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The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
An enchanting romantasy debut about a girl who must strike a dangerous bargain with a prince of fairy in order to find her missing sister, perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Lexi Ryan
For Sabrina Parry, the world of her small, Welsh mining town is cruel and practical. Her main aims in life are to hold onto her job, hold her tongue, and marry off her pretty, but sickly sister Ceridwen to a man rich enough to look after her.
When Ceridwen vanishes into the woods leaving only an iron ring behind, it’s up to Sabrina to find her by venturing into Eu Gwald—fairyland.
Sabrina quickly realizes fairyland is far more dangerous than she ever expected. So when a fae prince who considers himself a scholar of all things human offers her a dangerous deal, Sabrina is forced to accept. The prince is charming, and more interested in Sabrina than she is willing to believe. But as always with fairy bargains, there is a cost.
And if this bargain doesn’t cost Sabrina her life, it will certainly cost her heart.
For Sabrina Parry, the world of her small, Welsh mining town is cruel and practical. Her main aims in life are to hold onto her job, hold her tongue, and marry off her pretty, but sickly sister Ceridwen to a man rich enough to look after her.
When Ceridwen vanishes into the woods leaving only an iron ring behind, it’s up to Sabrina to find her by venturing into Eu Gwald—fairyland.
Sabrina quickly realizes fairyland is far more dangerous than she ever expected. So when a fae prince who considers himself a scholar of all things human offers her a dangerous deal, Sabrina is forced to accept. The prince is charming, and more interested in Sabrina than she is willing to believe. But as always with fairy bargains, there is a cost.
And if this bargain doesn’t cost Sabrina her life, it will certainly cost her heart.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 2025
34 people are currently reading
6610 people want to read
About the author
Anna Fiteni
1 book34 followersAnna Fiteni is an author from Cardiff. She studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick, before going on to the University of Oxford to complete a PGCE. When not writing, Anna enjoys travelling, fashion history, and daydreaming about writing.
Her debut YA fantasy novel, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire, is due out on August 28th 2025 from Electric Monkey in the UK and on September 9th 2025 from Little, Brown Young Readers in the USA.
Her debut YA fantasy novel, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire, is due out on August 28th 2025 from Electric Monkey in the UK and on September 9th 2025 from Little, Brown Young Readers in the USA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 19, 2025
Mean girls deserve love too, sometimes from mean boys, and sometimes mean girls aren’t actually mean, they’re just a bit misunderstood.
Do you want to get lost in a faerie filled forrest, make a bargain with a handsome fae prince, and go on a quest to find your missing sister? Maybe find yourself along the way? Definitely lie your ass off - because what good is being able to lie if you don’t use it to protect yourself from wicked fae?
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is a wickedly fun, fast-paced story with lush prose and an atmospheric world rooted in Welsh folklore and history. I wanted to get lost in Eu Gwald with Sabrina!
Sabrina is prickly, a bit unlovable, and definitely hot tempered. She lies and steals, and might complain about her responsibilities but never fails to take care of the people she loves. At its heart this is a story about sisters with a hint of romance and splash self-discovery. It’s easy to binge and will leave you wanting more
What’s to love…
- Mean girls deserve love
- morally grey MMC (and maybe the FMC is a bit morally grey too)
- he loves her prickly parts
- family forward story
- STANDALONE
- Grade A banter
- rich world built on Welsh history and folklore
- QUEST! (my favorite!)
What might not work for some…
- This is less romantasy and more fantasy with a romantic subplot imho. If you head in with tempered expectations I think you’ll love this one.
| TikTok | IG |
Thank you Little Brown & Novl for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Do you want to get lost in a faerie filled forrest, make a bargain with a handsome fae prince, and go on a quest to find your missing sister? Maybe find yourself along the way? Definitely lie your ass off - because what good is being able to lie if you don’t use it to protect yourself from wicked fae?
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is a wickedly fun, fast-paced story with lush prose and an atmospheric world rooted in Welsh folklore and history. I wanted to get lost in Eu Gwald with Sabrina!
Sabrina is prickly, a bit unlovable, and definitely hot tempered. She lies and steals, and might complain about her responsibilities but never fails to take care of the people she loves. At its heart this is a story about sisters with a hint of romance and splash self-discovery. It’s easy to binge and will leave you wanting more
What’s to love…
- Mean girls deserve love
- morally grey MMC (and maybe the FMC is a bit morally grey too)
- he loves her prickly parts
- family forward story
- STANDALONE
- Grade A banter
- rich world built on Welsh history and folklore
- QUEST! (my favorite!)
What might not work for some…
- This is less romantasy and more fantasy with a romantic subplot imho. If you head in with tempered expectations I think you’ll love this one.
| TikTok | IG |
Thank you Little Brown & Novl for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2025
4.25 ★— If I had a nickel for every story about a human girl with a complicated bond with her sister, a ruthless streak, and a dark-haired trickster fae… well, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice.
That’s right: this book is absolutely a fit for The Folk of the Air lovers, while still standing firmly on its own and telling a compelling, original story.
The plot centers on Sabrina, whose life has been marked by hardship. At sixteen, she’s working as much as she can, taking care of her sickly older sister, and acting as the main breadwinner of her household. When her sister vanishes one day, there’s no hesitation. Sabrina heads straight into the faerie forest people regularly disappear into.
This book delivers so many of the elements I love and always look for in faerie stories: fae who are truly inhuman, vicious, and tricky, as well as a heroine who isn’t a moral ideal, but instead flawed in deeply human, teenage ways. I especially appreciated how Fiteni wove these traits into Sabrina, letting them influence her journey through the faerie world.
When she meets Neirin, a fae and the story’s male lead, their dynamic becomes interesting immediately. You see his trickster side respond to the darker parts of her. As the two journey through the forest together, their banter and interactions were pure chef’s kiss!
The land of the faerie itself felt like the story’s third major character and the author captured its strangeness and danger so well, giving it an eerie sense of timelessness. I’d also add that the inclusion of the Welsh language and some of its history was beautifully done, too!
Overall, this is a perfect pick for anyone looking for a YA fantasy story filled with layered characters and sharp, intriguing fae, but still compact enough to devour in an afternoon.
That’s right: this book is absolutely a fit for The Folk of the Air lovers, while still standing firmly on its own and telling a compelling, original story.
The plot centers on Sabrina, whose life has been marked by hardship. At sixteen, she’s working as much as she can, taking care of her sickly older sister, and acting as the main breadwinner of her household. When her sister vanishes one day, there’s no hesitation. Sabrina heads straight into the faerie forest people regularly disappear into.
This book delivers so many of the elements I love and always look for in faerie stories: fae who are truly inhuman, vicious, and tricky, as well as a heroine who isn’t a moral ideal, but instead flawed in deeply human, teenage ways. I especially appreciated how Fiteni wove these traits into Sabrina, letting them influence her journey through the faerie world.
When she meets Neirin, a fae and the story’s male lead, their dynamic becomes interesting immediately. You see his trickster side respond to the darker parts of her. As the two journey through the forest together, their banter and interactions were pure chef’s kiss!
The land of the faerie itself felt like the story’s third major character and the author captured its strangeness and danger so well, giving it an eerie sense of timelessness. I’d also add that the inclusion of the Welsh language and some of its history was beautifully done, too!
Overall, this is a perfect pick for anyone looking for a YA fantasy story filled with layered characters and sharp, intriguing fae, but still compact enough to devour in an afternoon.
July 14, 2025
This is for all my The Cruel Prince fans.
I binged this.
It was addictive, funny, spiky, and filled with Welsh history.
In 1842, Habren follows her sister into the Land of the Fair Ones seeking to rescue her by entering into a partnership with a trickster Fae, Nerin, to become the King’s champion.
Imagine what magic smells like to you (we can't all love wisteria and cooking bread) then picture wonders to rival the ocean. Imagine the place where the fairy tales of your childhood took place, when your mother lay beside you in bed and whispered stories in your ear.
You're halfway there.
This is I-hate-you-so-much-I-will-cut-your-finger-off.
Habren is spiky, constantly compared to her soft, beautiful sister. She is the shadow.
Spiteful, jealous, but loyal.
How strange. How lovely.
How awful.
"You used me, I say. "I hate you.”
“I missed you too,” he replies.
Great familiar relationships.
Morally grey epitomised.
History about the sordid Welsh mining past and the English incursion.
Great snappy back and forth.
LGBTQ representation.
Disability representation.
A very satisfying standalone that could expand into a sequel.
Physical arc gifted by Electric Monkey.
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I binged this.
It was addictive, funny, spiky, and filled with Welsh history.
In 1842, Habren follows her sister into the Land of the Fair Ones seeking to rescue her by entering into a partnership with a trickster Fae, Nerin, to become the King’s champion.
Imagine what magic smells like to you (we can't all love wisteria and cooking bread) then picture wonders to rival the ocean. Imagine the place where the fairy tales of your childhood took place, when your mother lay beside you in bed and whispered stories in your ear.
You're halfway there.
This is I-hate-you-so-much-I-will-cut-your-finger-off.
Habren is spiky, constantly compared to her soft, beautiful sister. She is the shadow.
Spiteful, jealous, but loyal.
How strange. How lovely.
How awful.
"You used me, I say. "I hate you.”
“I missed you too,” he replies.
Great familiar relationships.
Morally grey epitomised.
History about the sordid Welsh mining past and the English incursion.
Great snappy back and forth.
LGBTQ representation.
Disability representation.
A very satisfying standalone that could expand into a sequel.
Physical arc gifted by Electric Monkey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
June 28, 2025
This story follows Sabrina as she goes into the woods into fairyland in search of her sister Ceridwen after promising her father she would take care of her family after he is imprisoned.
Sabrina finds out the woods are a lot more dangerous than they seem. The fairy world is starting to decay and she eventually teams up with Neirin a fairy prince, as she makes a deal for her freedom in exchange for help finding her sister. She finds out her sister is trying to become the King’s Champion by getting rid of the decay on her own in exchange for immortality.
The story is very descriptive and brings you right into the unique world and is very atmospheric. There is Welsh folklore interwoven into the story and the fae are of the more traditional variety (tricksters).
There is strong ties of family and sisterly love. The romance between Sabrina and Neirin is there but it is not the forefront of the story. There is also LGBTQ representation with Ceridwen and her mermaid girlfriend.
I liked the ending with the idea of Gran being reunited with someone from her past, and I enjoyed Sabrina’s decision at the end.
Overall this was a very fun and quick read, and I would recommend to any readers who love and enjoy YA fantasy with a bit of romance splashed in and strong themes of familial and sisterly love.
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Sabrina finds out the woods are a lot more dangerous than they seem. The fairy world is starting to decay and she eventually teams up with Neirin a fairy prince, as she makes a deal for her freedom in exchange for help finding her sister. She finds out her sister is trying to become the King’s Champion by getting rid of the decay on her own in exchange for immortality.
The story is very descriptive and brings you right into the unique world and is very atmospheric. There is Welsh folklore interwoven into the story and the fae are of the more traditional variety (tricksters).
There is strong ties of family and sisterly love. The romance between Sabrina and Neirin is there but it is not the forefront of the story. There is also LGBTQ representation with Ceridwen and her mermaid girlfriend.
I liked the ending with the idea of Gran being reunited with someone from her past, and I enjoyed Sabrina’s decision at the end.
Overall this was a very fun and quick read, and I would recommend to any readers who love and enjoy YA fantasy with a bit of romance splashed in and strong themes of familial and sisterly love.
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 15, 2025
This may be the craziest thing I’ve said about a book but I feel this book WITHIN me.
Cymru, 1842. We follow Sabrina, a sharp tongued girl who follows her older sister, Ceridwen into Eu Gwlad in an attempt to save her. Sabrina quickly realises that the stories her dad shared about Tylwyth Teg, aren’t just fairytales after all…
Sabrina is forced take on a dangerous mission, break her own heart and make sacrifices to not only save her sister, but also to save Eu Gwlad from a strange sickness that is killing the Teg.
I LOVED this book in every physically way possible. Am I bias because I am also a Welsh woman who feels the internal female rage that Sabrina feels? Possibly, but that doesn’t change how amazing this book was. This is a beautiful and incredible debut from Anna Fiteni and I am truly honoured I was given the chance to read it.
