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zareena's review
2.0
Review originally posted on The Slanted Bookshelf.
My Rating: 2.5 stars
This book had a lot of potential and sadly it didn’t fulfil it, but I’ll start off with what I liked.
At first the plot was pretty exciting and I liked Alina for most of the book. In City of Fae the fae exist and live in London, one of them being Reign – a fae superstar playboy. Nineteen years old, having just lost her job, Alina runs into Reign who looks almost dead and ends up saving him from the fae guards. This leads to Alina discovering secrets about the fae, a fae conspiracy, and Alina being in hiding from the them.
For the most part I liked Alina. She doesn’t let fear stop her and uses her skills as a reporter to do what she thinks is right. Also, the author really threw in some twists that I seriously didn’t see coming and I mean really didn’t see coming. Also, I liked Reign. He’s the typical bad boy with a vulnerable side that you can’t help but love.
Okay, now onto what I didn’t like so much. It would have been nice to have a bit more world building – history of how the fae came to London, etc. Also, I didn’t really understand why Alina saved Reign when they first met. She had absolutely no reason to help him and then lie to law enforcement about it all. The writing also felt slightly repetitive and a lot of the times Alina’s emotions didn’t feel genuine.
One of the parts I liked the least was the romance. The blurb says City of Fae will leave you wanting more of the forbidden romance and it was definitely correct…. because there wasn’t any. From about half way through it was clear the romance wouldn’t be an HEA and really nothing ever happens between Alina and reign. That sucked.
Basically, City of Fae could have been pretty epic but most of it just didn’t work for me.
NA
2.5 stars
Thank you to Bloomsbury for providing me with a copy of the book! All views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.
My Rating: 2.5 stars
This book had a lot of potential and sadly it didn’t fulfil it, but I’ll start off with what I liked.
At first the plot was pretty exciting and I liked Alina for most of the book. In City of Fae the fae exist and live in London, one of them being Reign – a fae superstar playboy. Nineteen years old, having just lost her job, Alina runs into Reign who looks almost dead and ends up saving him from the fae guards. This leads to Alina discovering secrets about the fae, a fae conspiracy, and Alina being in hiding from the them.
For the most part I liked Alina. She doesn’t let fear stop her and uses her skills as a reporter to do what she thinks is right. Also, the author really threw in some twists that I seriously didn’t see coming and I mean really didn’t see coming. Also, I liked Reign. He’s the typical bad boy with a vulnerable side that you can’t help but love.
Okay, now onto what I didn’t like so much. It would have been nice to have a bit more world building – history of how the fae came to London, etc. Also, I didn’t really understand why Alina saved Reign when they first met. She had absolutely no reason to help him and then lie to law enforcement about it all. The writing also felt slightly repetitive and a lot of the times Alina’s emotions didn’t feel genuine.
One of the parts I liked the least was the romance. The blurb says City of Fae will leave you wanting more of the forbidden romance and it was definitely correct…. because there wasn’t any. From about half way through it was clear the romance wouldn’t be an HEA and really nothing ever happens between Alina and reign. That sucked.
Basically, City of Fae could have been pretty epic but most of it just didn’t work for me.
NA
2.5 stars
Thank you to Bloomsbury for providing me with a copy of the book! All views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.
ivettexandrea's review
4.0
Me encanta encontrarme con libros que salen de la nada y me sorprenden gratamente. Siempre me ha gustado la fantasía y para nadie es un misterio que los Faes son mis seres sobrenatural por preferencia.
Quede prendada en el momento uno de Reing, tengo algo por los protas rotos... y pues si que esta jodido este. Alina.. ay no me esperaba eso, no es mi personaje favorito de la vida pero su fuerza por luchar y seguir adelante a pesar de saber que su destino en la vida no es más que cumplir ordenes me llevo a tenerle un cariño especial.
Ay esa escena en el estadio... como lloré.
Sinceramente no me vuelve loca leer el siguiente porque creo que la historia llego a un final técnicamente apropiado, pero pues veamos que sorpresas trae Pippa DaCosta en lo que sigue.
Quede prendada en el momento uno de Reing, tengo algo por los protas rotos... y pues si que esta jodido este. Alina.. ay no me esperaba eso, no es mi personaje favorito de la vida pero su fuerza por luchar y seguir adelante a pesar de saber que su destino en la vida no es más que cumplir ordenes me llevo a tenerle un cariño especial.
Ay esa escena en el estadio... como lloré.
