I tried here, I really did. But I'm only at 45% and I just can't do it anymore. While I really like the male warriors here, I absolutely cannot stand Asherah. And seeing as how she's the main character, that's a problem. She's just so goddamn annoying and can't stick to a decision to save her life. I'm already half way thru the book and she has already gone back and forth between deciding to be the queen she was meant to be, one her mother would be proud of....to wallowing in despair in bed for days, and clinging to her human ideals instead of her fae side because it's more comfortable. REPEATEDLY. I can see how this could happen at the start because she had her whole world ripped apart and found out she was more than she thought. But usually when somebody makes a decision to do something, they don't completely renege on it within hours. Over and over again. I grew so very tired of her.

While I doubt I would have read more in this series, if not for Asherah I probably would have enjoyed this one and at least finished it. She was raised as a human until one night her world shatters. She looses her mother and finds out that she is a princess of Atlantis. And as if that's not enough, the council that she's supposed to rule over with is trying to overthrow her power and take over. Now in order to claim her rightful place she has to work harder and study more than anyone else because she's on a short deadline to prove herself. But you wouldn't know this deadline is looming by the way she acts, that's for sure. Since the moment he laid eyes on her, Draevyn has felt this need to be by Asherah's side. So despite his rank in their army, he insists on being her personal guard. And of course, Asherah feels the same draw. So we get a lot of them flirting. And good lord do we get told about his green eyes over and over and over AND OVER again. It's obvious what these two are to each other in this world, and it's obvious what Asherah's role will be in the future what with this prophecy we keep hearing about. But I just don't care. I have too many other books to read instead of forcing myself to read this one and only getting frustration out of it.

Words cannot describe how invested I was with this story! I loved the love story between Ash and Drae! I loved the tension and angst among some of the other characters. I just loved EVERYTHING!!!

Will Ash take her rightful place as Queen of Atlantis or will the evil forces at work be her undoing and the undoing of everyone in the realm and beyond?

This Atlantis retelling has amazing world building, a unique magic system with elemental abilities, great main characters, side characters you’ll enjoy and an intriguing plot. I’ve always enjoyed underwater fantasy storylines,and scratched those vibes for me. The Veiled Heir follows a young woman raised in the Florida Keys who discovers she is a water fae and the heir of the secret underwater queendom of Atlantis. While fighting to keep her throne she has the daunting task of saving humanity.

Things I enjoyed about this book 📚
🧜🏽‍♂️Atlantis retelling
🦈Hidden identity
🔱 Chosen one
🐠He falls first
🌊 Fated mates
🧜‍♀️ Found family
🌊Spicy 🥵 (mmc dirty mouth)
🧜🏽‍♂️Elemental fae
🦈Bodyguard trope
🔱Slow burn 🔥
🐠Political Intrigue

The Veiled Heir is the epitome of summer vibes for fantasy readers.

I would definitely love this as an audiobook.

Thank you @NetGalley and Azalea Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC of The Veiled Heir in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.**
☆Review is posted on Goodreads as of 8/6/2024.☆

3.8⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️
3🌶


Oof, where to start.
Firstly, the premise is very interesting! This story gets ATLA-like elemental powers and kingdoms, and the world building and lore is wonderful. At times, it did feel a little long winded, but overall I enjoyed it.

Things I liked:
▪︎fated mates
▪︎elemental kingdoms
▪︎romance

Things that could have been better:
▪︎certain words for things...like cock pocket 🫠
▪︎Ash's awareness
▪︎how fast the ending came

Overall, I enjoyed the story and will probably read the next one when the time comes!

Fantasy romance with fae at it's best! I love the underwater setting and water fae magic - what a new and unique take on this genre and it was so fun! Recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book has intrigued me for awhile just based on the cover. Asherah and Draevyn had great chemistry. I think this was a great opener for a fantasy series and I can't wait to see where the author takes the story and characters.

I enjoyed the world and learning about it along with Asherah. The magic training scenes were so much fun and the found family was adorable. The plot is really where this book shined!

