Thank you to Bloom and NetGalley for the earc.

This book has been on my radar for months, I’ve loaned and unloaded it multiple times from KU, when I saw it on NetGalley I decided to give it a whirl. I made it to 60% and I’m throwing in the towel. Repetitive, going no where, grammar mistakes, and just seems like a bully romance but fae? My final straw is the change in POV but just redoing the previous chapter. This is a miss for me.

Wow wow wow!!! First I’d like to thank NetGalley and Bloom books for this advanced readers copy.

I’m giving this book 5 stars!

Plot: Callie Peterson a dedicated scientist and animal lover searches in the woods for a rare mushroom in hopes that it would save the Luna moth population. She finds herself in a faerie portal and falls into the unseelie court lands, home to viscous creatures and wicked fae.
Mistakenly taken for an assassin after landing on Prince Mandex from the portal (prince of the unseelie court) she taken taken to the castle where she is imprisoned and to defeat three trials if she wishes to prove her innocence and return home to the mortal realm.

Thoughts: The world building in this book I found to be quite easy and not too intimidating. It leaves you the vision of how things work in the realms but leaving for more information to be shared in future books. I liked the characters in this book though there were certain things I felt needed more detail. I absolutely love the dynamic between Callie Mandex. You can see where the author left little clues and bread crumbs trails to his changing feelings for her. Though he’s done terrible things, I found myself rooting for prince mandex. I think there’s more to his story and I’m very interested in finding out what that entails. And our fmc Callie is definitely more than meets the eye. Especially after that plot twist of an ending!! I’m so confused!! I need more information. This left me on such a big cliff hanger, I need the next book immediately!! I liked the description of the areas that the story took place, I found myself easily able to picture what they looked like, which is important in the reading experience for me. All in all, I loved this book, I breezed through it and couldn’t wait to pick it back up again.

Favorite quote:
"How does it feel?"
"To know that I love you and that you have doomed me? That you and only you have the power to disarm and debilitate me. That you, a human, have dismantled every part of me and rebuilt it as a shrine in your honor."

Final thoughts:
I highly recommend this book to any romantasy lover. An enemies to lovers fae romance dream. Caution though! Please check the trigger warnings, there are some uncomfortable scenes depicted in the book.

Firstly, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. It is deeply appreciated, but does not impact the content of my review.

I am slightly conflicted about this book. Just to preface. I enjoyed the first 75%. Devoured it. Was it perfect? No. But I was having a good time. Now from 75%-95% of the book? I was miffed.

1. I am a slow-ish burn girlie. Aka. I am an anti-insta-love girlie. I thought we were going to have angst and a conflicted MMC who hates that he can’t hate the FMC, however, he all of a sudden just snaps and decides he can’t live without this girl. That was disappointing to me.

2. I don’t think having read this book that anyone would think the fmc is nearly 30 years old. She acts hopelessly naive, especially while in the human realm.

3. I personally think that having a pov character withhold information from the reader is nearly impossible if the POV is first person. I’m not sure I’ve ever read it done perfectly, and unfortunately this book does not change that.

Those things being said, this is fun. I can’t help it. I read the book within 24 hours of opening it. It’s addictive and interesting. Even though Callie can be a bit of a Mary Sue, I still liked her. I was rooting for her.

I think this is the author’s debut. I totally could be wrong, but it feels a bit like a debut. I mean that primarily as a compliment and encouragement. There are some unpolished moments and story arcs but it’s interesting and fun.

This book reminds be a bit of The Maze of Shadows series by Kathrynn Ann Kingsley (which I rated very well). The Unseelie are unflinchingly dark fey. It feels authentic to the world and how they are described. I liked how even in love the unseelie are dark and ruthless.

If you like fey, if you like The Maze of Shadows series, if you want something fun and addictive, then I think this book is worth picking up.

I’m hovering between a 3.5 to 3.75 star rating. Regardless, rounded up to 4 stars 🌟

My foray into Jeneane O'Riley's dark fantasy romance, "How Does it Feel?" was met with disappointment as the novel proved to be severely underdeveloped in nearly every aspect. Gaping plot holes, monotonously repetitive dialogue, a lackluster romance, and a confounding ending marred what could have been a compelling tale. To add to the grievances, poor grammar and abrupt scene changes further disrupted any hope of immersion.

