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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you NerdFam for the ARC! This was a fun fantasy, Cinderella inspired story, An easy read, with basically no spice. I’ve been in my fantasy era, and this fit in perfectly!
Oh man that ending!! I am stressssing about what happens next.
Overall I enjoyed this. The pacing near the end did feel a little rushed. I also feel like maybe I spent more time worrying about Raewyn’s family than she did. But I liked her character & how stubborn she was. I am so curious about her and her past. Like why did Stellon recognize her mom? Why can she resist the Sway? I also liked Stellon’s golden retriever energy. Usually I like the morally gray (which Pharis seems to fit the bill of so I’m definitley curious to know more about him), but the golden retriever vibes were fun and cute! I do feel like he was a bit naive for the crown prince, but it also made him endearing.
Oh man that ending!! I am stressssing about what happens next.
Overall I enjoyed this. The pacing near the end did feel a little rushed. I also feel like maybe I spent more time worrying about Raewyn’s family than she did. But I liked her character & how stubborn she was. I am so curious about her and her past. Like why did Stellon recognize her mom? Why can she resist the Sway? I also liked Stellon’s golden retriever energy. Usually I like the morally gray (which Pharis seems to fit the bill of so I’m definitley curious to know more about him), but the golden retriever vibes were fun and cute! I do feel like he was a bit naive for the crown prince, but it also made him endearing.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was unexpectedly good. A Cinderella retelling full of fae, magic, and secrets. Raewyn finds herself with an invitation to a Fae ball after helping save one of them in the market. She has no idea he's the crown prince, or that her life will be forever changed by meeting him.
Stellan is the crown prince and is being forced to marry for political reasons. Trying to find the best match with magic, he stumbles upon Raewyn disguised as a fae. Secrets and deception work in their favor, but only for so long. Stellan ends up hiding Raewyn in his rooms and helping her heal while his father continues to force him to choose a bride.
Will their love be enough to keep them together, or will the king get his way?
Stellan is the crown prince and is being forced to marry for political reasons. Trying to find the best match with magic, he stumbles upon Raewyn disguised as a fae. Secrets and deception work in their favor, but only for so long. Stellan ends up hiding Raewyn in his rooms and helping her heal while his father continues to force him to choose a bride.
Will their love be enough to keep them together, or will the king get his way?
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
⚔️ ARC REVIEW⚔️
Title: A Court Bright and Broken
Author: Amy Patrick (@amypatrickauthor)
Rating: 4.5⭐️
🗡️REVIEW🗡️
First off…Amy we have beef after that ending!!
From the very start A Court Bright and Broken had me in a chokehold. High Elves are in power while humans are left in poverty just trying to survive.
You feel for the main characters Stellon (Elven Crown Prince) and Raewyn (human) as they both deal with their family pressures.
While Stellon has lived a grand life of luxury never thinking about the people outside of his bubble, the pressure of his father, who is power hungry, to do his bidding hangs over him. Where Raewyn has taken the burden to care for her ailing father and her two young sisters, often ensuring their bellies are filled with what little food they have first before her own.
When Stellon starts to learn more about Rae, his rose coloured glasses start to shatter and his understanding of the struggles of the people he’s been taught to look down on, has him thinking differently.
I crushed this book in one sitting. I was invested with how things between Stellon and Rae would end knowing that Elves and Humans are forbidden from marrying. But then there’s Pharis, the spare, whose abilities have him able to borrow the other abilities of other elvish people, learns a secret that Rae is hiding.
There are certainly a ton of questions to be had. Such as why Rae didn’t fight to leave the palace despite the fact that she made it abundantly clear that she is the care taker for her sisters and father. Or why there was such a casual discussion of how the King takes human women to be his personal ‘distractions’ (that’s putting it nicely).
This was definitely a great start for anyone wanting to read Romantasy, but doesn’t want to read something super long or wordy filled with words you can barely pronounce.
A Court Bright and Broken teeters on YA, giving very much the same feel of Shannon Hale’s The Goose Girl, but with a lot more adult elements that are akin to SJM.
