The Best Romantasy Series You’ve Never Heard Of: ‘Fae Kings of Eden’
Possessive, Obsessive, Fated.
I had “Viciously Yours” by Jamie Applegate Hunter on my TBR for two years as a passing fancy. I picked it up, probably off of a subreddit recommendation, and then moved along. Last year, I was in need of a quick read to cleanse my palette and downloaded it. Holy. Shit. I’m a sucker for ‘touch her and die’, all things ‘fated’, and general acquiescence to love (it can’t be too easy, but it also can’t be Nesta from ACOTAR - Gods, she’s the worst).
QUICK SERIES SUMMARY
The ‘Fae Kings of Eden’ series by Jamie Applegate Hunter follows the the four Fae Kings of the 5 Kingdoms of Eden and their ascension to each of their thrones. Gaining their powers, their familiars, and their fated mates. The series is clever, memorable, and offers satisfying HEAs. It’s got enough world building that there’s intrigue and suspense, but not so much that your attention is diverted from the plot. A welcome change from some veeeery deep romance series out right now.
Each book is a different royal pairing:
Book #1: Rennick & Amelia ☆ 4.0
Book #2: Roman & Violet ☆ 4.5
Book #3: Dean & Fawn ☆ 3.5
Book #4: Amos & Clover ☆ 3.5
See our reviews and then borrow these immediately from whatever book service you use. You should go in order, though. Technically, you could probably read these as standalone, but I don’t recommend that. You’ll get the most out of your reading time if you just follow the order. Don’t be difficult.
Book #1: Viciously Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter
☆ 4.0
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Fae Kings of Eden #1
Kingdom: Mountain
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Hot
Tropes: Fae/Fairies, Fated Mates, MMC/FMC has a Cute Cat, Loss of Parent (Death), MC has a Missing Sibling, Happily Ever After (HEA), Mistaken Identity, MC is a Twin, MC is/has a Foster Kid, Virgin MMC, Childhood Promise Fulfilled, Female Friendship Group, MC Loves to Read, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Age 20+ FMC
Pages: 276 pages
Review: What an opener!
She's an orphan in the human lands. He's a fae king and her fated mate. They spend 10 years learning about each other through letters and finally meet.
TL;DR: Easy love, fuck Ora, and long live the king.
Rennick and Amelia are just the sweetest two people. They’re both trying so hard to make their distance (two separate kingdoms) work until they can finally be together.
One of the few Virgin MMCs I’ve read.
Amelia’s reactions to Rennick’s gifts are hilarious. He sends them intending to impress her while they’re apart, boasting that Ora, his best friend, helped him pick them out. You can see Ora’s trickery from a mile away. (Don’t come for me with the “but spoilers” nonsense - you have eyes/ears - you’ll see it too).
I strongly encourage you to read the forward by the author - she’s hilarious.
I gave this 4 out of 5 stars because it’s like The Naked Man (any HIMYM fans?) - it’s exactly what you need. No more, no less.
This only has a ☆ 3.6 rating on goodreads and a ☆ 3.48 rating on StoryGraph. Blasphemy. Fools. This is my strongly-worded letter.
Book #2: Obsessively Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter
☆ 4.5
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Fae Kings of Eden #2
Kingdom: Tropical
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Hot
Tropes: Fae/Fairies, Royal/Commoner, Clones/Twins, Fated Mates, Magic, MMC/FMC has a Traitorous Cat, Family Saga, Opposites Attract, Protective MMC, Obsessive MMC, Exploring Fantasies, Virgin MMC, Sex Club, Arranged Marriage, Murder Mystery, Magical Binding, Rescue, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Flashbacks
Pages: 444 pages
Review: Hold onto your heart.
Couldn't put this down. It's been a while since I finished a book in one sitting.
Roman and Violet fight fate to be together despite her twin sister being literally named his mate. You can feel their anguish and betrayal at the world and the ones who set out to hurt them. I didn't know if the author would top book one, Viciously Yours, but she did, with flare.
This book is more heartbreaking than the first, but it’s also that much more satisfying.
The ratings on this book are better: ☆ 4.2 rating on goodreads and a ☆ 3.95 rating on StoryGraph. Not as high as they should be.
Book #3: Tragically Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter
☆ 3.5
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Fae Kings of Eden #3
Kingdom: Garden
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Hot
Tropes: Fae/Fairies, Fated Mates, Castle Life, Royalty, Royal/Commoner, Sex Club, FMC is a Stripper, FMC Performs a Striptease for MMC, MC has Interfering Family, Loss of Parent (Death), Rescue
Pages: 268 pages
Review: It works, but it’s not the best of the series.
Good, not great. Love this series and the characters are easy to like, satisfying HEA guaranteed. But this one felt a bit forced with having Fawn dance in a pleasure house and the sexual scenes were stiff (wink wink). Enjoyable book, but not as delightful as the first 2.
The moment they finally meet across a crowded room is the best of the book. FINALLY.
Storygraph rates this one a 3.77 while goodreads rates it similarly at 3.7. I’m scratching my head - no way this one is better than book 1.
Book #4: Brutally Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter
☆ 3.5
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Fae Kings of Eden #4
Kingdom: Desert
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Hot
Tropes: Fae/Fairies, MMC Previously Abused, Abusive Parent(s), Fated Mates, Dragons, Magic, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Obsessive MMC, Protective MMC, Virgin FMC, Virgin MMC, Kidnapping, Rescue, Sabotage, Doesn't Speak, MC has a Tragic Past, Loss of Parent (Death), MC is a Twin, Revenge, Fake Engagement, Forgiveness Arc, Touch Her and Die Vibes, MMC with Self-Esteem Issues, Possessive MMC, Break Their Heart To Save Them
Pages: 294 pages
Review: Bit disappointing to end this way.
There were parts of this story I'd rate 4+ stars: the dragon sacrifices, the underground female army, the morally grey decision making, Sasha stepping in to save Amos, Jennifer’s deception, the patricide.
But then there were other parts that fell short: the years Clover was away from Amos, the detached relationship Amos had with Roland/Eddy, the very quick and not-at-all satisfying twin reunion, the lack of involvement from the other Kingdoms when it came to snuffing out the rebels. Who the fuck is Paul and why is he so important?? There just wasn't enough closure.
Book 4 also seems to rely on the reader remembering a lot of book 1; I didn’t. Not having a recap or having the story told from Clover’s POV really made things confusing.
Here's where I think the series got twisted up: Book 1 was short and smutty. Book 2 was longer and deeper into the story. Books 3 and 4 tried to be deeper, but with too few pages. Felt like the purpose of the series morphed but the presentation didn't.
Storygraph rates this one a 3.99 while goodreads rates it even higher at 4.1. These are a bit too generous, in my opinion. Great series, but this book specifically isn’t the finest of the collection.