The dialogue, regrettably, was a repetitive loop that lacked nuance or meaningful variation. Conversations became a monotonous exercise, draining the potential for character development and stifling any chance of emotional investment in the romance at the story's core.

Speaking of romance, the connection between Callie and Mendax felt lackluster and uninspired. The underdeveloped nature of the relationship left me yearning for a connection that never materialized and almost seemed to have come out of nowhere, especially in regards to the love interests feelings for our main protagonist.

As the narrative careened toward its conclusion, the shocking ending left me more bewildered than satisfied. The lack of logical coherence in the story's resolution left me questioning the choices made, and the final scenes felt like a bewildering maze of inconsistencies.

Overall, "How Does it Feel?" is a dark fantasy romance that falls woefully short of its potential. Gaping plot holes, repetitive dialogue, a so-so romance, and a bewildering ending combine to create a narrative experience that struggles to find its footing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Waaaait!!!! What????

I lost my sanity after this!! I wasn't expecting the plot twist.

The story started very slowly, we met MC until chapter 10 - but surprisingly the story continues faster than the beginning.

I enjoyed this book, I wanted to love it because I love romance books about fairies, however I think i needed more romance to be believable - he felt in love so fast that it was a little unrealistic because he wanted her dead and he proved that in many ways -which I have no problem because I love unhinged stories - but yes, I needed more romance to believe there was love between them, specially from her.

I consider this book more fantasy romance than dark romance because there's not much dark there, so if you don't like dark stories this is definitely a yes for you.

What's the best of this book? The plot twist and Mendax.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books and Jeneane O'Riley for providing me an arc for this book.

So we all saw the booktok review right? That’s definitely why I came to read this book 🤣

And it was definitely an interesting read..

The first 25-30% was a fun cutesy story about a young scientist with a love for animals (who seem to be equally obsessed with her), who befriends the town outcast who is labelled as crazy for his outlandish tales of magical beings and sinister evils.

And then our FMC finds herself trapped somewhere otherworldly with the unseelie who despise humans and wish her harm as she attempts to find an escape.

Here is where it took a turn for me, although the fantastical elements and world building was unique and interesting, there where a couple of gross scenes that gave me the ick. I also don’t think it necessary to be using the C word in books..

That being said.. there’s still a lot I did like about this book. I liked the quirky FMC, I liked the animal elements, the 9 tail princes assassin, the interesting facts about science and moths etc.
I enjoyed the 3 trials our FMC had to win for her life and freedom, I liked the end twist and the MMC POV.

This book could have benefited from some editing but I still had a fun time reading for the majority of the book and would recommend for people who are looking for a fantasy story / world that is a little outside of the norm. I will be reading book 2 on kindle unlimited!

Thank you to sourcebooks, Jeneane Oriley and NetGalley for a free copy!

This book was a wild ride. It follows a scientist who moved to a small town to study mushrooms and moths, and she ends up falling into a faerie realm, where all of the faeries are convinced she’s an assassin intent on killing the crown prince. Such an interesting plot and such a quirky book. It was dark, it was odd, but I honestly had so much fun reading it. The ending was crazy and now I need to read the 2nd book!

How does it Feel? by Jeneane O'Riley

In "How does it Feel," author Jeneane O'Riley weaves a delicious tale of forbidden love and an impending clash between the human world and the deadly realm of the dark fae. The story centers around Callie, a headstrong human biologist who stumbles (or is led????) upon a hidden portal, throwing her into the heart of a dark fae land ruled by the dangerous and ruthless Mendax. While hot and unbelievably ripped, a creature of mesmerizing beauty and literal shadows, he wants her dead, like really dead, yet an undeniable pull draws them together.

O'Riley masterfully crafts a world brimming with dark magic and captivating creatures. The author's vivid descriptions bring the fae realm to life, painting a picture of dark forests, beautiful creatures and terrifying beings. The simmering tension between human and fae is palpable, creating a constant undercurrent of danger and that propels the narrative forward.

The romance between Callie and Mendax is the heart of the story. Their connection is both passionate and fraught with peril, as their different worlds and conflicting loyalties threaten to tear them apart. O'Riley expertly captures the forbidden thrill of their love, leaving the reader yearning for their happiness (and weirdly cheering for Mendax) while dreading the inevitable consequences.

