This was a DNF for me, unfortunately. It’s been so long since I read the series last that I found myself utterly lost from the beginning and I couldn’t catch up. The list of names at the beginning of the book wasn’t a substitute for a proper introduction to characters and their dynamics, and the author didn’t do a very good job bringing in new readers, or old ones like me. The book seemed ok otherwise. Maybe I’ll return to it one day if I have time to reread the previous books to bring myself up to speed.

Oh my disappointed heart. Wicked Lovely and the Wicked series ignited my love for fantasy years ago. Seth and Ash owned my heart- I felt like I could breathe that world, it was so perfectly rendered. So I was looking forward to Dark Sun, and It was a big let down for me.

This book lacked all of the magic that consumed me about Melissa’s writing. The world building, the mysticism, the beautifulness of the world was all still there- but the characters, well, they I think are what lost me. The flawed complications and emotional tension of the prior books gave us interesting dynamics, characters growing up and evolving to this world. Here we have a heroine who has some compelling strengths, but we also have Urian, and try as I might, I could not get behind him. He’s petulant, bitter, arrogant, and inherently unlikable. I couldn’t quite engage or stay engaged- parts moved slow. Where was the emotion? Where was the heart? And implications this had for the original series perhaps bothered me the most. Well, it made me wish I’d left that series just where it ended- in the beautiful sacred place of my heart. Hoping she rights the ship.

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/4019399024
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4644279447

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

It's a bit difficult to rate this book fairly because I never read the Wicked Lovely series. And whilst the author has left a detailed summary point of where everyone from that series were left at in the front of this book, I came into it with the impression that this was a new series (Wicked Lovely Courts as stated on NetGalley) away from the YA predecessor, and thought it could be read without previous knowledge since this isn't a YA novel. Unfortunately, I firmly believe you need to have knowledge of the previous world - more than the notes at the beginning of this book - to understand the logistics of this world fully. Even if some people and their placement in this novel are explained, it's already an established world and I felt like I was trying to swim against the current to understand what exactly was going on. There are a lot of political machinations of Faerie to grasp in this book, and alliances previously made in the Wicked Lovely series would make more sense if you had read them previously.

This book is told from three POVS, Urian, Katherine and Aislinn. Urian and Katherine are the real main characters of this, and it's their love story that we're following. Whilst I understand the decision to make Aislinn have her own voice in this book, I found her parts disrupted the flow of the happenings between Urian and Katherine and weren't necessary. Urian and Katherine are both 'gancanaghs', a type of sexually arousing fae who are dangerous to mortals. Katherine has been raised by her mortal mother to fear the faeries and to resist her half-fae side. However, at 24, she's tired of existing in her pretty cage, and when she meets Urian, a century-old fae who is unashamed of his sexual side, Katherine finds herself drawn to him and wanting to embrace the darker side of her being.

For all the talk about being sexually needy, this book doesn't actually have any explicit steam. It's eluded to, and whilst there is nakedness and a general idea that Urian and Katherine are sexually aroused by each other, it doesn't cover anything in great detail, leaning more in the "fade to black" style of romance. This confused me considering how much they conversed about what they wanted from each other, and I felt it didn't follow through in painting an accurate picture without the details. I'm not huge on smut, but in this case, I did feel it let down the overall picture of Katherine and Urian's connection by not delving deeper into this. Instalove was at play here, given the nature of their ability and kinship, and again, this just felt more talked about than shown. I don't like instalove at the best of times, and frankly, I didn't enjoy the fact that only a day had gone between Urian and Katherine, and they were already so deeply invested in the other.

The angst and political machinations, if I had more understanding of this world, would have been interesting to me, but it took a really long time to feel invested in what was happening and enjoy this book. I've rated it higher than my actual enjoyment level, simply because if I had read the previous series, I feel like I would have enjoyed this world more than I did. That's on me for picking up a book with an established world, not on the author.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for this eARC of Dark Sun

I loved Dark Sun so much the world building was excellent and the world of fae and halflings was perfect.
The build of Urian and Katherine's relationship was great and I loved the way he as a halfling/Fae was portrayed.
The flitting between the worlds was good in that each chapter focused from a different characters point of view. I felt like this helped the story move along.

This is my first novel by Melissa Marr and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more from her.

Melissa Marr never fails to deliver Fey stories that are just all consuming. Can't wait for more, hopefully she'll write more.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book took a little bit of effort for me to get into. I love the concept of faeries but they are becoming the new Twilight with every author seemingly writing their own faerie version.

I loved the world building and like to read about the magical faery court. The three different perspectives showed different sides of the story but in ways made it a little harder to follow. Will have to reread to form a better idea of my overall opinion.

"A new Wicked Lovely spinoff series begins with Urian - son of the former Dark King and the fated Summer Queen, Thelma Foy. After the Summer Queen claimed the throne that should have been his mother's and a lowly advisor claimed the throne that was his father's, Uri is done hiding. The Dark Summer Prince is ready to claim one - or both - of the thrones that should rightfully be his.

When Urian discovers Katherine hiding in the desert, he thinks finally has the ally - or general - he's needed...whether or not she agrees.

Katherine has spent her life aware that her bloodlines aren't as mortal as those around her. When one of the creatures she's been told to hide from discovers her in the desert, she decides to protect her human family by finding her place in the world of the faeries. She can't trust Uri, but she feels drawn to him in a way she never imagined.

Secrets are revealed. Peace is threatened. And neither family ties nor accidental love can keep the balance between the courts now."

Why did NO ONE inform me we were getting more Wicked Lovely!?!

Such a good book, well written, exceptional world building, enchanting storyline and characters that I loved. If you havent picked this book up yet I highly recommend you do. I read it so quickly.

Okay confession time and its that I've never read the Wicked Lovely series as I'd thought it might be a little too young for my tastes. This book catches up with characters from that series but it focuses on the children they have had and just how troubling it is to grow up without a father figure. Ironically the couple Katherine and Urian are both half Fae and in many ways displaced but when Uri angrily stages an attack in the Summer Queens Court it challenges old alliances and forces new ones !
This was fun to read and as I got a better feel for the assorted characters and their roles I was really quite impressed. I loved the unique take on the Wild Hunt and its Hounds particularly but all the Fae described here were very interesting and at times quite funny too. I've long thought this author has such pretty covers and now I know that what lies within is definitely worth time reading. Fans will love this and I will most certainly read more from this author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

You have me at the line "Return to the faery world written of the internationally bestselling Wicked Lovely series." Wicked Lovely is a terrific series and I love it so much. This series is even darker than the original but in a good way. Just a warning that it's not really for kids.

This series is about Katherine who is only half-mortal. When one of the creatures she's been hiding from discovers her in the desert, she expects danger—instead, she feels fascinated by Uri in a way she never dreamed possible. Uri who happens to be the son of the former Dark King—has brought the Faery Courts into conflict. Chaos, more secrets, fights and court intrigue ensues... Their love story is exciting and addictive. An exciting start to the series.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I'm so excited this series is back. I never stopped loving these characters and seeing them as adults is something I've always wanted. I can't wait to see where this new series goes!