Also, Spoiler Alert… (yeah there’s a massive cliffhanger)
Go read this if you like:
🗡️ Fantasy
🗡️ Forbidden Love
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🗡️ Secret Identities
🗡️ Love Triangle (Brothers)
Thank you to Amy Patrick and The Nerd Fam for providing me with and advance copy of this book.
You can find me crying in a corner for the next few days while i try to ponder the what to expect from the next book. Especially after reading the bonus chapter.
Title: A Court Bright and Broken
Author: Amy Patrick (@amypatrickauthor)
Rating: 4.5⭐️
🗡️REVIEW🗡️
First off…Amy we have beef after that ending!!
From the very start A Court Bright and Broken had me in a chokehold. High Elves are in power while humans are left in poverty just trying to survive.
You feel for the main characters Stellon (Elven Crown Prince) and Raewyn (human) as they both deal with their family pressures.
While Stellon has lived a grand life of luxury never thinking about the people outside of his bubble, the pressure of his father, who is power hungry, to do his bidding hangs over him. Where Raewyn has taken the burden to care for her ailing father and her two young sisters, often ensuring their bellies are filled with what little food they have first before her own.
When Stellon starts to learn more about Rae, his rose coloured glasses start to shatter and his understanding of the struggles of the people he’s been taught to look down on, has him thinking differently.
I crushed this book in one sitting. I was invested with how things between Stellon and Rae would end knowing that Elves and Humans are forbidden from marrying. But then there’s Pharis, the spare, whose abilities have him able to borrow the other abilities of other elvish people, learns a secret that Rae is hiding.
There are certainly a ton of questions to be had. Such as why Rae didn’t fight to leave the palace despite the fact that she made it abundantly clear that she is the care taker for her sisters and father. Or why there was such a casual discussion of how the King takes human women to be his personal ‘distractions’ (that’s putting it nicely).
This was definitely a great start for anyone wanting to read Romantasy, but doesn’t want to read something super long or wordy filled with words you can barely pronounce.
A Court Bright and Broken teeters on YA, giving very much the same feel of Shannon Hale’s The Goose Girl, but with a lot more adult elements that are akin to SJM.
Also, Spoiler Alert… (yeah there’s a massive cliffhanger)
Go read this if you like:
🗡️ Fantasy
🗡️ Forbidden Love
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🗡️ Secret Identities
🗡️ Love Triangle (Brothers)
Thank you to Amy Patrick and The Nerd Fam for providing me with and advance copy of this book.
You can find me crying in a corner for the next few days while i try to ponder the what to expect from the next book. Especially after reading the bonus chapter.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Netgalley for the gifted eARC.
*Tropes I Loved:*
- *Enemies to Lovers* – The tension between the characters is electric!
- *Hidden Identity* – Secrets that kept me on the edge of my seat.
- *Cinderella Vibes* – That underdog, "finding your place" feeling.
- *Slow Burn Romantasy* – The perfect balance of magic and romance that builds over time.
- *later on Shadow Daddy (😏😏)* – There’s a mysterious, powerful figure who adds so much intrigue.
- *Protective MMC* – He’ll do anything to keep her safe, and I’m here for it.
- *Badass FMC* – She’s strong, fierce, and not afraid to fight for what she wants.
I just finished Court of Bright and Broken by Amy Patrick, and I can't stop thinking about it. The emotional depth of this book really took me by surprise. The characters are so well-developed, with struggles that feel incredibly real, making it easy to connect with them. The romance is slow-building but so full of tension—it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. What really stood out to me, though, was the way the book explores identity and belonging. It’s not just about magic and fantasy; it’s about discovering who you are when the world feels like it’s pulling you in different directions. Amy Patrick’s writing pulled me in and didn’t let go, and now I’m left eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
*Tropes I Loved:*
- *Enemies to Lovers* – The tension between the characters is electric!
- *Hidden Identity* – Secrets that kept me on the edge of my seat.
- *Cinderella Vibes* – That underdog, "finding your place" feeling.
