ANOTHER beautifully written story! After reading A Betrayal of Storms, I needed more immediately. Luckily this one was available on NetGalley and I requested it so fast!
This is the perfect example of a book two in a series. It kept the initial story going, and added so much more throughout. The world building was expanded and we were introduced to new places and faces. There was so much action and spicy scenes! But it was all filled with so much emotion and it was so beautifully written.
The end was a mild cliffhanger, but in a happy good way. I can't wait to see how this story ends!
Thanks to the author and Angry Robot books for sending me this great story!!

And picking up right where “A Betrayal of Storms” left us… broken, traumatized, and needing more!
Get ready for some more whiplash as this one both starts and ends with a bunch of surprises, twists and turns. This addition sets the tone for the rest of the series and is a touch darker than Ben Alderson’s usual work.
Post events from book 1 we are introduced to dark and mysterious Duncan a human, fae hunter. Enemies to lovers anyone?! ( I myself am team Duncan but we will see how book 4 will change that 😉) It was really nice to see Robins character development throughout this one, you can see him growing into a well rounded character while still making bunches of poor choices. This book leans a bit more morally grey but I feel I can’t tell you too much more about the plot without spilling too many secrets and surprises!
You can expect political intrigue, action, romance, and of course smut!
While I know some of what is coming I still am thoroughly looking forward to my reread of book 3 “A Deception of Courts”.
From this book on it really gets good, though expect more cliffhangers, Ben adores tormenting us!

For fans of -
Plot twists ✨
Queer romance 🌈
Morally grey characters 🩶
New love interest in the second book 💞
Betrayal 🪶

Thank you to Ben and AngryRobot books for this Arc, fantastic as always!

Following immediately on from A Betrayal of Storms, Robin has claimed his power and throne as an Icethorn but his father is being held hostage by the Oakstorm king as penance for his son’s death. Robin desperately seeks a way to save his father and to fight against the dark future that Oakstorm seeks.

Wow! This book had so many twists and turns, I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I absolutely adored the romance in A Betrayal of Storms and somehow Alderson managed to massively up his game with this book to deliver something incredibly captivating and delicious.

I really appreciated the fact that there are really consequences and costs to characters’ actions and I love the way that I feel as though nobody is safe. There is something so delightful in a story where the characters don’t all have plot armour!

I can not recommend this book and series highly enough, I am utterly desperate to know where Robin’s story goes next!

A Kingdom of Lies by Ben Alderson is a masterpiece of a book. I loved every second of it. I truly recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

This story is dark and it is terrifying, my heart raced non-stop which is no easy feat.

Robin is plagued by heartbreak when rival King Doren Kills his father and steals his lovers very will. Driven by hatred and revenge Robin sets out to his human home in search of an army, an army lead by the terrible hand and his hunters. The hunters want nothing more than to see the fey wiped from the face of the realm. Captured by the very same hunter he has encountered before they both work together towards a common goal - an audience with the hand.

The complexities of grief and hatred are a central theme in the story, Alderson does well to show the trauma response from difficult points of view and circumstances. How one person can change your point of view and a life worthy of living rather than staying in an annihilistic need to destroy another.
I need the third book as soon as physically possible- please sooth my poor worried heart.

I was so excited to be able to read this book especially after the ending of the first book. Robin Iceborn was such an interesting character. He had developed even more throughout this book. There was so many twists and turns within this book which had really surprised me as I hadn't expected it. These kept me wanting to continue reading the book to be able to find out what happens next. And with how the ending of this book I want to be able to see what happens in the next book.

An exciting and surprising sequel!

