I love dark fairytales. Fae who are evil, or morally gray, political struggles, complex characters, and a world that could just as easily come out of a horror novel as a fantasy one. Elly Blake was able to do this.

The Forest King's Daughter captures what people love about the original Grimm Fairytales, combining it with the modern romantasy elements, and giving the female character autonomy. I loved Cassia and Zeru's relationship, and really appreciated the nods to many old fairytale couples.

If you are thinking of picking this book up, I really recommend it. It's a refreshing take on the myths of the fae, and a break from a lot of the same formula driven books that are being written today.

This was a beautiful love story about star-crossed lovers. The writing was enchanting, the world-building was masterful, and I was completely sucked into the story. Cassia and Zeru come from opposite worlds but are drawn together as kids despite their differences, she is a Sylvan fashioned from light and air and Dracu is a creature of earth and darkness. Their parents find out and put a stop to it and they spend the following years trying to win back their parents affection. Fate eventually draws them back together and thus begins our story! Eleanor Bennett did a really good job narrating the story and giving each character personality and bringing them to life.

I should have DNFed this.

It’s boring and unremarkable. It’s never ending.
by 50% i was fighting to continue
by 80% I set the audiobook to 2.5 speed.

It has all the overdone stereotypes. A dead mom, an emotional abusive/distant father, a teen girl who has the power of the world but can’t seem to wield it, an enemy that can’t completely hate her, a war with literally no point, a princess who has no concept of court or war.

Also, it’s labeled “enemies to lovers” but they’re enemies for maybe 200 pages.
I’m not sure why it’s a series. There doesn’t seem to be any more story to tell.

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.

1 sentence review: Magical and nostalgic forest inspired fantasy that’s full of adventure.

I really enjoyed this. It felt so nostalgic to me for some reason, almost like Narnia vibes! Beware this one is YA and it can feel a little “middle grade” at times, but I didn’t mind it at all because it felt so magical. I loved the world this was set in and the character development was great! The audio was also really well done and I loved the narrator.

Read This if You Like:
🌳 Forest fantasy elements
💍 Coming of age YA fantasy
Character development (👏🏼) and lovable characters

Where do I even start? This book was everything. I love a story that leans into the classic fae folklore—morally gray characters, an underlying darkness, and that almost Grimm-like quality to the fantasy. No sugarcoating, no softened edges—just pure, immersive storytelling with fae that actually feel otherworldly and dangerous.

The narration by Eleanor Bennett was chef’s kiss—her voice brought the world to life in a way that felt both haunting and mesmerizing. The visuals? Think A Midsummer Night’s Dream but with a darker, more ominous twist.

And let’s talk about the enemies-to-lovers here—because it was done so well. Cassia and Zeru weren’t just bickering for a few chapters before falling into insta-love. No, the tension lingered—even halfway through the book, they were still at odds, only now with layers of tension crackling between them. Their dynamic was everything—two strong-willed characters who never overshadowed each other but instead created this perfect push-and-pull balance.

Beyond the romance, I really loved the emotional depth woven into the story, especially with Cassia’s struggle to earn her father’s approval. It added a great layer of character growth and reflection, making her journey even more compelling. And the world-building? Absolutely lush. The story flowed effortlessly, pulling me in so completely that I never had a dull moment.

Did I mention how much I loved the tension between Cassia and Zeru? Because wow. Their chemistry was just right, and their development felt organic rather than forced.

If you love fantasy that feels like stepping into a dark fairytale, with a romance that burns before it blossoms, this is absolutely worth picking up. I already need book two.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. This was a very beautiful and interesting fantasy book. Sometimes it was hard to follow and very complex but I loved the characters. It had darker light Grimm like qualities to the fantasy occasionally.

Omg I loved this book!!!!!
The audio was fantastic and this story was just great!!!

I hope there's a sister spin off!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, Little Brown Young Readers, Elly Blake, and Eleanor Bennett for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of The Forest King's Daughter in exchange for an honest review.

Going in here as a Frostblood fan! Before I touch on my thoughts, a bit on the story:

Cassia and Zeru are childhood friends of varying fae races. One day Zeru gives Cassia a ring that can supposedly destroy his race. Were they aware of that as children? Eh, probably not. They don't talk for many years as their races come to war with and despise each other.

They reunite when the power of the ring comes into question. They work together, albeit begrudgingly, to find the answers they seek. While it is a very slow burn, there is an enemies-to-lover element present.

I consider the writing very dreamlike, as it almost give's off A Midsummer Night's Dream vibes in the visuals, though the fae and settings described are a bit darker in element. The prose is eloquent and enjoyable. I loved Blake as a writer with her Frostblood debut, and I find she has only grown as a writer. Even though I love the writing, the story didn't impact me on the same level that Frostblood did, but it was still a richly enjoyable experience emphasized by the amazing narration skills of Eleanor Bennett for the audiobook.

