Fairyloot Adult #25: March 2024
Compared to the February edition, my March Fairyloot box arrived quite late, namely the first week of April. Fairyloot had communicated this in advance that they were struggling with delivery delays, so I was not worried.
The theme for March was Swan Lake and we were promised a book packed with fearsome magic, moonlit forests, deadly curses and dangerous Fae. The theme card certainly reflected this perfectly!
The book is A Feather so Black by Lyra Selene.
An author with such a fairytale name must write fairytale-like books and the blurb for this book certainly gives off this vibe.
Most despise Fia’s fae blood. But the queen raises her as a daughter and trains her to be a spy. Meanwhile, the real princess Eala is bound to Tír na nÓg, cursed to become a swan by day and only returning to her true form at night.
When a hidden gate to the realm is discovered, Fia is tasked by the queen to retrieve the princess and break her curse. But she doesn’t go alone: with her is prince Rogan, Fia’s dearest childhood friend—and Eala’s betrothed.
As they journey through the forests of the Folk, where magic winds through the roots of the trees and beauty can be a deadly illusion, Fia’s mission is complicated by her feelings for the prince…and her unexpected attraction to the dark-hearted fae lord holding Eala captive. Irian might be more monster than man, but he seems to understand Fia in a way no one ever has.
Soon, Fia begins to question the truth of her mission. But time is running out to break her sister’s curse. And unraveling the secrets of the past might destroy everything she has come to love.
As expected, a retelling of “The Swan Princess“, but with a Celtic twist.
Sounds interesting, although also a bit generic. Eventually all those short contents start to sound the same, lol.
Also, I’m surprised this book is included in this box from Fairyloot, as they recently started a Romantasy subscription and this sounds like something that belongs more in there. Although I certainly enjoy this genre, I do hope that the Adult box will now start to focus more on high fantasy, as we have been getting quite a bit of romance lately, in my opinion.
Fairyloot once again designed a completely new cover for this book and I am very impressed. A really beautiful illustration, designed by @afterblossom_art, which reminds me even more of The Swan Princess. Truly magnificently beautiful.
This time we are also spoiled twice with the cover, because the standard cover is printed on the back in an alternative colour palette! Although with the beautiful illustration on the front I will never be tempted to turn this one over.
The book under the cover is also beautifully made!
The hardcover has some sort of textured covering in a deep purple with feathers in a paler colour. On top of that, a design in silver foil from @blanca.design. Magnificently beautiful once again.
The book block is also sprayed with a design all around. At the front a multi-coloured illustration of a castle with a swan, above and below a floral motif.
Fairyloot really pulled out all the stops for this edition!
Inside we find a digital signature from the author, an author letter and beautiful illustrated endpapers (2x the same illustration) by the same illustrator as the cover.
Once again I am extremely impressed by what Fairyloot has come up with in this edition! Truly a magnificent, beautifully made book, exquisite down to the last detail! I’m a fan!
Let’s hope the inside is as beautiful as the outside!
Cheers,
Charlotte
