3.5⭐️ 🌶️2
Main Tropes: Touch Him and Die, MM Romance, Only One Bed, Slow-Burn

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robots for the ARC!

Betrayal of Storms is an enjoyable queer fantasy romance which blends familiar plots and tropes with intriguing and unforeseen twists.

I felt the book is intended to be an entertaining easy read romance rather than aiming for plot complexity and more developed world building, and in this respect it does what it says on the tin!

Overall I found it a fun read and the story is set up well to develop in the following books.

I went into this book not really knowing what to expect and it turned out to be quite an easy read.

The world building is quite simple and easy to understand - I feel like we could have gotten more details, but it was enough to paint a picture of the world and environments. The MMC is quite likeable, I think he seems quite sweet albeit a bit naive at times. I will note, I felt he came across quite confident and cocky to begin with but this seemed to change very quickly (?).

I liked the supporting characters but really not much was learned about them. Whilst I quite enjoyed the relationship between Robin and Erix, I’m somewhat confused as the intensity in the way the latter feels (but I could be missing something?).

I am intrigued by the story and interested to see where the rest of the series goes.

3.5/5

Thank you to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
I have been following Ben on Social Media for a while and was excited to read this book. It is the first in the Realm of The Fey series and follows Robin's journey into Wychwood as he discovers he is the heir to the Icethorn Court and its power. I mostly enjoyed reading this book but I wish the characters had some more depth. Even though this book was over 500 pages I felt like I learned very little of Robin and even less of Erix. I am not sure if that was done on purpose to keep things secret but I didn't become as invested in the characters due to this. I did enjoy the action-packed plot and the twists (which I did not see coming) made me want to keep reading!
I haven't decided yet if I will keep reading the series as I would like to know what happens to the characters but I am also not overly invested in them at the same time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
4 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling in A Betrayal of Storms and relatable, likable characters,. Loved every single second reading it.

Absolutely loved this idea so much!!! However, this authors writing style wasn’t for me which was the main reason I did not finish, and that is my fault not the authors! thankyou so much for letting me review this ARC.

Thank you to Ben Alderson, Angry Robot and NetGalley, for the amazing opportunity to read : A betrayal of Storms as an ARC.

Key words : fae / ice magic / LGBTQ / romantasy

This book is a mix of ACOTAR and Red Queen, there’s politics, a half fey, and betrayal.

Young Robin Vale is captured by Hunters who are after his (half) fey blood but he is rescued by a princess and her very handsome guard. They tell him that he might be the key to prevent a massive war between the human and the fey realms. He’s the lost heir of the Icethorn kingdom.
This book was very promising at first. I was hooked in the first few pages. However I felt like the relationships very quick, one day Robin hates all of them and the other he’s fine with going across the land to save a taster.
I did not really get into it tbh, the politics were nice but it feels a bit too repetitive compared to what I have read before.
I would have loved to get to know more about Robins siblings and Althea’s as well.
One of the big betrayals wasn’t really expected and I loved it but other than that I am afraid that I won’t really remember this book.

Rating : 3 ⭐️

I really, really enjoyed this read! I would definitely recommend it to other readers. This was my first book in a looooong, long time that was narrated by a male main character. It was also the first book I've actually ever read that had a gay romance through first person narration. I wasn't expecting it (I like to go into my reads knowing as little as possible about the love interests ahead of time in case there's a switch-up like ACOTAR). But, for a straight female reader I thought the romance was done very, very well. I actually wish there were a few more descriptors of Erix's physical appearance (hair, eyes, etc) so I could picture him a bit better, but the feelings between Robin and Erix were very sweet and simple which I appreciated.

I enjoyed the writing style overall, and I appreciated the difference in MC personality than the typical sassy, snarky attitude that seems to be so cliche for new fantasy reads lately. Robin wasn't afraid to admit when he was out of his depth, and I appreciated the doubt and his honesty to Erix, Althea, Queen Lyra etc. when admitting to this. I also appreciated that he didn't grasp how to fully use his ability at the speed of light like many others.

The little details, like the strength of power being diluted with too many family members, were very cool. I really thought it was an interesting note that Tarron's father had noticeably gained strength immediately upon his son dying.

Another thing to mention were the plot twists. I found them refreshing-not only was there a plot twist that really DID feel like a plot twist, but there also was one pseudo-twist that we saw coming from a mile away, and I like that it seemed intentional. I never expected Robin's father to be a Hunter, but I certainly wasn't shocked when Tarron was the enemy all along. There were many, many doubts and hints about that-although Briar being in on it definitely WAS a shock! That twist also served to introduce Briar's group, which is quite an interesting addition to the plot.

