This was the first book I found on Net Galley and I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to read it! I finished this book within a few hours and I absolutely loved every part of it. The main character is relatable, and I loved seeing how she changes throughout the book. The plot was interesting and executed really well. I loved getting to know the other characters and I loved that Ciar didn’t let anyone influence her decisions. She made her own decisions and formed her own opinions. I loved how independent she strived to be and I loved her caring nature. The world building was fun to read about and I absolutely loved the portrayal of the fae. This was such a great book and it was impossible to put down!

I loved this book. It grabbed my attention from the beginning and didn't let go until I read the final page.

The setting just teems with life. There are fully developed superstitions and beliefs. Even the townspeople, no matter how small of a role they play, Ciar deals with have a bit of flavor and don't come across as two-dimensional. The Faerie and the creatures in it are incredibly detailed and the world that Ciar interacts with comes to life. Any detail that is pertinent to the plot is painstakingly rendered so that readers can become immersed in the world Malachai created.

One of the aspects of the book that caught my eye was how the Unseelie Fae were the good guys and the Seelie Fae were the bad guys. For those of you who may not know the difference, Unseelie Fae control the air and water elements. So, their piece of Faerie is like winter, with plenty of ice. Unseelie Fae control the earth and fire elements, and their piece of Faerie is green and warm.

Ciar herself is just an amazing character. At first, she comes across as a bit of a spoiled brat; however, as she matures, she becomes a wonderful, selfless young adult. Mael is just as wonderful, he comes across as cold in the beginning, then he develops into this amazing, caring character. I grew to like other characters in the book who stand on their own with interesting backgrounds, but Ciar and Mael are definitely the stars of the story.

Faerie Silver, Iron Cold is definitely a new twist on Fae-human relationships. If you love all things Fae, this is the book for you.

Ciar moves to Brinley to live with her grandparents after the death of her mother, her ears still so full of her mother’s stories about Faerie that she doesn’t heed the warnings about dangerous Fae. The town’s children play games near the border between the human world and Faerie, marked by a stream, and they dare each other to get as close as they can to crossing. Only Ciar is brave (and foolish) enough. On the other side she meets Mael, a Fae boy recently escaped from a coup in the Unseelie Court. Ciar and Mael grow up together, despite the concern and pity from the people of Brinley who think Ciar will be lost to Faerie forever. The Ciar goes away to school and, despite Mael’s promises that they will have a place to live together once she finished her schooling, they do not see each other again.

Until the day Mael comes to collect her—fae promises do not come without a price.

This scratch as very specific fae itch for me. The world is incredibly vivid and the faerie lore is rooted in a mix of Irish and Scottish traditions. There’s also a great flip on usual takes of the Seelie and Unseelie courts - the sympathetic side is the Unseelie, who are usually portrayed as the “bad guys.”

Ciar’s character development follows her from spoiled, naive child to reckless but well-meaning teenager to independent young woman. I love the contrast with Mael, because they are both caring in their own way, but the cultural differences of fae and human means this comes across very differently. Their relationship is beautiful in the way it grew from the foundations formed when they were children. There was a moment towards the end when Ciar is looking at a series of wood carvings that show a human girl falling in love with a faerie, and “In every panel the Seelie lord was looking at her.” That made me a bit teary, since it perfectly sums up Mael - everything he does, he does for Ciar (even if there’s a lot of faerie logic involved).

While Ciar and Mael are the focus (deservedly) there isn’t a single character in the cast that feels one-dimensional, from the baker who gives Ciar iced buns for free to Ciar’s gaggle of school friends. It’s such a rounded, deep book, and I adored it.

I really liked this book!

The plot was really well written. The descriptions used made it so easy to envision myself part of the story

So were the characters. Ciar was such a well written main character. From the very beginning, I was rooting for her.

Clean read
I like how this story starts in childhood and goes until the main characters are grown.
I love the dynamic of friendship between the too.
I love how the interaction of the main characters as children is what shapes their future.

I do wish that we got closure on the Seelie court and the daughter that was left behind.
It’s saddens me that we got to meet these characters at the other court but then never hear about the.m again.
We never find out why that mother got sick and died.
We never find out if the Seelie court had a change of heart since the human girls came.
Also

Overall great read and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the eARC edition of Faerie Silver, Iron Cold in return for a fair and honest review!