Sinceramente no me vuelve loca leer el siguiente porque creo que la historia llego a un final técnicamente apropiado, pero pues veamos que sorpresas trae Pippa DaCosta en lo que sigue.
carlyoc's review
4.0
Not the traditional paranormal love story I was expecting, but in a good way. A unique take on the faerie genre. Full review to come on dailygeekette.wordpress.com.
softrosemint's review
3.0
WordPress | Tumblr
I received a free eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“City of Fae” has one of the most stunning book covers I have seen this year. Even if it doesn’t have the most creative plot, it is an engaging and gripping read that will leave fans of the urban fantasy genre satisfied.
The Plot
While the premise of the novel is not particularly innovative, I still found the plot entertaining and engaging. There were plenty of plot twists I did not see coming and I was pleasantly surprised by.
A major plus is that the novel never wastes time waiting around for anything to happen - it quickly kicks straight into action and goes at a steady pace from start to finish. It never feels like it’s lagging which contributes for the immersion of the reader. It is easy to complete in one sitting - you just cannot put it down.
Some of the inconsistencies that are established in the beginning (such as Alina being only 19 and already having a job as a reporter) are plausibly cleared up by the end of the novel. However, plenty of questions still remain and the ending alludes to the possibility of a sequel or of another book set in the same universe - which I welcome as I feel I could use a better understanding of the world of the novel.
The Setting
I never quite got a full grasp of the world Alina lives in. For me, London is a very atmospheric city with very peculiar qualities - none of which came through the pages. Alina could have easily been in New York or Berlin and I would have not known the difference. Overall, I feel that the book lacks the atmosphere that would have made it enchanting instead of just engaging.
In addition, the mythology of the novel needs better explanation. I was very interested in the history of the world of “City of Fae”, as well as how it has changed the modern world (which is supposed to be a literary alternative universe of ours). I understand this could not have been possible without adding more pages to the book but at the same time I wish the author had managed to add those details and clarify the setting better.
The Characters
I loved loved Alina. She is so independent and determined to achieve the goals she has set for herself; she is inquisitive and curious and does not give up easily; she can stand her own against any of the fae. She is an awesome lead that I wish I could see more from.
I cannot believe that it has gotten to this, but I am honestly pleased that Reign is not the total jerk that most novels set their main male leads to be. On the other hand, he does not seem to be anything particularly impressive as a character either.
The romance between the two of them is central for the book even if I found it very unbelievable (I mean, they have known each other for less than a week when they seem to fall in love with each other). However, the tension between Alina and Reign is simply electrifying and I often found myself cheering them on in their moments of closeness.
The Verdict
“City of Fae” may not be the best book ever or even the best book published this year, but it is a thrilling read. A page-turner you cannot put down until you find the answers to every single question you have had, until you uncover every last secret and solve every mystery surrounding Alina and the fae.
I received a free eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“City of Fae” has one of the most stunning book covers I have seen this year. Even if it doesn’t have the most creative plot, it is an engaging and gripping read that will leave fans of the urban fantasy genre satisfied.
The Plot
While the premise of the novel is not particularly innovative, I still found the plot entertaining and engaging. There were plenty of plot twists I did not see coming and I was pleasantly surprised by.
A major plus is that the novel never wastes time waiting around for anything to happen - it quickly kicks straight into action and goes at a steady pace from start to finish. It never feels like it’s lagging which contributes for the immersion of the reader. It is easy to complete in one sitting - you just cannot put it down.
Some of the inconsistencies that are established in the beginning (such as Alina being only 19 and already having a job as a reporter) are plausibly cleared up by the end of the novel. However, plenty of questions still remain and the ending alludes to the possibility of a sequel or of another book set in the same universe - which I welcome as I feel I could use a better understanding of the world of the novel.
The Setting
I never quite got a full grasp of the world Alina lives in. For me, London is a very atmospheric city with very peculiar qualities - none of which came through the pages. Alina could have easily been in New York or Berlin and I would have not known the difference. Overall, I feel that the book lacks the atmosphere that would have made it enchanting instead of just engaging.
In addition, the mythology of the novel needs better explanation. I was very interested in the history of the world of “City of Fae”, as well as how it has changed the modern world (which is supposed to be a literary alternative universe of ours). I understand this could not have been possible without adding more pages to the book but at the same time I wish the author had managed to add those details and clarify the setting better.