I will acknowledge is that this is being marketed as a romantasy which I personally disagree with, this is a story of self discovery, sacrifice and sisterhood with a lovely slice of romance on the side. 🍰
This book was able to teach me things about my heritage that no school ever did. It brings attention to our harrowing history, the exploitation but also the beauty of our language and heritage. It felt like an encyclopedia for Tylwyth Teg which I loved too!
Going back to how I started this review, I do truly mean it. Whilst this is a fantasy book, I am reading about my heritage, my family’s story and everyone who came before me.
I think this book will stay with me for a very long time.
Diolch Electric Monkey for gifting me an arc✨
Cymru, 1842. We follow Sabrina, a sharp tongued girl who follows her older sister, Ceridwen into Eu Gwlad in an attempt to save her. Sabrina quickly realises that the stories her dad shared about Tylwyth Teg, aren’t just fairytales after all…
Sabrina is forced take on a dangerous mission, break her own heart and make sacrifices to not only save her sister, but also to save Eu Gwlad from a strange sickness that is killing the Teg.
I LOVED this book in every physically way possible. Am I bias because I am also a Welsh woman who feels the internal female rage that Sabrina feels? Possibly, but that doesn’t change how amazing this book was. This is a beautiful and incredible debut from Anna Fiteni and I am truly honoured I was given the chance to read it.
I will acknowledge is that this is being marketed as a romantasy which I personally disagree with, this is a story of self discovery, sacrifice and sisterhood with a lovely slice of romance on the side. 🍰
This book was able to teach me things about my heritage that no school ever did. It brings attention to our harrowing history, the exploitation but also the beauty of our language and heritage. It felt like an encyclopedia for Tylwyth Teg which I loved too!
Going back to how I started this review, I do truly mean it. Whilst this is a fantasy book, I am reading about my heritage, my family’s story and everyone who came before me.
I think this book will stay with me for a very long time.
Diolch Electric Monkey for gifting me an arc✨
August 13, 2025
3 Stars
A quick, fun and magical read!
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is based in 1842 in a little village in Wales. It is about two sisters, Sabrina and Ceridwen who are in difficult circumstances. Their Mother has died and Ceridwen is ill from that same illness, plus their Father has been sentenced to 10 years in Australia. They live with their Grandmother and Sabrina is the only one able to work. Then Ceridwen goes missing, walking herself into the forest and everything changes...
This story is based around a Fae world in some woods in Wales. There is a ton of Welsh mythology which I enjoyed and the Welsh history and background was really well researched and written.
The Fae include tons of different species which made for a fun read and I enjoyed hearing about all the different mythological creatures as well. The worldbuilding was good, if a little basic, but hooked me into the story.
For me, the actual story is what let the book down. I found it all took place and went by too easily, the challenges and mission were faced and beaten quickly and just not enough tension. So for me, that really let down the book and so I could only give it 3 stars.
The characters were interesting, but again I felt them lacking in personality and I wanted more from their journeys and character arcs. Sabrina, the lead character was brave and had a sharp tongue. She was the character with the most depth but was still missing some personality.
The banter between Sabrina and a certain Fae called Neirin gave a little comic relief. However I sadly didn't find the romance believable and from the covers, I thought there would have been more focus on the romance than there is. I also sadly found Neirin a little boring which wasn't ideal.
The writing was good and held my attention, plus the Welsh aspects were the best I've read in a Fantasy which made it more unique.
Although this was a good read and I liked many aspects, sadly it didn't live up to my hopes. I would definitely read books by this author again though!
Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
A quick, fun and magical read!
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is based in 1842 in a little village in Wales. It is about two sisters, Sabrina and Ceridwen who are in difficult circumstances. Their Mother has died and Ceridwen is ill from that same illness, plus their Father has been sentenced to 10 years in Australia. They live with their Grandmother and Sabrina is the only one able to work. Then Ceridwen goes missing, walking herself into the forest and everything changes...
This story is based around a Fae world in some woods in Wales. There is a ton of Welsh mythology which I enjoyed and the Welsh history and background was really well researched and written.
The Fae include tons of different species which made for a fun read and I enjoyed hearing about all the different mythological creatures as well. The worldbuilding was good, if a little basic, but hooked me into the story.
For me, the actual story is what let the book down. I found it all took place and went by too easily, the challenges and mission were faced and beaten quickly and just not enough tension. So for me, that really let down the book and so I could only give it 3 stars.
The characters were interesting, but again I felt them lacking in personality and I wanted more from their journeys and character arcs. Sabrina, the lead character was brave and had a sharp tongue. She was the character with the most depth but was still missing some personality.
The banter between Sabrina and a certain Fae called Neirin gave a little comic relief. However I sadly didn't find the romance believable and from the covers, I thought there would have been more focus on the romance than there is. I also sadly found Neirin a little boring which wasn't ideal.
The writing was good and held my attention, plus the Welsh aspects were the best I've read in a Fantasy which made it more unique.
Although this was a good read and I liked many aspects, sadly it didn't live up to my hopes. I would definitely read books by this author again though!
Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2025
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is a beautifully written YA fantasy that feels like a dark fairytale. Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince trilogy or readers with an interest in Welsh mythology.
It took me a while to feel fully immersed in the world, but once it settled, I appreciated the richness of the folklore and the slightly eerie tone that ran throughout. The fae are dangerous and manipulative, and the magic feels old and unknowable in a way that really suits the story and gives it a timeless quality. The atmosphere is definitely one of the book’s strongest elements!
Sabrina Parry is a compelling heroine. She’s flawed and not always likeable, but she’s brave, determined, and driven by love for her sister. (Heavily reminding me of Jude from The FOTA books) I really liked how her relationship with Neirin developed slowly and subtly. It made it feel like the romance is more of a thread than a focus, which I appreciated. It never overshadows Sabrina’s personal journey.
There’s also some gentle LGBTQ+ representation woven into the story that felt natural and thoughtfully done! I just wish the ending had been a little more fleshed out. It felt a little rushed, and it left a few things unresolved that I was curious about. I also wanted more clarity around certain characters.
Overall, this was a beautifully written and atmospheric debut I recommend to fans of The Cruel Prince books.
It didn’t fully land for me but still had a lot to admire. A solid 3.5-star read!
It took me a while to feel fully immersed in the world, but once it settled, I appreciated the richness of the folklore and the slightly eerie tone that ran throughout. The fae are dangerous and manipulative, and the magic feels old and unknowable in a way that really suits the story and gives it a timeless quality. The atmosphere is definitely one of the book’s strongest elements!
Sabrina Parry is a compelling heroine. She’s flawed and not always likeable, but she’s brave, determined, and driven by love for her sister. (Heavily reminding me of Jude from The FOTA books) I really liked how her relationship with Neirin developed slowly and subtly. It made it feel like the romance is more of a thread than a focus, which I appreciated. It never overshadows Sabrina’s personal journey.
There’s also some gentle LGBTQ+ representation woven into the story that felt natural and thoughtfully done! I just wish the ending had been a little more fleshed out. It felt a little rushed, and it left a few things unresolved that I was curious about. I also wanted more clarity around certain characters.
Overall, this was a beautifully written and atmospheric debut I recommend to fans of The Cruel Prince books.
It didn’t fully land for me but still had a lot to admire. A solid 3.5-star read!
August 19, 2025
This a beautifully written stroy that has properly burrowed under my skin. From the start, I was behind Sabrina, someone who is both strong willed and highly relatable for me. Her sense of wanderlust is endearing, and I couldn't help but feel for her as she grapples with living in her sister's shadow. The feeling of being trapped by familial obligations, even when her love for her family is so clear, is something many can empathise with. It’s a classic conflict: duty versus personal happiness. Watching her journey, and seeing her finally claim agency for herself, was genuinely touching. Fiteni, created a wonderful, messy, and realistic exploration of what is it to come of age. It’s not a clean, neat journey, and this book embraces all the grey areas.
The relationship between Sabrina and Neirin is great. Their constant bickering is absolutely adorable and had me grinning from ear to ear. It’s one of those classic 'will they, won't they' dynamics that's so well executed it doesn't feel cliché. The "just kiss" meme from Adventure Time was basically playing on a loop in my head every time they were together.
Fiteni's social and political commentary woven throughout the story is excellent. The line, "We're all being used by a big house somewhere," really stuck with me. It’s a powerful statement that hints at the larger themes of control and exploitation, in all it's guises. The way the story delves into the history of Wales and how it affects the characters journey is flawless. It feels like more than just a backdrop; it’s an integral part of the narrative. This book is a poignant ode, a memorial, and a heartfelt love letter to Welsh history and culture. I will absolutely be adding Fiteni to my auto buy list.
The relationship between Sabrina and Neirin is great. Their constant bickering is absolutely adorable and had me grinning from ear to ear. It’s one of those classic 'will they, won't they' dynamics that's so well executed it doesn't feel cliché. The "just kiss" meme from Adventure Time was basically playing on a loop in my head every time they were together.
Fiteni's social and political commentary woven throughout the story is excellent. The line, "We're all being used by a big house somewhere," really stuck with me. It’s a powerful statement that hints at the larger themes of control and exploitation, in all it's guises. The way the story delves into the history of Wales and how it affects the characters journey is flawless. It feels like more than just a backdrop; it’s an integral part of the narrative. This book is a poignant ode, a memorial, and a heartfelt love letter to Welsh history and culture. I will absolutely be adding Fiteni to my auto buy list.
July 25, 2025
It’s giving Alice in Wonderland but with a Welsh Mythology twist!! This book was well written as well as researched appropriately. Sabrina was such a strong lead and really held the book together from start to finish!
April 29, 2025
If you read one book in 2025, let it be this one. Sabrina Parry, you have my whole heart and I love you and all your spiteful ways (Neirin you have may have one sliver of my heart but absolutely no more)
In the interest of transparency, I should say that the author is my best friend, and I have been lucky enough to read this book in all its stages. However, even if you take the personal connection out of it, I am left with a book that had me utterly captivated from the very first sentence. Anna has taken ideas that have become commonplace in fantasty (a romance with a fae prince, an epic quest, and a stubborn heroine to name but a few) and completely turned them on their head, breathed new life into them, and imbued them with a sense of magic that I truly think few writers have been able to capture. The writing is lush and beautiful, and there are several quotes that I would get tattooed if I was brave enough and not terrified of needles. The craftsmanship is truly outstanding, and I could happily spend many more days leafing through pages on pages of her writing.
If the writing won't capture your heart, the characters will. Sabrina is a character who bulldozed her way into my heart - she is all the things you think a fantasy heroine wouldn't be, and so much more. She is spiteful, she lies, she cheats, she irritates, she actively tries to ruin people's lives, and yet you love her for it. She sees the story laid out for her and actively chooses to face the other way, giving the original path the finger and probably punching whoever told her to go there in the first place. And yet, she cares. She cares and she loves and she knocks people out and cuts off their fingers and I love her. Neirin too managed to take up far too much of my brain space reading this - he is a stereotypical fairy in a way I wish we saw more in modern fantasy - vain, self-absorbed, obsessed with humanity and glamour, and somehow both supremely clever and supremely dumb. There are other characters too I adore, but I suppose I should let people discover them for themselves. One thing they all have in common is they all feel so real that they could be sat beside me telling their story rather than buried within the page.
And yet, despite Sabrina's spite and Neirin's annoyingness, this is a book filled with love in the best possible way - it's filled with a love for family, for stories, for Wales, for history. Sabrina's love for her sister is the beating core of this novel, and I defy those of you with sisters to finish this novel without wanting to go and find your own and envelop them in a hug. There is a scene in chapter 28 specifically that, the first time I read it, had me openly weeping - I had to put the book down and take several minutes to calm down, it just hits that hard. It strikes that beautiful balance between gripping fantasy, swoon-worthy romance and beautiful, heartwrenching moments that feel utterly human in a world of mythical creatures, and leaves you reaching for more even after the last page.
It would have been easy to write another romantasy that hits all your classic tropes, but instead, Anna has written a story that feels transformative and somehow utterly unique. She has done so with a skill and talent that makes this novel feel like the product of a veteran author, rather than a debut. Poetic, atmospheric and utterly enchanting, this is one of my favourite books not just of 2025, but of all time.
In the interest of transparency, I should say that the author is my best friend, and I have been lucky enough to read this book in all its stages. However, even if you take the personal connection out of it, I am left with a book that had me utterly captivated from the very first sentence. Anna has taken ideas that have become commonplace in fantasty (a romance with a fae prince, an epic quest, and a stubborn heroine to name but a few) and completely turned them on their head, breathed new life into them, and imbued them with a sense of magic that I truly think few writers have been able to capture. The writing is lush and beautiful, and there are several quotes that I would get tattooed if I was brave enough and not terrified of needles. The craftsmanship is truly outstanding, and I could happily spend many more days leafing through pages on pages of her writing.
