Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for: Readers’ Favorite
5 Stars
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Fealty by Leah Wilson features Layla and Ares. Layla is persuaded to join her friends at a club. While there, Layla accidentally bumps into a man named Ares with her drink. Apologizing, he claims the accident was his fault and buys her another. He asks Layla to dance with him, but her boyfriend Steve arrives. The next day, Layla is with her dog when she glimpses a woman at the forest's edge. When her dog darts after the woman, two men intercept Layla. In defense, Layla fights back and sees her hands burn. The men run away and Layla passes out. When she regains consciousness, Ares is holding her. Her inner voice tells her to run. Ares watches but feels even more determined to win Layla over.
Leah Wilson created the perfect setting for real life to blend with fantasy. Layla's suspicious nature and reticence toward Ares are relatable. Steve’s inclination to be protective of Layla is understandable when Ares starts appearing at random times and places. The vivid imagery of the various races that Layla discovers is easy to envision. Some of the Fae's descriptions made them sound like grotesque monsters. The suspense surrounding Layla’s mother kept me invested in reading nonstop. The revelations made the story even more intense, with Layla attempting to control every tiny detail of every moment. The cliffhanger ending brought another character into the plot, and I couldn’t decide whether he was a friend or foe. This leaves a big opening for a sequel. I recommend Fealty to dark fantasy readers who like a story full of mystery and a young woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders.
What People are Saying...
anisah a.
I like that this has a strong female lead who is allowed to lead with support and friendship. I also appreciate the lack of love she feels for the male characters instead of the usual Stockholm Syndrome a lot of character seem to develop
In terms of the romance dynamic, I was initially concerned that the book was going to be a Twilight dupe but with fairies. BUT BOY WAS I WRONG! Layla’s character is way more bad ass than Bella. This books almost seems to be aware of classic book tropes and instantly throws them out the window. I was consistently waiting for Ares to show up and save the day like Edward, but instead, Layla stands her own ground time and time again!
New York Times Bestselling Author
Fealty is a hooking story with great new fae world-building, characters, and a kick-a main character that is definitely worth reading.