To start, I love the map provided at the beginning. The detail is really nice.

I liked how it got right into the story and a lot of world building wasnt thrown at us right at the beginning. It was added as it was relevent.

I was not fully sure, I was going to like this book. I have been in a bit of a fantasy reading slump lately. But, this book helped me out of it. The story was very engaging and all of the characters were interesting in their own way.

I really like that this book has multiple POVs. Getting to see both characters POV always helps me get into the story and like the characters more. I was worried with the multiple POV's that it would be hard to distinguish the characters, but Claire made sure to give them all their own voices.

This was an interesting read for sure. The premise really drew me in, but I was a little disappointed because the pacing of this book was off and I found myself bored throughout several points. I did like the mythology aspect though.

A debut novel from Claire Wright, Realm of Lore and Lies brings Irish folklore into the modern world! From pucas disguised as cats to changelings to historic kings lost to time, this book draws readers into Ash's life. A young woman studying archaeology is dragged back into her clan's life by tragedy, and it is now on her shoulders to solve a murder, protect her brother, and bring her clan glory. This is not a story about faeries, no matter the central folklore. This is a story about generational conflicts, found family, and the difficulties we face in our lives. The Fair Ones are just a catalyst for the Ash and her clansmen.

My favorite things:
- this book offers a very believable sense of conflict between younger and older generations with all the simmering tensions and conflicts that come from that
- main characters that aren't teens, they use their brains, but also still make mistakes
- the four main characters are likeable; I'm not usually one for multiple POVs, but this book was well done!
- I cared about what happened to these characters and Realm managed to get my emotions up (the cave scenes!) throughout the book
- a mischievous puca pretending to be as a cat; honestly what else do you need

My issues with the book:
- at the very beginning of this book, Ash is working in a coffee shop that isn't set up to be accommodating to someone with a baby stroller, and it's kind of implied that this is done on purpose. My head immediately went to the struggles of people with mobility aids-- I don't think the author intended an ableist coffee shop, but I wanted to flag it just in case
- PACING; it takes so long for things to actually happen. I think the first truly major event is almost 50% into the book, but once you get to the second half, it picks up. This isn't to say the first half is boring, just slow paced.
- A little insta-lovey, but also a slow burn? It's a weird balance
- There are so many plotlines-- murder, being matriarch, the caillte, the Cath, the high king's quest, troublesome romance-- and only one of them gets anywhere near what I would call resolution.

That being said, I will be anxiously awaiting book two because there's just too much I have to know! This book felt mostly like set-up for the rest of the series, but I'm intrigued!

CW: child abuse, death of parent, drowning, minor violence, murder

Realm of Lore and Lies, a book weaving Irish folklore with a fantastic story. I enjoyed reading this and can not wait until the sequel is out. I need to know how the Author ends all of this.

This book is complex in the sense that you are given a lot of information on Irish stories and lore which relates to the Characters and the situations they are in. Once you get started you can not stop. However you do need to pay attention because even the smallest details can be revealed to be very significant as the story continues.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and give my opinion.

The story was unique and very interesting. But the pace was so slow that it took out a lot of the excitement for me. I know some people like the build of a slow pace but it just isn't my thing.
Also it was a bit weird that the FL kept looking you know who's eggplant randomly. For example like when he shifted, what was the reason for that being put in? It was a serious moment and it didn't do anything to add to the scene. I just kinda looked up from the book like "um... Okay?" Lol

I would like to start out by saying that I have been looking forward to this book for ages! When I first read the description, I knew that it would become a favourite read for me. What I didn't expect was to fall in love with everything about it. This is Claire Wright's debut but it definitely reads like it's not!

Irish mythology at its best.
Though the pace was quite slow this fantasy book was also part thriller / mystery which I enjoyed more than I expected to.
Thanks to netgalley for the book

I was drawn in by the premise but was sadly left disappointed in the end. I enjoyed the Irish mythology and the characters are likable. However, I did not enjoy the multiple perspectives as they did not aid in the story in any way. The world-building was not clearly defined and often thrown new information with little explanation. The pacing was slow and lacked momentum. Overall, great premise but did not meet my expectations.

The story is told from the POV of four characters and I liked all of them. I didn't rush in the POV chapter of one character so that I could read the chapter of another, which sometimes happens if I don't find the character interesting, but all the characters were built up really well and you can feel the differences in their personalities.

The theme of the book itself is already intruiging - a fantasy book with a murder mystery (and romance). The world itself is written meticulously and in detail making it a very immersive setting.

The beginning of the book itself is somewhat slow and the pace only picks up at about the 40% mark but I don't really find it that bothersome as this is still the first book of a series. I look forward to the next book to find out how the story continues.

I definitely recommend this book to fantasy lovers.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial, the author and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book.

Realm of Lore and Lies by author Claire Wright. A debut novel that takes time to grow on you. Flirting with hight fantasy codes and romance, the voyage she takes us on is worth the readers’s effort.

Lots of characters, names and places. Different types of faerie, some good others bad. It’s easy to get lost.

Each character's live with their own burdens. At some point, I wanted them to just « get it over with ». Lots of internal dialogues about how guilty they felt, what they should have done… I would've loved more interactions between them.

The pace picks up half way. The world building well established, motivations of the many characters laid out, the reader will stay for the mystery and the blooming relationships.

The new found family trope is the main focus. The tribe of misfits they are creating, is plausible and the dynamics sometimes very funny. (The crop top and bath towel in the Fiesta! That made me LOL hard.) Every time Maebh and Tiernan are together. *chef kiss!

I went in that read with expectations for a romance novel. This is not already the case here. You can see hints of what’s to come in the series and I can't wait! The author shows she can do it. Well written exchanges through out the book between characters will give the reader good romance vibe.