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Content Warnings: Fantasy Racism/Discrimination, Brief War Themes, Brief and Casual mentions of Blood, Minor Violence, (Non-vulgar/Graphic) Implications and Conversations involving Sex, Kidnapping/Imprisonment, Violence against (Fictional) Animals/Creatures

**Disclaimer: This list may/may not include all content warnings for Faerie Silver, Iron Cold. However, any warnings listed are all mild, brief, or vague in description.

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First off, I absolutely loved this book. I, admittedly, have not read very many Faerie themed books, including ACOTAR, so I was not quite sure what I was in for. However, the cover grabbed me, the book description grabbed tighter, and then the story took me for an entire spin. I was entirely wrapped around this story to the point of thinking about it while at work.

I think the play with Faerie/Fae was very well done. There were a lot of the classic nods towards the culture of Faerie including being unable to lie, having names in high regard, as well as their aptitude towards magic and perfection. There was a line in the book that referred to the Fae as being vain due to their intricate braids and hair designs, but what I find interesting, is that later on, the idea of the entire race of people being vain is never brought up again, nor is obviously displayed in the behaviors from the later characters.

I adore Ciar and her character. I was a little unsure about the beginning, especially with it starting as the main characters when they're children, but it really roped me in and convinced me to stick along for the ride. She grows from this mischievous little heathen, into a teenage who does her best and wants to succeed and return to her friend, to an independent and free-thinking grown woman who means well, does well, and isn't afraid to throw attitude and her own opinions in the face of opposing characters. It's very refreshing to see a main character that can stand on her own two feet and carry herself alone.

Each of the side characters had quirky and fun personalities, all of them distinguishable from one another, which helped to add to the depth of the background. I liked the split between Seelie and Unseelie, and enjoyed the different imagery and traits that each of the groups (kingdoms?) had.

I do think that a couple characters could have had a little more fleshing out, but given that they were side characters, it's not enough for me to warrant taking away a star. Additionally, there was a child character left behind later in the book, and I do wish we had also learned about what her fate was. But, again, I didn't see it as that much of an oversight, considering the book is about Ciar and Mael. Which, their relationship from childhood to adulthood is very well done, and refreshingly healthy. It is very obvious that Mael cares for Ciar even through the differences in Faerie/Human culture, but is done in a way that is not overbearing, possessive, or anything extreme beyond the ideal in Fae culture of "being promised to one another" and "bondmates."

Beyond that, the pair agree and disagree, have fleshed out conversations involving each other's worlds, and later on, through the theme of love in the book, I believe that Mael feels that even if it is not expressed in the same manner as the other characters. As someone who struggles with wording emotions, I think I appreciated the idea of "giving gifts" and taking actions, even if there were small "ulterior motives" or "a gift is never a gift, the fae always want something in return" nods, given that the affection between Ciar and Mael is more silent, and physical, than it is outwardly spoken.

I think the final chapter was maybe a little rushed, especially towards the end? It did feel a bit abrupt, given I had to go back and reread a couple of times just to make sure it didn't end as quickly as I'd imagined. Maybe that was more to do with my enjoyment of the book, rather than its actual purpose in its ending. Who's to say?

Additionally, I appreciated that the discrimination towards the Fae continued on throughout the book. It kept up the frustration towards certain characters, as opinions changing so quickly is simply unrealistic and would've been odd to have such a violent 180 shift. Across the board, the author did a gorgeous job of building up the world, the environment, and all the little nitty-gritty details that made the book what it is, even down to the creatures, fruits, foods, and general atmosphere. As someone who pours themselves over worldbuilding, this really scratched an itch that I had in a lovely way. Good on the author! It shows that they really cared a great deal for this world and for their characters.

