(Blurb and cover taken from Goodreads)
Official blurb:
Every enchantment has a price.
With a flick of her paintbrush, Isobel creates stunning portraits for a dangerous set of clients: the fair folk. These immortal creatures cannot bake bread or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and they trade valuable enchantments for Isobel’s paintings. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—Isobel makes a deadly mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes, a weakness that could cost him his throne, and even his life.
Furious, Rook spirits Isobel away to his kingdom to stand trial for her crime. But something is seriously amiss in his world, and they are attacked from every side. With Isobel and Rook depending upon each other for survival, their alliance blossoms into trust, perhaps even love . . . a forbidden emotion that would violate the fair folks’ ruthless laws, rendering both their lives forfeit. What force could Isobel’s paintings conjure that is powerful enough to defy the ancient malice of the fairy courts?
Isobel and Rook journey along a knife-edge in a lush world where beauty masks corruption and the cost of survival might be more frightening than death itself.
My rating: four stars out of five
The concept of this story was just fantastic. I loved how Craft—essentially creativity—was the biggest weakness of the fair folk. I also loved how otherworldly they were and the vast difference between them and the humans of Whimsy. There was also a fair amount of nature magic, which I just adore.
I gave it four stars because I think something about the writing itself kept me a little distanced from the characters. But I still really enjoyed the bits of humor sprinkled throughout, especially at the expense of Rook.
The romance between Rook and Isobel was sweet and magical, yet could involve the death of them both, so I really enjoyed that aspect as well.
I kind of wish there was a sequel, but I won’t tell you why and give away the ending 😉
(Disclaimer: I get commissions for purchases made through this link. This did not influence my review.)
