I was unfortunately not able to get to this book before my time with it expired and it is now published. I wish the author all the best with this as it had a great premise!

I really wanted to love this one—the premise was compelling and the world had potential, but it didn’t quite land for me. One of the biggest struggles I had was with the character development. The main character had hints of depth, but her growth felt inconsistent, and her motivations didn’t always make sense. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d really feel for her, but it never quite happened.

The relationships, especially the central romance, felt a bit rushed and surface-level. There were a few sweet moments, but the emotional connection didn’t have enough build-up to feel believable. Some of the side characters had interesting backstories, but they didn’t get enough page time to really shine or add much dimension to the plot.

That said, there were glimmers of good storytelling—some creative twists and atmospheric scenes that pulled me in. I think fans of Amy Patrick’s previous books might find more to love here, but overall, it was just okay for me. Not a bad read, just not one that stuck with me.

This was a fun Cinderella-esqe retelling but with fae and two hot princes! I was hooked from the beginning, Raewyn is spunky and realistic, she knows the world is a mess and cruel but she chooses to be kind to strangers still, which I love and to me is the very heart of Cinderella. The world-building was easy to understand and the writing was great, there were lots of little twists that kept me turning the page and now I'm DYING for the next book! Stellon is our MMC, he is a POV character and so far her main love interest, I think he's got good bones but was almost a little too naive at times when it came to the plight of the people in his kingdom. There was enough growth and personality that I did love him and I think there is sooo much potential. I just hope it's not another Tamlin situation, because there is a hot shadow daddy and even though I love me a shadow daddy, variety is always nice! I love Stellon's golden retriever energy and he's not afraid to bite!

An easy to read romantasy with a Cinderalla twist. I usually steer away from the oversaturated "Court of Blank and Blank" titles, but gave this a chance because at the end of the day, I'm still a sucker for romantasy.

Loved the writing and pace of this story that was touted to me as a "Cinderella retelling". However, this story is so much more....
The good are clearly good, and the bad are clearly bad, or are they? There is much more political intrigue lurking under the surface than first thought.
The feisty Raewyn has her head in a twirl at the paradoxes that arise during her story, but she fights for what she believes in despite the twists that come her way.
The quintessential bad boy of the plot has some seemingly redeemable features - to be explored in the next book??
This was a bright spark in my day that I couldn't put down and I would recommend to anyone who likes feisty females, potentialy morally grey male characters, and the overbearing presence of an evil overlord.

This was a very sweet, slow burn spin on the Cinderalla story that was easy to read, the characters were likable and it flowed well. The magic system was simple but somewhat unique and it didn't take much to learn the "ways of this universe" so to speak. It was a quick, weekend read that left just enough of a cliff hanger to give the reader the possibility but not the promise of a sequel. Overall a solid, green pepper spice read.

A charming Cinderella-inspired fantasy with a touch of romance and intrigue. The magic system was easy to follow, and the characters were engaging. While I wished for a bit more world-building, I still enjoyed the story and can’t wait for the next book!

A Court Bright and Broken is the first in the Age of Fae series by A. Patrick and while the beginning felt like many of the most recent romantasy books I've ready. I wasn't sure I I really wanted to continue reading but I'm glad I kept going because I did enjoy it and I am looking forward to book 2 and how Patrick will weave this story. 3.5 stars

A Court Bright and Broken by Amy Patrick is the kind of fantasy romance that hooks you right from the start. It’s got all the best elements—fairy tale vibes, dangerous bargains, and two swoon-worthy Fae princes. Raewyn, desperate to save her family, agrees to attend a royal ball in disguise, thinking she’ll stay under the radar. Spoiler: she absolutely does not. Instead, she catches the attention of both Fae princes, and suddenly, she’s tangled in court politics, power struggles, and a slow-burn romance that had me obsessed.

This book gives off Cinderella meets The Cruel Prince energy, but with its own unique twists. The tension, the banter, the “oh no, I’m falling for him” moments—it all just works. If you’re into magical courts, high stakes, and love interests who are equal parts infuriating and irresistible, you’ll devour this one.

A Court Bright and Broken by Amy Patrick is a charming fantasy romance that blends slow-burn tension, forbidden love, and classic fairy tale elements. The story follows Raewyn, a peasant desperate to save her family, and Stellon, an Elven crown prince. When Raewyn makes a deal with a witch, she’s thrust into Stellon’s world, where their chemistry is instant, even as they resist it.

