Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am rating this book based the stars due to lack of time to leave a full review.

Eye catching cover but not much else. I just didn't enjoy this one as much as I have other fantasy books there was something missing that I can't put my finger on.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one I grabbed because of the cover but unfortunately it was just kind of meh. The writing isn't all that good and the story is well kind of boring. Sadly this one just wasn't for me.

I really could not get into this one and from the look of the reviews, I don't think I could have gotten much further.

The cover is beautiful and eye catching. It’s the biggest reason I requested the title.
I recommend this for people who like The Cruel Prince, and Books about Fae in general.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher por my copy. All the opiniones are no my own.
I really enjoy this fantasy romancé book.

A super fun book with some flaws.
Faye is fun and sarcastic, which I love, but she can be super clueless to the fae stuff sometimes which does get on my nerves slightly. I love Gage and his witty humor. Kellan is fantastic.

The wit and humor and sarcasm is at peak level. I love how the seelie and unseelie are brought into this book relying on myth, but also elements of the author, which is a great blend.

The main character is bi, so there are hints of that. There kind of a love triangle as in Faye can’t decide who to love- gage or her knight. I wasn’t a big fan of all that, but it doesn’t diminish the enjoyment of the book.

While the overall pace was slow, the book is a series and the plot was enjoyable. The chapters are not too long and the chapter paces weren’t bad at all.

My reason for four stars was that it was missing just something to make it amazing. Just a little bit of magic that made my want to live in the world. I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend to others as well as finish the series!

I really wanted to like this debut fantasy story but in the end my favorite thing about this book ended up being the cover, which is absolutely gorgeous. The story fell flat, the characters flatter. I do not enjoy pointing out a books flaws as much as I do singing its praises so I will just say that this book might have an audience it just isn't with me.

I received and Earc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, this cover is beautiful. It was what really drew me in. Then I saw it was about fae and had some Celtic influence and I just knew that I had to read it. I loved the main character and how selfless she was. She would do anything to protect her human friend from the world of the fae. I loved the big reveals in this story, especially the one we got in the last chapter. I also absolutely love how Kelsey Kicklighter describes things. Her descriptions are filled with such wonderful and lyrical language which fit perfectly with the fae world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fun and a bit of an easy read, which is useful to fill time but lacked some of the depth that I usually enjoy in books. I enjoyed the bisexual love triangle, even though it sometimes felt as if it lacked a bit of a spark. Overall, it was decent, but it felt the same as many other magical, lost princess, type stories that I've read. It wasn't bad, but I didn't feel much of a change, and that was everything for me. In conclusion, 3/5 stars from me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Independent Publishers Group for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this debut novel by Kelsey Kicklighter. It definitely has all the classic elements of a fae fantasy. I really wanted to love the love-triangle, but it fell just a little short for me because I didn't really sense a huge *spark* between Faye and one of the love interests. I'll still read the rest of the series when they're released, though, as I'm sure the feelings for these love interests will build and become more enticing as the series progresses.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an eARC via NetGalley 3.5/5 stars This was an entertaining read. I was drawn in from the beginning with how quickly it introduced the Folk and the intrigue, but I found that it slowed down a lot towards the middle. It picked up again in the last 10% with the trials, but I struggled to get through the middle. The pacing seemed a bit off to me. The writing style was easy to follow, and the author described the world of the Folk really well. I liked the idea of the book, and I think the author did a good job with creating Faye’s character. She felt realistic and relatable, but I didn’t really enjoy the love triangle. It felt really awkward for the most part, and it came off more as Faye just having crushes on Isla and Gage than actual possible romances. I think I expected this to focus more on the trials and be a little bit more political Faerie court intrigue than it was. The trials didn’t begin until about 90% and they were over by the end of the book. Instead it was more of Faye crushing on Isla and Gage and learning how to use her glamour. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as exciting as I hoped. Overall it was a good read. I enjoyed most of it, and I think younger readers who are new to the YA fantasy genre will really enjoy this Faerie story.

I'm a sucker for fae books, period!

So of course I picked this one up. I had high hopes from the sound of the blurb and unfortunately this title didn't live up to my expectations. Which is fine, you're not going to like every book you read.

The elements in this book all include something I'd fall for but for some reason the characters just weren't working for me.

Ended up marking it as DNF at 54%.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Parliament House for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was really excited to read this book but sadly it didn't turn out the way I wanted. It was in no way that bad of a book but I expected a little more.

What didn't sit well with me the most about this book were the characters because I couldn't connect with any of them. This is always the aspect of a book that I care the most about and if the book is lacking in this department it's almost immediately a no from me.

