Her spin was different enough that it made me smile as opposed to thinking it “the same old” or this is “not quite right.” (Grimsby the grimalkin is an absolute delight!) This series is rife with magic, bargains, curses, and treachery, and she leans heavily into the concept of the precise wording that often leads to unexpected outcomes. You can see the threads of classic Fae stories shaped to serve this particular world and plot. In some respects, McMaster hit the nail on the head with Fae lore. So often, Fae-based books are YA or NA (not always, but often) and so I was pleased to find this adult, epic fantasy series with the Fae courts as their foundation.

One of the things I appreciated most about these books is that the characterization and themes are mature despite being rooted in the Fae. At the heart of this trilogy are poignant messages about finding your personal power through accepting and loving yourself. Until Thiago accepts that part of himself, he is never truly whole.

To amplify this theme, Thiago’s own character arc involves self-loathing due to the Darkness inside of him, bestowed by his evil father. It is fitting that Iskvien comes into her full power not when she recognizes that Thiago loves her, but when she casts aside her mother’s absuses and accepts herself for who she is. Thiago shows Iskvien that she can be loved, but its up to Iskvien to set aside the self-doubt instilled in her by a horribly evil parent and learn to love herself. It’s about dealing with the trauma of an abusive parent and learning to truly love yourself in spite of that trauma. Ultimately, this series is about unconditional love.

Promise of darkness by bec mcmaster