Overall, I would give the book approximately a 4.5/5 stars, rounded up! I'm very happy with this one, and I'm very grateful to NetGalley for offering this title as an eARC. As my first eARC read and reviewed, I look forward to doing more now that my expectations have been set! I look forward to purchasing this one when it hits the shelves, so it can sit prettily on mine.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Author @vicmalachai for allowing me to read this gem in exchange for a review.
Here’s my spoiler free thoughts ❤️
I am obsessed and fascinated with all things Fae at the moment and this book did not disappoint. It was really good! It was fast paced and featured strong and engaging characters.
I enjoyed how the plot developed and found myself constantly wanting to read more to see where things were going to go.
Would love there to be more in this world, particularly more details on what happens with Torc’an and his daughter.
Young girls stuck in a world of traditional customs meet the magic of Fairie. I totally recommend this to all YA & fantasy readers!
Book is published 31 July 2022 ✨
4.5/5

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgV5r8mrb1R/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Ciar grew up with stories about magical but dark and dangerous Faerie.

Ciar and her brother are sent to live with their grandparents after their mothers death. Ciar is a wild child who prefers to break the rules and carve her own path despite coming from a prestigious family. She is determined to show her new found friends that she isn’t a “baby” by crossing a stream between the human realm into Faerie where she meets Mael a Fae boy. She of course strikes a bargain with him within hours despite warnings from her grandparents.



I absolutely loved the different take on Unseelie Fae, it was refreshing.
Strong multidimensional characters.
Strong word building

I would have loved to see a little more spice as the books is rated YA/NA.

I decided to download this book on a whim, it had a cute premise, and I was looking for something that was not as dark as the books I have been reading recently. This book follows Ciar, who after her mother dies is sent to live with her grandparents in a small town. Her grandparents guard the bridge to Faerie, until one day Ciar accepted a dare and meets Mael, a young Fae boy. What follows is almost a decade of these two growing up together and what happens to them.

Long story short, I started this book at about 9:00 PM the night before. After a few pages I thought I was going to have to really push through to finish the book. Next thing I knew it was almost 3:00 AM and I was more than halfway done with it. This book far exceeded my expectations and I loved every second of the journey.

What I liked: The author’s writing style in general. This book was so much fun to read and the way Malachai easily transitioned between settings and time periods made this book so fluid. In regards to the book itself, the characters were well developed and the interactions between Mael and Ciar were where the writing excelled. While most stories say that the lead female is special, or different, we actually get to see how this impacts Ciar in the future.

To keep in mind: If you are going into this as a heavy romance, you may be disappointed. This book focuses more on the developing relationship between the two characters.

Rating: I loved this book! Ciar and Mael were an amazing couple and I just want to read more about them. I highly recommend checking this book out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

I have never read anything from this author so I did not know what to expect. I have not seen any mentions if the books on any book sites or in any bookclubs and, after reading this book, am at a loss as to why.

I was so surprised to absolutely fall in love with this book and very happy to have discovered such a wonderful author!

I fell in love with Ciar and Mael. The good vs evil plot was beatifully wove into the story of the Ferie world.

I highly recommend this paranormal fantasy and will be reading more books by Vic Malachi.

“The blast of frigid air hit the little town on the edge of the forest like the first storm of winter, blowing from a land that wasn't there.” (now THAT's how you start a prologue)

“Even if we are not bound by our words the way they are, the Fae cannot own you unless you let them.”

“You are far too interesting to allow the nixies to eat.”

this is my first time reading a book of the faerie sort, and i have to say that i am sufficiently impressed. it got me out of my reading slump, that's for sure. it took me a bit to become fully immersed as with every book, but there was a turning point where it picked up the pace and got me going until i got to the last page. the setting is immediately engaging due to the detailed worldbuilding, but it is never too intense and overwhelming. our lead, lady ciar eckstein, is lovable (and the dangerous, romantic fae boy mael is simply dreamy), her romance with mael is a sweet and wholesome slow burn that gets you rooting for both of them (a healthy relationship can you believe it), and the folklore serves as a great backdrop to the story and the romance. some of the townspeople seem a little flat, but the romance between mael and ciar more than make up for it. there are also a few missed commas here and there, but my eyes skipped over them anyway. faerie silver and iron cold features such beautiful, enchanting writing that is imaginative and descriptive and never tedious. the story that ciar's mother tells her in the beginning is the sweetest, too. vic malachai's work is exciting and enchanting, the stuff of dreams. thank you, netgalley, for the ARC!

I enjoyed this book. The progress throughout her childhood was unique and a nice change from the recent fae books I’ve read. If you like fae read it! Wish I had a Mael in my life. *sigh*

*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*


I absolutely loved this book. A totally new take on Faerie and fae and I absolutely loved it.

