I want to thank Netgalley and the author Claire Wright for this ARC. This is my honest opinion

The first important point to know about this book is that we alternate between four different points of view.
I often have trouble with books from different points of view but I find that the author has managed very well the moments of transitions between the characters.

Concerning the story, this first volume is a large volume of introductions to the universe that the author created. I had a little trouble with the rhythm which often goes slow because there are a lot of details and stories to explain. The endearing characters make us want to continue to read despite this lack of action that there may be at certain moments, and fortunately towards the end of the book something finally happens, which precipitates the story (as well as the romance between the characters!)
I also appreciated very much that there is no notion of a love triangle at all, future couples are defined very quickly and I am happy about it.

I still recommend this book despite that I took some time to read it because I really think that volume 2 has a huge potential now that a big part of the story and the characters have been posed and that the action can really start.

I greatly appreciated the different characters of the characters who swing perfectly well, ash is very serious, and rather withdrawn while mae uses humor as a weapon of defense and is not afraid of anything. Set ( my dear Set I adore you) the tortured soul of history that breaks our hearts with its story but deserves so much better. As for our dear geek friend, aaaaaah that horrible end. I say no more, read the book, and suffer with me for that ending.

2.5 stars, this book definitely wasn’t for me.
I was intrigued by the premise, but overall I found it very slow in places and the alternating POVs didn’t help. Unfortunately I ended up DNFing.

I love books that have Irish lore and mythology as its theme. So, I was super excited when Claire Wright invited me to be part of her street team for her debut novel, Realm of Lore and Lies. And, let me tell you, it was so good. Thank you for having me on the team and for the gifted e-arc, Claire!

This story is steeped in clan lore and law. A life that Aisling Breen no longer wanted to be part of. Leaving her brother behind, she started a new life using her fae sight to help protect the humans from certain disaster at the hands of the fae. But when a mysterious murder takes place, Aisling is pulled back into the very world she thought she had escaped. She has to choose between turning her back on her clan and leaving her brother behind again or staying and and obeying what clan law dictates.

I loved Aisling’s sense of duty and loyalty toward her brother. Once pieces started coming together, that sense only grew stronger. All she ever really wanted was a family to belong to and people who loved her as much as she loved them. Family dynamics are never easy and sometimes you just have to forge your own way. Aisling can be a badass but her fear of letting others down or not being good enough holds her back sometimes. I hope we see her really come into her own and be the strong leader she was born to be over the rest of the series.

Maebh is my favorite character, which is saying something because I love all the characters. She is the one I resonated with the most. She wears her mask (she doesn’t really care, nothing bothers her, etc.) to protect who she really is. Just below the surface is a woman who wants to live fiercely and love deeply. This quest that the King demands these characters (Aisling, Maebh, Setanta, and Tiernan) undertake starts to break down some of those walls she’s built. I really want a happy ending for her!

Setanta is the “Thor/Hulk” character in this story. He is more than his muscles and brawn, though. He cares. He cares deeply for those around him. Then Tiernan is the “Tony Stark/Dr. Banner” figure. He’s smart. So smart. He doesn’t have the bulking body but don’t let that fool you. What he lacks in physical power he more than makes up for with his brain power. Tiernan may be the key to achieving this quest altogether. Both men have storied pasts and both want what everyone wants: to be loved. I want happy endings for both of them!

There were great twists and turns. I love the magic. Claire created a world that is so believable that I could see myself living there. There are some heart wrenching moments too. Why do all the best stories have to rip our hearts out? Nothing is as it seems but some of the questions to all the mystery are answered. The ending isn’t a cliffhanger that leaves you saying, “What the hell just happened?” But it leaves you wanting the next book. That epilogue, however, is an amazing way to end it! I was like, “No way!” I can’t wait for the next installment!

I highly recommend Realm of Lore and Lies to fans of fantasy, fantasy romance, found family, urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, and Irish folklore.

