The cover of "Touch of Faete" completely captivated me—it's stunning! Discovering it was a thrill. The world-building is beautifully crafted, offering rich and vivid details that immerse you in the story's universe. However, the plot and storyline felt somewhat predictable, which threw a bit of a wrench into the whole narrative. Despite being labeled as New Adult, the writing style leans more towards YA, which might appeal more to younger readers.

Overall, I would recommend this story to new readers exploring the YA/NA genre. It's a good introduction that showcases strong world-building and a captivating cover that draws you in from the start.

In Sweden we would have called this book "mellanmjölk" because it's a bit mediocre. The plot is written ok, but not that interesting. Just enough to make me want to finish the book.

The cover is what drew me into this book. I mean, look at it! It’s lovely!

What I enjoyed about this jaunt into pirates (of a sort) and all things Fae was the introduction to lesser talked about creatures. Brownies, pixies, trolls and such plus a raft of other creatures I’d never heard of before all make an appearance in this world.

The world building was most of the time beautifully handled and rich in descriptive scenes to really paint a vivid picture. This was probably the best thing about the whole story.

The story arc was expected and kinda a little boring if I’m being honest. Where that changed was in the epilogue, I’m interested in seeing where things will go.

The writing was, at times, a bit juvenile, yet at others quite adult which made this book a little confusing. It’s almost New Adult, given the protagonist is 22, but she behaves younger and makes some very silly mistakes.

I’ll most likely pick up another story by this author again, particularly if there’s a continuation of this story.

*Note: I was given an electronic copy of this book via Netgalley*

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Right up my street! Really enjoyed this, it was a packed adventurous book following Ryanne who can see creatures not of this world (including Bricius who is a pixie that only she can see) and if she touches people can get visions (who we later find out to be fae). Ryanne meets Titus (a non-typical pirate from a different realm) when she tries to use her magic to get a date. Ryanne confides in Titus as she feels he is the first person she can actually speak to about the things she experiences but she doesn't realise the darkness that resides in him.

I loved this book it had the right amount or adventure, romance, comedy (mainly from Bricius) and leaves you wanting more from the next book.

i haven't read a good fantasy romance in a while and i was intrigued by the premise of this book. generally speaking, i enjoyed it. it took me a while to get into it but i put that on my slight hiatus from reading fantasy.

the world building was a bit 'wishy-washy' for me. while the physical aspect of the worlds was well described, the author added in essence her own language to the book. which you would think is really cool, and it was. but we only got the meanings of a few words. the rest of the vocabulary you either had to infer on your own or just accept that you weren't going to find out what it meant.

the characters were well written and i enjoyed Titus and his pirate-ness. the way he couldn't shed his love for the old times while trying to live in a modern world was enjoyable to read.

there was very little romance in this but it was a good slow burn. i'd imagine that the romance will kick up a notch in the next book as Titus was very adamant that he wants to 'bed' our leading lady.

3.5 stars

I had no idea what I was getting into with this story, I know so little about it, but I really enjoyed it. I found Ryanne to be a little annoying with her language choices, but I could get past that. I loved Titus, so tormented and so confused, sometimes willing to try and other times not. A great character arc for him. I do hope we get to see more of Peter in the rest of the series. This was a fun, fast paced read.

I was really looking forward to this based on the description, however the story left something to be desired. Overall, it was a solid foray into the world of the fae and I'm hoping the next installment takes it up a notch.

This was a fairly fun start to a fantasy series. I feel as though there is a lot of potential within the series.

I loved the cover and the blurb, the idea of human touched by fae, embarking on a mission with a Bradai, a mythical pirate. The world building was interesting, however, it was rather overwhelming at times and could be quite confusing. I liked the character of Titus and found his journey in the novel far more interesting than that of the MC, Ryanne.

Although, this novel is pitched as a NA'/adult fantasy romance, it felt far more like a YA book to me. The MC comes across as rather young and naïve and at certain points the dialogue comes across as very cringey.

Having said that, I really liked the developing relationship between the two main characters and I'd like to continue with the series, especially now all the world building work has been laid down. I personally would like more Titus POV than Ryanne. I've also seen a lot of great reviews for this book so perhaps it just wasn't quite the right book for me.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of touch of faete. this was such a cute fantasy romance, i am here for it and i would like to see more from this author in the future.

Touch of Faete – Bradaís Pledge #1 - Review
 
Couple: Ryanne Kelly & Titus Doyle
 
Author: Ligia de Wit
 
Tropes: PNR, fantasy romance, fae & pirates, mythology, folk lore, hidden prophecy
 
Review: AHH this book to me was like a twisted Peter Pan retelling and I loved it. The book is a dual POV fantasy romance thriller about a feisty young human oracle and a mercenary pirate.
 