However, the book is not without its flaws. The introduction of several secondary characters feels rushed, leaving the reader wanting more backstory and context. This occasionally creates confusion, particularly during fast-paced scenes where the reader struggles to grasp new players and their motivations. I found myself skipping over some of these spots with hopes that it would become clear at some point in the story. And it did!

Despite this minor drawback, "How Does It Feel?" remains a thoroughly enjoyable read. With its captivating world-building, thrilling plot, and unforgettable romance, this novel offers an escape into a world of dark magic and forbidden love. And that ending!!!! Hold on to your pants ladies and gents, this is a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers!

Recommendation: A solid four-star read for fans of fantasy romance who enjoy a touch of darkness. Be prepared for a whirlwind adventure, but be aware you WILL be left in the air at the end anxiously awaiting the next book.

I enjoyed this book way more than I was expecting to. I'm not a dark romance girlie--the abusive MMC suddenly winning over the FMC because she likes pain gives me the biggest ick, so I was a little worried while Callie was in the dungeons and Mandex was thoroughly enjoying torturing her, but that's not how it ends up. I think the enemies to lovers aspect was handled well and Callie never really just "got over" him getting off on her pain, which was refreshing. As was having a FMC who uses her brain to work her way through several trials to gain her freedom. The world building was very comprehensive, nothing felt like it was "too much" and while the pacing of the beginning was a bit slow, it really did serve the purpose of showing Callie's personality and knowledge. I've definitely been thinking about this one pretty much non stop since I finished it and was not expecting the book hangover I have!

Welp. That was not for me. I'm always excited to read a new Bloom book, because I've found myself often enjoying them. So when I saw How Doest It Feel was available on NetGalley, I was quite curious to see what it was about. I had heard a little about it, mostly that some people were raving about it on TikTok, so I had very little knowledge about it before I started it.
I'm not going lie. I struggle with this book. This clearly not the book for me. I really couldn't get into the story, I didn't really care for the main characters (Callie was a little annoying to me), and I felt like the pacing was really off. It felt like it took forever for the story to actually move out of the human world and introduce Mendax. Then it felt like there was no build up to the romance between the main characters. And even the twist at the end felt off.
Overall, it just wasn't the book for me. Thankfully it was a quick read, but I will not personally continue the series. Clearly some readers have loved it, as there are people raving about it, but I wasn't one of them

Thank you Bloom Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Ok I was NOT expecting this book to be so dark going in blind. The ending was insane! The FMC wasn’t my favorite and the book was a little wild for me, but I can see how some would enjoy it. I’m not huge on gore so take my review with a grain of salt. It was ok.

I did not know much going into this book other than it being popular on Booktok. Let me just say, I was not expecting that. Do not go into this book thinking you will get a lighthearted story with Fae. Read the trigger warnings!

The crazy thing about this book is that basically until the last chapter you are thinking one thing, all for it to be a complete lie. That last chapter I was shocked. I did not expect for Callie to be who she was, or Earl for that matter. I also did not see myself sympathizing so much for the villain.

Callie is a scientist who we do not know much about. All we know is that animals love her and her family is dead. We also know she has a mystery friend Eli. Callie finds herself caught up with the fae, and accused of trying to assassinate the prince. She is adamant throughout the book that she is a simple human who ended up there by accident. All I can say is that Callie might be the best liar and she deserves an Oscar.

Immediately the Unseelie Prince is obsessed. At first it is a dark obsession as he just wants her dead. Soon that obsession turn to love. All I can say is that I am rooting for him.

The end of the book was a total cliffhanger. Not only is Callie, who is actually Calypso, finally getting to go to the Seelie Court, but we know that the prince is in fact not dead and will do whatever it takes to get her back.