The one thing I am a little stumped on, while minor, is Gyah. Why was Gyah so exhausted from flying everyone over the lake to find Briar's antidote to the Tugwort poisoning, but then had no issue at the end of the book flying Robin and Erix all that way to the depths of the Icethorne Court?

Regardless, there are a lot of very cool wrinkles and folds in this story that I can see making the sequel even better, perhaps a 5-star read. Briar's group, Gyah's abilities, Robin's father? Tarron's father wanting revenge for Erix killing him? The inevitable war, and the human's strange new abilities? I think all of these being delved into more will be so fun. Will we find more individuals like Gyah? I'd love if she played an even bigger role in the next book. Will Briar's group take up a major role in the upcoming war? I hope they won't just be disbanded due to Tarron's death, as I think that could be a really awesome new minor plot to add into the development of things. I will absolutely read the sequel when it is released!

I picked this E-Arc up last night and finished it today.
I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
I am a huge fan of what one could say is the biggest fairy-based book series out there at the moment and having only read it recently I was worried I wouldn’t be able to connect to something similar.
I was wrong!

I’m by no means a literary connoisseur and could understand why some may not be a fan of the writing style if you’re into more “epic” fantasies but this ticked all the boxes for me.
I’m a fantasy fan through and through and a romance fan a close second, this was the perfect mix of the two.
It wasn’t slow for me, even at the beginning, the action came fast and I could visualise it well.

The tension of the MM romance had me giggling and kicking my feet and the spice.. I caught myself gasping out loud and I’m by no means a prude!
Being a gay man, I sometimes struggle with the hetero spice books and can find myself cringing at some points, it was refreshing to be able to experience what the majority do when reading the other neon fairy books mentioned earlier.

I felt like I understood who the core characters were after a few sentences of them being introduced.
The love interest was a LITTLE overbearing but I understand the whole duty shtick. Im not one for pet names so they always make me cringe and it took me a couple of seconds to connect the dots with that one but it was cute at times.

Now one of the plot twists I saw coming but the other took me by surprise and perfectly sets up for more in the remainder of the series.
I understand after reading some of the other reviews that some backgrounds of characters weren’t fully explained but I’m hoping these are expanded on in the other books.

All in all I’d say this was right up my alley. This is straight on my preorder and the series on my TBR.

If anyone needs a fantasy heavy romantasy with fey, magic, seasonal courts, spice and plot twists, this is the book for you.

Thankyou for the opportunity.

We start our story with Robin, who is 1/2 Fey but living with his father in the human world. He is kidnapped and turned over to an organization collecting Fey for an unknown purpose. About to die, Robin unleashes a power he did not know he had and the adventure begins from there.

I love magical stories and seeing Robin attempt to learn to control his new power. He quickly becomes attached to his personal guard, Erix. Delightful spice then ensues.

Although Erix remains a bit of a mystery throughout, it was enjoying seeing Robin grow and gain confidence. There were multiple interesting side characters, especially Althea who is both soft and strong.

There is urgency and a lot of action along with a bit of court politics. The magic system is interesting and I can't wait to see Robin grow into his powers and regain his court.

There is a cliffhanger that will bring us into the second book. I can't wait to read more.

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating is 3.5 stars. I'm not sure how to feel about this book. There were parts that I liked and parts that I really didn't.

To start with, the "nickname" is absolutely awful. First off, I don't like little bird as a pet name to start with. But the fact that the MMC's name is Robin makes the nickname seem a little too on the nose. Every time he was referred to as "little bird," I died a little bit on the inside. I also felt it took away from some of the more serious, and the steamier, scenes because I couldn't stand it.

However, the betrayal I felt at the double plot twist was real. I was shocked and angry and oh so upset for poor Robin. I'm unsure if I like him as an MMC or not, but I still felt for him at the time. A betrayal of trust always cuts deep.

I'm vaguely attached to the MMC, but not overly invested. If I happen to come across the sequel, I'll probably read it. But it's not a sequel I'll be searching out, if that makes sense.

Absolutely loved this updated version from Ben! This queer fantasy is a must read for anyone who loves fantasy with lots of twists and turns

Loved this! World building and character development were top tier and can’t wait for the rest of the series. With such a hype around fae stories currently it’s really evident that a queer version was missing. Will be recommending to everyone I know pre release day!

solid fantasy story, easy to get into and follow characters and plot arc. good twist on the world building/magic system and season based fae courts.