The book centers around Ryanne as she embarks on a mission to determine if Titus is able to feel. Her journey is unique and filled with betrayal and deception on all ends. I loved how Ryanne battled herself to find the best in Titus even after his betrayal.
 
Titus on the other hand is a character that I hated to love. His curiosity about Ryanne is what made his POV better. I loved reading how his feelings evolved, especially in regards to his desire to horde gold and his desire to keep Ryanne. Ligia did an amazing job depicting his inner battle with himself and his crew.
 
The book is mild spice but mainly is about the growth of feelings and desire in Titus. I enjoyed how his intrigue lead to him learning about how he feels towards people and I really liked how he had a desire to unravel where his “cold” power came from. My favorite parts were when he decides to free Ryanne’s pixie and save her from the experiments he sold her off too.
 
The books ends on a cliffhanger and will keep all levels of PNR readers engaged.
 
Rating: 4/5, great first book…excited for the next one!

This book made me think about my first ever arc. It was such a good and fun read.

Loved the plot, the pace and the characters. Nice worldbuilding.

Great start to this series that will keep you on your toes with the concept. Between a Fae, Seer and an immortal pirate, you are taken on a roller coaster ride that will have you turning the pages. The cliffhanger leaves me wanting more!

I’d like to start by thanking the publishers and NetGalley for providing this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review! This review is my own personal opinion and is in no way meant to cause offence to the author or people who enjoyed this book. Also, please don’t let my review put you off reading this book- while it wasn’t really my cup of tea there is no reason others won’t enjoy it so I’d recommend giving it a read to form your own opinions!

A Touch of Faete initially drew me in with the stunning cover and a very interesting synopsis but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. The book was advertised as an adult book, but the writing style was rather juvenile and the female main character (who is supposed to be 22) thinks and acts like a young teenager. This book would work well as a YA book for younger readers who may be able to relate to the main character a bit more but to me she was a bit too immature for a character in an adult novel. The main male character is more interesting and has some complexity to his character- I would have loved to learn more about him. The romance between the characters in this book felt a bit forced and happened quite quickly which, again, younger readers might enjoy if they are just wanting a romantic fantasy story. I personally prefer romance in books to be deeper and more slow burn- I feel like romance was a bit cheesy at times and quite forced despite the characters lacking in chemistry. I did really like the side characters though! Particularly our main characters pixie guardian- he added some light-hearted moments and made the book more enjoyable.

I thought the world this book was set in was interesting- there are all sorts of magical creatures and the different dimensions were an interesting concept. I liked how it was set in both the human realm and other magical realms- it made for a great adventure! There were also some humorous moments in this book which was enjoyable and worked well in the story.

Overall, it was a decent story- I think it should be advertised as young adult because I can see why a younger audience would enjoy this story. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book because it just didn’t work for me. That being said, if you’re looking for a ya fantasy with pirates, pixies and seers definitely give this book a go!

A sparkling tale of humans, fae, pirates and pixies! Touch of Faete was a terrific book which interweaves a strong female character with a stubborn and troubled pirate. Thrown together in this magical world, will they make each other better or end up destroying one another? A well-paced fantasy that keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next! Would definitely recommend!

Quotes:

“One took opportunities whenever one could.”

“Wine drowns more men than water.”

“Why keep fighting the beast if I ended up yielding to the darkness?”

“If the fantastic world you live in helps you cope with this depressing place … whatever works.”

“You’re a kind soul. Don’t falter, girl.”

“No point on polishing a shiny sword.”

“No prison can hold me forever”

“No one is fully ready when the path calls. Paths are always covered in mist, and we cannot fathom their twists and turns.”

“Acting on prejudice is the most harmful way to live.”

“How could someone recover something that was never his?”

Touch of Faete by Ligia de Wit is an exciting and immersive fantasy novel that explores the complex world of faeries and their gifts. The story centers around Ryanne Kelly, a young woman with the gift of foresight, who is targeted by dangerous pirates known as bradaís. When Titus Doyle, one of the bradaís, kidnaps her, Ryanne must confront the truth of her power or risk losing it forever.

One of the strengths of this novel is its well-developed characters. Ryanne is a strong and relatable protagonist, and her struggles with her powers and the danger they bring are compelling. Titus, the bradaí who kidnaps her, is a complex and intriguing character with a dark past and a conflicted nature that makes him both terrifying and sympathetic. The relationship between Ryanne and Titus is both tense and intriguing, adding a layer of romance to the story without overpowering the plot.

The world-building in Touch of Faete is also impressive, with vivid descriptions of the faerie realm and its inhabitants. The magic system is well thought out, with different gifts and abilities that are integral to the plot. The conflict between the faeries and the bradaís is also well-developed, with both sides having their own motivations and prejudices that make them feel like real factions rather than simple villains or heroes.

