dash of Tam Lin. There's Sebastian a Seelie prince who is more than he appears, though he doesn't know this. And then there's Duine, an Unseelie prisoner and whipping boy, who, of course, has a mysterious past. Though to be fair, the mystery doesn't stay a mystery for long from the reader's PoV.

What's done well? The characters are engaging and interesting. Each MC's relationship with their family is fascinating to read. In particular Duine's, which is definitely a very tough kind of love with a hefty dose of "do not disappoint me." I love complicated family dynamics so this was right up my alley. That there was no insta-boner and lust at first sight is refreshing in this genre. Duine and Sebastian's relationship is built on trust and empathy and damn we need more of that in romance.

What did I have trouble with? Probably the timeline. I could not for the life of me tell how long the book spans over. Particularly in the first two thirds. And then it felt a bit rushed in the last third.

That said, however, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of political urban fantasy romance.

2019 really is the year of the RainbowRoyals™

We had Her Royal Highness, Red, White & Royal Blue, and now we have The Marked Prince. 🌈👑 

Dare I say I liked The Marked Prince even more than Prince of Air and Darkness??? 👀 

“You are Sláine,” I tell him. The laugh is bitter enough that even his tears can’t lessen how it cuts the air. 
“The Prince of Earth and Ruin and the High Prince of the Unseelie Court. An inherited title for a role I don’t want.”
“Then don’t take it.” I pull back, force his chin up until we’re looking at each other. I smile. “Create your own title. Just... do it here, with me.”


I just spent the majority or the day reading this book. I didn't even want to put it down long enough to eat. It was so good! In Prince of Air and Darkness we got Roark and Finny's story. The Marked Prince picks up not long after the ending of PAD but this time we get Sláine (Roark's older brother) and Seb's (Finn's friend from book one) story. The stakes are definitely higher and the story progresses to a somewhat satisfying conclusion even if I didn't want it to end. The thing I love most about The Darkest Court series is how real and flawed and complicated the characters are. 
There is one more book in the series (The Iron Crown) coming next year which I literally can't wait for!

He shakes his head. “A better brother would have trusted you.”
“A better brother may have,”I counter slowly, “but my brother sent a good man to rescue me. When that failed, he stole me an army.” 
It earns me a sharp bark of surprised laughter.


I recommend this series to anyone who likes Fae stories or enjoyed The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare. 

Now can we PLEASE get physical editions of The Darkest Court books? 🤞📚🙏🏼💕

***Thank you to Carina Press and M.A. Grant for allowing me to be a part of the official cover reveal earlier this year and for providing me with a review copy.***