Overall, this was a dark read that I found myself enthralled by. Very excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

Thank you Bloom Publishing ang and Jeneane O'Riley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

💥💥 Book Review 💥💥

How Does it Feel?
By Jeneane O’Riley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

What the Heck did I just read!!!! 😱
This book was such a crazy and insane read. This book is VERY DARK Fantasy Romance so please check your trigger warnings. This was a fast paced book that doesn’t let up. I really liked this book. At some points I was WTF just happened!!😳 There were a few times I think it was going too fast and I had to go back and reread it again. Very addicting story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jeneane O’Riley, and Bloom Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Oh lord. First off, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to this ARC for review purposes. I really wanted to love this one, but honestly, it was hard to read. I didn't like the MC, and it just felt... like fan writing. I appreciated the take on the fae and faerie world (and liked the twist at the end) but the body of the story couldn't keep me engaged (other than needing to know how it ended for my own sanity). I wish I loved this, but it felt underdeveloped, and just not fleshed out at all. I don't mind gore, so it wasn't that, but just honestly the story...

I'll give the book credit...the twist at the end definitely surprised me, but I'm not sure that I loved it? It just felt shocking without necessarily making sense. There were parts of this book that were okay and parts that I didn't like as much. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. Overall, I did find myself enjoying some of the book, but wish I enjoyed more.

It is not often that the twist in a story actually catches me off guard, or twists me up. But that is exactly what Jeneane O'Riley accomplished with this masterful tale. How does it feel, indeed. I got caught up in this dark fae world and held my breath for the tender moments I was worried may never come. I am absolutely going to immediately dive into book two because I need to see how this story unfolds.

Thank you Netgalley and Bloom Books.

I love How Does it Feel. Jeneane O'Riley has honestly one of the best approaches to a fantasy I have seen in years. Ok! There's sexual tension, a challenge, and a mystery that is going to expand over the course of the books. It is an amazing feat. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

DNF @46%

Wow. This book was… bad. Honestly I commend myself for sticking it out as long as I did.
Callie was insufferable. She gave off annoying popular girl who thinks she’s an outcast vibes. She constantly reminds us that she’s so skinny but it’s not her fault! It’s just cause she’s outdoorsy so you can’t hate her for it! And obviously everyone’s in love with her. The entire first 20% of the book nothing happens but it’s narrated by “no personality traits” Callie so it’s sooo boring.
Then all of a sudden she’s driving a tractor through the forest? I’m not sure if the way I’m picturing a forest doesn’t match how the author was but this doesn’t make sense to me. Surely there’s too many trees for that? Then lots is happening with the fae and her being abducted but nothing is explained so it’s just very chaotic and jumbled.
Things didn’t improve once we make it to the fae world. Callie continues to be insufferable. What little we get of the mmc (at least up until the point where I gave) he’s very bland and uninteresting. The final straw for me was when Callie stuck a piece of bread in a key hole and then used this as an outline to carve a bone into a key with a spoon. Nothing in this book made sense and at almost 50% in there was nothing that kept my attention or made me want to keep reading

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC!

I loved this story,
of two lonely souls finding their way to each other under odd circumstances. I don't know if I'm a softy, but I was in tears at the end.
I cannot wait for book 2.

“How Does It Feel?” By Jeneane O’Riley follows Callie Peterson, proud environmentalist and biological technician of small town Willow Springs, Michigan. Callie’s world gets flipped upside down as she is walking through the forest to retrieve her microscope and stumbles upon an anomaly of luna moths and a perfect circle of destroying angel mushrooms… next thing she knows she’s landed in the land of the fae and locked up by the sadistic Unseelie Prince Mendax under suspicion of being an assassin.

This story was wild - I was captivated by our innocent MC Callie with her love for animals and butterflies. She’s able to use her knowledge from the human world to survive the trials (which reminded me of ACOTAR) she’s faced in the fae realm. Despite Unseelie Prince Mendax’s best efforts, Callie is not as easy to kill as he would hope.

I feel like the Prince went from utterly despising her one minute to falling madly in love with her the next - which unfortunately wasn’t entirely believable. Even once we are presented with his POV, it was still hard to believe that he was all of a sudden in love with her. It was hard for me to enjoy the spicy scenes between them when I wasn’t entirely convinced - some of the romance was quite sadistic and “gave me the ick.” I am usually drawn to the enemies to lovers trope, but this one was lackluster. I found myself more intrigued by the relationships Callie was forming with the animal shifters who fought to protect her from him.

The big reveal at the end left me with so many questions leaving me no choice but to read the sequel to put together some pieces. I think that other romantasy readers would enjoy this story as well - it will definitely keep you captivated and invested.

Thank you to NetGalley & SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest feedback.