Wow! Wow! Wow! I was breathless after finishing the first book of this series, and somehow, this one topped it! It was exquisite to read, not a minute to stop and breathe. The action was brutal and enthralling from the start and I couldn't put it down. This world is truly full of secrets and magic that I never would have suspected and it was a pleasure to be surprised by just how deep everything goes. Robin was true to himself, strong and determined, and I loved his character growth in this one. The romance was...I can't say much, but it was an emotional roller-coaster to say the least. Ben messed with my feelings with the plot-twists and I was panting and gasping! The writing was addictive and pleasant to read, pulling us into the story easily. Beautiful descriptions of both sights and feelings had me hooked. The spice was on-point, as usual, and very exciting. I was scared and surprised and thrilled throughout the book, and the characters were very relatable and full of secrets and surprises. I am shook by all that has happened, I would never have seen it coming and I simply cannot wait to read the third book that I need ASAP!

I highly recommend if you like fantasy and spicy, gay romance!

"Why would I fear the dark when what is revealed in the light is far more frightening?"

Absolutely loved this, very interesting storyline twists and turns, thrilling ride indeed! Spice scenes were chefs kiss!
The author did a great job with this book and I’m excited to try out the other books in the realm of fay. Such an eventful book it truly grips you. I am so glad I read this book it is definitely worth the read! Definitely a must read series if your into magical spicy fantasy!

Kingdom of Lies is a compelling read that masterfully intertwines fantasy and high stakes drama. Alderson’s storytelling shines with rich world building and well-developed characters that draw readers into a realm where secrets and betrayal are around every corner. The protagonist’s journey is gripping, layered with twists that keep you turning the pages late into the night. Alderson’s writing style is engaging and fast-paced, making it perfect for readers who enjoy a blend of intrigue and action.

While the plot was thrilling, at times I felt some character arcs could have been explored more deeply to enhance the emotional impact. Despite this, the story remained captivating throughout. Overall, Kingdom of Lies is an enthralling read that leaves you eager for more of Alderson’s enchanting worlds. Highly recommend for fans of epic fantasy and morally complex characters.

Also the spicy scenes are chefs kiss 🌶️🧑‍🍳

**Thank you to NetGalley and Ben Alderson for the arc for an honest review 🫶🏼

I liked this! It's a new type of fantasy world and it's a really interesting plot. The characters are well developed enough that you are interested in them as well as what's going on.

Oh my goodness, this book was a RIDE! What a whirlwind! Ben Alderson truely knows how to grab and hold onto my attention, and keep me on my toes! It is such a genuine thrill reading one of his books.
I don't want to ruin this at all for anyone looking to read it, but this was such a strong sequel. So many twists and turns. This book did not let up for the entirety, and at times my jaw dropped.
I adored watching Robin stand one his own and grow, finding his own strength. Love it!

As always, I cannot wait to see where this goes!

Thank you so much to Angry Robot for this arc via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on the book.

This is the second book in the Realm of Fae series. I truly enjoyed this book. It picked up where the last one left off and that was perfect because not every continuation does this.

I enjoyed Robin's character growth and there were twists and turns that I absolutely did not see coming. This was definitely a book I couldn't put down and this is a series I will regularly recommend. I can't wait for the next few books.

First off I would like to say that I have not heard of this author.or publisher before but I believe they did a great job. The characters in this book were dynamic in personality traits as well as in personal progression. I really enjoyed the different magic traits as well as the levels of deception and unforseen bonds between the characters. I do however believe that this book should've focused more on the fantasy aspect and not the romance as it felt sort of out of place. Following days after a major event the main character already had a new romantic interest with a character he did not know and that character hated his kind. Overall the book had a very easy story to read. And kept me interested in finding out what happens. There were a few minor issues with word usage in the beginning to where the wrong word was used that took away from the phrase but overall it was a good read.

A Kingdom of Lies is the Second Book in Ben Alderson's Realm of Fey series. Robin is now king of the Icethorn court, though he has no subjects to rule. Determined to get revenge, he sets out to find an army, even if that army is consisted of his enemies. Robin allows himself to be captured by the hunters in order to strike a deal with their leaders, and along the way finds allies in the most unexpected of places.