This book was really good! I loved how it was based in Ireland where I am from, so it was cool to see it in a fantastical sense. The only problems I had with the book was that it was a bit Insta lovey and I would have loved to see more depth into the characters but other than that I thought this was a really fun read!

I enjoyed this book but I did feel like it dragged in places. But for a debut novel it was good.

It started off really well but it did lose its way.

This book started off so strong for me. I was so pumped. The MC interacting with a fae who appeared as a very demanding cat had me laughing, but just as I was sinking my teeth into getting to know the MC, the point of view changes began and the story lost some of its luster.

I must say that I loved the potential of the overall plot and still enjoyed reading it, but the switch between four different points of view really took something from the story and made the plot feel messy and disorienting at times. I never felt like I got to know any of the characters well enough to care about what was happening to them. I found myself thinking that I had too many questions by the 50% mark and not enough answers. The pacing was a struggle.

While I believe that the writer is extremely talented and I do intend to continue reading this series (because I think there is great potential here), I think this story would've been a lot better had it focused on the point of view of one or two characters instead of four. There was a lot of telling how the characters felt and not enough showing and better editing could've made this story a five-star read for me. Overall, despite my few grievances with it, it was an enjoyable read and I think the author did an excellent job building an interesting world, and the story was truly interesting.

Thank you Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book as the characters were very much likeable, and the pace of the book was perfect for the plot. Each chapter is from different points of view from the characters. I thought that the writing style was very well done and quite clever in areas. However, in some places I felt that there could have been a bit more action.
Realm of Lore and Lies starts off with the death of Aisling’s mother, where Aisling views the death as a murder and very suspicious, but when she shares this with the High Court they pass it off. With the help of her friends, this exhilarating read follows how Aisling gets justice.

For a debut novel this book was great, a book that makes you feel all the emotions. Fae, magic, quests and brilliant descriptions that make you feel part of the story.
But the cliffhanger!!! And with no date for book 2 on the horizon

I feel like this book really tried. Like really, really tried, but it fell just short of the mark.

The story felt like it dragged in places, the characters felt flat in a way that didn't get better even as the story progressed. Perhaps I went in with too high of expectations since the plot summary felt right up my alley, but the execution was just not there. I had to push myself to keep reading, and keep reading, and I considered putting it down a few times, but I don't like DNF-ing books, so I didn't.

I do think that the author's passion for Irish folklore and mythology shown through, and it was part of the saving grace that prevented this from being a lower-starred rating. Still, it couldn't make up for the vaguely disappointing way in which the stories were told. Or perhaps this sort of style is just really not my cup of tea.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars. This one was a bit disappointing personally. I read that it was based on irish lore and mythology which is what initially drew me in, and I want to say that the author's passion and love for irish culture really shines through, but every other aspect in this just didn't work out, which is why it ultimately fell flat for me.

The beginning was quite hard to get into as it was really slow, which was in large part due to the inconsistent pacing. There were pages upon pages of literally nothing happening, then suddenly things started happening, and just as quickly it was over. In general, for a book that's 500ish pages long, I also have to say that barely anything noteworthy happenend? Sure, there's the murder mystery they all wanna solve, but this could've been condensed by a lot?

The plot was a mess. Like you don't really have anything happening till you're like 60% in, then the characters get a quest and after a couple pages they find what they're looking for?? SUCH a missed opportunity to show the reader more of the world/realm/creatures there and have their characters interacting/bantering/growing more chemistry with each other. Also for the fact that this is marketed as a fae story, there were almost no fae or even mythological creatures?? Yeah, they see a couple throughout the book, but it felt like too little.
And imo, the comparisons to Holly Black or Sarah J. Maas are completely off, the only thing that is similar about them is that they write stories about fae. That's it.


I usually love multiple POV stories, but it just didn't work here, nor was it needed. Even though the characters got whole chapters revolving around them, they fell flat, with no actual depth. There were just too many perspectives and not enough time with them.