The book was long so the romance could have used a little more slow burn. Draevyn is a supportive king, but his dirty talk was a little much. The romance didn't feel as believable as I wanted it to in the beginning.

The cliffhanger and set up for future books was masterful. I will continue with the series and I hope an audiobook will be available by then. It would be a fun graphic or full cast audio.

Read this if you like:
Mermaids and fae
Atlantis reimagined
Bodyguard romance
Spice 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Unique world building

Check the trigger warnings, which the author includes at the beginning of the book. I love it when authors do that. It's available on Kindle Unlimited!

I enjoyed this book a lot. The writing was well done and it was a quick read. The story line was very well done. I would highly recommend this book!

2.5 ⭐

This book is a curious mix of intriguing potential and missed opportunities. The underwater world is vividly described and quite interesting, but the excessive detail bogs down the early chapters. While the insta-love is entertaining, it feels rushed, and the main character's decision-making leaves much to be desired. The villain is frustratingly effective despite being extremely pathetic. The writing improves as the story progresses and the spice increases (by a lot 🌶️), but a tighter edit could have transformed this into a much more compelling read.

Asherah grew up in Key West and will soon leave to kick of her career as marine biologist. That was her plan but all is changing one evening when strange men are fallowing her home and she must learn nothing is as it seemed.
Her mom is a queen and she is the heir of Atlantis and to make sure she is save she is brought into the queendom. Her mom Neleah´s is assassinated which means Asherah or Ash is not the heir any longer, now she must prepare to become the new queen of Atlantis. This means she must learn all about being a water fae, the laws and rituals and also Atlanits must get used to the new that the heir was kept from them for some time. Also this means from now on Ash is needing protection as it is not clear how it was possible to kill her mom. The commander of the guards, Draevy Eliron, who secretly was aware that an heir was born, is the one offering to be in charge for her safety from now on.


This is the start of a new series but be aware that beside being a fantasy book we also have here chemistry between different people, sexual encounters but as well murder, bullying, abuse, trying to kill people and physically harm. So this series might not be for everybody the right book to read.

I really like the writing of the author. I really like how she build this world. We start in Key West with being with humans, Ash growing up as human and then we are taken into the world of Atlantis. I think this underwater world is really good described as well as why humans are unaware of it. Together with Ash we learn all about this world.
Asherhah is for me a really good character. You really feel with her right from the start. It is quite a lot happening to her and in such a short time frame, she must take over a whole new lot of responsibilities and needs to learn so much new for her.
Draevy I fell from him right form the start. His ethics, the way he is behaving and to learn during this book more about his past war really good written.
The chemistry between Ash and Drae is for me really good written and I liked how their feelings for each other are building and changing in this book.
The idea that fae rule over different types of magic like water, fire, air and earth and each is living in its own queendome is interesting. Also that humans live with them and how differently fae treat humans is a nice plot to the story.
So for me a really nice start into a new series, even so the end left me gaping as I did not understand how this could happen (I assume as we are still no aware of all the rules in Atlantis) and I wonder how this can be steered into the right direction again.

Who is looking for a new fantasy series with a nice plot, lots of action and where dark trigger points can be in, a love story, change for species for either the good or the bad (depending which fae side will win) and an underwater setting in Atlantis should try this out.

Asherah, marine biologist and all around lover of water, was about to fly the coop and start a new life in California. But before she can move her home is invaded, her family ends up on the run and she learns that her entire life has been a lie.

After her initial traumatic entry to the world of Atlantis, Asherah now has to dodge political bullets, learn all about her true home and learn to be queen. All whilst trying to avoid the intense attraction to her guard, Draevyn.

Draevyn is the epitome of the older man, centuries older! Draevyn is the perfect blend of protective and supportive partner. I loved watching him and Ash try and sidestep the mutual attraction.

Ash soaks up all the information she can on Atlantis and is willing to do things to shake up the old ways, but some of her so-called ministers have their own agendas and it's a twisty tale to unravel.