Faye, whose name alone is so overused in books already, was written out to be like any other female main character and I didn't find even one thing about her likable. Her relationship with the other characters in this book was also lacking chemistry. I have to mention that I actually like to read books that feature the love triangle trope, as strange as it may sound, but the love triangle we get to read about in this book was so underdeveloped. As a reader I didn't feel like there were any flirty or romantic moments before the main characters went straight to kissing and saying they care deeply for each other.

When it comes to the story I will say that I felt some potential there but I'm not sure if I will ever continue this series and read the second book.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

Of Beast and Burden was a great one-sitting read for me. The story and tension slowly builds up and before you know it, you cannot put it down. Kicklighter builds a fae realm beside the mortal world that is full of fae tricks and tilted truths. Where unexpected heirs, secrets between friends and political maneuvering between rulers are mainstays, what else can be thrown towards those fighting to find their proper place in this world?

The ending was unexpected surprise and I did not see it coming. The cliffhanger definitely leaves you wanting more. I will be watching for book 2's release date and adding it to my TBR pile.

Independent Publishers Group, The Parliament House

“Of Beasts and Burden” is a vivid fairytale that really pulls out all of my favourite aspects of faerie .
🧚‍♀️ faerie royalty + conniving courts
🧚‍♀️ complex magic
🧚‍♀️ fantastical creatures
🧚‍♀️ a dark, forbidden wood
🧚‍♀️ a bargain struck to save a loved one

Our main girl, Faye, is the reluctant heroine . One who has to master her abilities if she’s going to save her sister.
I enjoyed visiting Faerie , and the Seelie/Unseelie courts . Both are magnificent in dark and twisted ways, while only one pretends they’re the Court of Light.
I am a huge sucker for anything involving classic Celtic lore and this book really brought the essence of the Folk to life .
It’s a fast paced story with a love … square ? I wish it elaborated more on the plot of the book — three deadly trials set in a magical labyrinth . Though the ending did leave my jaw on the floor because I couldn’t believe the balls the author had to execute the series of twists, leaving us with a delicious cliffhanger ending.

If you need anymore help to imagine what this book is like, picture Cruel Prince meets Alice in Wonderland ✨

I’m definitely invested and eager for book 2.

Questo è un libro che purtroppo è stato organizzato e studiato molto male.
E' stato pubblicizzato come perfetto per i fan di Sarah J. Maas e Holly Black. Purtroppo a parte l'inserimento del popolo fatato, della sua cultura e tradizioni, e delle corti Seelie/Unseelie, non c'è niente che possa accostare questo libro a quelle due autrici.
Ci sono molti errori e problemi da affrontare:
- l'incipit: non ho probabilmente mai letto un primo capitolo peggiore di questo. Abbozzato, confuso e che non coinvolge per niente. Serve solo a portare la protagonista dove deve andare per gli scopi della storia, senza una vera motivazione, coinvolgendo un personaggio che poi non vedremo più per il resto del libro.
- la protagonista: la trovo un'adolescente (molto immatura per la sua età dato che dovrebbe andare all'università) molto insicura e confusa sulla sua identità sessuale, ma sopratutto stupida. Sebbene si vanti parecchio di quanto sia stata istruita sugli usi e costumi del popolo fatato, fino al 79% del libro non chiede minimamente in cosa consistono le prove che deve affrontare, che a parer mio, dovrebbe essere la prima domanda che poni appena metti piede nella tua corte e inizi ad allenarti per affrontarle. Che poi nessuno ti risponda è un'altra faccenda, ma in che cosa consistesse l'ultima prova l'avevamo capito tutti subito. Trovo poi molto fastidioso il fatto di sbatterci in faccia la sua bisessualità di continuo e il suo essere indecisa fra tre persone diverse per tutto il libro.
- la parte centrale del libro: è un filler gigantesco e completamente inutile. La protagonista praticamente non fa altro che perdere tempo ad allenarsi (per non si sa bene cosa), andare in giro in moto per negozi, provare vestiti e fare feste...
- i PNG: alias tutti i personaggi secondari di sottofondo non importanti per la trama e che Faye sembra già conoscere. Questi personaggi ci vengono presentati come se noi sapessimo già chi sono e la protagonista ci interagisce come se noi li conoscessimo già, sapessimo chi sono e che rapporto hanno con lei. Ma non fanno altro che confonderci ancora di più con nomi che non ci servono e che dopo un capitolo abbiamo già dimenticato a chi appartiene. Personaggi del genere devono rimanere sullo sfondo perchè non fanno altro che confondere il lettore e sono totalmente inutili ai fini della storia.
- il finale: ovviamente visto che l'obiettivo della protagonista non è venuto fuori se non negli ultimi tre capitoli del libro, era ovvio che ci sarebbero stati dei colpi di scena finali. Che ho trovato leggermente originali, ma che non mi invogliano a proseguire probabilmente nella lettura della serie.
Probabilmente è colpa del fatto che il finale sia stato costruito in pochissimi capitoli, in cui viene racchiuso praticamente tutta l'evoluzione del rapporto tra Faye e Gage (lato positivo) che nel resto del libro era stato completamente ignorato per dare spazio al rapporto tra Faye e Isla (di cui non mi interessa minimamente).
Anche il rapporto con Kellan mi era abbastanza indifferente, ma sicuramente avrei voluto che venisse esplorato maggiormente, visto come si evolve.