Additional thoughts:
- the characters were 20+ yet felt like YA cutouts
- their thoughts and actions often didn't match
- both romantic relationships had zero chemistry and felt forced (e.g. you just went through something traumatic but you can't stop staring at the hot boy's muscles?? was this needed and/or realistic?)
- the dialogue was kinda unnatural/cringy at times?

There were just too many storylines with too many characters going on, it became SO convoluted and easy to lose track. How can you have this much going on with nothing actually happening? Needless to say, I couldn't get myself to care about most of them (except for Maebh tbh), and I found it hard to immerse myself in the story due to the inconsistent pacing.


This is the first book in a trilogy, and the author most likely will improve in the later ones, but I just don't have any desire to continue as I just didn't enjoy this one as much as I would've liked.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in irish lore with a modern twist and is willing to give this debut author, who is clearly passionate about her culture, a chance.

This was a slow start for me. Although the development and the world building was very full and detailed. Up until about chapter 8 I felt like the little engine that could. I didn’t understand relationships at all for that first part. I had no idea why she was with new caretakers. It distracted me. But I kept going and I’m glad I did. The writing is smooth and good and I was happy to be inside of it as some books I’ve read lately have started to feel immature. The book slowly but surely became a page turner.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book wasn't up to par with my expectations. The premise was exciting enough, however, the actual plot failed to deliver. The pacing was also slow and the characters were too one-dimensional to keep my attention. The pacing of the book was also very slow. Countless times I wondered why this particular detail or this action mattered to the overall narrative.

A more comprehensive review is up on GoodReads! Thank you <3

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm torn between 2.5 and 3 stars. I had high hopes for this one because the plot was there and t started out great.

Unfortunately, at some point during the 15% or 20% mark, it started to go downhill. There are 4 POVs in this book which wouldn't be an issue but, being written in the 3rd person, it turns out to be annoyingly confusing.

I also found the story dragging on at several moments, which only made it harder for me to finish. I had to really power through to get to the finish line (cliffhanger ending alert).

There are stories about fae ( the fair ones) where a human enters their world, willingly or unwillingly, meets one and eventually falls in love. This is not that kind of story and I love it. This book is about a girl who is one of the few able to see through glamor and chooses not to interact unless to save a human from their stupid games. This book intertwines fantasy and a murder mystery together seamlessly and offers a look into the life of people "gifted" with the responsibility to protect the humans from the fair ones and what happens when your past forces you to confront things you wish you didn't have to.

I loved reading this and I can't wait for what comes next.

Realm of Lore and Lies by Claire Wright is a modern fantasy with its roots in the folklore and mythology of the author's native Ireland.
The story is told from four perspectives as we are introduced to four characters - Aisling, Setanta, Tiernan and Maebh whose paths will cross in a dramatic and exciting manner as the story unfolds.
Aisling has left her family behind, she longs for a normal life and is doing her best to make that happen by studying archaeology and working as a tour guide in her spare time. Unfortunately her abilities to see the Fair Folk and Fae creatures make this something of a challenge and when she encounters a Banshee and finds the blood soaked body of her estranged mother she is thrust back into the world she thought she had left behind, a matriarchal society and a clan reluctant to accept her return as their new leader.
Tiernan is a technology whiz kid who was adopted by Aisling's clan and who was keeping an eye on her online at her mother's request. He is one of the few people who supports her in her quest to fill her mother's shoes and become clan leader.
Maebh is another unlikely ally for Aisling, she is the daughter of another clan matriarch but is fed up of feeling like she is playing second fiddle to her twin Setanta. who is struggling with issues of his own. She leaves her clan to join Aisling , becoming her second in command for the upcoming warrior tests in Tir na nOg, the land of the fair folk.
The action moves between our world and the world of the Fae, with plenty of action in both , ranging from Aisling becoming a suspect in her mother's death to a quest to find the first High King of Ireland.
The book starts strong and ends strong but it definitely drags a little in the middle, not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the book overall, but enough that I noticed it, I thought the incorporation of the mythology was really well done and I loved the idea of travelling clans of Fianna warriors . Each of the four main characters had a distinctive voice and story and I really enjoyed seeing how they came together.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

3.5 Fantasy Murder Mystery

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book...even if I'm reviewing it a few days late.