The book excels in its character dynamics, especially the royal siblings’ genuine bond. Instead of backstabbing, their loyalty to each other adds depth and warmth. The magic system, centered around glamours, is fascinating and integrated seamlessly into the plot, adding layers of intrigue.
Raewyn and Stellon’s slow-burn romance is compelling, though the pacing could be more consistent at times. Their relationship evolves naturally as they move from distrust to respect. Stellon’s flaws make him a well-rounded and intriguing love interest.

While the plot focuses on romance, there are enough twists and political tensions to keep things engaging. The cliffhanger left me eagerly awaiting the next book. Overall, A Court Bright and Broken is an enchanting romantasy ,and I’m excited to see where the next book takes these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

I was fortunate to read the ARC of this book through NetGalley, and I do indeed feel lucky! From the beginning Raewyn was an exciting character and as her story intertwined with Stellon’s I found myself eager to read on and know what was coming next! At times I did feel as if the story lacked momentum, but the last 70 pages or so had me glued again, I’m looking forward to the sequel after the way this book has ended! :))

I felt like this had so much promise, and the first 25% I really enjoyed. However after that, it fell a bit flat for me. I could not get on with the MMC at all, and the FMC frustrated me that she just forgot what her motivators were for making a deal in the first place. I persevered to the end… but left feeling disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sinister Cinderella Retelling
Assassination Plot
Forbidden Romance
One Bed


If you enjoy fresh takes on old fairy tales then this is perfect for you.
You won’t find a sweet old fairy godmother in this book but a conniving Earth Mother with dark motives set on the assassination of the royal Elvin family.
This is a quick read that is easy to follow if you are new to fantasy. I can easily recommend this book to romantasy lovers and I have a sneaky suspicion that book two will be even better as the book leaves you on an interesting cliff-hanger.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, and Xpresso Book Tours for a free copy of this e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Cinderella, if the prince was the son of a corrupt elven king and Cinderella was at the ball in disguise as part of an assassination plot.
Raewyn and Prince Stellon are both sweet, genuine, and attractive, so of course they develop feelings for each other.
Stellon is adorable but naive for a crown prince. He quickly reaches a point where he would give up everything to be with Raewyn, with no thought for how that would work long-term.
Raewyn has a hard life with nothing but bad options, and she understands too well that her decisions have consequences for everyone she loves.
The author puts her into a difficult situation that gets more and more complicated, and I was curious to see how she would get herself out of it. She really...doesn't? Through no doing of her own, things just happen in such a way that she and her entire family aren't dead by the end of the book.
The book ends in a cliffhanger, and I can't tell where the author will go with the next book except that it feels like Raewyn's mother will be significant and Stellon's younger brother will get to know Raewyn better. Who knows where that will go?

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was such a great romantasy! From the world building to the character development, I really enjoyed it! Yes, it does have similar tropes to other romantasy novels, but that is common! The slow burn romance was done SO well in this book and I loved the FMC and MMC. Very Cinderella-esque with fun twists. Definitely recommend!

If you're new to romantasy books and looking to dip your toe in then this is the book for you!
- Cinderella retelling
-fae/human
-rich boy/poor girl
This is a Cinderella retelling with lots of twists and turns.
It's fast paced with not a lot of world building so it's a fun quick read.
The cliffhanger at the end makes me want the next book in my hands immediately! Can't wait to see how her relationship with Pharis plays out!

I liked the premise of this book and the Cinderella retelling vibes. The main characters were lovely, and the dialogue was quite comical at times. However, it fell short for me, the story line didn’t pull me in like I thought it would have and seemed almost like it was written for as a young adult novel instead of a romantasy novel. The ending was very abrupt and almost seemed rushed compared to the pace of the rest of the novel. The cliffhanger was a little anti-climatic and didn’t make me want to read the next book.

I will be submitting my review on my instagram page and storygraph but do not presently have the links handy!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. It's a good easy read for those just beginning to get into the romantasy genre. It's a Cinderella-like retelling like ACOTAR is to beauty and the beast. I thought it had an interesting premise but the characters and their chemistry just fell flat for me personally.
There wasn't enough banter and character building. I didn’t feel connected to or invested in the characters.