If the writing won't capture your heart, the characters will. Sabrina is a character who bulldozed her way into my heart - she is all the things you think a fantasy heroine wouldn't be, and so much more. She is spiteful, she lies, she cheats, she irritates, she actively tries to ruin people's lives, and yet you love her for it. She sees the story laid out for her and actively chooses to face the other way, giving the original path the finger and probably punching whoever told her to go there in the first place. And yet, she cares. She cares and she loves and she knocks people out and cuts off their fingers and I love her. Neirin too managed to take up far too much of my brain space reading this - he is a stereotypical fairy in a way I wish we saw more in modern fantasy - vain, self-absorbed, obsessed with humanity and glamour, and somehow both supremely clever and supremely dumb. There are other characters too I adore, but I suppose I should let people discover them for themselves. One thing they all have in common is they all feel so real that they could be sat beside me telling their story rather than buried within the page.
And yet, despite Sabrina's spite and Neirin's annoyingness, this is a book filled with love in the best possible way - it's filled with a love for family, for stories, for Wales, for history. Sabrina's love for her sister is the beating core of this novel, and I defy those of you with sisters to finish this novel without wanting to go and find your own and envelop them in a hug. There is a scene in chapter 28 specifically that, the first time I read it, had me openly weeping - I had to put the book down and take several minutes to calm down, it just hits that hard. It strikes that beautiful balance between gripping fantasy, swoon-worthy romance and beautiful, heartwrenching moments that feel utterly human in a world of mythical creatures, and leaves you reaching for more even after the last page.
It would have been easy to write another romantasy that hits all your classic tropes, but instead, Anna has written a story that feels transformative and somehow utterly unique. She has done so with a skill and talent that makes this novel feel like the product of a veteran author, rather than a debut. Poetic, atmospheric and utterly enchanting, this is one of my favourite books not just of 2025, but of all time.
August 3, 2025
Thanks to Electric Monkey for providing me with a proof in exchange for an honest review.
I am in love with this world and these characters. I'm so sad that this book had to end and yet it finished at the perfect moment.
The combination of classic Fae folklore, a new adventure and subtle political commentary was absolute perfection.
This is a book about the Teg, who are dangerous. You don't tell them your name or get involved in their games. This is the type of Fae story I love - one bound up in the stories, myths and legends that I have always been obsessed with.
It's also a story about Wales and the way the country and it's people were used badly. The mining stories were absolutely heartbreaking but told so well.
I absolutely adored the characters and really enjoyed Sabrina's/Hebrew's development. She even managed to surprise me at the end, which doesn't happen a whole lot.
For a book that's fewer than 300 pages, a lot is included but it's all explored beautifully. I would happily read about Sabrina's next adventure.
I am in love with this world and these characters. I'm so sad that this book had to end and yet it finished at the perfect moment.
The combination of classic Fae folklore, a new adventure and subtle political commentary was absolute perfection.
This is a book about the Teg, who are dangerous. You don't tell them your name or get involved in their games. This is the type of Fae story I love - one bound up in the stories, myths and legends that I have always been obsessed with.
It's also a story about Wales and the way the country and it's people were used badly. The mining stories were absolutely heartbreaking but told so well.
I absolutely adored the characters and really enjoyed Sabrina's/Hebrew's development. She even managed to surprise me at the end, which doesn't happen a whole lot.
For a book that's fewer than 300 pages, a lot is included but it's all explored beautifully. I would happily read about Sabrina's next adventure.
August 8, 2025
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is the type of book that reminds me just why I love fantasy and in particular YA fantasy, it was rich in Welsh folklore and is filled from start to finish with whimsical creatures and dark characters and the one thing I loved the most was it had the traditional faerie lore - the lore where the creatures are cruel and wicked and frightening, once I started I completely devoured it.
The writing is so beautiful and it just captures your attention from the very first line, the growing up that the characters go through is amazing.The slow burn romance was perfection and so beautifully written and as for the ending it was bittersweet and the perfect conclusion especially for a book under 400 pages it was fast paced and so very well developed where the plot and characters were concerned.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fast paced fantasy rich in the more traditional faerie lore and who is looking for those fantasies of dark and dangerous fairytales and most of all the emotional stories about family, love and loss.
Thank you so much to Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
The writing is so beautiful and it just captures your attention from the very first line, the growing up that the characters go through is amazing.The slow burn romance was perfection and so beautifully written and as for the ending it was bittersweet and the perfect conclusion especially for a book under 400 pages it was fast paced and so very well developed where the plot and characters were concerned.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fast paced fantasy rich in the more traditional faerie lore and who is looking for those fantasies of dark and dangerous fairytales and most of all the emotional stories about family, love and loss.
Thank you so much to Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
July 15, 2025
Okay, wow. This book completely consumed me.
What starts as an emotional story about two sisters living in a harsh Welsh mining village quickly spirals into something dark, magical, and haunting. Sabrina is doing everything she can to keep her fragile family afloat. Her father’s in prison and her sister Ceridwen is gravely ill, and then Ceridwen disappears. Ceridwen’s disappearance propels the story; however, Sabrina’s quest is more than a rescue mission. It becomes a journey of unraveling the truth about her family and finding her own strength.
Sabrina is a fascinating, complex protagonist; she’s mysterious, sharp-tongued, and impossibly layered. She’s not your typical chosen one or perfect heroine but she was so refreshing to read and I was rooting for her, even when I wasn’t totally sure I should! Ceridwen, too, was a standout. Even though she spends much of the story missing, her presence lingers in every decision.
And then there’s Neirin. Oh, Neirin. The fae prince is charming, unpredictable, and just the right amount of dangerous. The tension between him and Sabrina is chef’s kiss. It’s not rushed or cliché, it’s just full of longing, mistrust, and real emotional stakes.
The book never drags. Every chapter pushes the plot forward, and the writing flows so naturally, with just the right amount of lyrical flair to make certain lines hit hard without being over the top.
Anna Fiteni has built a world that feels both haunting and beautiful at the same time. There's a constant tension between beauty and horror that keeps the atmosphere rich and unsettling. But what truly impressed me was how each relationship drove the plot. The sisterly bond, the romantic tension, the betrayals and reconciliations all felt earned.
Anna Fiteni is a voice to watch in fantasy. I’ll be first in line for whatever she writes next.
What starts as an emotional story about two sisters living in a harsh Welsh mining village quickly spirals into something dark, magical, and haunting. Sabrina is doing everything she can to keep her fragile family afloat. Her father’s in prison and her sister Ceridwen is gravely ill, and then Ceridwen disappears. Ceridwen’s disappearance propels the story; however, Sabrina’s quest is more than a rescue mission. It becomes a journey of unraveling the truth about her family and finding her own strength.
Sabrina is a fascinating, complex protagonist; she’s mysterious, sharp-tongued, and impossibly layered. She’s not your typical chosen one or perfect heroine but she was so refreshing to read and I was rooting for her, even when I wasn’t totally sure I should! Ceridwen, too, was a standout. Even though she spends much of the story missing, her presence lingers in every decision.
And then there’s Neirin. Oh, Neirin. The fae prince is charming, unpredictable, and just the right amount of dangerous. The tension between him and Sabrina is chef’s kiss. It’s not rushed or cliché, it’s just full of longing, mistrust, and real emotional stakes.
The book never drags. Every chapter pushes the plot forward, and the writing flows so naturally, with just the right amount of lyrical flair to make certain lines hit hard without being over the top.
Anna Fiteni has built a world that feels both haunting and beautiful at the same time. There's a constant tension between beauty and horror that keeps the atmosphere rich and unsettling. But what truly impressed me was how each relationship drove the plot. The sisterly bond, the romantic tension, the betrayals and reconciliations all felt earned.
Anna Fiteni is a voice to watch in fantasy. I’ll be first in line for whatever she writes next.
July 6, 2025
Wow, what a book, what a debut: The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire has made me cry. I’ve never read a book that conveyed the emotion and familiarity of the bittersweet moment in our lives that is growing up (and it is in itself an ever changing process throughout our lives). Of leaving home and that yearning, wishful missing of it and knowing that if when you do comeback, it’ll be a slightly different home because you too have changed.
Sabrina is stubborn, charming and utter a sense of familiarity and nostalgia that we can all identify with. She is as complex and organic as we can be, and her loyalty, duty and love towards her family and sister is beautiful. She runs straight after her sister into the woods and into the fairy world because for once, she cannot stay put and watch herself lose someone else. In fact, this book is also a love letter to sisterhood.
I particularly adored the fairytale vibes in this book. In fact,t he whole story is told based on fairytales and welsh folklore which I initially thought I was very i the dark about but as I go, I kept finding out that I do know those creatures and it was honestly such a delightful experience! I went into this book expecting a fun and thrilling read with scheming heroines and wicked fairies and folks, to come out of it feeling like this book too, has changed me a little bit. Anna’s call to weave fairytales as a way of self discovery is truly magical.
There was also this very particular aspect to Anna’s storytelling that I want to mention: during the story and as the plot goes along, we have Sabrina directly talking to us, readers, and I felt that the moments Anna picked for it were just perfect. I felt even more connected to Sabrina and the story and a sense of being part of it. The moments were so familiar, hopeful and honestly everyone needs to pick up this book now!
Sabrina is stubborn, charming and utter a sense of familiarity and nostalgia that we can all identify with. She is as complex and organic as we can be, and her loyalty, duty and love towards her family and sister is beautiful. She runs straight after her sister into the woods and into the fairy world because for once, she cannot stay put and watch herself lose someone else. In fact, this book is also a love letter to sisterhood.
I particularly adored the fairytale vibes in this book. In fact,t he whole story is told based on fairytales and welsh folklore which I initially thought I was very i the dark about but as I go, I kept finding out that I do know those creatures and it was honestly such a delightful experience! I went into this book expecting a fun and thrilling read with scheming heroines and wicked fairies and folks, to come out of it feeling like this book too, has changed me a little bit. Anna’s call to weave fairytales as a way of self discovery is truly magical.
There was also this very particular aspect to Anna’s storytelling that I want to mention: during the story and as the plot goes along, we have Sabrina directly talking to us, readers, and I felt that the moments Anna picked for it were just perfect. I felt even more connected to Sabrina and the story and a sense of being part of it. The moments were so familiar, hopeful and honestly everyone needs to pick up this book now!
July 24, 2025
This was a really fun and quick Welsh folklore retelling, that I would recommend!
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in a YA fantasy retelling of Welsh folklore; it was so fascinating to learn about Welsh mythical characters and places.
This is such an interesting book, as although on the surface it is a mythical YA fantasy retelling, there are aspects of time-travelling, which makes the story blend a bit into the world of Sci-Fi. This was a surprise to me, but one that I really enjoyed! It definitely made the story unique and even more fantastical. I think this is a story that evolves and changes as you read it; you go into it thinking it's going to be a YA and maybe cute folktale retelling; but what you get is much darker and with much deeper meaning. You experience the sisters at their very worst (in a failing and poor small Welsh mining town), yet you see both never lose faith.
Sabrina (Habren) is the shining star of the story; she's a fascinating and unique protagonist. She's not a flawless damsel, who goes galavanting into the forest seeking out faeries and magical creatures; she's a desperate and scared sister; she's sharp-tongued and harsh; and clinging onto whatever she can to save her family. I will admit that I didn't gel as much with Ceridwen; I'm completely understand that she had a difficult and unwanted future handed to her because of her beauty, but I just found her a little ... selfish? I don't know, that might be harsh.
Neirin is definitely Cardan-coded, and I loved it. He's such a fun and mysterious character, with a side of enchantment and just a slice of danger. I really enjoyed his banter and chemistry with Sabrina; there's definitely an element of mystery and interest between the two. Sparks fly, while mistrust also flies. He will definitely be a fan favourite.
I will admit from the start, I wasn't massively into it. For some reason, I struggle to get into it, and felt a bit confused. I'm not even sure why, I just feel like you were thrown head first into the story, and I just wasn't expecting it. Having said that, I think it really picked up about half-way through and I fell in love with the story, the world, and the characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in a YA fantasy retelling of Welsh folklore; it was so fascinating to learn about Welsh mythical characters and places.
