Series Review: The Fae Dynasty by Victoria McCombs

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for Mortal Queens (from Goodreads):

“They vanish without a trace, disappear into the night . . .

Each year on the center island, one girl is chosen to be the next Mortal Queen of the idolized fae. The mortals praise these lucky girls, but their daughters are never seen again.

The fae realm is eternal night, where disputes are settled by chess matches, power is acquired through the most devious kinds of trickery, and seven illusive kings roam. The fae hide their faces behind masks and guard their glass hearts to keep them from shattering. But beyond the veil of this luxurious paradise, a dark secret simmers, for their Queens have disappeared.

When aspiring artist Althea is selected, she is desperate to avoid the same mysterious fate. With no one to trust, she conceals messages in paintings and receives anonymous replies from a stranger who slowly reveals the tale of a girl who outwitted the fae. Only if she is clever enough will Althea survive the fate of the Mortal Queens. As long as the king who cannot love does not claim her first.”

Author: Victoria McCombs
Series: The Fae Dynasty
# of Books: 2 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Faeries
Heat Rating: Cool
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Dates: February 2024 – November 2024
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

This was a random find for me. I needed a new audiobook to start while I waited for my library holds to come in and I stumbled across this series! I loved the covers, the fae world and that it was a duology that I could binge!

The Concept / The World:

One thing I love about faerie books is the politics of the world as faeries can’t lie and are constantly bargaining/tricking for advantages. This book captures that spirit perfectly as Althea navigates the world she finds herself in and attempts to find a way to survive. And wile the premise of this book (a mortal girl given as tribute) reminded me a bit of The Hunger Games— if the games took part in a faerie castle that is– it isn’t as intense as The Hunger Games or even The Cruel Prince; taking a more subdued approach to violence and manipulation.

The Plot:

The main plot of this story is watching Althea learning about the history and demise of the Mortal Queens before her; and how she can avoid her fate. But like all good fae books, there are some twists along the way that make things more complicated.

While I had figured out the majority of the secrets, I didn’t always have the right logic behind it which was refreshing and I enjoyed putting the pieces together to solve the problem of the Mortal Queens.

The Characters:

I liked Althea and how she goes about her situation…most of the time. She does everything she can to make the best of her situation and she thrusts herself into the games using logic and intuition. Some of the situations she finds herself in though are simply because she assumes things instead of clarifying (which seemed odd because she is constantly trying to get to the truth of issues) but I suppose the conflict has to come from somewhere.

The Romance:

The romance was meh but it isn’t really a big focus either (which is probably why I felt that way). I just needed a few more scenes to show me that romantic tension. But at the same time, it was nice to read a book that wasn’t so romance (ie sex) focused.

My Audiobook Experience:

This was a really great audiobook production to listen to! It really transported you to the world and brought everything to life for me as I followed along. I’m glad I found it!

Series Rating: 3/5

Mortal Queens 3/5 | Lethal Kings 3/5

This is a little tame compared to some of the darker fae stories out there. But I think it’s a good intro book for people wanting to explore the genre and tropes as it isn’t overly complicated or complex but still has depth to it to make it an enjoyable read.

Read if You Like: “clean” YA, faeries
Avoid if You: want more romance