The Charmed

I just finished The Charmed: Fae of the Crystal Palace A Spellbinding Romantic Fantasy Series (Book 1)
by Kylie Fennell @kylie_fennell and here is my review.

Lady Alice Hyde grates under the constraints of being a woman living in Victorian England. Due to marry a man she does not love, thanks to an arranged marriage set up by her uncle, she has her whole boring life mapped out the way society deems.

During a tour of The Great Exhibition at the crystal palace has her curious mind alive with wonder. She is having a wonderful time until she discovers the body of a young woman. A woman she has met. She cannot allow her death to go unpunished and joins the investigation with Cyan, a man she dislikes immensely and it puts her into mortal danger.

Not only does the investigation lead her hot on the trail of a killer but opens her eyes to the world around her full of magic, destiny and desire.
I have never read a historical romantasy before and I have to say, I loved it a lot! Cyan is the perfect grumpy fae and Alice the optimist. I love their dynamic. It was an interesting concept, having fae in historical fiction with technology and knowledge far outstriping what is known for the time. The whole murder mystery mixed in gave it a nice twist too. I never read a book that falls into so many genres but this book managed to nail it for me.

The story of Alice and her family history was very interesting and I am intrigued enough that it is the catalyst for my longing to read book 2. There was a lot going on and the book managed to hold it all together very well.

I thought the whole book was very well written and was a great start to what I hope will be a very good and long series. It wrapped up most of my questions while setting up book 2. I was thoroughly entertained and the author has quite a talent.

4.5 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @lorikeetink for my gifted copy!

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