This is such an interesting book, as although on the surface it is a mythical YA fantasy retelling, there are aspects of time-travelling, which makes the story blend a bit into the world of Sci-Fi. This was a surprise to me, but one that I really enjoyed! It definitely made the story unique and even more fantastical. I think this is a story that evolves and changes as you read it; you go into it thinking it's going to be a YA and maybe cute folktale retelling; but what you get is much darker and with much deeper meaning. You experience the sisters at their very worst (in a failing and poor small Welsh mining town), yet you see both never lose faith.
Sabrina (Habren) is the shining star of the story; she's a fascinating and unique protagonist. She's not a flawless damsel, who goes galavanting into the forest seeking out faeries and magical creatures; she's a desperate and scared sister; she's sharp-tongued and harsh; and clinging onto whatever she can to save her family. I will admit that I didn't gel as much with Ceridwen; I'm completely understand that she had a difficult and unwanted future handed to her because of her beauty, but I just found her a little ... selfish? I don't know, that might be harsh.
Neirin is definitely Cardan-coded, and I loved it. He's such a fun and mysterious character, with a side of enchantment and just a slice of danger. I really enjoyed his banter and chemistry with Sabrina; there's definitely an element of mystery and interest between the two. Sparks fly, while mistrust also flies. He will definitely be a fan favourite.
I will admit from the start, I wasn't massively into it. For some reason, I struggle to get into it, and felt a bit confused. I'm not even sure why, I just feel like you were thrown head first into the story, and I just wasn't expecting it. Having said that, I think it really picked up about half-way through and I fell in love with the story, the world, and the characters.
August 31, 2025
This felt like a dark fairytale come to life as you make a deal with a fae prince while getting lost in a faerie filled forest. The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire was a beautifully written YA fantasy with Welsh mythology woven into its pages that will have you immersed into a magical, yet wicked world.
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire revolves around Sabrina, who ventures into the fae filled forest in search for her missing sister and becomes a champion for a fae prince who needs help saving his world. It was wicked and fun and the atmosphere felt like a third character who leaps off the pages and drags you into its depths.
I really liked our main character Sabrina. She isn't your typical hero type character. She was morally grey, prickly, hot tempered, but also fiercely protective of those she loves. I liked that she wasn't your typical loveable character, but she was still someone you found yourself both rooting for and wondering what she would do next.
It did take me a while to feel fully immersed in the world because of the pacing in the beginning, the narrative slowly pulling us along, but as Sabrina's journey progressed, we slowly become enveloped her journey.
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is woven with rich folklore and Welsh mythology. It's such an interesting take on fae, traditional and timeless, where fae are still manipulative and cunning, but also gives an air of whimsy. I especially loved how time worked in the fairy realm, how you can go through a pocket of time, any decade, and still end up in the same space.
This book bring so many of the facets and details to love fae stories, from the trickery and viciousness to the magical, as well as a heroine who isn’t a moral ideal, but instead flawed as she discoveres who she is and what she wants along as her journey progresses, which is something everyone can relate to. The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire was a beautifully written YA fantasy with Welsh mythology woven into its pages that will have you immersed into a magical, yet wicked world.
Thank you Little Brown & Novl for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire revolves around Sabrina, who ventures into the fae filled forest in search for her missing sister and becomes a champion for a fae prince who needs help saving his world. It was wicked and fun and the atmosphere felt like a third character who leaps off the pages and drags you into its depths.
I really liked our main character Sabrina. She isn't your typical hero type character. She was morally grey, prickly, hot tempered, but also fiercely protective of those she loves. I liked that she wasn't your typical loveable character, but she was still someone you found yourself both rooting for and wondering what she would do next.
It did take me a while to feel fully immersed in the world because of the pacing in the beginning, the narrative slowly pulling us along, but as Sabrina's journey progressed, we slowly become enveloped her journey.
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is woven with rich folklore and Welsh mythology. It's such an interesting take on fae, traditional and timeless, where fae are still manipulative and cunning, but also gives an air of whimsy. I especially loved how time worked in the fairy realm, how you can go through a pocket of time, any decade, and still end up in the same space.
This book bring so many of the facets and details to love fae stories, from the trickery and viciousness to the magical, as well as a heroine who isn’t a moral ideal, but instead flawed as she discoveres who she is and what she wants along as her journey progresses, which is something everyone can relate to. The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire was a beautifully written YA fantasy with Welsh mythology woven into its pages that will have you immersed into a magical, yet wicked world.
Thank you Little Brown & Novl for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
September 9, 2025
i thought this would be a silly fae book, but it actually was really sweet and tender. i’m a sucker for complex sister relationships and the growing pains of moving from childhood to adulthood. i’ll definitely be checking out this authors work again.
August 2, 2025
Loved this! Review to come
August 12, 2025
My heartfelt thanks to Electric Monkey Books for gifting me an ARC of "The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire" through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. It felt less like receiving a book and more like being handed a key to a secret, rain-dampened gate that opened onto a world of shadowed forests, silver-threaded skies, and stories that will linger in my heart long after the last page.
UNWAITH AR Y TRO (ONCE UPON A TIME)
Some stories do not simply invite you in; they call to you, like the distant echo of a harp over the misted hills, the way the wind whispers through gorse and heather. “The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” is one such tale. It is a dark, glittering, and deeply Welsh romantasy that slips under your skin like the shadow of a half-forgotten lullaby, blending the perilous beauty of Pan’s Labyrinth, the whimsy and world of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal, the yearning of Bridge to Terabithia, and the wonder of The Spiderwick Chronicles and the decadence of Peter Pan but shot through with the heart, hiraeth, and mythos of Cymru.
From the first page, “The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” had me utterly spellbound, Anna Fiteni’s words weaving an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere that seemed to curl like mist around my shoulders. Every line shimmered with magic, but it was never a safe magic; it was the kind that glints with danger just beneath the surface, daring you to step closer. As I read, I felt that familiar pull in my chest, hiraeth, a yearning for loved ones long gone, and the worlds hidden in our hills and streams. This book is steeped in that same soul-deep Welsh folklore, populated by whimsical, wild, and sometimes frightening beings born from the old beliefs of my people, like Mari Lwyd, the Cyhyraeth, Ceffyl Dŵr, and Pwca. And yet, amidst the peril, there is beauty, warmth, and a fierce heartbeat, a reminder that even the darkest tales can hold the light.
Set in a small 1800s mining village, Fiteni’s debut is steeped in the grit and poetry of Wales: the coal dust that clings to your skin, the chapel bells, the stubborn survival of a people whose land and language (iaith y nefoedd, “the language of heaven”) have been stolen and suppressed, yet endure. Sabrina Parry, our prickly and imperfect heroine, has learned to survive with sharp words and sharper wits. Her sister Ceridwen, gentle, romantic, with a heart too soft for the world, vanishes into the gwyll (twilight) of the nearby woods, leaving behind an iron ring. To save her, Sabrina must cross into Eu Gwald, the perilous realm of the Tylwyth Teg. And here, Fiteni gives us a fairytale as it should be: beautiful and rotting, intoxicating and dangerous. This is not the softened, modern Fae; these are the tricksters of old tales, the kind my Tad-cu used to whisper about at bedtime. The ones you’d leave milk out for… and pray never to meet. In Habren Faire, the moonlight hides teeth, and bargains are binding in ways no mortal can quite escape.
I cried tears, real, unashamed tears, because this world and these characters have a chokehold on me, the kind that leaves you thinking about them long after you’ve closed the book. Sabrina Parry has steamrolled her way into my heart with all the grace of a storm battering the coast. She is everything you’d expect a fantasy heroine not to be, and yet somehow, so much more: spiteful, unflinchingly honest in her lies, a troublemaker who cheats, irritates, and gleefully upends lives when it suits her. She looks the neat little path destiny has drawn for her square in the eye, and probably punches whoever dared to suggest she follow it in the first place. And still, she is fiercely loving, deeply loyal, the kind of person who will knock you out or cut off your finger if it means protecting the people she cares for. Fiteni writes her with the same rough-edged, beating heart as the March sisters from Little Women, and her family — her Da, her sister Ceridwen, her Gran- feel as though they’ve stepped straight out of a literary classic and into this wild fae world. There’s a touch of Alice in Wonderland’s madness here too, all swirled with a Tim Burton-esque shadow, making it both unsettling and utterly irresistible.
Neirin oh, Neirin, the annoyingly magnetic fae prince who barges into Sabrina’s quest and into my thoughts far more than I care to admit. He is cut from the same stardust-and-sin cloth as David Bowie’s Jareth, all vanity and silver-tongued charm, at once dazzlingly clever and utterly foolish. His name feels almost too noble for someone so deliciously self-absorbed, so preening, so obsessed with humanity, and yet dangerously unpredictable. There’s something slick in the way his brown eyes catch the light, his lashes casting shadows like spider legs across his cheek. His wavy black hair is streaked with silver, gleaming as if someone dipped a brush in moonlight, and he wears black velvet embroidered with constellations, stars, moons, and planets stitched in silver thread, like he’s wearing the night sky itself. Fiteni infuses him with an edginess that reminds me of Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream; indeed, the whole Ellyllon court has that Shakespearean blend of mischief, beauty, and lurking peril. Neirin is both a lovable rogue and playful trickster, and the slow-burn tension between him and Sabrina is a quiet thread woven into the greater tapestry, all the more intoxicating for its restraint. With betrayals twisting in the dark and their banter crackling from irritation to something far more dangerous, I found my heart racing every time they shared the page.
The LGBTQ+ representation in The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is woven as seamlessly into the fabric of the story as the silver threads in Neirin’s velvet coat, natural, unforced, and all the more beautiful for it. Fiteni doesn’t treat queerness as a spectacle or side note; it simply exists here, alive and unashamed, as it should in any world worth escaping to. Among the Tylwyth Teg and all their tricksy kind, selkies are slipping between sea and shore, and mermaids, morgens, whose songs curl through the waves with love and longing for more than one kind of heart. In a tale so deeply rooted in Welsh folklore and history, it felt like a quiet, defiant act of reclamation, a reminder that our stories, like our people, have always been more varied, more complex, and more wondrous than the narrow paths history tried to confine them to.
Thematically, Fiteni captures something I rarely see done so deftly in fantasy: the bittersweet ache of growing up, of leaving home, of returning to find it altered, and knowing you have been altered too. She threads in grief with quiet grace: grief for the dead, for the selves we leave behind, but also for the loss of stories and traditions under the weight of colonisation. As a Welsh reader, I felt my heart clench at the way she honours the mining communities, their sacrifices, their stolen labour, their resilience and at the way she refuses to sand the edges off Welsh identity.
“The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” feels, to me, like a love letter to Wales, a celebration of everything that makes my homeland what it is. Too often, romantasy novels borrow from Welsh myth and landscape without ever acknowledging, let alone interrogating, the roots of their inspiration. But Fiteni does not just nod to Wales; she treasures it, honours it, and breathes life into its heart. Giving us, the reader, the relentless rain that slicks the slate roofs, the forests that seem to go on forever until they spill into the mist, and the ancient stone castles that rise from the hills like something out of a dream. This is a Wales that is both real and mythical, where the grit of the coal seams lies alongside the shimmer of faerie light, and where every page feels steeped in that aching, longing for home.
There is hiraeth in these pages that deep, untranslatable longing for a place, a time, a feeling that can never be fully recaptured. And yet, there is hope too. Hope in the fierce, messy love between sisters. Hope in the idea that even bargains with the Fae might be survived, if not won. Hope in the survival of the story itself. Fiteni’s prose is lush without being overwrought, laced with the cadence of a fireside folktale. She balances whimsy with peril, tenderness with sharp teeth. The ending is as it must be bittersweet, leaving you breathless, a little bruised, and aching to walk again among the shadowed groves of Eu Gwald.
There are books that you finish and remember for their plot, and then there are books that leave you with words that root themselves deep in your bones. “The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” gifted me more than one such line, the kind you carry like talismans. “Even when you’re as old as me, if you’re not happy, then you’re not at the end,” is a quiet, defiant reminder that life is not a straight path to some fixed point, and that joy, no matter your age, is worth chasing until your last breath. “People love us for our efforts”, spoke to the marrow of my being; that we are valued not solely for success, but for the trying, the striving, the reaching beyond our limits. Fiteni’s reflection that “our lives are small… a speck of dust on an old coat or a mayfly at the start of its first and only day, but from them spring a thousand stories” is both humbling and electrifying, a reminder that even the smallest existence can be a universe to someone. The notion that “we’re all being used by a big house somewhere” is a bitter truth dressed in whimsy, hinting at the invisible powers, be they political, economic, or fae, that shape our lives without consent. And beneath it all is the warning: “All the best lies sprout from a seed of truth.” It is a lesson in discernment, in knowing that what feels real may only be the bait, and that when you have less, the things you hold, love, trust, and belong matter infinitely more. These quotes did not just shape my reading experience; they shaped me.