The Forest King's Daughter is considered Book 1 of the Thirstwood series, but the novel certainly feels wholesome and complete. Either the series will follow what's next for these characters, introducing a new conflict, or it may feature other types of fae we haven't really seen yet, taking place within this elaborate world.

I find that any seeker of Young Adult Fantasy will fall in love with Blake's craft and the allure of this novel!

This story was really interesting, and I definitely enjoyed the plot, however, I really struggled with the narrator and that's what ultimately led me to not being able to finish the audiobook, but I did finish the actual book.3.5/5 for audiobook, 4.5/5 for the book!

Reading this book was so fantastic! I've enjoyed her other series, and I was looking forward to reading this book, so getting the audio arc was really great, and I picked it as soon as I could! And oh, I'm glad that I did, it was such a great read!

When the prologue set up the story, of these two groups who co-existed uneasily, but when these two kids form a friendship, and he gives her an seemingly insignificant gift, well, it causes a huge rupture, and l felt so bad for the pair of them, they were just children, and they didn't know what was going on.

Then we get to the bulk of the story, years later with Cassia the bearer of the ring, and being told that's her purpose, and she's not doing it right, and that's a lot of pressure to be under, especially given that she's been under that pressure basically since she got the ring.

I loved watching her come into her own, to learn more about the ring and how it works, as well as spend time with Zeru, in their friends to enemies to lovers arc. I really adored their relationship and how it grew and changed. Watching her learn gave us the opportunity to explore the world and it's history, and I'm excited to see more in the future installments!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to see where this series goes from here!

This book was so good. It doesn't follow your typical YA fantasy plot.

The enemies to lovers was in my opinion so well done, it was amazing. I genuinely enjoyed it.

Characters to be honest didn't care for them much but I enjoyed the plot very much. The flow was very good, and it was written well. I'm definitely looking forward the next parts of the series.

Thank you Hatchette audio for a free advanced listener copy of this book.
3.75 ⭐️

I’m finding I’m really enjoying these dark woodsy type books. This book was a fun friends to enemies to lovers. The world building was great, not too detailed but not in lacking way. Th pacing was great for the story. It was a fun quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

I've read one other book by Elly Blake, and it wasn't for me. But this one was so fun! I enjoyed it much more. If you are looking for a light fantasy with good romance, this is a good one for you!

I was absolutely enchanted by the opening to this book and by the quality of the writing, world building, and characters. I've been a fan of Blake's for years and it's thrilling to see how her writing has developed and grown. Can't wait to see what she does next!

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator was wonderful and really drew you into the story. Loved the writing story and plot as well. Definitely recommend this audiobook!

My nine year old daughters would absolutely love this one. I love the narrator. This is a lovely book for young adults or even children.

A book with both whimsy and teeth, a sense of familiarity as well as fresh worldbuilding, The Forest King’s Daughter is a beautifully written tale for the fantasy lover. The audiobook narration is filled with heart and emotion, and the performance truly felt like Cassia.

The Forest King’s Daughter is perfect for readers who enjoy:
- Star-crossed lovers
- Childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers
- Slow-burn romance
- Fantasy that feels like folklore
- Magical, sentient objects
- Warring kingdoms and alliances
- Layered family dynamics and coming to terms with the family you have vs the family you want
- SISTERS

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook ARC. I look forward to Elly Blake’s future projects.

What an adorable YA fantasy! Friends to Enemies to First Loves! ❤️ Super cute, easy read/listen.

Once upon a time, among the bloodred trees of Thirstwood, a young forest princess became friends with a lonely boy from underground. He gifted her an amber ring, a worthless trinket—or so he thought—because no sooner did he slide it onto her finger than the queen of the underground and the forest king declared war.
Years later, Cassia is a crucial force in her father’s army, wielding her ring of light that can blind and disorient hundreds of enemies at a time. Then battle-hardened Zeru abducts her, planning to steal the ring back to fix his costly childhood mistake. Exhausted, terrified, and more than a little mistrusting, Cassia is forced to travel with Zeru to a place they both believed only existed in storybooks, one where their childhood friendship slowly rekindles into something much more. But it's only a matter of time before the war they’ve escaped comes for them, and a hidden threat to forest and underground folk alike grows in the shadows.

Thanks to NetGalley & Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book!
#TheForestKingsDaughter #NetGalley

The Forest King's Daughter
By: Elly Blake
Narrated by: Elanor Bennett
Publisher: Hachette Audio

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I didn't initially love the narration by Eleanor Bennett, but by the end of the book she WAS Cassia. I think she actually voiced the character really well.
I assumed that this was going to be a standard fae book with the forest king title and the comparisson to Holly Black, but it was so much more than that. The author made her own world. The varied types of forest people were all interconected and interesting.
I really enjoyed the sisterhood and bond Cassia shared there, which was great since her father was an emotionally abusive jerk. The love story with Zeru was also well developed.
Overall, I really enjoyed it.