- *Slow Burn Romantasy* – The perfect balance of magic and romance that builds over time.
- *later on Shadow Daddy (😏😏)* – There’s a mysterious, powerful figure who adds so much intrigue.
- *Protective MMC* – He’ll do anything to keep her safe, and I’m here for it.
- *Badass FMC* – She’s strong, fierce, and not afraid to fight for what she wants.
I just finished Court of Bright and Broken by Amy Patrick, and I can't stop thinking about it. The emotional depth of this book really took me by surprise. The characters are so well-developed, with struggles that feel incredibly real, making it easy to connect with them. The romance is slow-building but so full of tension—it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. What really stood out to me, though, was the way the book explores identity and belonging. It’s not just about magic and fantasy; it’s about discovering who you are when the world feels like it’s pulling you in different directions. Amy Patrick’s writing pulled me in and didn’t let go, and now I’m left eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
First of all, thank you to The Nerd Fam for gifting me an eARC of this book! It is set to release in February.
This was a fun Cinderella retelling. The writing was well done, and I didn't even realize it was a retelling until I was at least a quarter of the way through and started noticing the similarities. I was completely engrossed in the story; though I do feel like the beginning of the story was a bit stronger than the middle, and it picked up again towards the end.
This story takes place in a magical world, shared between humans and Fae, where the Fae rule the lands. The MMC and FMC meet by chance and are immediately drawn to each other. He invites her to a ball at his palace, and after she arrives, a whirlwind of precarious situations ensue.
The MMC was very "golden retriever", which i do enjoy. However, I didn't always connect with him as a character. He seemed quite clueless when it comes to understanding what women want. The FMC was a bit meek feeling, but also had a stubborn streak! She was not about to let her love interest tell her what to do or how to do it.
I do still wonder how her family is holding up, since she was meant to be away from them for a day, and ended up being gone for a few weeks. I wish there was a little nugget of information about them, though maybe we will learn their fate when book 2 comes out!
Overall, a solid read. I rated it 3.5 stars.
This was a fun Cinderella retelling. The writing was well done, and I didn't even realize it was a retelling until I was at least a quarter of the way through and started noticing the similarities. I was completely engrossed in the story; though I do feel like the beginning of the story was a bit stronger than the middle, and it picked up again towards the end.
This story takes place in a magical world, shared between humans and Fae, where the Fae rule the lands. The MMC and FMC meet by chance and are immediately drawn to each other. He invites her to a ball at his palace, and after she arrives, a whirlwind of precarious situations ensue.
The MMC was very "golden retriever", which i do enjoy. However, I didn't always connect with him as a character. He seemed quite clueless when it comes to understanding what women want. The FMC was a bit meek feeling, but also had a stubborn streak! She was not about to let her love interest tell her what to do or how to do it.
I do still wonder how her family is holding up, since she was meant to be away from them for a day, and ended up being gone for a few weeks. I wish there was a little nugget of information about them, though maybe we will learn their fate when book 2 comes out!
Overall, a solid read. I rated it 3.5 stars.
I just could not get into the story. I felt like the talking just dragged on and really wasn’t relevant. It was boring to me.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
A court bright and broken
By Amy Patrick
4.25⭐
Was one of your favorite movies growing up A Cinderella Story? If it was, this definitely the book for you (I would know, it was one of my favorites).
This book was such an enjoyable adventure from start to finish. It's a Cinderella retelling with fae, politics, and loveable characters. And, really, what more could you ask for in a romantasy?
I have so many thoughts and predictions on where the next book will take us, so I will be waiting very impatiently for the day I get to read book 2!
By Amy Patrick
4.25⭐
Was one of your favorite movies growing up A Cinderella Story? If it was, this definitely the book for you (I would know, it was one of my favorites).
This book was such an enjoyable adventure from start to finish. It's a Cinderella retelling with fae, politics, and loveable characters. And, really, what more could you ask for in a romantasy?
I have so many thoughts and predictions on where the next book will take us, so I will be waiting very impatiently for the day I get to read book 2!