For me, “The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” was like finding the path to the worlds I used to dream of as a child, listening to my grandad speak of the Tylwyth Teg worlds I thought I’d outgrown, but which were only sleeping. This book woke them, giving me back my sight and for that, I am grateful.
"The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire" will step into the mortal world on August 28th, 2025, and I wholeheartedly recommend letting it sweep you away the moment it does. This is a tale spun of rain and starlight, of hiraeth and heartbreak, of cruel fae bargains and the kind of love, fierce, messy, unyielding, that can outwit even the oldest magic. It is a story to lose yourself in and to carry with you, like a secret charm tucked in your pocket, long after you’ve left the woods behind.
A spellbinding debut — dark as slate, bright as starlight, and full of hiraeth.
UNWAITH AR Y TRO (ONCE UPON A TIME)
Some stories do not simply invite you in; they call to you, like the distant echo of a harp over the misted hills, the way the wind whispers through gorse and heather. “The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” is one such tale. It is a dark, glittering, and deeply Welsh romantasy that slips under your skin like the shadow of a half-forgotten lullaby, blending the perilous beauty of Pan’s Labyrinth, the whimsy and world of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal, the yearning of Bridge to Terabithia, and the wonder of The Spiderwick Chronicles and the decadence of Peter Pan but shot through with the heart, hiraeth, and mythos of Cymru.
From the first page, “The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” had me utterly spellbound, Anna Fiteni’s words weaving an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere that seemed to curl like mist around my shoulders. Every line shimmered with magic, but it was never a safe magic; it was the kind that glints with danger just beneath the surface, daring you to step closer. As I read, I felt that familiar pull in my chest, hiraeth, a yearning for loved ones long gone, and the worlds hidden in our hills and streams. This book is steeped in that same soul-deep Welsh folklore, populated by whimsical, wild, and sometimes frightening beings born from the old beliefs of my people, like Mari Lwyd, the Cyhyraeth, Ceffyl Dŵr, and Pwca. And yet, amidst the peril, there is beauty, warmth, and a fierce heartbeat, a reminder that even the darkest tales can hold the light.
Set in a small 1800s mining village, Fiteni’s debut is steeped in the grit and poetry of Wales: the coal dust that clings to your skin, the chapel bells, the stubborn survival of a people whose land and language (iaith y nefoedd, “the language of heaven”) have been stolen and suppressed, yet endure. Sabrina Parry, our prickly and imperfect heroine, has learned to survive with sharp words and sharper wits. Her sister Ceridwen, gentle, romantic, with a heart too soft for the world, vanishes into the gwyll (twilight) of the nearby woods, leaving behind an iron ring. To save her, Sabrina must cross into Eu Gwald, the perilous realm of the Tylwyth Teg. And here, Fiteni gives us a fairytale as it should be: beautiful and rotting, intoxicating and dangerous. This is not the softened, modern Fae; these are the tricksters of old tales, the kind my Tad-cu used to whisper about at bedtime. The ones you’d leave milk out for… and pray never to meet. In Habren Faire, the moonlight hides teeth, and bargains are binding in ways no mortal can quite escape.
I cried tears, real, unashamed tears, because this world and these characters have a chokehold on me, the kind that leaves you thinking about them long after you’ve closed the book. Sabrina Parry has steamrolled her way into my heart with all the grace of a storm battering the coast. She is everything you’d expect a fantasy heroine not to be, and yet somehow, so much more: spiteful, unflinchingly honest in her lies, a troublemaker who cheats, irritates, and gleefully upends lives when it suits her. She looks the neat little path destiny has drawn for her square in the eye, and probably punches whoever dared to suggest she follow it in the first place. And still, she is fiercely loving, deeply loyal, the kind of person who will knock you out or cut off your finger if it means protecting the people she cares for. Fiteni writes her with the same rough-edged, beating heart as the March sisters from Little Women, and her family — her Da, her sister Ceridwen, her Gran- feel as though they’ve stepped straight out of a literary classic and into this wild fae world. There’s a touch of Alice in Wonderland’s madness here too, all swirled with a Tim Burton-esque shadow, making it both unsettling and utterly irresistible.
Neirin oh, Neirin, the annoyingly magnetic fae prince who barges into Sabrina’s quest and into my thoughts far more than I care to admit. He is cut from the same stardust-and-sin cloth as David Bowie’s Jareth, all vanity and silver-tongued charm, at once dazzlingly clever and utterly foolish. His name feels almost too noble for someone so deliciously self-absorbed, so preening, so obsessed with humanity, and yet dangerously unpredictable. There’s something slick in the way his brown eyes catch the light, his lashes casting shadows like spider legs across his cheek. His wavy black hair is streaked with silver, gleaming as if someone dipped a brush in moonlight, and he wears black velvet embroidered with constellations, stars, moons, and planets stitched in silver thread, like he’s wearing the night sky itself. Fiteni infuses him with an edginess that reminds me of Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream; indeed, the whole Ellyllon court has that Shakespearean blend of mischief, beauty, and lurking peril. Neirin is both a lovable rogue and playful trickster, and the slow-burn tension between him and Sabrina is a quiet thread woven into the greater tapestry, all the more intoxicating for its restraint. With betrayals twisting in the dark and their banter crackling from irritation to something far more dangerous, I found my heart racing every time they shared the page.
The LGBTQ+ representation in The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is woven as seamlessly into the fabric of the story as the silver threads in Neirin’s velvet coat, natural, unforced, and all the more beautiful for it. Fiteni doesn’t treat queerness as a spectacle or side note; it simply exists here, alive and unashamed, as it should in any world worth escaping to. Among the Tylwyth Teg and all their tricksy kind, selkies are slipping between sea and shore, and mermaids, morgens, whose songs curl through the waves with love and longing for more than one kind of heart. In a tale so deeply rooted in Welsh folklore and history, it felt like a quiet, defiant act of reclamation, a reminder that our stories, like our people, have always been more varied, more complex, and more wondrous than the narrow paths history tried to confine them to.
Thematically, Fiteni captures something I rarely see done so deftly in fantasy: the bittersweet ache of growing up, of leaving home, of returning to find it altered, and knowing you have been altered too. She threads in grief with quiet grace: grief for the dead, for the selves we leave behind, but also for the loss of stories and traditions under the weight of colonisation. As a Welsh reader, I felt my heart clench at the way she honours the mining communities, their sacrifices, their stolen labour, their resilience and at the way she refuses to sand the edges off Welsh identity.
“The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” feels, to me, like a love letter to Wales, a celebration of everything that makes my homeland what it is. Too often, romantasy novels borrow from Welsh myth and landscape without ever acknowledging, let alone interrogating, the roots of their inspiration. But Fiteni does not just nod to Wales; she treasures it, honours it, and breathes life into its heart. Giving us, the reader, the relentless rain that slicks the slate roofs, the forests that seem to go on forever until they spill into the mist, and the ancient stone castles that rise from the hills like something out of a dream. This is a Wales that is both real and mythical, where the grit of the coal seams lies alongside the shimmer of faerie light, and where every page feels steeped in that aching, longing for home.
There is hiraeth in these pages that deep, untranslatable longing for a place, a time, a feeling that can never be fully recaptured. And yet, there is hope too. Hope in the fierce, messy love between sisters. Hope in the idea that even bargains with the Fae might be survived, if not won. Hope in the survival of the story itself. Fiteni’s prose is lush without being overwrought, laced with the cadence of a fireside folktale. She balances whimsy with peril, tenderness with sharp teeth. The ending is as it must be bittersweet, leaving you breathless, a little bruised, and aching to walk again among the shadowed groves of Eu Gwald.
There are books that you finish and remember for their plot, and then there are books that leave you with words that root themselves deep in your bones. “The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” gifted me more than one such line, the kind you carry like talismans. “Even when you’re as old as me, if you’re not happy, then you’re not at the end,” is a quiet, defiant reminder that life is not a straight path to some fixed point, and that joy, no matter your age, is worth chasing until your last breath. “People love us for our efforts”, spoke to the marrow of my being; that we are valued not solely for success, but for the trying, the striving, the reaching beyond our limits. Fiteni’s reflection that “our lives are small… a speck of dust on an old coat or a mayfly at the start of its first and only day, but from them spring a thousand stories” is both humbling and electrifying, a reminder that even the smallest existence can be a universe to someone. The notion that “we’re all being used by a big house somewhere” is a bitter truth dressed in whimsy, hinting at the invisible powers, be they political, economic, or fae, that shape our lives without consent. And beneath it all is the warning: “All the best lies sprout from a seed of truth.” It is a lesson in discernment, in knowing that what feels real may only be the bait, and that when you have less, the things you hold, love, trust, and belong matter infinitely more. These quotes did not just shape my reading experience; they shaped me.
For me, “The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire” was like finding the path to the worlds I used to dream of as a child, listening to my grandad speak of the Tylwyth Teg worlds I thought I’d outgrown, but which were only sleeping. This book woke them, giving me back my sight and for that, I am grateful.
"The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire" will step into the mortal world on August 28th, 2025, and I wholeheartedly recommend letting it sweep you away the moment it does. This is a tale spun of rain and starlight, of hiraeth and heartbreak, of cruel fae bargains and the kind of love, fierce, messy, unyielding, that can outwit even the oldest magic. It is a story to lose yourself in and to carry with you, like a secret charm tucked in your pocket, long after you’ve left the woods behind.
A spellbinding debut — dark as slate, bright as starlight, and full of hiraeth.
September 10, 2025
I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by Toppling Stacks Tour. Special thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TL;DR: This is for those who enjoy complex, morally grey, and somewhat unlikeable MCs that will make you work to appreciate them. It’s for those who enjoy the intertwining of real history with mythological faerie tales and folklore and magic. And it’s for those who enjoy reading about sibling bonds, a taste of a hate-to-love romance, and a coming-of-age story about a bitter, tired, and scared young woman who longs to live as big a life as she possibly can. I feel like Habren has become one of my favourite YA FMCs and I think she’s going to stick around in my head for a while! Overall, I found The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire a surprisingly touching and heartwarming story, even if at first, I was a bit uncertain about it. I would recommend this to those who enjoyed stories like The Cruel Prince, and darkly whimsical faerie tales centering family and friendship, such as those by Emily Lloyd-Jones (The Bone Houses, The Drowned Woods).
Well, colour me very shocked to be giving this a 4-star rating because when I started it I was a bit worried that it’d end up being a DNF. There was something about the writing that didn’t entirely work for me at first and I found it difficult to focus and absorb what was happening in the story. That said, I’m so glad that I kept reading because I wound up being so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this mythology-rich coming-of-age story. I loved that it ended up being quite different to what I expected!
WHAT I ENJOYED:
- Habren Faire. Our utterly complex and morally grey FMC. I’ve mentioned how my appreciation for complex and unlikeable characters has grown over the years, but I feel like Habren was someone who really tested the limits for me! 🤣 I went on ***such an intense hate-to-love journey*** with her character and for a while there, it was almost unbearable reading from her perspective that was so full of anger, jealousy, and bitterness. She steals, lies, and thrives on being argumentative. She’s confrontational to a fault and is so sharp-tongued she wounds her self-respect as much as she wounds others. And yet, despite finding her penchant for cruel thoughts abhorrent, I also somehow found myself sympathising, and even empathising, with her over the course of the story. She is a young woman coping (badly) with loss and grief, burdened with the responsibility to care for her family that she loves deeply but also sometimes resents. She’s terrified by the idea that she will *never* experience a life beyond the borders of Llanadwen, the small village that’s home and yet not. She’s filled with a longing that borders on desperation for friendship, understanding, and acceptance, not in spite of her faults but for how they make her who she is. So much of her anger and bitterness stems from self-loathing, and the more we understood that and saw *her* confront that, the more I appreciated her character. We get to see her allow herself to soften, while of course still being true to her prickly nature, and I just loved how her arc progressed and was *so pleased* by how her story ended!