Overall, Touch of Faete is a captivating and well-crafted novel that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. The combination of strong characters, intricate world-building, and high stakes make for a compelling and enjoyable read. Fans of fantasy, romance, and adventure will all find something to love in this book. I highly recommend it.

The perfect YA sci-fi/fantasy and for that I give it a 4 star rating. But being this was meant to be an adult fantasy I found it slightly lacking in maturity.

Overall 3.5/5 stars.

The characters were likable but young. I fell in love with our pixie character and was overjoyed whenever they were included in scenes.

Perhaps remarketing to a make this YA would gain higher ratings.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the ebook arc of this book.

Every so often, and this is happening more frequently, I get in the mood for a fantasy world I can fully immerse myself in.
Getting lost in a beautifully crafted world is the best way to escape everyday stresses. “Touch of Faete” by Ligia de Wit was overall an intriguing premise with a promising start to a series.
It begins in the human world centered around Ryanne and her guardian and pixie Bricius as she goes on a date. She isn’t a typical human and has abilities to see visions when she touches someone.
Ryanne quickly meets Titus who is a fae pirate and before she knows it, she’s swept into another realm and tasked with getting to know Titus and how to destroy his kind, the bradais.
A romance starts to bloom between the two and Ryanne soon feels torn between her duty and her loyalty to him. Yes, it sounds cheesy, but everyone needs some cheese every now and then.
“Touch of Faete” was a slower-paced book but I think a lot of that has to do with de Wit’s world-building. I see this format a lot with the first book in the series when the author introduces characters, realms, creatures and unique aspects of the world they’ve created. After a little over halfway through, I started enjoying the story.
I would consider this book to be in the young adult genre. The way it’s written would be perfect for a teen wanting to dip their toes into fantasy novels. It’s an interesting concept without being too involved or confusing.
Overall, I enjoyed the journey and believe it is a solid start to the series and de Wit’s career as an author. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series.

The plot and characters are enjoyable enough but there's something missing. Maybe it's me not really being a fan of fae stories. I just couldn't get invested into the story as much as I wanted to.

Ryanne is likeable enough, she's not stupid, and she's actually sassy especially with Titus. She has a cool gift of visions when she touches someone but we don't really see that being used a lot or being utilized in this book. Instead, we see her exploring what else she can do with the touch of fae she was given. That's a development I would also like to find out.

Titus is your usual bad guy but really he's just a confused and redeemable guy. He's at war with a part of himself and he realizes later in the story that Ryanne can soothe or push back the beast within him (don't you just love that?). I love how he wasn't really attracted to Ryanne when they first met but he came to be when she started spending time with him and they got to know each other better. I'm satisfied with what he did after he betrayed Ryanne and I actually want to see how else his personality develops especially when it comes to feeling emotions he never used to feel before.

I also liked that the world of fae was explained in bits and pieces instead of being a huge info dump in the beginning. There's still a lot of history to be explained but all in good time.

Overall it was a good story. I'm not very eager to read the next book but I may do it. I'd still recommend it to people who love reading fae stories.

I liked the whole concept of this book, but I think it fell short on a few things, but still needed to know how it ended so it was entertaining. I would have liked to read more about a certain characters, the pacing seemed a bit over the place, but I did like the book overall, just think it needs some work

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I chose this book primarily for the genre, title, and cover art.
I feel that although I love fantasy, maybe I’m not the target audience. This isn’t to say the book was bad by any means, but I did find myself struggling to finish. I felt that although this is marketed as adult, it felt more juvenile. The FMC did not read as 22. Her inner dialogue especially seemed more childish. I appreciated the humor, but it did make her seem less mature. And I didn’t like her use of the word “stud” repetitively. Bug was by far my favorite character, and I wish there had been more development for him!
For starters, I think it would be incredibly helpful to have some type of glossary of the terms used…there wasn’t too much explaining, and I felt lost about a lot of the terms.
I enjoyed the idea of this modern/fantasy/multi dimensional world. But, I wish there had been more time spent on world building. I often felt like I was missing something or that I jumped into this novel halfway through a series.
I also felt that the romance left room for wanting. Since Ryanne was using her visions for seeing the future of romantic connections, it gave the idea that romance would be important in this story. However, the romance between Titus and Ryanne felt forced. Like the first time he tried to kiss her made no sense at all?
At risk of sounding nitpicky, I also noticed that the two times that Davy Jones Locker was mentioned, once locker was capitalized and once it wasn’t. Sergei’s name was also spelt Serguie once. I was quite confused about what Ryanne’s power was, and I would have loved more world building to understand better. I would love to read more about Titus and Bug. I think the idea for this story is interesting, but it just didn’t do it for me.