Today I’m excited to participate in the Creative Blog Tour for Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L Moodyhosted by MTMC Tours. This is the first book in the Fae and Crystal Thorns series, a YA Fantasy Romance from Marten Press published on May 10, 2022!
Synopsis
Title: Flame and Crystal Thorns
Series: Fae and Crystal Thorns #1
Author: Kay L Moody
Publisher: Marten Press
Publication Date: May 10, 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Purchase a copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Blackwell’s
Add on Goodreads!
She vowed she’d never return to Faerie…But vows were made to be broken.
As a human girl, Chloe is perfectly happy being back in the mortal realm where she belongs. She’s even become the town apothecary. When a fae from her past shows up begging her to return to Faerie, she utterly refuses.
But then she finds out an angry group of mortals are using iron to hold an entire castle full of fae hostage. And of course, the hostages include Chloe’s older sister and her sister’s beloved.
Reluctantly, Chloe packs a bag for what is supposed to be a short trip to Faerie.
But the mortals are more powerful than she expected. To fuel them, they have weapons, flames, and revenge. They won’t stop until they control every court in Faerie.With the help of a new and mysterious magic and a too-handsome-for-his-own-good fae companion, Chloe has to save Faerie before her sister and the other fae are killed.
Review
Flame and Crystal Thorns is a brand new series from Kay L Moody that ends on a cliffhanger.
I had never read her work but very early on, I understood that Chloe, our main protagonist, has been a character in another series. Yet, thanks to smart crumbs of information here and there, I could get a general idea of the previous story and I didn’t feel lost at all.
My first reaction wile beginning to read was that I fell right into the book! We don’t have a lengthy description of the world or any “tell” but rather, we land into a scene with Chloe being asked to care for an elderly man who is ill.
Thanks to the “showing” technique and tidbits of information here and there, we get very early on that you are in a world with humans and fae and that Chloe being human still knows about faerie.
The writing reminded me a little of what we can find in Elise Kova’s books: flowing effortlessly and rich in details to let you really “see” the world and grasp who the protagonists really are.
The main arc is about Chloe, a human apothecary, being called by Quintus, a handsome fae, to save faerie who is being poisoned and overturned by humans.
Chloe will very reluctantly go as she had sworn never to go back to faerie.
I think a big asset of that book is the choice Kay L Moody made to have a heroine who literally freezes at the sight of danger! Forget the warrior badass heroines from other fantasy reads!
“Why did she have to be so useless in a fight? Why did her muscles lock up and her heart race when it should have allowed her to run?”
Chloe is selfless, smart, dedicated in helping others but she is certainly no warrior and that’s a deep regret she carries.
That was disconcerting in the beginning as it’s not the type of character that I am used to read about but it was also very interesting and refreshing!
Quintus, our fae lead, had literally to save the damsel in distress at every turn in the story!
And we guess that he somehow loved playing Chloe’s white knight and never resented her for freezing in the face of danger.
Endearing quality for Chloe: she is a reader!
“You wake up from near death, and the first thing you want to do is read?” “Never underestimate the value of reading.”
Something else that I found alluring was their complicated relationship.
There was a constant push and pull between Quintus and Chloe. They didn’t want to be attracted to each other for several reasons but were nonetheless.
Flame and Crystal Thorns is a fantasy story filled with magic, flawed characters, a quest to save faerie and reads itself. The book has also a contemporary feel to it with questions like: who to save in a pandemic when you have limited resources? After years of COVID and witnessing doctors having to make these same hard choices Chloe did, it truly resonated with me! All in all, I think it took me no more than two days to finish that story!
Be warned that it ends on a cliffhanger though and prepare to wait to know more!
Exclusive Hardcover Edition!
The hardcover edition has a very special “naked hardcover” (under the dust jacket design) that features an illustration of the two main characters. The hardcover edition also has a bonus chapter from the love interest’s perspective!
INTL Tour-wide Instagram Giveaway!
Head over to my Instagram account to enter the tour giveaway where two lucky readers will win a hardcover copy of Flame & Crystal Thorns from Book Depository, a paperback copy of Court of Bitter Thorn (Book 1 in the related series) + an Art Pack (signed book plate, art print of Chloe & Quintus, bookmark with a surprise design)!
Ends on May 23rd, 2022. Winners will be announced on @mtmctours’ Instagram account.
Some fun character Q&A too!
Let’s interview Chloe and as three questions!
We heard you vowed never to go back to Faerie…why is that?
The last time I was in Faerie, someone I trusted betrayed me. He forced me into a battle even after I had refused. It was my own fault for trusting a fae. I should have known he would be selfish just like all fae are. He hurt me then, but I refuse to let him hurt me again which is the main reason I refuse to return to Faerie.
What’s something you can’t live without?
I definitely could not live without books, especially my magic book from Faerie.
You’re packing a bag for a rescue mission to Faerie! What are you taking?
My magical book from Faerie, ingredients for a remedy for a Faerie sickness, plus a few treasured items including a harp string that may or may not be from Quintus.
——-
Tour Schedule:
May 11
The Reader and the Chef – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@bookworm_panda – Bookstagram
May 12
@a_bookish_dream – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@icinoamandahere – Bookstagram
May 13
@paperfury – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@moonlight_rendezvous – Bookstagram
May 14
@sophiesreadingcorner – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@brittyoreads – Bookstagram
May 15
@plotsandreviews – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@l.m.durand – Bookstagram
May 16
@bookish.heidi – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@bookish_meaghan – Bookstagram
May 17
@pavlinamich – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@asternyx – Bookstagram
May 18
@thedawnreader – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@linas.library – Bookstagram
May 19
@bewareofthereader – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@linathebookaddict – Bookstagram
May 20
@shaked_reads – Bookstagram & Book Blog
@bookishly_kenia – Bookstagram
About Kay L Moody:
Kay L. Moody is the YA fantasy author of COURT OF BITTER THORN and THE ELEMENTS OF THE CROWN. Her books feature rich world building, slow burn romance, mythical creatures, and twisty plots.
As a lover of strong female characters, books, and the color pink, she enjoys diving into magical worlds where characters can overcome even their darkest struggles. She lives in the western United States with her husband and four sons. Connect with Kay directly when you follow her on social media @kaylmoody
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram
Hosted by:
Cliffhanger sounds killer! I hope readers will love it enough to endure the wait afterward! Great review! 😀
Thank youuu!
Okay, this sounds amazing!
I love it when a book is easy to get into! Especially a fantasy novel. It sounds like a great start to the series, I am intrigued about the cliffhanger! 🙂
As I was LOL
I really love the sound of the world building that is created here. I am happy to see that this book resonated so well with you here.
Great review!
Thank you Renee!
This sounds like such a great combo of our world and the fae world. And I love that Chloe doesn’t want to go back to faerie, she sounds so smart!
She is very smart! That’s what saves her as she freezes when faced with danger!