- The faerie world-building and the weaving of Welsh mythology into the story was so well done! The author managed to evoke such vivid imagery as she described the settings, fae folk, and various faerie monsters that lurk (quite literally) beyond sight. As much as we’re treated to the timeless wonder and mystifying magic of faerie, the author also showed the *much* darker side of it. There were certain encounters that raised the hairs on the back of my neck and I’m glad that the author didn’t go into more detail about these horrifying creatures of lore because talk about nightmare fuel! 🤣 I also loved how the author explored the concept of time and space in faerie and that the chances of meeting people lost in these lands from the far distant future was just as likely as encountering those from a distant past.
- The surprising Welsh history that’s woven into the storyline. I didn’t expect to learn actual history by reading this, but Fiteni introduces the dark history of mining in Wales, and how the British exploited communities for their own gain. It was included in the story in such a way that had a surprisingly emotional impact on me (like, I *really* didn’t expect to tear up while reading this in public) but it also gave the story more depth.
- The exploration of complex families and sisterly bonds. I love a story that explores the complex feelings that come with being a sister or sibling, and I think Fiteni does a job of it with Habren and Ceridwen. Their bond runs deep and so does the love they have for each other, but there’s also bitterness and jealousy, that felt so realistic to how sibling relationships can be.
- I grew to enjoy the dynamic between Habren and Nieren! This was “mean girl meets mean boy and their companionship built on minimal trust somehow nurtures, encourages growth, and heals both sides, and turns a fragile friendship into genuine romantic feelings.” There is definitely an insta-love element to their romance, but with the way this story plays out, I actually didn’t mind it and it made me appreciate the author so much for writing it this way! I’m certain this opinion will be divisive based on what you expect from this story, lol.
WHAT I STRUGGLED WITH:
- As I mentioned before, I initially struggled with the writing. It felt disjointed and I found it difficult to absorb what was happening. I’m not sure if it was just a “me” thing, but I will say that it improved the further I read!
- What it mostly comes down to is that I wish that certain elements were explored in further detail. This could’ve benefitted from a more consistent weaving of the “main” historical aspect throughout the storyline, especially during the quest. I also wish that certain relationships were given more time to be explored, including the romance between Habren and Neirin, as it would’ve made certain moments even more impactful, I think. As much as this was Habren’s story, it would’ve been nice to learn more about Neirin. I understand the initial secrecy to his character—he’s fae after all and they are masters of trickery and word play—but I would’ve loved for Habren to learn more about him at the end.a
- As much as I loved Habren in the end, she will *not* be everyone’s cuppa and at the beginning, it really was painful to read from the perspective of someone fueled by such bitter hatred and anger. To this I would say be patient because, clearly, I wound up loving her arc and it was worth it.
TL;DR: This is for those who enjoy complex, morally grey, and somewhat unlikeable MCs that will make you work to appreciate them. It’s for those who enjoy the intertwining of real history with mythological faerie tales and folklore and magic. And it’s for those who enjoy reading about sibling bonds, a taste of a hate-to-love romance, and a coming-of-age story about a bitter, tired, and scared young woman who longs to live as big a life as she possibly can. I feel like Habren has become one of my favourite YA FMCs and I think she’s going to stick around in my head for a while! Overall, I found The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire a surprisingly touching and heartwarming story, even if at first, I was a bit uncertain about it. I would recommend this to those who enjoyed stories like The Cruel Prince, and darkly whimsical faerie tales centering family and friendship, such as those by Emily Lloyd-Jones (The Bone Houses, The Drowned Woods).
Well, colour me very shocked to be giving this a 4-star rating because when I started it I was a bit worried that it’d end up being a DNF. There was something about the writing that didn’t entirely work for me at first and I found it difficult to focus and absorb what was happening in the story. That said, I’m so glad that I kept reading because I wound up being so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this mythology-rich coming-of-age story. I loved that it ended up being quite different to what I expected!
WHAT I ENJOYED:
- Habren Faire. Our utterly complex and morally grey FMC. I’ve mentioned how my appreciation for complex and unlikeable characters has grown over the years, but I feel like Habren was someone who really tested the limits for me! 🤣 I went on ***such an intense hate-to-love journey*** with her character and for a while there, it was almost unbearable reading from her perspective that was so full of anger, jealousy, and bitterness. She steals, lies, and thrives on being argumentative. She’s confrontational to a fault and is so sharp-tongued she wounds her self-respect as much as she wounds others. And yet, despite finding her penchant for cruel thoughts abhorrent, I also somehow found myself sympathising, and even empathising, with her over the course of the story. She is a young woman coping (badly) with loss and grief, burdened with the responsibility to care for her family that she loves deeply but also sometimes resents. She’s terrified by the idea that she will *never* experience a life beyond the borders of Llanadwen, the small village that’s home and yet not. She’s filled with a longing that borders on desperation for friendship, understanding, and acceptance, not in spite of her faults but for how they make her who she is. So much of her anger and bitterness stems from self-loathing, and the more we understood that and saw *her* confront that, the more I appreciated her character. We get to see her allow herself to soften, while of course still being true to her prickly nature, and I just loved how her arc progressed and was *so pleased* by how her story ended!
- The faerie world-building and the weaving of Welsh mythology into the story was so well done! The author managed to evoke such vivid imagery as she described the settings, fae folk, and various faerie monsters that lurk (quite literally) beyond sight. As much as we’re treated to the timeless wonder and mystifying magic of faerie, the author also showed the *much* darker side of it. There were certain encounters that raised the hairs on the back of my neck and I’m glad that the author didn’t go into more detail about these horrifying creatures of lore because talk about nightmare fuel! 🤣 I also loved how the author explored the concept of time and space in faerie and that the chances of meeting people lost in these lands from the far distant future was just as likely as encountering those from a distant past.
- The surprising Welsh history that’s woven into the storyline. I didn’t expect to learn actual history by reading this, but Fiteni introduces the dark history of mining in Wales, and how the British exploited communities for their own gain. It was included in the story in such a way that had a surprisingly emotional impact on me (like, I *really* didn’t expect to tear up while reading this in public) but it also gave the story more depth.
- The exploration of complex families and sisterly bonds. I love a story that explores the complex feelings that come with being a sister or sibling, and I think Fiteni does a job of it with Habren and Ceridwen. Their bond runs deep and so does the love they have for each other, but there’s also bitterness and jealousy, that felt so realistic to how sibling relationships can be.
- I grew to enjoy the dynamic between Habren and Nieren! This was “mean girl meets mean boy and their companionship built on minimal trust somehow nurtures, encourages growth, and heals both sides, and turns a fragile friendship into genuine romantic feelings.” There is definitely an insta-love element to their romance, but with the way this story plays out, I actually didn’t mind it and it made me appreciate the author so much for writing it this way! I’m certain this opinion will be divisive based on what you expect from this story, lol.
WHAT I STRUGGLED WITH:
- As I mentioned before, I initially struggled with the writing. It felt disjointed and I found it difficult to absorb what was happening. I’m not sure if it was just a “me” thing, but I will say that it improved the further I read!
- What it mostly comes down to is that I wish that certain elements were explored in further detail. This could’ve benefitted from a more consistent weaving of the “main” historical aspect throughout the storyline, especially during the quest. I also wish that certain relationships were given more time to be explored, including the romance between Habren and Neirin, as it would’ve made certain moments even more impactful, I think. As much as this was Habren’s story, it would’ve been nice to learn more about Neirin. I understand the initial secrecy to his character—he’s fae after all and they are masters of trickery and word play—but I would’ve loved for Habren to learn more about him at the end.a
- As much as I loved Habren in the end, she will *not* be everyone’s cuppa and at the beginning, it really was painful to read from the perspective of someone fueled by such bitter hatred and anger. To this I would say be patient because, clearly, I wound up loving her arc and it was worth it.
August 30, 2025
"ᴴᵒʷ ˢᵗʳᵃⁿᵍᵉ, ʰᵒʷ ˡᵒᵛᵉˡʸ" 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶཐི༏ཋྀ
I got the signed proof copy through blood sweat and tears at the infamous Waterstones bookfest but it was worth it!
Easily one of the most interesting and best written YA I've read this year. I'd recommend it to fans of The Cruel Prince and Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies, because of vibes and couple dynamic.
I loved all the Welsh components about mythology, the welsh mining history and how each chapter had a title written in Welsh.
The plot wasn't anything super original ("human mc goes to fairyland to look for lost sister and strike a bargain with gorgeous fairy prince to save her"), but the characterization was too good.
I've never met a female lead so full of flaws. Sabrina is not only a liar and a thief, she is cunning, petty, jealous, pessimistic and incredibly selfish (and more but I won't spoil you). She is self-aware and even dislikes herself, but she really wants to change and knows what's best for herself. That's why I like her so much. It's so refreshing to see a MC who's not perfect and has all sort of negative thoughts.
Neirin, the male mc, is so funny, I love him so much and the fact that he's flawed too.
Both MCs are so toxic and imperfect. You should hate them, but you end up falling for them and their chemistry instead.
"𝙳𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞"
"𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠, 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝"
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚢𝚎𝚝"
"𝙸'𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗"
Sabrina WANTS to be liked and she's ashamed of her flaws. My heart broke when she said she wanted to be liked by someone.
"𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎. 𝙶𝚘𝚍, 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚠 𝚖𝚢 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚠, 𝙸 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍"
And Neirin is well aware of her negative traits and still likes her.
"𝙽𝚎𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏."
Sabrina stood out as a character to me because despite her wish to be liked, she wants to love herself before being loved by anyone else.
To quote Rupaul: 'If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?' 🤣
I love a self aware female lead that knows her priorities and puts personal grow over her desire for romance.
"𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎. 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎."
I have so many favourite dialogues and quotes 😍
"𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚐𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍. 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚐𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚘𝚖, 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚜" 💔
I liked the ending as well because it was the only logical one that perfectly fitted Sabrina's character, but I desperately need a sequel (that fortunately is being currently written according to the author!!!)
Also: it's a short book, only 264 pages! I can't recommend it enough! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I got the signed proof copy through blood sweat and tears at the infamous Waterstones bookfest but it was worth it!
Easily one of the most interesting and best written YA I've read this year. I'd recommend it to fans of The Cruel Prince and Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies, because of vibes and couple dynamic.
I loved all the Welsh components about mythology, the welsh mining history and how each chapter had a title written in Welsh.
The plot wasn't anything super original ("human mc goes to fairyland to look for lost sister and strike a bargain with gorgeous fairy prince to save her"), but the characterization was too good.
I've never met a female lead so full of flaws. Sabrina is not only a liar and a thief, she is cunning, petty, jealous, pessimistic and incredibly selfish (and more but I won't spoil you). She is self-aware and even dislikes herself, but she really wants to change and knows what's best for herself. That's why I like her so much. It's so refreshing to see a MC who's not perfect and has all sort of negative thoughts.
Neirin, the male mc, is so funny, I love him so much and the fact that he's flawed too.
Both MCs are so toxic and imperfect. You should hate them, but you end up falling for them and their chemistry instead.
"𝙳𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞"
"𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠, 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝"
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚢𝚎𝚝"
"𝙸'𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗"
Sabrina WANTS to be liked and she's ashamed of her flaws. My heart broke when she said she wanted to be liked by someone.
"𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎. 𝙶𝚘𝚍, 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚠 𝚖𝚢 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚠, 𝙸 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍"
And Neirin is well aware of her negative traits and still likes her.
"𝙽𝚎𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏."
Sabrina stood out as a character to me because despite her wish to be liked, she wants to love herself before being loved by anyone else.
To quote Rupaul: 'If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?' 🤣
I love a self aware female lead that knows her priorities and puts personal grow over her desire for romance.
"𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎. 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎."
I have so many favourite dialogues and quotes 😍
"𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚐𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍. 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚐𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚘𝚖, 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚜" 💔
I liked the ending as well because it was the only logical one that perfectly fitted Sabrina's character, but I desperately need a sequel (that fortunately is being currently written according to the author!!!)
Also: it's a short book, only 264 pages! I can't recommend it enough! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2025
"He once told me that I was the trunk of the family tree, Gran the branches and Ceridwen the leaves. They rustled and bent in the wind, but not me. Not him. I am the trunk and he the roots."
From the very first page, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire swept me into a world as enchanting as it is dangerous—a lush, lyrical story steeped in Welsh mythology, wild fae magic, and the chilling beauty of ancient folklore. If you're a fan of The Cruel Prince or crave that haunting blend of whimsy and wickedness, this one is pure gold.