The Characters
I loved loved Alina. She is so independent and determined to achieve the goals she has set for herself; she is inquisitive and curious and does not give up easily; she can stand her own against any of the fae. She is an awesome lead that I wish I could see more from.
I cannot believe that it has gotten to this, but I am honestly pleased that Reign is not the total jerk that most novels set their main male leads to be. On the other hand, he does not seem to be anything particularly impressive as a character either.
The romance between the two of them is central for the book even if I found it very unbelievable (I mean, they have known each other for less than a week when they seem to fall in love with each other). However, the tension between Alina and Reign is simply electrifying and I often found myself cheering them on in their moments of closeness.
The Verdict
“City of Fae” may not be the best book ever or even the best book published this year, but it is a thrilling read. A page-turner you cannot put down until you find the answers to every single question you have had, until you uncover every last secret and solve every mystery surrounding Alina and the fae.
alexandra_92's review
4.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! It was funny and interesting with lots of mysteries and a romance which seemed to meet many obstacles. The world-building was revealed slowly and I had the impression that Alina and Reign would begin as frienenemies but the plot surprised me!
A quick read for those who love the world of Fae.
I really enjoyed this book! It was funny and interesting with lots of mysteries and a romance which seemed to meet many obstacles. The world-building was revealed slowly and I had the impression that Alina and Reign would begin as frienenemies but the plot surprised me!
A quick read for those who love the world of Fae.
musicalbibliophile's review
3.0
Original Review at Musical Bibliolater
Rating: 3 out of 5
Recommended for: Fae, Urban Fantasy lovers
From the moment Alina touches Sovereign, London's hottest fae superstar, her life takes a significant turn for the worst. Her seemingly normal life becomes a complicated series of twist and turns that leaves her vulnerable to the fae.
In London, there is an underground city were the fae High Queen plots to free herself from her prison and take over the city. Creating allies in high places, waiting for her time to come, the Queen must get rid of the four ancient keepers powerful enough to keep the queen in her prison. Three are dead and one remains but the queen faces one problem-- Alina. Fighting to keep the city of London free from the queen's tyranny, Alina must sacrifice herself and everything she's come to know.
This New Adult urban fantasy has action, suspense, and a forbidden and deadly romance that will delight some readers, however; City of Fae fell a little flat for me. I can't really put my finger on it but sometimes a book is missing something. When a book falls into the meh or so-so category it's hard to review without sounding ambivalent. City of Fae had some very good and really interesting parts however I couldn't connect or become absorbed in the story.
All of the characters were on the surface, engaging and unique, but I couldn't get a grasp on them. Alina at first really annoyed me. She was reckless and always asking questions. She literally put herself in danger and there was no real reason why. I started to get a bit frustrated with her and her motivations. For the first half of the book I didn't really like any of the characters a lot but eventually they started to grow on me. However, I still can't say that I like Alina as a character but by the end of this book I definitely respected her.
This book was kind of stagnant with a flimsy plot line. At least that was how I saw it until half way through, then I was completely side line by a crazy amazing plot twist that saved this book for me. City of Fae has a really unique take on the Fae/Faeries subject. The world that Pippa DaCosta created is quite interesting. I loved how she portrayed the queen even though it exacerbated my fear of spiders. The underground world and the developing story after the plot twist was engaging, dark, and suspenseful.
All in all, City of Fae was so-so. The first half of the book and the main character didn't really do it for me. However, the second half of the book caught me off guard and it lead to a suspenseful, unique, and interesting story that promises to surprise and delight some readers.
Until the next review,
See Ya!!!!!
Rating: 3 out of 5
Recommended for: Fae, Urban Fantasy lovers
From the moment Alina touches Sovereign, London's hottest fae superstar, her life takes a significant turn for the worst. Her seemingly normal life becomes a complicated series of twist and turns that leaves her vulnerable to the fae.
In London, there is an underground city were the fae High Queen plots to free herself from her prison and take over the city. Creating allies in high places, waiting for her time to come, the Queen must get rid of the four ancient keepers powerful enough to keep the queen in her prison. Three are dead and one remains but the queen faces one problem-- Alina. Fighting to keep the city of London free from the queen's tyranny, Alina must sacrifice herself and everything she's come to know.
This New Adult urban fantasy has action, suspense, and a forbidden and deadly romance that will delight some readers, however; City of Fae fell a little flat for me. I can't really put my finger on it but sometimes a book is missing something. When a book falls into the meh or so-so category it's hard to review without sounding ambivalent. City of Fae had some very good and really interesting parts however I couldn't connect or become absorbed in the story.