Here’s what I’m talking about…

« Still standing right before her because something inside of him wanted her just as much as she wanted him. And she knew it. »

« This time, he didn’t hold back, kissing her soundly. Those breathy moans of hers moved the pounding in his chest lower. »

I was prepared for more, but I will have to be patient. Those are the steamiest moments I highlighted during my read.

I recommend that book for readers who likes to be transported in other worlds and different ways of living. Irish lore is so rich and thanks to Claire Wright story, I can’t wait to discover more about it.

I’m curious to learn what's next for Fair Ones Book 2

I throughly throughly loved this debut from Claire Wright. There were sprinkles of romance, fantasy, murder, and a whole load of mysterious circumstances to figure out. I fell in love with all four of the main protagonists, as we see all the action through their eyes and get to understand their backstory in this world. The characters I believe are all around 23 (I will have to double-check), so I enjoyed having their ages close to mine.

I sometimes find fantasy books a struggle when there are huge info dumps, but I found it easy to follow along with the plot, remember past characters, and get a sense of the general direction the story was heading. I would argue that the story in the first 30% is a little bit slow, but the pace picks up soon after. I read this book digitally, but I believe the chapters in a paperback would probably be quite short, which is something I really love too.

All in all, this was a great debut and after that finale, I will sell my soul for next year to come quickly so I can get my hands on it. >Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review<

Beautiful representation of Irish mythology with captivating characters, this is a unique and magical read that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy!

I absolutely LOVED that this was set in Ireland! Lots of fun lore and world building in this story! I look forward to reading book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC of this book!

Realm of Lore and Lies is an expertly written debut New Adult Fantasy novel! Mystery, well-written characters, and Irish Folklore? What's not to enjoy!? Add in a dash of emotional damage and an ending that will leave you wanting more and you have the makings of a perfect start to a series! I will be awaiting the next installment in this at the edge of seat!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Summary: Aisling left her family behind 7 years ago, taken in by the only two people who might have a chance of understanding her, she starts her life anew with her two sweet foster parents. Her only connection to her past are the letters she receives from her brother, Conor, and the occasional Fair One trying to steal an infant from unsuspecting humans in the cafe she works in. Aisling has The Sight; she comes from a long line of warriors who balance the two sides of the veil in order to keep peace with the Fair Ones. It’s her senior year of college, everything seems to be going well, until she’s met by a heralding call and discovers something that will undoubtedly change everything.

This was such a refreshing read! This took me back to middle school reading YA Fantasy like The Iron Fey that took more of a traditional folklore approach to the world building and I loved it so much!! An incredible balance between deep roots and well utilized traditional Irish folklore based in the Tír na nÓg, the Tuatha Dé Danann, and history and historic sites such as The Hill of Tara and Newgrange, and the Fianna while also including the modern world in a realistic way!

The characters are well developed and relatable! I found myself cheering Maebh on and my heart hurting for her simultaneously! Aisling is so complex and I can’t wait for us to continue to get to know her character and dive deeper into her complex relationships with her heritage and commitments and her perspectives after spending 7 years among modern society. I need to know more of Conor’s story. My heart breaks for him and his journey and experiences.

There are romantic subplots in this story that I think are appropriate for the YA genre! I’m interested to see what directions things go in as the plot continues.

I just LOVED the lore! I feel like fantasy has been steering away from truly sticking with traditional lore in world building lately, but I think this is just so CLASSIC while still being original and I just adored it!

Ash, the main character, is an archeology student who is also a part of Fienna - humans with Fearie sight and occasionally other gifts. After the death of her mother she’s forced to come back to become the matriarch of the clan and help them during Cath, a tournament ordered by the high king.

I love fairytales and myths and folklore and I was delighted by all the Irish mythology and folklore references. The world building wasn’t fully fleshed out but what was there was really cool so I am really looking forward to getting to know more about the world.

It is an interesting premise and has a lot of potential, but in the book there isn’t that much action until the halfway point. The story is split between 4 characters which makes the story a bit slower. Instead the book focuses on the characters and the, very interesting, world.

The writing has a very distinct feel to it and it made me think of SJM’s writing in throne of glass specifically. I wasn’t the biggest fan of romance and how abruptly it happened.

The book has some flaws but for a writing debut it is great and I will definitely read the next instalment when it comes out.

I'm sorry to say I just couldn't get into it, nothing about the characters hooked me in and I was put off by a few things before I even got to 10% in, I just felt myself switching off.

I very much enjoyed this book!

The writing was great - it was easy to follow yet not overly simplified, even though there were a lot of names and terms that were new to me.

I thought the author struck the right balance between explaining the world and letting the reader get as in depth as desired. I found myself looking up places and people and terms. They were explained in the book, but I love knowing the details. And this book did such a great job of intertwining fiction and modern day Ireland with its rich history and folklore.

And I loved the storyline. With the Irish legends and lore, romance, and mystery, I was hooked from the first chapter.

I love that the story is told from multiple POVs. Early on I was interested in each of the characters, and by the end I was completely invested.

My only criticism is that the voices for the different character chapters weren’t overly distinct. There were a couple times I had to remind myself who’s POV I was reading. But I think I just needed a bit more depth from the characters. And by the end of the book I was starting to see it. So I hope we get even more character arcs in the next book. Which I will definitely be reading!

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*. I loved this book a lot! The characters where really amazing I was in love with Set from his first chapter. The plot and story were very interesting and kept you engaged the whole time. The setting of Ireland is beautiful. Overall very enjoyable read!

I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book was. I didn‘t really have any expectations going in, I just new that it‘s a fantasy book. I loved the story playing in Ireland, it‘s a story with some romance, family stories, murder and mystery. I wanted more depth into the characters but that might be something that will get explored in the second one of this series, we‘ll see. I‘m excited to see how this will continue.