It's definitely a slow start (lots of lore and worldbuilding that's necessary) and really the only thing pushing me through the first 40% was that I got this as an ARC a few days before it was published and knew I had to get through it quick.

I'm so glad I did. Our mc, Ash, is relatable with her struggles between fulfilling her duty to her family and trying to carve her own path in the world. Ash, Setana, Tiernan, and Maebh make a great group that have believable banter, strong bonds, and so much personality packed into each, even if switching between 4 POVs was a bit jarring.

Following Ash along on her quest to discover who killed her mother submerges us right into the vivid world (which Wright does a great job making it digestible without info-dumping) of the Fair Ones. I did expect a bit more action, but very much enjoyed the murder mystery vibe with hints of action and romance. I nearly cried at a certain part (no spoilers) and was on the edge of my seat for the cliffhanger at the end.

I will definitely be reading the next of the trilogy!

well that was an adventure. I liked the different POV but some of the characters I didn’t warm too. Lots of folklore within the fae world. It took me a long time to read but I think that was just the pace of the book not the plot. I really did enjoy this

A unique take on the legends of Irish myths and folklores. A tale of supernatural beings, demons and fae set against contemporary Ireland.

It's been 7 years since Aisling ran away from home.
But now that her mother, and clan leader, has been murdered, she has to come back and make some difficult decisions.

Story-type: Adventure, with a bit of romance, a bit of murder, and a bit of emotional guilt.
Audience: Probably late teens, young adults.
Pacing: Hard to pin down. It starts strong, ends strong, there are a few strong bits in between, but the rest
feels kind of off.

I have at least two pages full of notes for this book: It's a mixture of Feedback, reaction-scribbles, and info mind maps, because I sensed (correctly) that you'll need it for this story.

⇝ A lot happens in this book, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well-connected everything seems. You get a lot of hints throughout the book – they're not shoved in your face, but also not played down – so that you're not completely surprised by the plot, yet you don't see it coming from a mile away. You can constantly sense there is a bigger picture looming, and you just wait for the other shoe to drop.
The problem is: the pacing. I really had an issue with that. The first 10% are great. The last 10% are great. But in between...? I'm not sure whether I would have stuck with this book if I hadn't been a test reader. And I understand that some scenes are necessary to maybe get to know the character better... but there are just too many mundane scenes that actually work against a coherent character development. Sadly, I wasn't invested in the characters up until the 90%-mark.

⇝ The book is written from four POVs, and every perspective is more or less unique in its own way. But, here comes my next issue: the multiple POVs did a dis-service to the story. Even though everything fit together like puzzle pieces, the amount of information is a bit overwhelming and too much for one book. This story could have benefitted from one or two more editing runs to form them into a much better pacing.

⇝ This story definitely has a case of insta-love. Not my thing. But to its credit, even though you see them kind of pining for each other from the start, they go through a lot of trials and getting-to-know-each-other-moments first. It does add a bit of extra-tension to the story, when you realize the relationship won't happen soon.

⇝ I love the backdrop of the story. The Irish folklore and the descriptions of it was fascinating! I'm absolutely hooked to pick up some more books with this theme.

The good: I was immediately pulled into the story. I loved the setting and the lore that it used. The Fianna are interesting and the writing was pretty good for a debut novel.

The bad: The pacing felt off. There would be a chapter or two of excitement followed by several long chapters of exposition. Some of the dialogue felt really ... off? Awkward? The relationship building was next to non-existent.

eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.