I truly enjoyed this book, though there is something about it that was not as outstanding as the first book. I honesty think what I missed in this book was the characters. Robin goes out on his own during this book, and while I think it was essential for him as a character and for his development, it was not what I wanted. I missed the individuals from this first book. I will say that while the character development for Robin was outstanding, I was not a fan of the individual whom he was in a relationship with in this book (spoiler it is not Erix). This relationship felt forced, which is something that I did not enjoy. I get why Erix and Robin needed to almost fall apart in order for Robin to grow, but I do not think creating what is bound to be a love triangle was necessary. To be honest, that is one of the largest reasons that this book was not a five star read for me. I loved the character development, and I loved the plot, but the romance felt forced and there was a lack of characters whom I traditionally love. I am really excited to see where the series goes from here, and I hope we see more of the magical fey that were trapped because I think that will add in a unique perspective. This book contains a lot of fascinating themes that I personally really enjoyed and it brings up the question of how long do you stick with peace or the solution that logically makes the most sense, before you do something controversial?

Thank you to Angry Robot, Ben Alderson, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of A Kingdom of Lies in exchange for my honest review.

This was a strong sequel in the Realm of Fey series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall story and world. The characters were everything that I was expecting and enjoyed the overall story going on. Ben Alderson has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this, I hope there is more in this series as this was really well done.

I'm rounding up a little bit, because I would probably place this at about 3.5-3.75.

Where Betrayal started with a knife to the throat, A Kingdom of Lies starts with blood between fingers. Erix and Robin are immediately the young, newly in love couple that can't keep their hands to themselves and we all know that means things are going to go wrong. And they do because Robin can't have nice things. Consequently a lot of this book is fueled by Robin making emotionally charged bad decisions and attempting an 'enemy of my enemy' type deal.

There are some reveals that you can definitely see coming and others that are more of a surprise. I had one theory in particular about Doran which turned out to be incorrect and the reveal of another character made all the more interesting for it.

We get a bit more on the wider world in this book which was good. Welhaven in particular I enjoyed seeing and the lore around it. We also got introduced to new side characters and I have to say I loved Nathanial. Kanye will be interesting going forward as well I think.

There were a few bits with the dialogue that I wasn't entirely sold on. Generally, it all felt like it fit but then there was the odd sentence that felt like Jane Austenesque in the wording which I didn't think really needed to be done that way. It didn't take away from the book but it did occasionally distract me from the scene.

This has definitely set up for a powerful third book and I have no doubt it will pack a heck of a punch.

A Kingdom Of Lies by Ben Alderson is book 2 in the Realm Of Fae series, following A Betrayal Of Storms. This book picks up where the last finished, with Robin claiming the Icethorn court and the Oakstorm king wanting revenge after the death of his family.

A Kingdom Of Lies starts with some plot twists, focusing entirely on Erix, Robin’s personal guard and lover. We come to learn even more about Erix throughout the book, and I did not see any of the things about him coming.

After Robin loses everything, including Erix to the influence of the Doran, Oakstorm king, he leaves to the human realm to find the Hand for help to kill Doran. He is captured by hunters on purpose as a way to get to the Hand, and the general Duncan never leaves his side. Duncan from the beginning did not seem like the other hunters, and throughout their journey, Robin and Duncan discover they have many similarities.

A Betrayal Of Storms started with a bodyguard romance, with the relationship A Kingdom Of Lies being of the enemies to lovers trope. Enemies to lovers is my favourite trope, and with all the twists and surprises through A Kingdom Of Lies, I thoroughly enjoyed book 2 more than book 1, and I am excited to read the rest of the series.

Thank you for a copy! It's the second book of the series and it picks up where the last one left. I have enjoyed this series a lot and look forward to more.

I love this series! Robin in book 2 on man the character growth he had is amazing

It picks up after the events on book 1 and now robin is out for blood he wants big time revenge! The story gets so more intense this time and it’s so well written you feel like you’re in the story watching what’s happening

I can not wait for the next 2 books!

Book 2 picks up after the events of book 1 and the world building and characters grow so much more in this!

Robin is out for revenge ,

Fast pace storyline ,some great spicy moments

Loved it can’t wait for more