I got the delicious pleasure to get an advanced copy of this book to read in return for an honest opinion and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Straight away from the opening line I was hooked and spun into the world of the Fey. the world building was great, as well as the character development and the strength Robin develops throughout the story to stand up and claim his birthright. Ben Alderson does this particular thing when her writes that has you questioning your instincts about good and evil, right and wrong and who is on what side of the playing field. There were several times in the story where I would second guess my instincts about a particular character or completely freak out when some new information was revealed. My favorite character was Althea, OMG how I love her! She is kicking butt and taking names and has a truly heart-wrenching arc with Briar. This book brought up a lot of emotions in me but DID NOT LACK THE SPICE. The one bed trope? My fave. Definitely in there. And it was hot. All in all, you should do yourself a favor and preorder this gem!

This book was very hard to get through. I felt as though the world building wasn't very good and the characters were unrememberable.

I will always read a book about fae though! There were some plot twists that were interesting. Overall, it was just a difficult read for me. The story didn't draw me in as much as I was hoping for.

As a male who loves fantasy, fairies, and romance, it can be hard for me to find novels where the main character is a male. When I read this premise I was hit with a vibe that told me this story may be perfect for a guy who is into ACOTAR and Game of Thrones. On top of that Angry Robot is one of my favorite publishers. The premise and cover had me hooked and intrigued enough to request this.

Unfortunately, I didn't like it. Right off the bat when reading page 1, I knew I was not going to enjoy the writing style. I can't pinpoint what it is exactly, but something about it is just...off. Almost in a way where it comes across like Alderson is trying to write out of his element or skill level.
To me sometimes this novel gave the impression of a high school student trying to mimic better authors. As a result I felt like the book was devoid of personality. I didn't connect with any of the characters or really enjoy the story. This is surprising as I absolutely love one of Alderson's other works, Prince of Endless Tides, and I was expecting the writing style and vibe to be similar.

This novel just felt too ambitious and the payoff wasn't delivered.

I enjoyed this book so much that I had a difficult time putting it down and resuming normal life. I'd be happy to be continually lost in this world! I thought the world was beautifully described and I had no problems imagining it.
I love our male lead, Robin. He is easy to relate to, and I love his boldness even in the face of uncertainty. He has such a beautiful (albeit at times complicated) relationship with his father that was so wholesome and it honestly felt wonderful to feel a part of it.

The action throughout is gripping with some tense, jaw-dropping moments that were so damn good and unexpected. I also really enjoyed the MM relationship and the strong female characters.

There is so much intrigue and mystery, and I want to know more and find out what's going on. I will definitely be looking out for book 2!

Thank you so much to Angry Robot for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you for sending e-arc of this amazing book. I will add this book to my favorite. This book is truly recommendable. I love the story. Kudos to the author.

I can't explain how much I adore this world. Betrayal of storms sucks you in from the opening paragraph and doesn't release you until the very end.

Robin is kidnapped during the night by hunters representing the mysterious 'hand'. As half human half fey lf he is imprisoned with his fellow fey. During a daring refuse Robin discover hidden powers as well as a hidden destiny. But he doesn't know who to trust in the fey courts as everyone seems to have a secret, even his own father.

Alderson manages to covey Robins fear, anxiety and confusion over his new position in life expertly. I myself shared in the characters anxiety over who could ve trusted, who was going to betray him and what new secret would be revealed next. It takes a skilled story teller to convince the reader that they are experiencing the same as the character.
Robin seeks solice in his bodyguard Erix ( it doesn't hurt that he is hot af) but even that relationship is frougt with uncertainty and longing.

Overall this is an excellent new fantasy world and I am excited to find out more about the courts and Robins journey.

Adult, high fantasy. Male/Male relationships.

This novel had me intrigued right from the get go. The main character was introduced with characteristics that I love - strong, cunning, smart mouth and human...or so we think.

Very early in the book we learn the MMC's real heritage which leads him on a path which I still don't think he wants to go on. The tone for this character was consistent throughout the whole book, which was refreshing to see as the timeline itself for the whole book was not that long and it is believable that the characters shouldn't change that much in a short matter of time.

This novel is male/male romance. Male/male smut - but done so well! I am a heterosexual female and could still enjoy the *scenes* described by the author. Tasteful, yet full of passion and you still got a clear picture of... *cough cough* what was going where 😅

This book moved at a slow pace. It focused more on said MMC being assassinated rather than what he needed to do to claim his fae heritage. We get it, he is a threat to what the courts were working to do, but it just seemed to drag on until the last 20 pages.

I will admit, the villain in disguise surprised me! Even though we were warned about him 😅

The ending was a perfect way to round up the novel and leave enough suspension for the sequel.
Great book!
3/5 🌟 Stars
4/5 🌶 Spice