Our two main characters were lovable and addictive.

The story starts us out with them being children and then follows their romance as they get older.

💚 Childhood Friends to Lovers
💚 Only one bed
💚 Touch her and die

This story was an interesting one! It took a little to get into it at first because of the growing pains but the MC really grows into a compelling easy to root for lead! She is not afraid to do what is right and who doesn't love that cozy living off of a mother's stories that carry her through.

The scenery and settings were really well done, the movie playing in my head was easily painted with Vic Malachai's writing. I love reading fantasy that includes fae/faeries and elements like that so seeing the difference from the usual tropes and who was good and who was bad made this all the more a fun read! The romance was great too, while no spice this did not take away from anything. Will recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy, fae stories, big character line ups and a good ol fashion clean romance!

Who doesn’t love a great Faerie storyline! Ciara starts off as a young child who is far braver than most of the adults in the story. Fae touched and able to travel back and forth between two worlds. She meets a young boy Mael and they strike up a friendship that will last forever.

What did I like? The book seems young adult because nothing other than kissing is mentioned. The story is rich and intriguing but some of it is kind of chopped off. I’m not sure if this will be a series or not. Ciara brings other humans to faerie but hopefully they will get a story as well.

Would I recommend or buy? Anyone who loves Fae books will love this story! I enjoyed and would definitely buy it for my collection! Five stars!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left this opinion.

Faerie Silver Iron Cold by Vic Malachi is everything a fantasy novel should be and more! The novel follows the life of a girl named Ciar who, after losing her mother to illness, is sent to live on the border of the faerie world with her grandparents. Ciar, called Collis in the old language, is a precocious child who accepts the local children’s dare to cross the stream into the Faerie Woods, meeting an unseelie faerie boy known as Mael. The two of them spend their days together, much to the horror of Ciar’s grandparents who fear the child will be spirited away to the faerie realm never to return.

When Ciar turns thirteen, her absent aristocratic father arranges to send her to school in the city and, despite a promise from Mael that he will be waiting for her when she returns each summer, the unlikely pair do not see one another for five years. As Ciar comes of age and prepares to marry, Mael comes back into her life igniting a breathtaking adventure through the faerie world.

Malachi’s prose is rich with otherworldly detail about faerie superstitions. Ciar and Mael are expertly drawn characters, and readers will delight in watching their relationship unfold over many years. The novel allows readers to cross the boundary between the human and faerie lands alongside Ciar as it explores the difference between striking a faerie bargain and making a conscious choice for love. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the eARC edition of Faerie Silver, Iron Cold in return for a fair and honest review!

Let me start with how bummed I was when this book was over, I wanted so much more! I have read a lot of books about Faerie/Fae and this one did not disappoint. There were a ton of classic references to the culture of Faerie including being unable to lie, using names in high regard, as well as their attitude towards magic, and being “perfect”.

I adore Ciar, her personality, and her personal growth. I was a little unsure about the beginning, the main characters started as children. But she grows from this mischievous little girl, into a teenager who wants to love her friend, to an independent woman who isn't afraid to throw attitude, or opinions in the face of opposing characters.

The setting just teems with life, detail, and magical realism. There are fully developed superstitions and beliefs that Ciar’s family believes deeply. Even the townspeople who believe fae are dangerous. No matter how small of a role, whoever Ciar deals with doesn’t come across as two-dimensional and boring. The Faerie and the creatures in it are incredibly detailed and the world that Ciar interacts with comes to life. While Ciar and Mael are the main characters in the book there isn’t a single character in the cast that feels one-dimensional, from the baker who gives Ciar iced buns for free to Ciar’s group of school friends who get twisted into her tale.

Vic Malachai has created a book that is very relaxing and whimsy until the day Mael comes to collect Ciar from her family — fae promises do not come without a price. It’s such a rounded, deep book, and I loved every bit of it.

This was a last minute request for me and I hadn't had time to read it. The author prompted me with a request to review if I had read it. Why didn't I start it as soon as I received it? I really wanted to read it in one sitting as I have got to say, for me it was a "can't put it down" book.