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My thanks to Amy Patrick and Oxford South Press for the advance copy of this book.
A Court Bright and Broken (or, ACBAB going forward) is an easy read, very light spice, slow burn Fae romantasy. The book itself speeds along when you read it, and it's a fun way to immerse yourself in a new world. The writing itself is well done, and I'd happily read other books by this author.
Our FMC, Raewyn, is a Fae romantic retelling of Cinderella, complete with fairly well done versions of the familiar romantasy tropes. She is a poor villager in a world ruled by the Fae king, with humans as second-class citizens to the Fae. By happenstance, Raewyn unknowingly finds herself saving the life of the crown prince of the Fae, Stellon. To thank her for saving his life, Stellon invites Raewyn to a ball at his castle, and our story takes off from there.
That being said, the book is described as an enemies-to-lovers, but our MMC Stellon is the most Instalust of Instalust males. There is no enemies to lovers trope here - which would have been fine had I not expected it from the description. Stellon is also....it can only be described as a goober. He's a gold retriever wrapped in a cinnamon role but also somehow woefully naive and ignorant of the world and his father's rule. I found myself getting annoyed at Stellon multiple times throughout the book (the only way he can think to thank the literally starving to death woman who saved him was inviting her to a ball? What?), and I couldn't see how an FMC as wily as Raewyn allegedly was would want anything to do with this goober. I found myself checking the description to the book as I read it, to see if it was actually a YA novel. Again, not that there is anything wrong with it, but because I went in with certain expectations as I read it and I was surprised at how juvenile our MMC acted.
Stellon is not an only child and his relationship with his siblings (the dark and brooding BadBoy brother, and the smart and clever sister) is endearing and comes across as authentic. Stellon's banter with Raewyn is okay for him being a credulous, naive moron. But I found myself wanting Raewayn to realize she could do so much better than Stellon. I rated it three stars because I enjoyed the writing, I would happily read a different book from this author, and the book itself was easy to read.
A Court Bright and Broken (or, ACBAB going forward) is an easy read, very light spice, slow burn Fae romantasy. The book itself speeds along when you read it, and it's a fun way to immerse yourself in a new world. The writing itself is well done, and I'd happily read other books by this author.
Our FMC, Raewyn, is a Fae romantic retelling of Cinderella, complete with fairly well done versions of the familiar romantasy tropes. She is a poor villager in a world ruled by the Fae king, with humans as second-class citizens to the Fae. By happenstance, Raewyn unknowingly finds herself saving the life of the crown prince of the Fae, Stellon. To thank her for saving his life, Stellon invites Raewyn to a ball at his castle, and our story takes off from there.
That being said, the book is described as an enemies-to-lovers, but our MMC Stellon is the most Instalust of Instalust males. There is no enemies to lovers trope here - which would have been fine had I not expected it from the description. Stellon is also....it can only be described as a goober. He's a gold retriever wrapped in a cinnamon role but also somehow woefully naive and ignorant of the world and his father's rule. I found myself getting annoyed at Stellon multiple times throughout the book (the only way he can think to thank the literally starving to death woman who saved him was inviting her to a ball? What?), and I couldn't see how an FMC as wily as Raewyn allegedly was would want anything to do with this goober. I found myself checking the description to the book as I read it, to see if it was actually a YA novel. Again, not that there is anything wrong with it, but because I went in with certain expectations as I read it and I was surprised at how juvenile our MMC acted.
Stellon is not an only child and his relationship with his siblings (the dark and brooding BadBoy brother, and the smart and clever sister) is endearing and comes across as authentic. Stellon's banter with Raewyn is okay for him being a credulous, naive moron. But I found myself wanting Raewayn to realize she could do so much better than Stellon. I rated it three stars because I enjoyed the writing, I would happily read a different book from this author, and the book itself was easy to read.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Cinderella but with death plots. Interesting magic/fae world with royal family drama and a strong female protagonist. The spare has me very intrigued and I am very curious about book 2.