Set in the shadowed woods of Wales, this story beautifully blends real Welsh history with the eerie, enchanting pull of faerie lore. The fae here are true to the old tales—cruel, capricious, and hauntingly alluring. I loved the way the world unfolded, rich with folklore, where every glimmer of magic had a dark edge and every whimsical creature could just as easily curse you as charm you.
At the heart of it all is Sabrina—fierce, determined, and bound by love to her sister. Their bond was beautifully written, and I was deeply moved by the strength of family woven into the fabric of this tale. The romance between Sabrina and Neirin was a slow-burn delight: full of tension, banter, and that delicious push and pull only a morally grey fae can bring. Their chemistry leapt off the page, but never overshadowed the broader story. I live for those quiet, charged moments that build into something unforgettable.
There’s also thoughtful LGBTQ+ representation through Ceridwen and her mermaid girlfriend, a lovely touch that added depth and warmth to the world without feeling forced or tokenistic.
The diversity of fae and mythological creatures was an absolute treat—every new chapter brought a fresh sense of wonder, as if peeking into an ancient bestiary brought to life. The worldbuilding is phenomenal, the writing lush and lyrical, and the entire book reads like an old ballad passed down in whispers and riddles.
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is a spellbinding reminder of why I fell in love with fantasy in the first place. It’s dark, whimsical, romantic, and reverent of the old magic—and I devoured it in a single sitting.
"I think I shall spend the rest of my life missing you, so if that life can either be short or long, I would prefer it to be short"
🌿 If you’re craving a YA fantasy that is rich in folklore, filled with morally grey characters, lush prose, and a world where beauty is edged with danger—this one is a must-read.
✨Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
🧚♀️ Vibes: dark fae, ancient woods, slow-burn romance, Welsh magic
🏳️🌈 Rep: LGBTQ+ side romance
📚 Tropes: morally grey love interest, sibling bond, fae courts, enemies-to-lovers
thankyou to the publisher for letting me read this early on Netgalley all opinions are my own
From the very first page, The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire swept me into a world as enchanting as it is dangerous—a lush, lyrical story steeped in Welsh mythology, wild fae magic, and the chilling beauty of ancient folklore. If you're a fan of The Cruel Prince or crave that haunting blend of whimsy and wickedness, this one is pure gold.
Set in the shadowed woods of Wales, this story beautifully blends real Welsh history with the eerie, enchanting pull of faerie lore. The fae here are true to the old tales—cruel, capricious, and hauntingly alluring. I loved the way the world unfolded, rich with folklore, where every glimmer of magic had a dark edge and every whimsical creature could just as easily curse you as charm you.
At the heart of it all is Sabrina—fierce, determined, and bound by love to her sister. Their bond was beautifully written, and I was deeply moved by the strength of family woven into the fabric of this tale. The romance between Sabrina and Neirin was a slow-burn delight: full of tension, banter, and that delicious push and pull only a morally grey fae can bring. Their chemistry leapt off the page, but never overshadowed the broader story. I live for those quiet, charged moments that build into something unforgettable.
There’s also thoughtful LGBTQ+ representation through Ceridwen and her mermaid girlfriend, a lovely touch that added depth and warmth to the world without feeling forced or tokenistic.
The diversity of fae and mythological creatures was an absolute treat—every new chapter brought a fresh sense of wonder, as if peeking into an ancient bestiary brought to life. The worldbuilding is phenomenal, the writing lush and lyrical, and the entire book reads like an old ballad passed down in whispers and riddles.
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is a spellbinding reminder of why I fell in love with fantasy in the first place. It’s dark, whimsical, romantic, and reverent of the old magic—and I devoured it in a single sitting.
"I think I shall spend the rest of my life missing you, so if that life can either be short or long, I would prefer it to be short"
🌿 If you’re craving a YA fantasy that is rich in folklore, filled with morally grey characters, lush prose, and a world where beauty is edged with danger—this one is a must-read.
✨Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
🧚♀️ Vibes: dark fae, ancient woods, slow-burn romance, Welsh magic
🏳️🌈 Rep: LGBTQ+ side romance
📚 Tropes: morally grey love interest, sibling bond, fae courts, enemies-to-lovers
thankyou to the publisher for letting me read this early on Netgalley all opinions are my own
August 31, 2025
Review: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆/5 💙
I've finished this book a few days ago and I am in loooove with it.
Sabrina and Ceridwen have a miserable life in Llanadwen, Wales. Their mother died the year before, and now their father has been sentenced for a long time because he incited a revolt. Sabrina (16), knows she's the root of her family and has to provide for her grandmother and sickly sister after their father is taken.
She tries to convince Ceridwen to marry a man so she'd have less people to look after, but just after she says she'll try, she disappears into the night and Sabrina has to go find her. S finds out she's gone off into the woods which no one comes back out of, and angrily stomps off after her to bring her back. Once in the woods, she stumbles into Eu Gwald (Faerie), and meets a mermaid who tells her where her sister went, what she plans to do, and that she's in love with Ceridwen.
Sabrina starts her wicked lies and sees a number of intriguing creatures, one of which is Neirin (faerie prince), who wants her to become his champion and win him the favour of the King once she discovers and beats the disease that's slowly killing the land. Together they start the journey, and the more they find out about eachother, the more they fall in love. It is one of those: we're both terrible people but incredible for eachother sort of loves.
This book is short and to the point, characters have a million layers and their development is amazing.
There's:
-strong fmc (thus the song, as I feel like it describes Sabrina/Habren best 💙)
-golden retriever mmc who'd do anything for the fmc
-sibling and family love
-coal mining disaster (this was so in-depth and well described, I was so sad for the people)
-Welsh mythology creatures
-love for your home
-love for humanity and its mistakes
-queer representation
I have been taken on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout this book and loved every second of it. I can't wait to see what @annafiteni will do in the sequel. She's an auto-buy author for me now! 💙
This book is for lovers of dark faerie stories 😊
I've finished this book a few days ago and I am in loooove with it.
Sabrina and Ceridwen have a miserable life in Llanadwen, Wales. Their mother died the year before, and now their father has been sentenced for a long time because he incited a revolt. Sabrina (16), knows she's the root of her family and has to provide for her grandmother and sickly sister after their father is taken.
She tries to convince Ceridwen to marry a man so she'd have less people to look after, but just after she says she'll try, she disappears into the night and Sabrina has to go find her. S finds out she's gone off into the woods which no one comes back out of, and angrily stomps off after her to bring her back. Once in the woods, she stumbles into Eu Gwald (Faerie), and meets a mermaid who tells her where her sister went, what she plans to do, and that she's in love with Ceridwen.
Sabrina starts her wicked lies and sees a number of intriguing creatures, one of which is Neirin (faerie prince), who wants her to become his champion and win him the favour of the King once she discovers and beats the disease that's slowly killing the land. Together they start the journey, and the more they find out about eachother, the more they fall in love. It is one of those: we're both terrible people but incredible for eachother sort of loves.
This book is short and to the point, characters have a million layers and their development is amazing.
There's:
-strong fmc (thus the song, as I feel like it describes Sabrina/Habren best 💙)
-golden retriever mmc who'd do anything for the fmc
-sibling and family love
-coal mining disaster (this was so in-depth and well described, I was so sad for the people)
-Welsh mythology creatures
-love for your home
-love for humanity and its mistakes
-queer representation
I have been taken on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout this book and loved every second of it. I can't wait to see what @annafiteni will do in the sequel. She's an auto-buy author for me now! 💙
This book is for lovers of dark faerie stories 😊
September 2, 2025
Thank you to The Novl and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the physical ARC 💌
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is a standalone YA fantasy (+ some romance) inspired by Welsh mythology. As a big fan of The Folk of the Air series, I ate this story up! It’s completely unique, but some of the vibes are similar. This is a quick read (only 272 pages), but I still felt very connected to the plot and characters. I also LOVE when a book portrays fairies the way they are in folklore! This is definitely one of my fave YA fantasy reads of 2025 🥰
This story is told from the perspective of Sabrina, a 16 year old girl living in a small mining town with her sickly older sister and gran. Sabrina feels like she is unlikeable and often overlooked compared to her beautiful, kind sister. She has a habit of lying to get her way and can be argumentative, prickly, and jealous. However, she is also loyal to her family, very protective of her sister, and the only one able to work and provide for her family. Despite the burden of responsibilities placed on her at such a young age, she still dreams of magic, adventure, and a life beyond her small town. When her sister goes missing, Sabrina begins her search in the woods where the tylwyth teg (fairies) live. She ends up on a mission to save her sister and stop a mysterious sickness that is plaguing Gwlad y Tylwyth Teg (fairyland) and turning fairies into monsters. I really enjoyed Sabrina’s journey of self discovery and the banter between her and the trickster fairy prince. The ending was PERFECT and a beautiful way to wrap up the story. When I gave my husband an unsolicited book summary, he also really liked the decisions made at the end (thanks for listening) 🤣
Overall, 4/5 ⭐️ and I really hope the author writes more stories in this world!
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire is a standalone YA fantasy (+ some romance) inspired by Welsh mythology. As a big fan of The Folk of the Air series, I ate this story up! It’s completely unique, but some of the vibes are similar. This is a quick read (only 272 pages), but I still felt very connected to the plot and characters. I also LOVE when a book portrays fairies the way they are in folklore! This is definitely one of my fave YA fantasy reads of 2025 🥰
This story is told from the perspective of Sabrina, a 16 year old girl living in a small mining town with her sickly older sister and gran. Sabrina feels like she is unlikeable and often overlooked compared to her beautiful, kind sister. She has a habit of lying to get her way and can be argumentative, prickly, and jealous. However, she is also loyal to her family, very protective of her sister, and the only one able to work and provide for her family. Despite the burden of responsibilities placed on her at such a young age, she still dreams of magic, adventure, and a life beyond her small town. When her sister goes missing, Sabrina begins her search in the woods where the tylwyth teg (fairies) live. She ends up on a mission to save her sister and stop a mysterious sickness that is plaguing Gwlad y Tylwyth Teg (fairyland) and turning fairies into monsters. I really enjoyed Sabrina’s journey of self discovery and the banter between her and the trickster fairy prince. The ending was PERFECT and a beautiful way to wrap up the story. When I gave my husband an unsolicited book summary, he also really liked the decisions made at the end (thanks for listening) 🤣
Overall, 4/5 ⭐️ and I really hope the author writes more stories in this world!
July 21, 2025
This book is so Welsh and it's utter perfection.
I practically drank the ink Anna used because this was incredible. I had to take a break half way through because I didn't want this to end, four hours with these characters really wasn't enough.
Sabrina is an incredible protagonist. She's so inperfect and has the weight of her family on her shoulders. She is strong and resilient and I adored her. She made this story so easy to read and to root for her, because yes, she's headstrong and prone to anger but she's also achingly human with an unending love for her sister - to the extent she follows her to the land of the tylwyth teg.
Now, I am no stranger to Welsh mythology. I have done my own research over the years and loved seeing them come to life in Anna's writing. And the writing! Maybe it's because I know exactly the Wales she is describing but I could imagine everything so clearly it was like I was staring at a painting rather than words. Descriptions ranged from sparkling to horrorifying to making me laugh.
I wasn't expecting the 1800s Wales but it worked so well to show the strangeness of time in the land of the teg. I had so much fun with this and am so lucky to have been gifted an early copy.
There were minor issues with the text that I'm sure will be picked up with publication, though the double the made me laugh. E. G. The y ceffyl dwr (since y also means the). To be honest my Welsh is very limited but I loved how Anna embedded it into the story and made it accessible to everyone.
Also if you told me on Saturday I would enjoy 4th wall breaks in a book, I'd have laughed. But this was so good
I adored this story and hope you do as well! Thank you to Electric Monkeys for my copy!
I practically drank the ink Anna used because this was incredible. I had to take a break half way through because I didn't want this to end, four hours with these characters really wasn't enough.
Sabrina is an incredible protagonist. She's so inperfect and has the weight of her family on her shoulders. She is strong and resilient and I adored her. She made this story so easy to read and to root for her, because yes, she's headstrong and prone to anger but she's also achingly human with an unending love for her sister - to the extent she follows her to the land of the tylwyth teg.