Piccola nota positiva: il personaggio di Gage è interessante e sicuramente se gli si fosse dato maggior spazio lo avrei apprezzato ancora di più. Probabilmente l'autrice si riserva di dedicargli più tempo nel prossimo libro immagino.
Sicuramente avrebbe dovuto scegliere un nome più fey. E' orrendo quello che ha...

Diciamo che il finale e Gage hanno sicuramente salvato il mio giudizio da essere totalmente negativo, ma non dal portarmi a continuare la serie. Non credo che sia ancora abbastanza matura come scrittura. Se il processo di scrittura dell'autrice dovesse migliorare di sicuro le darò un'altra chance, perchè sicuramente ci sono degli studi sulla mitologia celtica e sulle leggende, cosa che apprezzo tantissimo.


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This is a book that has unfortunately been very poorly organized and studied.
It was advertised as perfect for Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black fans. Unfortunately, apart from the inclusion of the fairy people, their culture and traditions, and the Seelie / Unseelie courts, there is nothing that can compare this book to those two authors.
There are many mistakes and problems to face:
- the incipit: I have probably never read a first chapter worse than this. Sketchy, confused and not involving at all. It only serves to take the protagonist where she needs to go for the purposes of the story, without a real motivation, involving a character who we will not see again for the rest of the book.
- the protagonist: I find her a teenager (very immature for her age as she should go to university) very insecure and confused about her sexual identity, but above all stupid. Although she tells us a lot of how much she have been educated on the habits and customs of the fairy people, up to 79% of the book she does not ask in the least what the tests she have to face consist of, which in my opinion, should be the first question you ask as soon as you set foot in your court and start training to deal with them. That no one will answer you is another matter, but we all understood what the last test consisted of right away. I also find it very annoying that the author constantly slam her bisexuality in our face and her being undecided between three different people throughout the book.
- the central part of the book: it is a gigantic and completely useless filler. The protagonist practically does nothing but waste time training (for no one knows what), going around on a motorcycle to shops, trying on clothes and having parties ...
- NPCs: aka all secondary background characters not important to the plot and that Faye already seems to know. These characters are presented to us as if we already knew who they are and the protagonist interacts with them as if we already knew them, we knew who they are and what relationship they have with her. But they do nothing but confuse us even more with names that we do not need and that after a chapter we have already forgotten who they belongs to. Characters of this kind must remain in the background because they do nothing but confuse the reader and are totally useless for the purposes of the story.
- the ending: obviously since the protagonist's goal didn't come out until the last three chapters of the book, it was obvious that there would be some final twists. Which I found slightly original, but which does not entice me to probably continue reading the series.
It is probably the fault of the fact that the ending was built in very few chapters, which contains practically all the evolution of the relationship between Faye and Gage (that's positive) that in the rest of the book had been completely ignored to give space to the relationship between Faye and Isla (of which I do not care in the least).
The relationship with Kellan was also quite indifferent to me, but I certainly would have liked it to be explored more, given how it evolves.

Small positive note: the character of Gage is interesting and certainly if he had been given more space I would have appreciated him even more. Probably the author reserves the right to devote more time to him in the next book I guess.
She surely should have chosen a more fey name. I really don't like it and how it sounds ...

Let's say that the ending and Gage certainly saved my judgment from being totally negative, but not from leading me to continue the series. I don't think the writing it's mature enough. If the writing process of the author were to improve for sure I will give her another chance, because surely there are studies on Celtic mythology and legends, which I really appreciate.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Parliament House for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a story about faeries and boons and changelings, Of Beast and Burden is a great option. It reminded me so much of Holly Black's The Cruel Prince series in its atmosphere.

My top concern while reading it was the pacing. I felt like an entire novel was shoved into a story not much longer than a novella. I want more development in the characters (especially Faye, our protagonist) and in the world. I can tell that there is likely to be another novel, but it can only build so far off the foundation laid by this book. Unfortunately, this book felt like it was racing to the finish before it was done drawing me into the world.

I enjoyed reading it despite the pacing and I look forward to reading more from Kelsey Kicklighter in the future. Kicklighter is already great at writing a good story and I can't wait for her to improve with the next installment.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

I thought for a debut Fantasy this was good. 3 stars for me, means I enjoyed it. I could quibble about the things I didn’t like but it wouldn’t be productive.

I recommend this for people who like The Cruel Prince, and Books about Fae in general.