The story was all the things I want in a fantasy; gender and LQBTQIA positive and representative, mental health is addressed and made a priority.

My only ick was the whole #CP# thing, when you read it you'll get it. That was my only quibble really. There was enough world building to interest me without overloading me, and whilst the romance was kind of Insta-love, the spicy was slow-burn and then intense!

I am completely hooked and can't wait for book 2.

The Veiled Heir follows a young woman raised in the Florida Keys who discovers she is a water fae and the heir of the secret underwater queendom of Atlantis. We watch as she learns about the fae realms, practices her water powers, and find love and friendship in Atlantis, all while battling a faction of fae who do not believe she should be the heir and are actively trying to dethrone or kill her.

The premise of this book is fun and it definitely has its shining moments, such as the relationship between Ash and her father and the friendships she forms is Atlantis. Unfortunately, there were a lot of errors in the writing that left me distracted, and I also was not interested in the insta-love that occurred in the story. I also found that Ash put herself in bad situations by not reporting incidents and having others punished for their treatment of her. Some of the conflict just seemed to be poorly explained because of this.

This is a fun book, but not a super well-written book. I would still recommend it to anyone looking for more underwater fantasy stories and if you enjoy insta-love and destined mates.

Thank you to Azalea Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.

3.5 ⭐️

Overall I enjoyed the book! I appreciated the world building, and that there are a few types of fae, combining elemental and mermaid vibes. I realize I'm biased, but I enjoyed that the FMC is a marine biologist, and that she's actually mature! Our MMC is a protective cinnamon roll of a warrior who is always there to encourage the FMC.

The first chunk flowed quickly and held my attention, making it a fast read. The middle slowed a bit as history and depth were being added, and the last 10 or 15% picked back up again.

Though there's insta-attraction (there's a bond, after all), the romance took time to develop, and I appreciated that they didn't just jump each other right away... though there was plenty of that once it started.

My biggest issue was that there were a few times the plot wasn't believable in order to create drama. I know that sounds ridiculous to complain of an unbelievable plot when we're dealing with fae and mermaids. 😉 But our FMC is the princess and we know her life is in danger. Yet multiple times she is rather too conveniently left unguarded and 💩 ensues... the first time it happened, I found it frustrating, but I could deal with it. But by the third time it seemed a weak tactic to add more drama to the plot.

That said, I still enjoyed the story overall and would recommend it seeing as my main issue is certainly a personal preference.


🫢 Occasional cursing, including F
🌶🌶🌶 Multiple open door scenes; PDA with LGBT characters
⚠️ TWs listed in front of book and on the author's website

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the early copy. I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Thank you S.T Fernandez, NetGalley and Azalea Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

The overall premise was EXTREMELY intriguing. Water Fae with an intriguing water magic system. When I initially came across this, it was giving all the Atlantean vibes so many of us love.

However there were significant things in this one that gave this reader an ick. The term "cock pocket," and the quick obsession that the bandmates had. This ideation was ruined for me with the MMC's parents roles. The part where his dad quickly seemingly was able to move on shortly after his mate of over 500 years left a bad taste. I also don't enjoy when books are needlessly wordy. I felt things were overly described and drug on, causing me to flip ahead at times.

The Veiled Heir (Book 1 of The Heir of Atlantis) by ST Fernandez is a romantic fantasy novel. One of my favorite things in a fantasy novel is the world building. This novel does an excellent job describing the beauty of the different realms. As I read a long I could almost imagine being there especially in Atlantis.
The plot was well developed and filled with emotions. The characters especially Asherah are well fleshed out and brought to life on the page. The love and chemistry between her and Draevyn is that of a fated mate.
Overall this was a great read and if you enjoy romantic fantasy this is a great choice. I can not wait for book 2.

I’ve never read a book by this author before but I absolutely loved it! Thank you so much for the ARC! I loved this story, it was extremely well written. Will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author!