Now, I am no stranger to Welsh mythology. I have done my own research over the years and loved seeing them come to life in Anna's writing. And the writing! Maybe it's because I know exactly the Wales she is describing but I could imagine everything so clearly it was like I was staring at a painting rather than words. Descriptions ranged from sparkling to horrorifying to making me laugh.
I wasn't expecting the 1800s Wales but it worked so well to show the strangeness of time in the land of the teg. I had so much fun with this and am so lucky to have been gifted an early copy.
There were minor issues with the text that I'm sure will be picked up with publication, though the double the made me laugh. E. G. The y ceffyl dwr (since y also means the). To be honest my Welsh is very limited but I loved how Anna embedded it into the story and made it accessible to everyone.
Also if you told me on Saturday I would enjoy 4th wall breaks in a book, I'd have laughed. But this was so good
I adored this story and hope you do as well! Thank you to Electric Monkeys for my copy!
August 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
I requested this book because I've been going through a romantasy spree lately. I didn't expect to see the Welsh language in this book as most faerie books tend to use Europe as a background or an inspiration without actually incorporating much of the culture (like ACOTAR). I did expect this book to take place in a fantasy setting rather then having a historical background but I thought that aspect was done well. That being said, the whole timeline was a little weird as Sabrina runs into humans from various years including the future which was confusing.
The writing was very dreamy and mystical. Sabrina definitely has a unique personality. I can see some readers not liking her because she's not afraid to be rude or unlikeable but I find it refreshing since most female characters tend to have the annoyingly kind personality nowadays. Her relationship with her sister was messy and complicated and Sabrina freely admits to being imperfect and having selfish desires.
I did think it was a little cringy when the faery prince randomly starts to call her Habren Faire (literally came out of nowhere). While I know this is typical of romance and romantasy, I find cutesy nicknames to be just EUGHHH.
I also thought it was unrealistic how she claimed to know so much about faeries yet sometimes fell for obvious traps. A lot of faerie creatures are also mentioned and named with little explanation of what they actually are so it definitely helps to have some knowledge of Welsh mythology going into this.
Overall, it was a cute book but I wouldn't describe it as a romantasy or even a romance. It gets surprisingly deep and philosophical towards the end which was unexpected.
I requested this book because I've been going through a romantasy spree lately. I didn't expect to see the Welsh language in this book as most faerie books tend to use Europe as a background or an inspiration without actually incorporating much of the culture (like ACOTAR). I did expect this book to take place in a fantasy setting rather then having a historical background but I thought that aspect was done well. That being said, the whole timeline was a little weird as Sabrina runs into humans from various years including the future which was confusing.
The writing was very dreamy and mystical. Sabrina definitely has a unique personality. I can see some readers not liking her because she's not afraid to be rude or unlikeable but I find it refreshing since most female characters tend to have the annoyingly kind personality nowadays. Her relationship with her sister was messy and complicated and Sabrina freely admits to being imperfect and having selfish desires.
I did think it was a little cringy when the faery prince randomly starts to call her Habren Faire (literally came out of nowhere). While I know this is typical of romance and romantasy, I find cutesy nicknames to be just EUGHHH.
I also thought it was unrealistic how she claimed to know so much about faeries yet sometimes fell for obvious traps. A lot of faerie creatures are also mentioned and named with little explanation of what they actually are so it definitely helps to have some knowledge of Welsh mythology going into this.
Overall, it was a cute book but I wouldn't describe it as a romantasy or even a romance. It gets surprisingly deep and philosophical towards the end which was unexpected.
September 3, 2025
This was a beautifully written, unique story that included everything I love about fairy folklore. Sabrina’s character was quite different to most YA female protagonists, but still endearing and very relatable. Her anger towards the life she felt trapped in and her jealousy towards Ceridwen felt very real and reminded me a lot of the feelings I struggled with sometimes as a teenager.
I really enjoyed getting to read about all the different creatures from Welsh mythology, most of which I had never heard of before! Plot-wise, I did go into this expecting a little more, but the story that we got did work for this particular book. I found the world-building a little thin in parts, but there were also parts I didn’t expect which I enjoyed, like how differently time worked in fairyland and the interacting of characters from different time periods.
I enjoyed Sabrina and Neirin’s relationship. Their banter and constant back and forth was very entertaining to read. I especially loved how vivid all the scenes felt when they travelled to Neirin’s estate - the descriptions and imagery were some of the prettiest I have ever read! In the end, I felt as though Sabrina forgave him much quicker than I would have expected her to, but I was very happy when I read the final chapter (I would have made the exact same choice!)
The ending felt a little rushed, with the sickness in the land being located and cured quite quickly, but I did love how the resolution made the story come full circle by linking back to Sabrina’s life in Wales. The scenes surrounding her family were very poignant and well written, and made it very clear that this book was a story about family at its core.
All in all, this is a fantastic debut and the author should be very proud of her work!
I really enjoyed getting to read about all the different creatures from Welsh mythology, most of which I had never heard of before! Plot-wise, I did go into this expecting a little more, but the story that we got did work for this particular book. I found the world-building a little thin in parts, but there were also parts I didn’t expect which I enjoyed, like how differently time worked in fairyland and the interacting of characters from different time periods.
I enjoyed Sabrina and Neirin’s relationship. Their banter and constant back and forth was very entertaining to read. I especially loved how vivid all the scenes felt when they travelled to Neirin’s estate - the descriptions and imagery were some of the prettiest I have ever read! In the end, I felt as though Sabrina forgave him much quicker than I would have expected her to, but I was very happy when I read the final chapter (I would have made the exact same choice!)
The ending felt a little rushed, with the sickness in the land being located and cured quite quickly, but I did love how the resolution made the story come full circle by linking back to Sabrina’s life in Wales. The scenes surrounding her family were very poignant and well written, and made it very clear that this book was a story about family at its core.
All in all, this is a fantastic debut and the author should be very proud of her work!
September 4, 2025
Sabrina has always been harshly practical. She has to in order to survive her small Welsh coal town after her mother's death and her father's sentencing to an Australian penal colony. But when her sister disappears into the fairy world, Sabrina is determined to save her and bring her home.
Sabrina (known as Habren to the teg or fairy folk because it's ill advised to give your real name) is not a likable character. She's prickly and selfish and she knows it. And honestly, aren't we all, especially at 16? I really appreciated that Sabrina was such a normal and relatable girl and we got to see her mature as a person.
I also enjoyed how the author wove in Welsh fairy lore when it came to Eu Gwald or fairyland. Teg are tricksters and not very nice. I also liked how the story incorperated elements of how time works different in Eu Gwald as Sabrina encounters morals from the Great War (WWI) and the 1990s as she travels.
My main complaint is the romance. It was marketed as a romantasy but there was no romantic spark between Sabrina and Neirin. Sure, he agrees to help her and travels with her, but he's very much a trickster fey. There's a pretty intense reveal about some of his motivations, and honestly I would have preferred a more Shadow and Bone type twist after that (iykyk). Others may enjoy it, but I just could not buy the romance.
That said, the Welsh mythology and how Wales and Eu Gwald related to each other was very well done. I recommend it to anyone who likes fey stories that stick closer to the lore and, like me, prefer their romance plots to be more secondary. Also, points for this being a standalone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the review copy.
Sabrina (known as Habren to the teg or fairy folk because it's ill advised to give your real name) is not a likable character. She's prickly and selfish and she knows it. And honestly, aren't we all, especially at 16? I really appreciated that Sabrina was such a normal and relatable girl and we got to see her mature as a person.
I also enjoyed how the author wove in Welsh fairy lore when it came to Eu Gwald or fairyland. Teg are tricksters and not very nice. I also liked how the story incorperated elements of how time works different in Eu Gwald as Sabrina encounters morals from the Great War (WWI) and the 1990s as she travels.
My main complaint is the romance. It was marketed as a romantasy but there was no romantic spark between Sabrina and Neirin. Sure, he agrees to help her and travels with her, but he's very much a trickster fey. There's a pretty intense reveal about some of his motivations, and honestly I would have preferred a more Shadow and Bone type twist after that (iykyk). Others may enjoy it, but I just could not buy the romance.
That said, the Welsh mythology and how Wales and Eu Gwald related to each other was very well done. I recommend it to anyone who likes fey stories that stick closer to the lore and, like me, prefer their romance plots to be more secondary. Also, points for this being a standalone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the review copy.
August 5, 2025
“𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚.”
What an enchanting read! I am awestruck.
Remember the scene at the end of Bridge to Terabithia, where the young girl finally steps into the fairytale world she has longed to visit? That was me while reading this book. I felt giddy, charmed, emotional, and completely carried away to a place I didn’t even know I have been pining for.
This story is deeply rooted in Welsh folklore and is filled with whimsical creatures and characters drawn from old beliefs—some are frightening, which I hope to never encounter, while others I’ll be dreaming about for weeks. (I’m looking at you, Neirin.) I couldn't get enough of it, and the author's writing style made the experience delightful.
I really connected with our main character, Habren (Sabrina, if the Teg aren’t listening). She reminded me a lot of myself when I was her age, and learning about her challenges and strengths really moved me. While I loved her, Neirin truly captured my heart. He has that lovable, playful energy while also being a bit of a scoundrel! The slow-building romance in the story was beautifully written, but that ending... bittersweet and perfectly concluded.
The world and the story were both remarkably well-crafted, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who misses the feeling of dark, emotional, and wonderfully strange fairy tales about love, loss and family.
Thank you Anna Fiteni, Electric Monkey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What an enchanting read! I am awestruck.
Remember the scene at the end of Bridge to Terabithia, where the young girl finally steps into the fairytale world she has longed to visit? That was me while reading this book. I felt giddy, charmed, emotional, and completely carried away to a place I didn’t even know I have been pining for.
This story is deeply rooted in Welsh folklore and is filled with whimsical creatures and characters drawn from old beliefs—some are frightening, which I hope to never encounter, while others I’ll be dreaming about for weeks. (I’m looking at you, Neirin.) I couldn't get enough of it, and the author's writing style made the experience delightful.
I really connected with our main character, Habren (Sabrina, if the Teg aren’t listening). She reminded me a lot of myself when I was her age, and learning about her challenges and strengths really moved me. While I loved her, Neirin truly captured my heart. He has that lovable, playful energy while also being a bit of a scoundrel! The slow-building romance in the story was beautifully written, but that ending... bittersweet and perfectly concluded.
The world and the story were both remarkably well-crafted, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who misses the feeling of dark, emotional, and wonderfully strange fairy tales about love, loss and family.
Thank you Anna Fiteni, Electric Monkey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2025
“Our lives are small—we’re nothing more than a speck of dust on an old coat, or a mayfly at the start of its first and only day—but from them spring a thousand stories.”
Actual Rating: 3.5⭐
I had mixed feelings about this one—it wasn’t quite what I expected, but I still had a good time reading it.
The world-building was super whimsical and enchanting, full of magical creatures and a dreamy land inspired by Welsh mythology. I loved learning about the lore every time Sabrina, our main character, stumbled across something new.
But beneath all that beauty, there’s a darker edge too—especially with how sly and manipulative the Fae can be if humans aren’t careful.
The romance didn’t unfold the way I thought it would, and I definitely wanted more scenes between the two leads. That ending left me hoping for a sequel, just to see where things go next for them.
Sabrina’s journey to save her sister was one of my favourite parts, though I do wish the resolution to the rot threatening the Fae world hadn’t wrapped up quite so quickly—it felt slightly rushed.
Still, this was a fun and captivating read, especially if you’re curious about Welsh mythology. Fingers crossed for book two!
Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tour, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: violence, grief
Actual Rating: 3.5⭐
I had mixed feelings about this one—it wasn’t quite what I expected, but I still had a good time reading it.
The world-building was super whimsical and enchanting, full of magical creatures and a dreamy land inspired by Welsh mythology. I loved learning about the lore every time Sabrina, our main character, stumbled across something new.
But beneath all that beauty, there’s a darker edge too—especially with how sly and manipulative the Fae can be if humans aren’t careful.
The romance didn’t unfold the way I thought it would, and I definitely wanted more scenes between the two leads. That ending left me hoping for a sequel, just to see where things go next for them.
Sabrina’s journey to save her sister was one of my favourite parts, though I do wish the resolution to the rot threatening the Fae world hadn’t wrapped up quite so quickly—it felt slightly rushed.
Still, this was a fun and captivating read, especially if you’re curious about Welsh mythology. Fingers crossed for book two!
Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tour, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: violence, grief
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