All of the characters were on the surface, engaging and unique, but I couldn't get a grasp on them. Alina at first really annoyed me. She was reckless and always asking questions. She literally put herself in danger and there was no real reason why. I started to get a bit frustrated with her and her motivations. For the first half of the book I didn't really like any of the characters a lot but eventually they started to grow on me. However, I still can't say that I like Alina as a character but by the end of this book I definitely respected her.
This book was kind of stagnant with a flimsy plot line. At least that was how I saw it until half way through, then I was completely side line by a crazy amazing plot twist that saved this book for me. City of Fae has a really unique take on the Fae/Faeries subject. The world that Pippa DaCosta created is quite interesting. I loved how she portrayed the queen even though it exacerbated my fear of spiders. The underground world and the developing story after the plot twist was engaging, dark, and suspenseful.
All in all, City of Fae was so-so. The first half of the book and the main character didn't really do it for me. However, the second half of the book caught me off guard and it lead to a suspenseful, unique, and interesting story that promises to surprise and delight some readers.
Until the next review,
See Ya!!!!!
bookfever's review
4.0
Look, but don't touch.
Touch, but don't feel.
Feel, but never ever love.
I absolutely love books about fae but I haven't read many that I actually thought were that great. So I'm thrilled to say that City of Fae definitely falls into the 'great' category. I really enjoyed it a lot!
The main character, Alina, was so much fun to read about. She had so much spunk and even when she discovered a lot of awful things about her existence, she still managed to be brave and she could kick some serious ass. I love female main characters like that. I also gotta say that I loved the way the author wrote her relationship with Reign. This is aboslutely not a case of insta-love (thank god) but it's was still intense. I loved their dynamic.
I can't say much about the story because I don't want to give too much away but damn it was good. I loved the idea of the fae who had come "out" in the 70's (if I remember correctly). Humans know the fae can be tricky and bespell you but yet they're intrigued by them. Fae are one of my favorite creatures to read about and I can honestly say that the fae in this book belong to my top three for sure.
And of course were there are fae, there's a fae queen. But holy shit she was creepy. All I'll say is... spiders. And I hate spiders. They scare the crap out of me. And the part spiders play in this book... there's some icky moments for sure. I don't want to scare anyone away from this book but wow. I did like how crazy the fae queen was, though. It made for an interesting part of the story.
City of Fae was my first Pippa DaCosta book and I loved it. Her writing was really great. I loved the setting of London, the way she created these fae, even the queen was pretty awesome (in a totally creepy way) to read about. And of course I loved that it was new adult. It was a new fresh take on fae. I would hightly recommend this book.
Touch, but don't feel.
Feel, but never ever love.
I absolutely love books about fae but I haven't read many that I actually thought were that great. So I'm thrilled to say that City of Fae definitely falls into the 'great' category. I really enjoyed it a lot!
The main character, Alina, was so much fun to read about. She had so much spunk and even when she discovered a lot of awful things about her existence, she still managed to be brave and she could kick some serious ass. I love female main characters like that. I also gotta say that I loved the way the author wrote her relationship with Reign. This is aboslutely not a case of insta-love (thank god) but it's was still intense. I loved their dynamic.
I can't say much about the story because I don't want to give too much away but damn it was good. I loved the idea of the fae who had come "out" in the 70's (if I remember correctly). Humans know the fae can be tricky and bespell you but yet they're intrigued by them. Fae are one of my favorite creatures to read about and I can honestly say that the fae in this book belong to my top three for sure.
And of course were there are fae, there's a fae queen. But holy shit she was creepy. All I'll say is... spiders. And I hate spiders. They scare the crap out of me. And the part spiders play in this book... there's some icky moments for sure. I don't want to scare anyone away from this book but wow. I did like how crazy the fae queen was, though. It made for an interesting part of the story.
City of Fae was my first Pippa DaCosta book and I loved it. Her writing was really great. I loved the setting of London, the way she created these fae, even the queen was pretty awesome (in a totally creepy way) to read about. And of course I loved that it was new adult. It was a new fresh take on fae. I would hightly recommend this book.
marie_thereadingotter's review
3.0
Review:
http://pagestoexplore.blogspot.com/2015/03/city-of-fae-by-pippa-dacosta.html
http://pagestoexplore.blogspot.com/2015/03/city-of-fae-by-pippa-dacosta.html