The characters are so beautifully portrayed, I loved that Ciar began her story about her Mother and the wonderful stories she told about the Fae which of course started Ciar's interest in them. When Ciar and her brother Elric come to live with their grandparents in Brinley, Ciar hears many more strories of the Fairie forest and did not heed the warnings to never go over the river but Ciar wanted to be liked and played river games with her new found friends, crossing into Fairie and once there she couldn't help but to return as often as she could, especially when she met a beautiful Fae boy named Mael.

When Ciar gets herself into trouble with the nasty Nixies in the water, Mael makes a bargain with her. Unbeknownst to Ciar, Mael gifts Ciar with items holding magic and once this begins, she is forever Maels, if only she knew what she had set in motion would Ciar have ever crossed the river?

I loved every word of this book and would love a sequel as there are so many more stories to tell about the other characters.

Thank you Netgalley and especially Vic Malachai for the opportunity to read and review this book. I would recommend it to any who love a good story but Paranormal fans in particular. A definite 5+ stars

read if you like: worldbuilding (Faerie🔮🪄), fae, character-driven stories (vibes✨)

a fairytale-like read about love and learning to love; fae, humans, and the ways in which they try to bridge their cultural divide; choice and empowerment.

in this book's world, fae and their land of Faerie are thought to be dangerous or beguilingly pretty and pleasant. everyone knows the fae can be tricky. everyone knows the fae-touched don't come back. but do they really know the fae?

little Ciar, whose perspective we follow throughout the book, is enchanted with the fae, as a young girl befriending the Unseelie child Mael. we follow as they grow together, as Ciar crosses over into Faerie day after day despite all warnings to the contrary. we see the blossoming seeds of love between Ciar and Mael, and we see how that impacts the rest of the fae. choice and empowerment also come into play throughout the rest of the book, as Ciar and her school friends, seeking to break free of the constraints of a society where women's worth lie solely in their purity and marriage prospects, end up being empowered to make their own choices. the worldbuilding of Faerie also takes center-stage here, as we explore it through Ciar's unafraid eyes, and explore the differences between fae and humans - an allegory, to me, for cross-cultural appreciation.

I never thought I would have enjoyed this book so much. Ciar and Mael had some steep lessons to learn about life which was a humbling experience for both. This book was very entertaining, adventurous, and a total delight.

This is a beautifully written book. The characters are realistic. The world building is breathtaking. The story moves along at a brisk pace and is totally delightful. It kept my attention to the end. The drama and the action was very exciting. I can't wait until the next book comes out.

I love the Faerie world and really loved the unique angle of this book - seeing a human wanting to join the world and bringing in others to join her.

I loved every word of this book and would love a sequel as there are so many more stories to tell about the other characters.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Anything that has the word Fae or Faerie I am all over it! I absolutely adored Faerie Silver, Iron Cold! Sone of my favourite Fae books are ACOTAR, and Cruel Prince so I have higher expectations, and this book fulfilled them all! Romance - Check
Badass MC - Check
Action - Check !!

I cannot wait to read the second one and start my reread on KU!

A great take on the faerie mythos with nods to classic folktales, a compelling cast of characters, a first class story and plenty of action. Really enjoyed this one.

The first half of this book was phenomenal. I deeply enjoyed watching Ciar and Mael grow up together, exploring both Faerie and Brinley. It's rare to find an author that can write from a younger POV so well, keeping it from feeling gimmicky or over done. Giving our protagonists such a solid foundation for their romance was a wonderful treat. In this genre, there's a lot of instant (or near-instant love). Reading about a fully fledged relationship as it develops is refreshing.

I appreciated the lore and world-building of this book. There were some unique takes on the Unseelie and Seelie Fae. A nice mix of familiar standards of the genre, but enough new additions to keep things interesting.

I devoured this book up until about the 70% mark. Unfortunately, that's where the story fell off for me. Without giving too much away, I'll simply say that the plot felt less tightened and focused after that point. The quality of the writing also seemed to dip, which makes me think the last half of the book just hasn't been as thoroughly edited as the first half.

Wow what a fantastic book with twists and turns all over the place such a good book I would definitely recommend it

I enjoyed this book Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this title.

The story had some really atmospheric moments, and the way it mixes modern elements with folklore kept me interested. Some parts felt a bit slow or underexplored, but it was still a fun, moody read that fans of faerie stories will likely enjoy.