I overall enjoyed this book but it’s not one that I would likely reread in the future. The beginning and end were amazing but it really lulled through the middle. I loved the characters but it felt very surface-level. I didn’t really love some of the dialogue as it didn’t feel very natural at times. I will probably read the next book

Ash's world gets turned upside down one day when her, her mother, and her father, are attacked. This attack leads to Ash learning about what she and her family truly are. Her mother is the Queen of Atlantis, her Father is the king, and Ash is the heir, and it quickly becomes her duty to rule Atlantis, when her mother is murdered. Ash is thrust into a whole new world, one that she must become the perfect Queen for, even though she knows nothing about Atlantis or it's people. Ash is then given a short time frame where she must prove to those who don't believe in her and want her removed from the throne, that she can be a great queen to her people.

What I liked:
- I enjoyed the magic system, and having the magic based on the type of fae that the characters are, although, in the next book, I am hoping for a bit more distinction of this magic system from other magic systems that are very similar. Throw in a few curveballs, add some more layers, the works.
- I did like the writing style. I felt like it was a great ratio of dialog to descriptive wording. While the writing at the beginning was a bit slow, it did improve greatly by the end of the book and the second half flowed a lot better.

What I did not like:
- This book includes fated mates/bondmates, which I do love, however, I prefer the type of mates where there is a build up before they become obsessed with each other as soon as they see each other. The chemistry was good, but I feel like they just went from strangers, to obsessed within a couple of pages and that really is way too fast for my tastes.
- Dear Author.... Was the term "cock pocket" necessary when discussing anatomy of the water fae? Every time I saw that word, it just made me really want to skip to the next page.
- The side relationship between Ash’s Dad and her friend. That just seemed to come out of nowhere. Ash’s parents were together for 500+ years, bondmates were told to basically just love each other until forever, and then her dad moves on less than a year after her mom was murdered. I don’t think that was necessary, and it takes away from the main story line, which is Ash trying to prove herself
- Ash’s training sometimes seemed to be put on the back burner in the story, as if it wasn’t a part of the main storyline. It was mentioned here and there, sometimes there were scenes, but if Ash has 6 months, and was told her training would be super intensive, I feel like it wasn’t treated that way when it came to including more details on her training to show her development in the book. This led to some confusion for me about whether or not the main plot was the romance, or Ash learning her heritage and how to be a queen.

All in all, do I plan on continuing the series? Yes, I can see myself reading more of this series. I did like this book, and am curious to see what happens after the ending of this book, and in what direction the story will go from here. I do think that the ending was a nice bump in the road that was thrown in and I want to know how everyone attempts to get around it.

The Veiled Heir by S. T. Fernandez is a truly wonderful romantasy that will have you in ALL your emotions. The world-building is beautifully done, the characters are all well-developed, and the elemental magic of the different realms reminds me of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Asherah’s (MFC) character development is well thought out and delivered in an amazing way and her relationship with Draevyn is the perfect mix of steamy/sweet I love to see in the fated mate's trope.

Reading the descriptive world of Atlantis that Fernandez created is like stepping into the world itself and I WISH that it was real! The plot of the story is very straightforward and Asherah’s battle to claim the throne is steeped in politics, enemies, and a very vengeful relative (that can kick rocks in my opinion) but through it all Asherah conquers each blow that’s sent her way. There is so much to love about this book it’s hard not to ramble about them.

The one issue that I had with the book was that at the start the writing didn’t seem very hesitant but as the story progressed the writing became more “confident” for lack of better words. The ending cliffhanger killed me and I need the next book ASAP. So many unanswered questions and I can see The Heir of Atlantis series soaring to the top of romantasy book charts!

Fantasy books with info dumps are my least favorite fantasy books. The writing really held this back for me. I also found the fmc to be tame and naive. The training and ignorance really bored me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and the insta connection didn’t do it for me. I felt like there was zero character development and the characters felt shallow and one dimensional to me.

The premise is really intriguing and the ending was wild but it wasn’t enough to keep me engaged and rooting for the main characters.

I also can’t read about webbed feet I’m sorry.

Thank you for the arc. It’s out now.